Whether you're visiting Orando for the holidays or you're a local, you will not be short of amazing holly jolly things to do, and even on Christmas Day, there is a sled full of amazing things to do, check out our nice list for all the details!
Its the most wonderful time of the year, and Christmas Day is a time for family and friends to come together, sharing magical moments, creating memories to cherish forever, and here in Orlando there is so much to do on Christmas Day for everyone to enjoy!
Orlando is one of the most popular destinations in the world for the holidays, and with so much to see and do, the list is longer than Santa's nice list.
While many towns and cities across the country all but close down for Christmas Day, here in Orlando, Christmas Day is a day full of holly jolly fun, with the theme parks in full flow, and many attractions, shops, and restaurants all open for festive fun.
We've come up with a bumper holiday list to keep even the most energetic Christmas Crew happy on Christmas Day!
What's To Do In Orlando On Christmas Day
Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom
Get wrapped up in all things merry and bright, with sensational sights and holiday delights. The Magic Kingdom, truly is extra magical on Christmas Day, including the magical Christmas extravaganza stage show, “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” the sparkling spectacular “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” and the merry must-see “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”
The Holidays At EPCOT
Embrace holiday traditions from around the world and delight in the telling of the Christmas story.
Highlights include: EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, Candlelight Processional, and the beloved Holiday Storytellers.
The Holidays At Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Embark on yuletide adventures in a park full of entertainment and thrills. Decor at Hollywood Studios includes SANTA GERTIE! There are also oversized Christmas ornaments in Echo Lake, as well as a giant Christmas tree, and other decor.
You will also discover vintage inspired decor on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, with snow falling along Sunset Boulevard.
Holidays At Disney Springs
Enjoy a host of holiday-themed activities and savor the comforting flavors of the season, including festive holiday tunes with live musical performances and DJs. Plus, encounter Toy Soldier Stilt Walkers and Snowflake Skaters.
Discover Christmas around every corner, as you come across a collection of elaborately decorated Disney Christmas trees throughout the neighborhoods of Disney Springs. Flurries are in the forecast for Disney Springs Town Center with a magical snowfall, adding an extra touch of wonder to your Disney Springs Christmas Day.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration
SeaWorld Orlando’s award-winning Christmas Celebration returns with the sights, sounds and flavors of the holiday season.
Enjoy all the family-friendly holiday entertainment, from the iconic Sea of Trees that dance to music as they light up the central lagoon, to delicious holiday treats. Experience fan-favorite holiday shows and seasonal entertainment throughout the park. And be sure to stay late to finish your evening with an impressive holiday firework show.
Holidays At Universal Orlando Resort
Scream, laugh and shout your jingle bells off, you’ve got to awesome up your season with Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort.
Join the celebration of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as Hogwarts castle lights up for the holidays and festive decor brightens up the streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
Larger-than-life balloons float through the streets of Universal Studios Florida in Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, then get together with the resident Whos in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, where you can enjoy the music and fun of The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular starring the Grinch.
Christmas Town At Busch Gardens Tampa
Celebrate Christmas Day with holiday cheer & gather with family and friends to create merry memories. Experience the joy of the season up close with animal encounters, thrilling rides, holiday inspired culinary delights and festive shows like Christmas on Ice.
Keep the holiday spirit shining bright from day to night with millions of twinkling lights and dazzling fireworks.
Holidays At LEGOLAND Florida Resort
At LEGOLAND Florida Resort, this jolly time of year features a giant LEGO Christmas tree, unforgettable seasonal shows, holiday characters, special treats, LEGO activities, twinkling lights and more during Holidays at LEGOLAND!
Attractions
Fun Spot America Orlando
Fun Spot America has two locations, Orlando and Kissimmee, both parks offer different levels of thrills for all ages.
Parking is FREE at Fun Spot America as well as FREE admission. Pay by day in advance or by ride at the park
The Wheel at ICON Park
Not your average Ferris wheel, The Wheel at ICON Park is a stunning 400 foot tall Observation wheel gives you a view of Orlando like no other. From the top of this spectacular Observation wheel, you can take in the sights throughout Orlando, all while beholding the stunning skyline.
Carousel On the Promenade at ICON Park
There is nothing more spectacular than the Carousel on the Promenade! It’s a 36-foot, hand-crafted masterpiece with detailed carvings and 30 figures of various animals, including horses, reindeer, rabbits, zebras, and more.
Aerophile Balloon Rides
Soar sky-high during an 8-minute tethered adventure in the world’s largest hand-painted helium balloon at Disney Springs. Aerophile Balloon Rides will give you a birds eye view of Walt Disney World!
Orlando StarFlyer
The Orlando StarFlyer is the world’s tallest stand-alone swing ride attraction standing 450 feet high. It has 24 seats (12 x 2 seats), has no age limit, has no weight limit (you must be able to fit the seat safely and fasten the seat belt/lap belt properly), and the minimum height for the ride is 44 inches which makes this a unique attraction that appeals to the young and old and the adventurous and not so adventurous. A family friendly high thrill experience.
WonderWorks Orlando
WonderWorks is an amusement park for the mind with 28,000 square feet of “edu-tainment”. The attraction combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands-on exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination.
This once top-secret laboratory was located in the Bermuda Triangle. An experiment gone awry lifted the laboratory, carrying it to International Drive in Orlando, Florida where it landed upside down. Luckily, all of the exhibits remained intact and available for guests to explore.
Madame Tussauds Orlando
Madame Tussauds Orlando is the only place to get up-close and personal with the hottest celebrities and enjoy the glitz and glamour of Hollywood life. Dazzle your friends with the ultimate selfie as you strike a pose with Taylor Swift, kick a GOOOAL with Neymar, fly back through history to meet our greatest leaders, and save the world with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
At SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium come face-to-fin with thousands of fish, sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and many more. Prepare for a world of glittering scales, humongous tentacles, and razor sharp teeth. Get ready to plunge deep into the oceans, explore our 360-degree ocean tunnel, meet our friendly rescue sea turtle, and touch exotic starfish and anemones.
Museum of Illusions Orlando
Enter the fascinating world of illusions which will trick your confidence in senses, but amaze you by doing it; the world that will confuse you completely, but also educate you… Visit the Museum of Illusions Orlando and you will be thrilled because nothing is what it seems, especially not HERE!
Max Action Park Orlando
With its cutting-edge VR technology and collaborative experiences, Max Action Arena is the perfect place for friends and family to compete and explore together.
Located at ICON Park Orlando, this is an extreme fun center featuring free-roam Virtual Reality, Axe Throwing, Adventure Rooms, Escape Room and more.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando
Sure to entertain the entire family, adults and children alike will be astounded by incredibly hard to believe, but undeniably true stories from around the world at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando.
Admire hundreds of artifacts, incredible art, animal oddities, pop-culture memorabilia, interactive games, and more that you won’t find anywhere else!
Prices: Adults $27.99, Children $19.99 (age 3 - 11)
Ripley's Mirror Maze
At Ripley's Mirror Maze on I-Drive, find your way out or lose yourself in an enchanting labyrinth! Embellished with LED lights and infinity mirrors, it’s time to challenge your perception and sense of direction.
In The Game Orlando
Enjoy great attractions including a stunning Mirror Maze, 7D Motion Theater, breath-taking Virtual Reality experiences, great games, prizes, and more!
In The Game Orlando is located inside the Wheelhouse at ICON Park. Right in the middle of all the action!
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
When you visit the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, you embark on a journey back in time to April 1912, when the ship embarked on its maiden voyage!
The Pinball Palace at Dezerland Action Park
The Pinball Palace is located at Dezerland Action Park on I-Drive. This is the largest pinball arcade in Florida, home to vintage vibes and timeless memories in the making, featuring over 70 classic pinball machines.
Karting Orlando at Dezerland Action Park
Enjoy Florida’s longest and fastest indoor Go Kart track in state-of-the-art electric Go Karts at Karting Orlando.
Orlando Auto Museum at Dezerland Action Park
Visit Orlando Auto Museum to see the country’s largest auto museum which is home to more than 2,000 vehicles worth over $200 million, featuring everything from military vehicles used in combat to cars made famous by television and movies and vehicles from a variety of decades and countries around the world.
Boardwalk Bowl
Boardwalk Bowl offers 80 lanes of mega fun at the largest bowling center in the southeast!
Aloma Bowl
Aloma Bowl boasts a great mix of bowling action with the relaxing feel of a lounge. Come smash some pins while relaxing on our comfortable couches!
Airport Lanes
Located near Sanford Airport, Airport Lanes has 32 lanes to satisfy your bowling needs.
Holiday Events
Ice at Gaylord Palms Resort
There's no better way to celebrate the holidays than by gathering your family for Christmas at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida.
Step into a wonderland carved by expert artisans out of 2 million pounds of colorful ice with a dazzling display of larger-than-life sculptures, thrilling ice slides, and awe-inspiring tunnels.
This must do holiday event in Central Florida will feature Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, who will be the stars of this year's holiday celebration as ICE! returns for 2023.
In addition to the ICE! attraction, a sleigh-full of events and activities will be featured across the 64-acre resort. Christmas shows and activities are presented in the atrium, while parts of the convention center transform into Alpine Village, a bustling, holiday hamlet with Bavarian-style storefronts, immersive activities and one of Florida’s largest Christmas shops.
Holiday Nights at ICON Park
The 20-acre ICON Park has transformed into a holiday wonderland with the arrival of the I-Drive District’s 50-foot decorated tree, nightly snowfall, Santa Workshop Experience, The Wheel’s holiday light and music show, carolers, and more.
Guests are invited to bring a blanket, gather on ICON Park’s center lawn to enjoy the free nightly snowfall and magical light show, and grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants and entertainment venues.
Holinights Celebrations
At the popular Promenade at Sunset Walk in Kissimmee, the Holinights are on the way too, bringing non stop holiday fun and entertainment.
Holinights Celebration features Santa Claus, Mischievous Elves, Towering Toy Soldiers, Live Music & Tree Lighting Nightly, Snow Ball Fights with the Mischievous Elves, Holiday Craft & Street Markets, Car Shows & More!
Colorful Christmas at Crayola Experience
Experience the holidays Crayola-style at Colorful Christmas, hosted by Crayola Experience at The Florida Mall.
Can you help Santa and his friends save the holiday? Enjoy some SNOWtastic adventures as you go! Meet animatronic Christmas characters and listen to them tell stories as you solve their riddles. Step inside a life-sized snowglobe, watch a light show starring Scarlet and her singing reindeer friends. All while crafting unique gifts from the heart! Enjoy holiday fun the Crayola way! All included in general admission.
Pirates Dinner Adventure Christmas Show
Ho! Ho! Ho! If you’re looking for a new tradition the whole family will love, get ready for a jolly good time and a swashbuckling adventure right here in Orlando, Santa’s even made his way from the North Pole to Central Florida to celebrate the holidays at Pirates Dinner Adventure!
Guests can experience the action, romance and excitement of the classic dinner show with a holiday overlay featuring Christmas music and a ship-side visit from a special guest at the end of the show!
During the post-show Buccaneer Bash, guests can party with pirates and take pictures with the Jolly Old Elf himself!
Wekiva Island's Winter Wonderland
At Wekiva Island enjoy nightly snow flurries plus extra entertainment and activities which are offered on select days and evenings, including outdoor movies and visits from Santa Claus. Winter Wonderland is back, and features the sparkling Christmas Tree Forest with a 30-foot Christmas tree! Plus nightly “snow” flurries, sparkling holiday décor, and special events for the whole family.
For the latest news and events from throughout Orlando and Central Florida, check back often here at Gotta Go Orlando as we keep you updated throughout the day, every day.
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