TPG’s information to Christmas at Common Orlando

All of us need to cherish the Christmas magic, but it surely’s not at all times straightforward to do when confronted with a whirlwind of planning, purchasing, cooking and end-of-year logistics. Generally the magic is less complicated to seize if you step out of your regular life for a minute and into someplace completely different — like a theme park that pulls out all of the stops in the course of the vacation season.

This 12 months’s vacation festivities at Common Orlando run from Nov. 22 by way of Dec. 31, and each nook of Common’s theme parks and on-site lodges are decked out in vacation finery. There are some moments that would make the Grinch’s coronary heart develop a number of sizes, together with a wide range of live shows, reveals, character breakfasts, vacation parades and an opportunity to satisfy Whoville’s most infamous resident himself.

Christmas at Common Studios Florida

Common Orlando has an excellent setup that makes it straightforward to discover three adjoining complexes: Common Studios (ticket required), Common Islands of Journey (ticket required) and Common CityWalk (no ticket required). The benefit of strolling from one spot to the following is vital to benefiting from your vacation journey to Common. There’s even a tree-lined strolling path that connects a number of of the lodges to the parks and CityWalk. You may also benefit from complimentary boat and bus transportation. (Choices range by lodge.)

Associated: This is the best way to plan an epic journey to Common Orlando Resort this 12 months

Every year, Common creates a themed Vacation Tribute Retailer at Common Studios Florida, but it surely’s rather more than a retailer. Sure, you should buy vacation presents, clothes and treats, however every room of the Vacation Tribute Retailer is so well-themed that it’s mainly an immersive walk-through attraction.

If you happen to’ve ever regarded intently on the Christmas tree in Common Studios Orlando, you will have seen a tiny stuffed squirrel peeking out from its branches. This little man really has a reputation — Earl the Squirrel — and he is a little bit of a legend at Common.

One 12 months, whereas Common’s crew was unpacking the decorations to arrange for the vacations, they seen among the lights within the tree weren’t working. They ultimately discovered {that a} squirrel had made a nest contained in the tree and chewed by way of among the wires. A while later, somebody caught a small stuffed squirrel within the Christmas tree as a joke.

Earl might have begun as an inside joke, however he’s now a full-fledged movie star at Common. Not solely can you discover merchandise devoted to Earl the Squirrel, however he’s now so standard that Common launched him as a walk-around character which you can meet in the course of the holidays. Search for him at Common Studios Florida and CityWalk.

Common’s Vacation Parade That includes Macy’s

Common Studios hosts Common’s Vacation Parade That includes Macy’s every single day in the course of the vacation season. Consider it as a day by day mini model of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade options characters from “Despicable Me,” “Shrek” and “Madagascar,” in addition to traditional vacation characters like nutcrackers, gingerbread males and, in fact, Santa.

Each day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication

Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

You may often get a great spot on the sidewalk in the event you line up about quarter-hour earlier than showtime, however in order for you a coveted bench spot, you will have to arrive at the least half-hour earlier than the parade.

Annual passholders have a particular first-come, first-served viewing space in entrance of Mel’s Drive-In, close to the place the parade begins.

The road performers do an excellent job interacting with the group, and you will seemingly spot a number of of them out in the course of the day at Common Studios doing meet and greets and stopping for images with youngsters and households. There’s even a magical Central Florida snowfall in the course of the parade.

Another excuse to go to Common for the vacation season is to expertise Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Strolling by way of this magical world is cool any day, however doing it when it is decked out for the vacations? Subsequent stage.

For these uninitiated in all issues Potter, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common is in each Common Studios and Islands of Journey. You both want a Park-to-Park ticket to go to each sections on the identical day, otherwise you want two single-park tickets to go to every place on completely different days. Actually, you in all probability need Park-to-Park tickets as that’s the solely solution to experience the Hogwarts Categorical prepare, which is a unbelievable expertise any time of 12 months.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade at Island of Journey

Begin with a visit to Hogsmeade inside Islands of Journey, residence to 2 of Common’s latest rides: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey and Jurassic World VelociCoaster. Wait instances for these rides, even in the course of the offseason, might be lengthy (although not so long as when the attraction first opened and waits hit 11 hours).

Regardless of if you go to, it is wintertime in Hogsmeade, however that feels further acceptable across the holidays. Common throws in pine boughs, wreaths and twinkling lights at each flip to make the season all of the merrier.

Take time to see a particular Christmas model of the Frog Choir present and hearken to hits by Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees whereas sipping a scorching butterbeer.

After maybe one other butterbeer (or one thing much less candy) at Hog’s Head, contemplate staking out a spot for the land’s nighttime present: The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort. This cool presentation unfolds a number of instances between nightfall and park closing, and it options projections, lights and lasers on the fort.

Associated: The very best bank cards for household journey

You will see hologram-like spirits and owls, snow, dancing lights, scenes together with your favourite characters, vacation surroundings and extra. All of it’s choreographed to the musical themes you’ve got come to like from every film. It is actually magical — the kind of expertise that makes the little hairs on the again of your neck get up.

Did Common use expertise to drag off this superb present, or might it have been magic? I say magic.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley

Over at Common Studios Florida, head to “London” so you possibly can enter Diagon Alley.

The doorway to Diagon Alley is constructed to make you’re feeling as in the event you’re coming into one other world. This themed space can also be reworked for the vacations with festive decor and twinkling lights.

Whereas wandering round Diagon Alley, it is entertaining to look within the retailers and watch youngsters with wands work some fairly cool magic.

You should buy interactive or noninteractive wands on the theme parks or on-line earlier than your journey. I like to recommend shopping for the interactive one so you possibly can solid spells and work together with magical experiences in each Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. There are some particularly enjoyable spells to solid in Knockturn Alley.

Make a degree to see two reveals right here: The Tales of the Beedle the Bard puppetry efficiency and a vacation model of Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. It’s possible you’ll even bear witness to a magical snowfall in the course of the present.

If you happen to’re visiting in the course of the daytime, you’ll want to return at nightfall to see all of the lights activate and get the entire vacation vibe from Harry Potter’s London.

Season’s greetings at Islands of Journey

There are additionally loads of vacation occasions going down at Islands of Journey.

In case your youngsters are Dr. Seuss followers, then a go to to Seuss Touchdown is so as. It has a bunch of kid-friendly rides that additionally welcome adults. Do not be stunned in the event you see extra adults than youngsters in The Excessive within the Sky Seuss Trolley Practice Trip — actually, it is an all-ages favourite.

The vacations shine in Seuss Touchdown, particularly in the event you can catch considered one of The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular reveals.

The Grinch stars within the present — a retelling of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” — with music by Mannheim Steamroller. You may catch a efficiency a number of instances a day. Do your self a favor, although, and go to a present after nightfall. Seuss Touchdown in all probability has probably the most Christmas decorations of any land all through each Common theme parks, and it simply sparkles at night time — including a bit extra razzle-dazzle to showtime.

Vacation add-ons to make your go to even merrier

If you wish to assure some one-on-one time with the Grinch and his Whovillian neighbors or get VIP entry to The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort and the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, Common has two add-on choices that may put the bow in your vacation expertise.

Common’s Vacation Tour

Common’s Vacation Tour will get you unique entry to a few of Common’s hottest vacation choices, together with some enjoyable surprises alongside the way in which. Tickets begin at $79.99 plus tax per particular person. Advance reservations and a legitimate park-to-park ticket are additionally required. Included within the tour are the next:

• Unique meet and greets with the Grinch and his canine, Max
• Reserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular
• Snacks and desserts
• A personal meet and greet with Santa
• Precedence entry to Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast
• An after-hours displaying of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Fort

The Grinch & Mates Character Breakfast

At The Grinch & Mates Character Breakfast, you can begin your day with the imply, inexperienced man himself and a few of his pals. The breakfast is at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous in Common Islands of Journey, inside Seuss Touchdown. You will take pleasure in a tasty breakfast, together with some face time and picture alternatives with the characters.

Ticket costs begin at $58.99 per particular person plus tax for adults and $32.99 for youngsters ages 3-9. Advance reservations and a legitimate Islands of Journey ticket are required.

Common’s lodges are embellished for the vacations

Let’s begin with the place your Common Orlando trip might start: an on-site lodge. You may count on no matter halls you keep in close to the theme parks to be appropriately decked for the season.

For instance, if you arrive at Loews Portofino Bay Resort, you will be greeted by a Christmas tree within the foyer that is so tall it barely matches underneath the lights. All through the season, Santa and Mrs. Claus even cease by to greet visitors, and carolers carry out for visitors passing by way of the foyer.

Along with Santa and strolling carolers, search for specialty menu gadgets, Hanukkah menorah and Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, youngsters’ vacation crafts and extra in any respect Common Orlando lodges.

Associated: Finest bank cards for theme parks

If you happen to’ve been searching for a enjoyable solution to spend New 12 months’s Eve, the lodges additionally usually host New 12 months’s Eve events.

Associated: The way to use factors to economize at Common Orlando

Say you guide your keep at Portofino Bay through the American Categorical Fantastic Accommodations + Resorts program to get the breakfast, meals and beverage credit score, and extra. Then, you possibly can earn 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback by reserving and paying through Amex Journey with The Platinum Card® from American Categorical.