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Spend Christmas in Orlando 2026 | Resorts, Christmas Events, Themeparks, & More!

Christmas in Orlando is a unique experience filled with holiday traditions such as movie screenings, Christmas dinners, and gingerbread houses, along with the magic of parades, Christmas tree trails, festive displays, light shows, and celebrations at the many amusement parks in the city. Here’s a list of all you can do in Orlando this Christmas.

Why spend Christmas in Orlando?

  • Orlando is packed with festive events and activities for people of all ages during Christmas, making it the perfect family holiday destination.
  • Christmas in Orlando is all about watching Christmas movies, parades, and light shows, and walking along streets lined with decorated and themed Christmas trees.
  • The city offers a welcoming cultural scene during the holidays with a bunch of free Christmas-themed movie screenings, ballet performances, choirs, concerts, and more.
  • Orlando is best known for its many themed amusement parks which have grand decorations and celebrations lined up for Christmas.
  • The many Winter Wonderlands across the city are sure to transport you to a snowy White Christmas despite the warmer climate.

Top 15 things to do during Christmas in Orlando

1. Watch a Christmas parade

Be a part of Orlando’s Christmas celebrations watching some of the many festive parades marching across the streets in and around the city. These troops are lined with marching bands, dancers, festive costumed characters, floats, and Santa Claus to welcome the holiday season.

Most popular Christmas parades in Orlando include:

2. Visit a Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderlands set up all over the city promise visitors a White Christmas despite Orlando’s December weather. Head to any of them to enjoy some snow, the luminous displays, ice skating, live entertainment, fun activities, carnivals, Christmas markets, and more.

Here are the best Winter Wonderlands in Orlando this year:

3. Watch a spectacular light show

Christmas is a time when Orlando lights up the sky with brilliant displays of fireworks, laser, and light shows. These spectacular festive sights paint the city in glitter and color all around the holiday season.

Some of the must-see Christmas light shows in Orlando are:

4. Woo at decorated Christmas trees

Every part of Orlando has its own set of Christmas tree lighting events and decorative Christmas tree displays that bring cheer to anyone passing by the streets. Prepare to be surprised by the variety of sizes, themes, and decorations of these trees.

Do check out the Christmas tree displays at:

5. Watch the Christmas boat parades

Christmas boat parades are yet another unique sight on Orlando’s holiday scene. Enjoy the lakeside views as cheerfully lit up and festively decorated boats cruise over the waters in celebration.

Here are the Christmas boat parades not to be missed:

6. Go shop at a Christmas market

Christmas markets in Orlando are more like carnivals with rides, fun activities, competitions, and a lot more festivities. These pop-up markets also bring a great variety and some of the best deals on holiday gifts, handicrafts, local delicacies, and festive merch.

Most popular Christmas markets in Orlando include:

7. Attend a Christmas special performance

The cultural scene of Orlando also gets festive around December with Christmas-themed concerts, plays, musicals, opera, and ballet performances. Make sure to book your seat in advance as many of these events including the Nutcracker by the Russian Ballet, allow free entry.

This year’s most popular Christmas special performances in Orlando are:

8. Catch a classic holiday movie screening

Watching a holiday movie is a Christmas tradition for most people in Orlando. Many theatres, parks, and city halls host special screenings of some of the classic holiday movies, inviting large crowds to get into the festive spirit.

Check out these Christmas movie festivals in Orlando this year:

9. Have the most magical Christmas at Disney World

Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, is all set for Christmas with decorations, new rides, special events, live performances, and more across all its six parks. This year, the holiday season coincides with The World’s Most Magical Celebration as it is Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.

Here’s what’s lined up for you at Disney World, Orlando:

  • Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Magic Kingdom Park 
  • Festive Floatillas and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Disney-themed Christmas trees and snowfall at Disney Springs

10. Spend this Christmas at Universal Orlando

From holiday parades and festive decor to Christmas special menus and a Winter Wonderland - a variety of festive events are lined up at the different parks at Universal Studios Florida for you and your family to have a memorable and fun-filled Christmas.

Head to Universal Orlando this festive season for:

  • Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s balloons
  • Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley
  • Grinch-mas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
  • Universal Holiday Tribute Store
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11. Join the festivities at Gaylord Palms Resort

You are sure to have the most wonderful time of the year at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando this festive season. The resort turns into a winter wonderland this time around, promising wholesome entertainment for the entire family.

The Winter Wonderland at Gaylord Palms Resort mainly features:

  • ICE! Featuring The Grinch Who Stole Christmas - a colorful ice sculpture display
  • Shine Christmas Light Show and Cirque Spirit of Christmas stage performance
  • An Atrium Christmas Tree Trailand a Naughty & Nice Escape Room
  • Snow Flow Mountain Tubing and Santa’s Snow Throw snowball fights
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12. Experience the festive cheer at SeaWorld

From brilliantly lit-up Christmas trees and fireworks to festive performances and an ice rink - this winter wonderland will give you the complete experience of a Christmas spent in Orlando.

Highlights of the SeaWorld Christmas experience include:

  • An ice rink for skating and festive ice dancing performances
  • Christmas trees brightly floating on the lake and putting up a music and light show
  • Rudolph’s Movie Experience & It’s A Wonderful Night: A New Story To Tell
  • Sesame Street Christmas Parade, Elmo’s Christmas Wish - The Musical, and a Sesame Street Christmas special breakfast menu
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13. Build a memorable Christmas at Legoland

With festive shows, character meets, a Lego Santa, and elves running around, Legoland’s Christmas Bricktacular is sure to be the jolliest event of the year. This year, shows will run on the following dates: November 24 to 26, December 2 to 3, 9 and 10, 16 and 17, and December 22 to 31.

Things to do at Legoland’s Christmas Bricktacular:

  • Gaze at the 30 ft tall Christmas tree made of Lego and Duplo bricks!
  • Search for hidden LEGO elves throughout Miniland and Fun Town, and earn a small reward for completing the hunt.
  • Add your piece to a massive holiday-themed mosaic to create a unique piece of LEGO art.
  • Sample festive snacks like the "Everything but the Tree Sandwich" and the sweet "Cro-ignet" pastry hybrid, exclusive to the season.
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14. Hop around decorated Disney hotels

A delightfully popular and free thing to do in Orlando during the holidays is to go hopping around Disney hotels and resorts and admiring their lavish, over-the-top, ornamental decorations. Go on and cherish the embellished trees, the magical light displays, and the incredible gingerbread creations.

Here are some of the best-decorated Disney Hotels to visit:

15. Admire the city lights from a height

Ride The Wheel at ICON Park during Christmas for mesmerizing views of Orlando's festive lights, creating unforgettable and magical memories. Embrace the holiday spirit, capture stunning photos, and enjoy a serene escape from the season's hustle.

Other things to do at ICON Park:

Visit ICON Park

Frequently asked questions about celebrating Christmas in Orlando

Christmas is a great time to visit Orlando, owing to the holiday season festivities one can experience in the city. Christmas parades, decorated tree trails, light shows and displays, winter wonderlands, etc. make your Orlando trip a unique one during December.