Even though the crowds are thicker, the lines are longer and the weather is just a little chillier, the end of December is a perfect time to visit Orlando, Florida. The theme parks host special events, and the city bustles with holiday spirit, from lighting festivals to ice exhibits. Spending Christmas and New Years in Orlando is a magical experience for the whole family.
Orlando is home to Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Disney MGM Studios, Universal Studios and the SeaWorld Adventure Park. During Christmas time, these parks stay open late and put on special shows, making your trip a little more memorable. Magic Kingdom invites you to Mickey's Christmas party, where you can wonder at its spectacular decorations and watch the afternoon Christmas parade. Epcot hosts a candlelight processional with a sublime orchestra and 500-person choir. MGM Studios puts on a blazing display of Christmas lights, SeaWorld has Christmas polar bears and Universal Studios hosts a Macy's Christmas Parade.
Every year, Orlando hosts a huge Christmas parade at the SoDo shopping center. This free event is a chance to give back by donating an unwrapped toy to the Howard Phillips Center. Vendors and farmers' markets also sell their wares. Another great Christmas activity is visiting ICE!, a colossal ice exhibit in the Gaylord Hotel. Made from more than two million pounds of ice and carved for a month by 40 artists, this winter wonderland features walk-through igloos, a three-story slide and a life-size train. Warm coats and hot cocoa are provided. The Gaylord also hosts a holiday gnome hunt.
New Year's is an exciting time at Orlando's many theme parks. SeaWorld hosts a party with a dance floor, fine dining, shopping and live entertainment. At midnight, the sky blazes with a brilliant fireworks display. Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre shopping center with restaurants, clubs and vendors, hosts a New Year's extravaganza with a gourmet buffet, national music acts and a champagne toast. Epcot celebrates New Year's traditions around the world, hosting dance parties and a laser and firework show. Hollywood Studios puts on Fantasmic!, a display of Disney movies and music, and Magic Kingdom presents the SpectroMagic parade with the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks display.
Orlando boasts a vibrant bar scene, and it hosts an array of New Year's Eve events. Check out ICEBAR Orlando, which offers live entertainment, ice dancers and a champagne toast in one of the coolest settings in town. The Buena Vista Palace televises a countdown, and the Tommy Bahama Tropical Cafe rings in the New Year island-style. If you want a little more adventure, check out Black Hammock Airboat Rides, which hosts a dance party at a nearby lake. For a theatrical evening, make reservations for a show like Cirque du Soleil, which puts on special performances for New Year's Eve.
