Grab Your Weasley Sweaters: Christmas Is Coming to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort!

by Kat Miller · Published April 13, 2017 · Updated June 28, 2021

Are you sick and tired of seeing all of the INCREDIBLE – GORGEOUS – STUNNING special features and events that happen at the Universal Studios Japan’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter and endlessly daydreaming about why you can’t visit? Well, Muggles, No-Majs, and wizards, it is time to start saving your galleons because Christmas is coming to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort!

MuggleNet is proud to share with you an early look at the four-part festivities debuting later this year:

Part 1

Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are going to be totally decked out – from Hogwarts to Gringotts – in festival AF decorations. Dobby’s mistletoe or the Great Hall will have nothing on Universal Orlando’s decor.

Part 2

The long-rumored projection show is no longer a rumor! The show, which uses the latest in map projection technology, is going to be a Christmas nighttime experience on the stately Hogwarts castle. As detailed in the video below, it “will be specially themed just for the season and will feature incredible visual moments inspired from the films.”

Part 3

FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD. Who doesn’t love some amazing holiday food? Universal Orlando promises that food will be taken “straight from the stories” – we are hoping for Christmas pudding, eggnog, and maybe even trifle! Yum.

Part 4

You may have already experienced the wonder of the Hogwarts Frog Choir or a rousing performance by Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees, but Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort is promising some new entertainment in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. We have no idea what to expect here, but given Universal’s incredible track record with live entertainment, we aren’t even remotely concerned since it is sure to be amazing!

Bonus

Michael Aiello, Senior Director of Entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort (and a kick ass human being!) teases in the video that “there is more to come with Harry Potter later this year” – what could that mean?! Do you have any thoughts on what else we could be expecting? We have a few ideas…

What do you think of this festive addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort? What else would you like to see featured? Let us know in the comments below!

Press Release

CHRISTMAS IS COMING TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

Universal Orlando Resort Announces Brand-New Holiday Experiences Coming to Its Destination in 2017 – Including a New and Magical Celebration of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and All-New Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s

Orlando, Fla. (April 13, 2017) – The most wonderful time of the year is coming to one of the most immersive theme park experiences ever created. Universal Orlando Resort announced today that a new Christmas experience is coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as part of its destination-wide Holiday celebration.

Plus, a brand-new parade featuring Macy’s will also join Universal’s epic lineup of Holidays experiences – making Universal Orlando the place to be for Holidays.

These new experiences will join beloved Holiday traditions at Universal Orlando for the destination’s 2017 Holidays celebration, which will run for more dates than ever before from November 18, 2017 to January 6, 2018.

Celebrate Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Christmas is a special time in the Harry Potter series, and fans from around the world have long wanted to enjoy that part of J.K. Rowling’s compelling story for themselves. This November, the new Christmas experience in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will give guests a special opportunity to see, feel and even taste what it’s like to celebrate the magic of Christmas in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.

As night falls, a magical holiday transformation of Hogwarts castle will take place right before guests’ eyes. Incredible state-of- the-art projection mapping and special effects will wrap the iconic castle – bringing holiday spirit and memorable Christmas moments from the Harry Potter series to life like never before.

Festive décor like ornate garlands will line the streets of both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Each storefront will be decked out with uniquely-themed decorations, and guests will enjoy special holiday themed food, drink and entertainment.

Stay tuned – more details about Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and even more exciting news about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be released soon.

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Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s

A brand-new holiday parade experience will also join Universal Orlando’s resort-wide Holiday celebration beginning this November. Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s will take place in Universal Studios Florida and feature magnificent new, incredibly-detailed floats and balloons, and beloved characters like the mischievous Minions from Despicable Me, popular DreamWorks characters from Madagascar and Shrek – and even Santa Claus himself. Universal is partnering with Macy’s, the global leader in balloon entertainment, to bring this new parade experience to life. More details will be released soon.

Universal Orlando’s resort-wide Holidays celebration – including Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s – will run daily from November 18, 2017 to January 6, 2018. Access to the festivities is included in regular admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Guests can now book a special vacation package to experience all of Universal’s epic Holidays entertainment. Packages start at $165 per adult, per night (tax inclusive) and include four-night hotel accommodations at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, a 4-day/3- park ticket that includes admission to ALL THREE Universal theme parks – including Universal’s new water theme park, Volcano Bay, which grand opens on May 25, and early park admission to The= Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay. For more information, visit www.universalorlando.com.

About Universal Orlando Resort

For more than 25 years, Universal Orlando Resort has been creating epic vacations for the entire family – incredible experiences that place guests in the heart of powerful stories and adventures. Universal Orlando’s theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, are home to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative theme park experiences – including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley. And on May 25, 2017, Universal Orlando will open its third park, Universal’s Volcano Bay – an entirely new water theme park experience.

Universal’s on-site resort hotels, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and the all-new Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, are destinations unto themselves. Its entertainment complex, Universal CityWalk, offers dining and entertainment for every member of the family.

Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled more than 20 new guest experiences since 2010 – powerful attractions, incredible dining opportunities and dramatically themed hotels. Now open is Skull Island: Reign of Kong, a groundbreaking attraction in Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk’s newest, unique dining experience, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen.

Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company. Follow us on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. J.K. ROWLING`S WIZARDING WORLD™ J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s17)

Our friends at Attractions Magazine took this video of the festivities in Japan. Universal Orlando’s will be quite a bit different but we are sure just as magical.