Five Holiday Wonders in Central Florida

’Tis the festive season here in Central Florida, and our elves are hard at work to make sure your holiday vacation is one for the books — whether it’s your first Kissimmee getaway or you’re a regular on the Kissimmee nice list. If you’re ready to frolic and play the Kissimmee way, here are five must-do activities while staying in this sunny version of a “wintery” wonderland.

Watch Cinderella Castle Get a Seasonal Makeover

Gather 'round Cinderella Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park for a spectacular celebration of Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration. Join Mickey and pals for an unforgettable show featuring Cinderella Castle — a shimmering ice palace with over 200,000 LED lights.

Seeing the castle sparkle and shine is a very cool experience that'll have both the little ones and grownups oohing and ahhing. And if you can’t make the show, you can still see the lights since Cinderella Castle stays illuminated all night long — perfect for that Instagram snapshot!

A Who-liday Just for You-liday

Over at Seuss Landing at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, The Grinch is up to his old tricks with The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular. This live retelling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is full of mirth, mischief, and merriment that’s certain to make your heart (and smile) grow three sizes. Watch a who’s who of Whoville residents teach The Grinch the true meaning of the holiday season, then get an autograph and snap a photo with The Grinch himself. Don’t worry, he’s not really a mean one, just misunderstood.

An Ice Time for All

One of the best things about coming to Kissimmee during the holidays is the wonderfully warm weather. So, you might be surprised to discover there’s plenty of frozen fun waiting for you in Central Florida. We’re talking about ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. Parkas are provided, but we still recommend wearing warm-weather clothes since it's a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit inside.

Luckily, Gaylord Palms Resort has you (and the ground) covered. They’ve made more than two million pounds of colorful ice for this event, especially for sculpture carving and decorations. They also built frozen ice chutes for you to slide down with your family. After your sliding session, warm up with some hot chocolate and gingerbread cookie decorating while Mrs. Claus reads the classic poem ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.

A Snowy Surprise Worth a Celebration

For more than 20 years, Celebration Town Center has been the place to go to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! That’s because the nightly Now Snowing show transforms the town into a winter wonderland without any of the chilly weather. You can also go skating, listen to the Charles Dickens Carolers, and take a ride through town in a beautiful horse-drawn carriage. And in case you’re wondering how the folks in Celebration manage to make it snow daily during the season – that’s just the magic of the holidays!

A Special Treat From Sesame Street

If you’re looking for an experience young travelers will adore, we can tell you how to get to the Sesame Street Christmas Parade at SeaWorld Parks & Resort Orlando. This all-new celebration features fantastically colorful floats, jaw-dropping dancing, and music that will have you moving to the melody. Best of all, little ones will have a chance to see all their favorite Sesame Street residents — from Big Bird to Elmo — getting in on the fun. Even Oscar the Grouch takes part in the singing and festivities, proving the holidays really do bring out the best in everyone. Plus, after the parade there’s the opportunity to take a photo with Elmo and his friends. 

Stay for the Christmas Celebration and see millions of beautiful lights around the park. From live shows and seasonal character dining to the Sea of Trees and an ice skating spectacular, it's a Christmas celebration you won't want to miss.

We Make Last-Minute Planning Easier Than Last-Minute Shopping

Still searching for a few more things to do on your upcoming vacation? Take a look around our website to see all the fun that’s waiting here for you. 

If you’re searching for holiday season activities, be sure to check out these jolly holiday happenings. And for a gift that keeps on giving, subscribe to our newsletter. It’s full of vacation tips and tricks you can use all year round. Happy holidays!