Beginning Dec. 3 and running daily through Jan. 1, families can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at Universal Orlando Resort’s Holidays celebration. Adults and children alike will marvel at majestic balloons in the 15th anniversary of Macy’s Holiday Parade, discover the holiday cheer of Who-ville at Grinchmas and hear electrifying holiday classics performed by renowned Christmas sensation Mannheim Steamroller.

Macy’s Holiday Parade

At Universal Studios Florida, the larger-than-life balloons as seen in the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City will fill the streets during the 15th anniversary Macy’s Holiday Parade. New to this year’s parade is the “Virginia” balloon depicting the 8-year old girl from the famed Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus newspaper editorial of the late 1800s, as well as the “Mother Ginger” special character from The Nutcracker, which will join the many popular balloons in the Macy’s Holiday Parade including “Big Man Santa” and the “Wiggleworm.”

Grinchmas

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests will come face-to-face with the mean, green one himself and be filled with holiday cheer as Grinchmas comes to life throughout Seuss Landing. Guests can discover the true meaning of Christmas in a heartwarming live show, “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular,” featuring the Whos from Who-ville, or join the Grinch and friends for a delicious holiday breakfast buffet on select dates.

Plus, on select nights, the masters of modern Christmas music –Mannheim Steamroller – return with the sweet sounds of the holiday season at Universal Studios Florida. Performances will take place on the Music Plaza Stage on Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

Access to Universal Orlando’s Holidays festivities is included in regular admission to the theme parks. For a limited time now through Dec. 18, Florida residents can save up to $250 on a Universal Orlando Vacation Package with valid UPC Code from Nestle Pure Life Purified Water. For more information about this exclusive offer, visit UniversalOrlando.com/holidays.

Holiday Celebrations at Universal’s On-Site Hotels

The festivities continue at Universal Orlando’s five on-site hotels– including the all-new Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, which is celebrating its first holiday. The spirit of the season flows freely at the on-site hotels with festive decor, tree-lighting ceremonies, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s holiday buffets, plus special family-friendly events to ring in 2017. Find more information about the hotels’ festivities here.

New Year’s Eve at Universal CityWalk

The holidays wouldn’t be complete without a spectacular New Year’s Eve party. Guests can ring in the New Year at Universal CityWalk’s electrifying New Year’s Eve celebration featuring Orlando’s largest dance floor, endless entertainment and all-you-can-eat gourmet cuisine. Information about Eve event tickets will be released at a later date.

For more information about the Holidays at Universal Orlando, ticket offers and vacation packages, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/holidays  or contact your travel agent.

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This Saturday, Dec. 1 marks the return of where families create holiday memories to last a lifetime. At Universal’s Islands of Adventure guests will be filled with holiday cheer as Grinchmas comes to life throughout Seuss Landing. They can watch the heartwarming live show, “Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular,” featuring The Grinch and the Whos from Who-ville, accompanied by an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller.

At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets every evening with the same larger-than-life balloons seen in the famous New York City parade. This year, the parade will include all-new Nutcracker and Mouse King “trycaloons” – tandem tricycles that appear to be pedaled by whimsical balloon characters from the popular holiday tale. Guests will also enjoy colorful holiday characters, fantasy-filled floats and a tree-lighting ceremony by Santa Claus.

And Christmas music sensation, Mannheim Steamroller, will return this year with more performances than ever before. The acclaimed musical group will perform their memorable holiday hits on the Music Plaza stage in Universal Studios eight nights this year – December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23.

This special holiday entertainment – including the Mannheim Steamroller concerts – is included as part of two-park or multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

For more information on Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration, guests can visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/holidays.

Disclosure: I have never attended this event, though I would love to. I am just posting this for your information.

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This year’s Holidays event runs December 4 through January 1, 2011, and offers guests incredible entertainment themed for the season at both its theme parks.

At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets every evening with the same iconic balloons seen winding through New York City. The parade features colorful holiday characters, floats, balloons and a tree-lighting ceremony by Santa Claus.

Kadence Wolfe, 4, from Gainesville, Ga., couldn’t stop smiling as The Grinch welcomed her to Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Photo courtesy of Universal Studios.

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, adults and children alike will be entertained when the popular Dr. Seuss book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is brought to life in Grinchmas. Guests can see a live stage show featuring The Grinch and The Whos from Whoville with an original recorded musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. Also, guests will have the opportunity to meet The Grinch and the strolling Whos, and on select dates, purchase a spot at a special character breakfast with The Grinch.

Guests can also enjoy the sounds of nightly a capella holiday music at Universal Studios. And, on December 4, 11 and 18, Mannheim Steamroller – the masters of Christmas music with more than 30 million albums sold worldwide – will play their memorable holiday music for guests on the Music Plaza stage. Guests can explore the nearby, all-new Holiday Village, filled with hand-blown glass ornaments, caramel apples, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts and a cupcake decorating location.

The celebration continues at Universal Orlando’s three on-site hotels – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort – all of which will glisten with holiday decorations. Hotel guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with tree-lighting ceremonies, special musical performances, holiday “dive-in” movie presentations and holiday buffets and dining events. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel kicks off the season on Friday, November 26 with ‘Holiday Harbor Nights’, a wine tasting, food and jazz celebration on the piazza. Hard Rock Hotel welcomes Santa to the Kitchen restaurant on Fridays in December and Loews Royal Pacific Resort rings in the new year with ALOHA 2011, a New Year’s Eve celebration, with a special kids-only party right next door to the main event. Florida Residents can enjoy discounted rates at each of the three on-site hotels.

All holiday entertainment – including the Mannheim Steamroller concerts – is included as part of 2-Park or Multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

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