Universal Studios Florida Entrance Is Covered in Holiday Parade Artwork
A Nov. 3 photograph shows white covering across the park entrance with a Universal Holiday Parade emblem.
Jump through this guide
Dates & tickets
Seasonal entertainment is included with admission to its park. Food, merchandise, the Holiday Tour and character breakfast cost extra.
November 2026
December 2026
January 2027
Highlighted dates are event dates, not a ticket-availability calendar.
Latest news
Earl the Squirrel Becomes Universal Orlando’s First Macy’s Parade Balloon Nov. 26
Earl the Squirrel will debut in New York before joining Universal Studios Florida’s holiday parade in early December.
Universal Orlando Opens Grinch & Friends Breakfast Reservations at $64.99 for Adults
Universal Orlando opened 2026 Grinch & Friends breakfast reservations with separate Islands of Adventure admission required.
Grinchmas Sets Eight Opening-Day Shows at Universal Islands of Adventure on Nov. 14
The opening-day schedule runs from 10:15 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. at Islands of Adventure.
Universal Orlando Holiday Tour Runs on Select Dates Nov. 14–Jan. 2 With Grinch, Max and Santa
The 2½-hour tour includes Grinch, Max and Santa meet-and-greets, reserved Grinchmas seating and optional parade viewing.
Universal Reveals Haus Noel as Green & Red Coconut Club’s 2026 Holiday Theme
Universal reveals Haus Noel as the Green & Red Coconut Club’s 2026 holiday theme.
How we’d spend the visit
A little planning. More holiday time.Choose Universal Studios Florida for this plan
This is a parade-first day in one park. Start with a priority ride such as Escape from Gringotts, using the posted wait. Do not add Islands of Adventure or Epic unless you are prepared to drop part of this plan.
Diagon Alley and a second ride
Catch a Celestina Warbeck performance that fits your date’s schedule. Choose a second ride nearby, then take lunch without rushing toward the afternoon entertainment.
Tribute Store and a break
Browse the holiday displays and Earl merchandise. This is a good window to sit down, charge a phone and decide which souvenirs can wait until after the parade.
Eat, then claim your viewing spot
Leave a full meal break plus roughly 30 minutes to settle along the route. Use the parade time for your specific date; the suggested order is not a fixed show schedule.
One more ride or Diagon Alley after dark
Compare the posted waits for a final attraction. If the group is tired, enjoy the lit streets instead. Keep the end of the day flexible rather than promising a string of short queues.
Give Grinchmas and Epic their own time
Use an Islands day for the Grinch, the stage show and Hogwarts after dark. Use an Epic day for Snoggletog, Nintendo and Celestial Park. Your tickets must cover each park you enter.
Ride wait times
These rides run during regular park hours. Compare waits within the park you are visiting; each park has its own admission and schedule. Holiday-season averages are shown separately by park.
Season averages cover operating ride waits on event dates, not queues for shows, food or characters.
No matching rides.
Universal Studios Florida
Despicable Me Minion MayhemIllumination’s Minion LandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
E.T. AdventureHollywoodCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Harry Potter and the Escape from GringottsDiagon Alley / LondonCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Our recommendationMake this your main Universal Studios Florida ride priority. If its current queue would swallow your parade buffer, return afterward or choose another attraction.
Lowest recorded hour—
Hogwarts Express - King's Cross StationDiagon Alley / LondonCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Illumination's Villain-Con Minion BlastIllumination’s Minion LandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' HurlSpringfield, U.S.A.Current waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack!World ExpoCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy FallonNew YorkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Show all 12 ridesShow fewer rides
Revenge of the MummyNew YorkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Our recommendationFit this around your Tribute Store visit and New York-area plans. Leave enough time for lockers and walking back to the parade route.
Lowest recorded hour—
TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3DNew YorkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
The Simpsons RideSpringfield, U.S.A.Current waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Trolls TrollercoasterDreamWorks LandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Islands of Adventure
Caro-Seuss-elSeuss LandingCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Doctor Doom's FearfallMarvel Super Hero IslandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw FallsToon LagoonCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Flight of the HippogriffHogsmeadeCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike AdventureHogsmeadeCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Our recommendationOn an Islands of Adventure day, choose a dedicated ride window. Do not enter a long queue when your chosen Grinchmas performance is approaching.
Lowest recorded hour—
Harry Potter and the Forbidden JourneyHogsmeadeCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Our recommendationPair the ride with time in Hogsmeade, but protect your castle-show viewing window. Riding inside the castle and watching its nighttime projections are separate experiences.
Lowest recorded hour—
Hogwarts Express - Hogsmeade StationHogsmeadeCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Jurassic Park River AdventureJurassic ParkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Show all 18 ridesShow fewer rides
Jurassic World VelociCoasterJurassic ParkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue FishSeuss LandingCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat BargesToon LagoonCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Pteranodon FlyersJurassic ParkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Skull Island: Reign of KongSkull IslandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Storm Force AccelatronMarvel Super Hero IslandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-ManMarvel Super Hero IslandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
The Cat in The HatSeuss LandingCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!Seuss LandingCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
The Incredible Hulk CoasterMarvel Super Hero IslandCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Epic Universe
Constellation CarouselCelestial ParkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Curse of the WerewolfDark UniverseCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Dragon Racer's RallyIsle of BerkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Fyre DrillIsle of BerkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Harry Potter and the Battle at the MinistryThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of MagicCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Hiccup's Wing GlidersIsle of BerkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Mario Kart: Bowser's ChallengeSUPER NINTENDO WORLDCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Mine-Cart MadnessSUPER NINTENDO WORLDCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Show all 11 ridesShow fewer rides
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein ExperimentDark UniverseCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Stardust RacersCelestial ParkCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Our recommendationTreat this as an Epic Universe priority on your Epic day. Keep a separate block for the seasonal lights rather than using every after-dark minute in queues.
Lowest recorded hour—
Yoshi's AdventureSUPER NINTENDO WORLDCurrent waitCheckingSeason average—
Lowest recorded hour—
Shows & holiday experiences
01 / Universal Orlando Resort
Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s
Universal Studios Florida’s holiday procession combines enormous balloons, character floats and Santa’s tree-lighting finale. Choose this park if the parade is your biggest priority. Find a viewing spot about half an hour before the scheduled start, after getting snacks and visiting the restrooms.
02 / Universal Orlando Resort
Earl’s big year
Earl the Squirrel joins the Orlando parade as a balloon in early December, following his Thanksgiving Day debut in New York. November visitors can still enjoy the holiday season, but should not plan their trip around seeing that balloon. His new merchandise is part of this year’s Holiday Tribute Store.
03 / Universal Orlando Resort
Grinchmas in Seuss Landing
At Islands of Adventure, the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular retells the story onstage. The Grinch meeting, strolling Whos and Who-ville Tree Lot give you several reasons to spend time here between performances. Treat the character queue and the show as separate commitments; joining one does not reserve the other.
04 / Universal Orlando Resort
Christmas across the Wizarding World
Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and wizarding Paris each dress for the season. Islands of Adventure has the Hogwarts castle projection show; Universal Studios Florida has Celestina Warbeck’s holiday songs. Choose your evening park around the entertainment you want most rather than assuming every Wizarding World has the same show.
05 / Universal Orlando Resort
Snoggletog and Christmas at Epic Universe
Epic’s 2026 celebration adds seasonal decorations in Isle of Berk and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Celestial Park’s lights and fountain displays make it worth staying after dark. Give Epic its own day if possible: a resort-wide holiday guide is not a recommendation to cram three parks into one evening.
06 / Universal Orlando Resort
The Universal Holiday Tour
The separately priced guided tour includes character meetings and reserved Grinchmas seating, with an optional reserved parade-viewing area. It requires appropriate two-park, park-to-park admission. Compare the actual inclusions and your travel date before booking; the tour does not replace a park ticket.
Food & drinks
The confirmed 2026 holiday treats are listed first, followed by regular restaurant choices for meals and drinks. As of November 10, Universal’s holiday announcements did not include a full seasonal menu.
Where to find more holiday sweets
Browse Studio Sweets at Universal Studios Florida, Island Market and Export Candy Shoppe at Islands of Adventure, and Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets at Epic Universe. Each is part of the 2026 holiday shopping and sweets lineup.
Green & Red Coconut Club
The seasonal CityWalk lounge is an optional stop after the parks for holiday cocktails and entertainment. Check that evening’s menu when you arrive. Alcohol is for guests 21 and older with valid identification.
Corn and roasted potatoes on the side.
Served with corn and potatoes.
Beef, lamb, vegetables and potato.
Battered cod with tartar sauce.
Plant-based filling in a baked potato.
Strawberries and Butterbeer toppings.
Universal photo A chilled Butterbeer-flavored dessert.
An individual apple dessert.
Universal photo Warm, sweet and nonalcoholic.
Universal photo Choose either version.
A sparkling pumpkin drink.
A warm chocolate drink.
Whiskies, cider and warming spices.
Drink in a souvenir cup.
Beef and vegetables in potato crust.
Chicken, bacon and Colby cheese.
Sausage-wrapped eggs with apple-beet salad.
A warm dessert option.
Universal photo Chilled Butterbeer-flavored dessert.
Universal photo Warm and nonalcoholic.
Sweet-tart lemon drink.
Orange, vanilla and cinnamon.
Mint, cinnamon and blueberry popping pearls.
A stout for guests 21 and older.
Universal photo Chicken, salmon and sausage with vegetables.
Swedish meatballs, lingonberry and root vegetables.
Seasoned salmon with potatoes and vegetables.
Grain, mushroom and leek patty.
Cinnamon pudding, Yaknog sauce and ice cream.
Chocolate mousse fish and cereal crumble.
Universal photo Malted chocolate-cinnamon dessert drink.
Berry sports drink with stone-fruit syrup.
Berry and vanilla mead.
A souvenir cup for fountain drinks.
Merchandise
Prices below are Shop Universal online listings checked November 10, 2026, not confirmed park prices. Coming Soon items are not yet available to buy online. Park selection and prices may differ.
Universal Studios Florida and CityWalk
Visit the Holiday Tribute Store for its Macy’s parade rooms and Earl collection. Universal Studios Store locations in the park and CityWalk carry holiday merchandise from several collections; selection varies.
Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe
Port of Entry Christmas Shoppe and North Star Wintry Wonders offer holiday keepsakes and personalization on selected ornaments. Epic Universe also has the K. Rammelle and Place Cachée holiday collection in the Ministry of Magic area, plus Snoggletog and Nintendo collections.
Earl, Pearl and a parade-balloon design.
Item details ↗
An 11-ounce ceramic mug with Earl’s Tree Farm artwork. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
Red-and-black plaid with faux-fur trim. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A plaid acorn charm with faux-fur accents. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
Christmas-tree artwork on an adult Spirit Jersey.
Item details ↗
A compact bag with a tree appliqué and holiday lining.
Item details ↗
A Hogwarts-themed tree ornament.
Item details ↗
Minions and sweater-style patterns on a holiday jersey.
Item details ↗
Bob in a Santa hat decorates this compact bag.
Item details ↗
Bob holds Tim while wearing a fuzzy bear hat. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A children's tee with Stuart and Otto in Santa hats.
Item details ↗
Mario and Luigi snowmen decorate a cropped hoodie. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
Snowman artwork with a Super Star zipper charm. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A soft Mario snowman with his red cap. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A soft Luigi snowman with a polka-dot scarf. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A small hand-painted Mario snowman ornament. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A 16-ounce stoneware snowman mug. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
Toothless wears a Santa hat and lights that illuminate. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
Toothless ears, a Santa hat and rechargeable lights. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A soft Toothless plush wrapped in holiday lights. Online listing marked Coming Soon.
Item details ↗
A small Santa-hat Toothless for your bag.
Item details ↗
Shrek, Fiona and friends in a holiday design.
Item details ↗
Plush ogre ears with a Santa hat.
Item details ↗More merchandise
A new Grinch-themed holiday jersey.
A bag shaped around a holiday wreath.
A themed holiday headband.
New plush characters in the Grinchmas collection.
Before you go
Choose your headline experience first
Parade: Universal Studios Florida. Grinchmas and Hogwarts projections: Islands of Adventure. Snoggletog and new Nintendo decorations: Epic Universe. That single decision makes the rest of the day easier.
Keep the data tied to the right park
These celebrations run during regular park hours. A seasonal ride average does not measure a private Christmas party, and a short ride wait tells you nothing about the Grinch’s character queue.
Pack for the evening
Carry a layer and check the forecast before leaving your hotel. Decide whether everyone wants to stay for nighttime entertainment before booking dinner outside the park.
Questions & answers
Do I need a separate holiday event ticket?
The regular in-park holiday entertainment is included with valid admission to that park. The Holiday Tour and character breakfast are separately priced.
Can I see all three parks in one evening?
We do not recommend it. Choose a headline experience and give that park your evening; plan Epic Universe separately.
Is Earl’s balloon there from opening day?
No. His Orlando parade appearance begins in early December, after the November 26 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Do seasonal averages mean shorter waits?
No. They describe recorded posted waits during the holiday season, not a guarantee for your visit or a measurement of show and character lines.