Nobody does Christmas quite like Orlando. Fake snow falling on a small-town main street, a two-million-pound ice attraction, Disney parties that run until midnight and a 64-foot tree glowing over Lake Eola. Here’s everything worth doing for Christmas in Orlando in 2026, with dates, prices and where to stay.
Planning a bigger holiday trip? See our full guide to Christmas in Florida, plus Christmas in St. Augustine for Nights of Lights.
Christmas in Orlando 2026: Dates at a Glance
- Disney Jollywood Nights (Hollywood Studios): select nights, Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Magic Kingdom): select nights, Nov 8 – Dec 22, 2026
- ICE! at Gaylord Palms (Kissimmee): Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- Holidays at Universal Orlando: Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays: Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026
- Now Snowing in Celebration: nightly starting Nov 28, 2026 (free)
- SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration: select dates from early November into early January
- Lake Eola tree light show (Downtown Orlando): nightly through early January (free)
Free Christmas Things to Do in Orlando
Now Snowing in Celebration
📍 Celebration Town Center, Market Street | 📅 Nightly starting November 28, 2026
Yes, it “snows” in Florida, at least on Market Street in Celebration. Every evening during Now Snowing, the town just south of Disney fills its streets with flurries of soap-based snow over the crowds. It’s been a tradition for more than 25 years, and it’s free to attend with free parking.
Past years have added carolers, carriage rides, a holiday train and photos with Santa around the snowfall, so it’s easy to make a whole evening of it. Grab dinner on Market Street, catch a snowfall, then walk the lake.
Right in Celebration Town Center, so you can walk out the door and into the snow. About 15 minutes to Disney.
Check Rates & Availability →Lake Eola Christmas Tree (Downtown Orlando)
📍 Lake Eola Park, 195 N Rosalind Ave | 📅 Nightly light shows through early January
The City of Orlando’s 64-foot tree at Lake Eola is covered in more than 88,000 animated lights that sync with the fountain in hourly shows each evening. The annual tree lighting celebration in early December adds a holiday market, food trucks and Santa. Totally free, and a nice break from theme park prices.
A short walk to Lake Eola, with free breakfast and suites that work well for families.
Check Rates & Availability →Christmas at Disney World 2026
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
📍 Magic Kingdom | 📅 Select nights, Nov 8 – Dec 22, 2026
Disney’s classic hard-ticket Christmas party brings the Once Upon a Christmastime parade, a holiday fireworks show, character meet-and-greets and free cookies and cocoa. The party starts at 7 p.m., but ticket holders can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. Tickets run $189–$229 plus tax depending on the night, and the December dates sell out first.
Disney Jollywood Nights
📍 Hollywood Studios | 📅 Select nights, Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
The grown-up cousin of the Magic Kingdom party, with shows like Disney Holidays in Hollywood, a Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along, the Glisten! skating show and the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular. For the first time, it runs into January in 2026. Tickets run $169–$199 plus tax, and limited capacity means shorter ride waits.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
📍 EPCOT | 📅 Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026 (included with admission)
Holiday Kitchens around World Showcase, the Cookie Stroll, storytellers from around the world and the Candlelight Processional, a retelling of the Christmas story with a celebrity narrator, mass choir and full orchestra. It’s included with EPCOT admission, which makes it the best Disney Christmas value.
Free bonus: Disney’s resort hotels go all out for the holidays, from giant gingerbread displays to towering trees, and you can usually walk through the lobbies without a park ticket.
Christmas at Universal Orlando 2026
📍 Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure & Epic Universe | 📅 Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (included with admission)
Universal starts a week earlier than last year. Included with your ticket: Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, Grinchmas shows in Seuss Landing, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle projection show and holiday celebrations across the Wizarding World. New for 2026, holiday decor expands to Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk at Epic Universe.
Staying for Universal? See our guide to hotels near Universal Orlando, or book right on property:
A value-priced Universal hotel close to Epic Universe, with early park admission perks.
Check Rates & Availability →ICE! at Gaylord Palms (Kissimmee)
📍 Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee | 📅 Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
ICE! is a walk-through attraction kept at 9 degrees, with scenes from The Polar Express carved from about two million pounds of ice and a set of two-story ice slides. They hand you a parka at the door. Tickets run roughly $33–$44 depending on the date, are timed-entry and sold online only, so book ahead for December weekends. Plan 20 to 40 minutes inside.
Stay on site and walk to ICE!, the resort’s holiday decor and the giant atrium. About 10 minutes from Disney.
Check Rates & Availability →SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration
📍 SeaWorld Orlando | 📅 Select dates, early November 2026 – early January 2027
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration brings back the Sea of Trees light display, the Winter Wonderland on Ice skating show, a Sesame Street Christmas parade and holiday fireworks. Check SeaWorld’s calendar for your date, since it runs on select nights. Nearby hotels are in our hotels near SeaWorld Orlando guide.
December weekends in Orlando get packed, especially at Now Snowing, ICE! and the Disney parties. If you can, plan your big holiday nights for Monday through Thursday, and book timed tickets early.
Heading over before or after Thanksgiving? Our November 2026 events guide and December 2026 events guide have everything else happening around the state. For the rest of your trip, see the Orlando vacation guide and Kissimmee guide.
🏖️ Want a beach day during your Orlando trip? See the closest beaches to Orlando.
Christmas in Orlando FAQ
Does it really snow in Celebration, Florida?
Sort of. During Now Snowing, machines along Market Street in Celebration Town Center blow soap-based “snow” over the crowd every evening. It is free to attend and starts November 28, 2026.
When does Christmas start at Disney World in 2026?
Holiday parties start first: Disney Jollywood Nights begins November 7 and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins November 8, 2026. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs November 27 to December 30, 2026.
Is Christmas at Universal Orlando included with admission?
Yes. Holidays at Universal runs November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and the parade, Grinchmas shows and The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle projection show are included with regular park admission.
How much is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2026?
Tickets run $189 to $229 per person plus tax depending on the night, with $10 off for kids ages 3 to 9. The party is held on select nights from November 8 to December 22, 2026.
When is ICE! at Gaylord Palms in 2026?
ICE! featuring The Polar Express runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027 at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee. Tickets are timed-entry and sold online in advance, and parkas are provided.
What are the best free Christmas events in Orlando?
Now Snowing in Celebration and the giant Christmas tree light show at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando are both free. Disney resort lobbies also go all out with holiday decor you can see without a park ticket.
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