There is truly no place like Orlando for the holidays — and when you stay at Magical Vacation Homes, you’re at the heart of more than 100+ holiday events, shows, festivals, theme park spectaculars, and family-friendly celebrations. From dazzling light displays and world-famous theme park parties to free community festivals, Orlando transforms into a winter wonderland where anything is possible — even snow.
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Why Orlando Is the #1 Holiday Destination
Every November–January, Orlando shines with:
- Iconic theme park holiday events
- Free community festivals
- Broadway-level holiday shows & concerts
- Indoor and outdoor light spectaculars
- Santa meet-and-greets across the city
- Winter markets, parades, and snowfalls
- Unique Floridian takes on classic Christmas fun
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, OR romantic holiday nights Orlando has it all — conveniently close to Magical Vacation Homes.
HOLIDAY EVENTS AT ORLANDO ATTRACTIONS
Below is every major attraction-based event taking place this season — many minutes from your vacation home.
HOLIDAY EVENTS AT ORLANDO THEME PARKS
This is where Orlando truly becomes the world’s holiday capital. Staying at Magical Vacation Homes means you’re just minutes away.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party — Magic Kingdom®
Select Dates, Nov. 7 – Dec. 21, 2025
After-hours event with:
- Exclusive Christmas parade
- Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
- Special meet-and-greets
- Complimentary cookies & cocoa
- Seasonal overlays like Jungle Cruise’s “Jingle Cruise”
Disney Jollywood Nights — Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
Select Dates, Nov. 8 – Dec. 22, 2025
Featuring:
- Disney Holidays in Hollywood (hosted by Kermit & Miss Piggy)
- Jingle Bell, Jingle Jam! fireworks
- 20+ character experiences
- Glam Hollywood holiday atmosphere
EPCOT® International Festival of the Holidays
Nov. 28 – Dec. 30, 2025
Experience global traditions, holiday kitchens, live storytellers, the Cookie Stroll, and the iconic Candlelight Processional.
Holidays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Nov. 14 – Dec. 31, 2025
Highlights include the Merry Menagerie, festive flotillas and Tree of Life® Awakenings — Holiday Edition.
Holidays at Disney Springs®
Nov. 14 – Dec. 31, 2025
FREE admission & parking!
Christmas Tree Stroll, live entertainment, snowfall, treats, shopping and Santa meet-and-greets.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration™
Nov. 7 – Jan. 5, 2025
O Wondrous Night, Winter Wonderland on Ice, Sesame Street parade, fireworks, Rudolph meet-and-greets and snow flurries.
ILLUMINATE: A Lantern Festival — Aquatica Orlando
Nov. 8, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026
A brand-new nighttime festival transforming the water park into glowing immersive realms.
Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort
Nov. 21 – Dec. 31, 2025
Includes:
- Grinchmas™
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ holiday entertainment
- Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle
- Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s
- Holiday Tribute Store
- Festive treats and Universal hotel events
Holidays at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort
Select Dates, Dec. 6 – 31, 2025
Features a giant LEGO® tree, holiday characters, shows and festive treats — included with admission.
Dinos in Lights — Orlando Science Center
Nov. 8, 2025 – Jan. 6, 2026
Included with admission
The Dino Digs exhibit bursts to life with a prehistoric music-and-light spectacle. This family-favorite seasonal overlay transforms massive dinosaur fossils into a glowing holiday show sure to enchant visitors of all ages.
Christmas Wonderland — Dezerland Park
Select Dates, Nov. 7 – Dec. 24, 2025
Meet Santa, go ice skating, ride holiday trains, build toys with elves and enjoy the state’s largest indoor attraction transformed into a Christmas dream.
Santa Photos — The Mall at Millenia
Nov. 7 – Dec. 24, 2025
Santa’s Magical Arrival kicks off the season with a DJ party, tree lighting, holiday performances, and themed entertainment.
The Santa Workshop Experience — ICON Park®
Select Dates, Nov. 7 – Dec. 24, 2025
Meet Santa, receive a free carousel ride for kids under 13 (with photo package), plus score exclusive discounts to ICON Park favorites like Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE Aquarium.
Santa Photo Experience — The Florida Mall®
Select Dates, Nov. 14 – Dec. 24, 2025
Includes Pet Photos With Santa (Nov. 23), Caring Santa sensory experience (Dec. 7), holiday crafts (Dec. 6) and Cookies With Mrs. Claus (Dec. 13).
Festival of Trees — Orlando Museum of Art
Nov. 14 – 23, 2025
Browse over 50 designer-decorated trees, wreaths, gingerbread creations and holiday boutiques. Special ticketed events include workshops, Breakfast With Santa, a children’s party and adults-only cocktail evenings.
Asian Lantern Festival — Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Select Dates, Nov. 14, 2025 – Jan. 18, 2026
Hundreds of handcrafted glowing lanterns, immersive holiday zones, themed snacks, and stunning LED installations.
Deck the Seas — SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Nov. 21, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026
Features Scuba Claus (Thursdays), a Santa Scout scavenger hunt, festive décor and stockings for sea creatures.
Colorful Christmas — Crayola Experience
Nov. 22, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026
20+ hands-on attractions plus holiday scavenger hunts, character visits, singing light shows, letters to Santa and crafts.
Dazzling Nights — Harry P. Leu Gardens
Nov. 28, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026
Orlando’s most artistic holiday light event returns with a new Holiday Village, 8-bit Christmas zone, and a 50-foot glowing star rising over the Rose Garden.
Holidays at Leu Gardens (Daytime)
Explore seasonal blooms, holiday vignettes, and classic decorations throughout the Historic Leu House Museum.
Gatorland’s Holiday Ho Ho Ho-Down
Select Dates, Dec. 6 – 21, 2025
Enjoy Florida-style festivities with Gator Claus, Krampus Croc, local treats, holiday characters and thousands of real alligators.
Holidays in Space — Kennedy Space Center
Select Dates, Dec. 21 – 30, 2025
Features a massive 50-foot tree, new drone show with original soundtrack, scavenger hunt, festive décor, and a sneak-peek event: Kennedy Under the Stars (Dec. 19–20).
MORE HOLIDAY EVENTS
Holinights Celebration — Promenade at Sunset Walk Select Dates, Nov. 21 – Dec. 25, 2025
Just minutes from our vacation homes!
Nightly tree lightings, Santa sightings, live entertainment, street markets and holiday car shows. Free admission.
Jingle Eve — Ivanhoe Village
Nov. 22, 2025
A local-favorite street festival with shopping, music, crafts, a Bubble Bus, and fireworks. Optional 12 Wines of Christmas Walk ($50).
Now Snowing — Celebration
Nov. 29 – Dec. 25, 2025
Experience nightly snowfalls, festive décor, carolers and paid add-ons like carriage rides, Santa photos and ice skating.
Winter Wonderland — Wekiva Island
Select Dates, Nov. 30 – Dec. 25, 2025
30-foot Christmas tree, nightly snow flurries, Santa visits, ornament workshops, cocoa with Mrs. Claus, outdoor movies and more (select dates $5 entry).
Holiday on the Drive — College Park
Dec. 4, 2025
Live music, Santa meet-and-greets, artisan markets and holiday decor.
Frontyard Holiday Festival — Dr. Phillips Center
Dec. 4, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026
Nightly concerts, snowfall, markets, Santa photos and free outdoor movies every Sunday.
Winter Park Holiday Events
Select Dates, Dec. 4 – 26, 2025
Includes:
- Christmas in the Park (FREE)
- Winter on the Avenue
- 73rd Annual Winter Park Christmas Parade
- Free museum admission on select dates
Downtown for the Holidays — Lake Eola Park
Dec. 5, 2025 – Jan. 6, 2026
Tree lighting, holiday markets, Santa visits, sensory night, free movies and concerts.
Oh, What Fun! — Lake Nona
Select Dates, Dec. 5 – 21, 2025
A festive open-air holiday festival with snowfall, markets, parades, Santa’s Cottage, a 5K run, and more. Free admissionfor most activities.
’Tis the Season — Winter Garden
Select Dates, Dec. 5 – 30, 2025
Light shows, carriage rides, markets, parades, holiday movies and live music throughout historic downtown Winter Garden.
HOLIDAY SHOWS, CONCERTS & PERFORMING ARTS
Orlando’s performing arts season shines with dozens of concerts, touring productions, ballets and celebrity-hosted holiday specials.
Highlights include:
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
- Handel’s Messiah
- Lindsey Stirling’s Snow Waltz Tour
- Leslie Odom Jr.: The Christmas Tour
- Pentatonix
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (Live!)
- The Nutcracker — Orlando Ballet
- A Christmas Carol — Orlando Shakes
- Holiday movies at Lake Eola Park & Winter Garden
…and many more throughout November and December.
MORE HOLIDAY EVENTS AROUND ORLANDO
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Deck the District — Downtown Orlando (Nov. 20, 2025)
Tree lighting, Santa Paws pet photos, and gingerbread contests. -
Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Festival of Trees (Nov. 21, 2025)
Citrus-inspired holiday décor, cocktails and treats. -
Holiday Matsuri — Pop Culture Convention (Dec. 19 – 21, 2025)
A cosplay-filled holiday expo at Orange County Convention Center.
Enjoy the Holidays With Magical Vacation Homes
When you stay with Magical Vacation Homes, you’re minutes from all major holiday events — many less than 10–20 minutes away.
Why guests love our homes for the holidays:
- Themed bedrooms for kids
- Private pools & hot tubs
- Game rooms and home theaters
- Large gathering spaces for holiday meals
- Options close to Disney, Universal & SeaWorld
- Exclusive resort amenities (water parks, golf, dining)
Whether you’re planning a winter getaway, a multi-family holiday celebration, or a couples’ retreat, our homes offer space, comfort and magic you won’t find anywhere else.
Ready to Plan Your Holiday Stay?
Make this the year you experience Orlando’s most magical season.
✨ Book your dream holiday home now at Magical Vacation Homes and be close to every unforgettable event in this guide!
