Christmas at Orlando Resorts and Hotels

gaylord-palms-ice-slideDuring the Christmas Season, many of the major Orlando Resorts and Hotels get into the holiday spirit by putting on special events and attractions.

Gaylord Palms Resort

One of the best attractions and most heavily advertised is the Gaylord Palms ICE! attraction in the Kissimmee area just outside Disney World. Each year, the Gaylord Palms resort brings in 40 ice artisans to spend more than 30 days to hand carve out 5,000 blocks of ice that weigh close to 2 million pounds. The theme for the 2013 event features Frosty the Snowman. In addition to the ICE! Event, the Gaylord Palms puts on a Christmas Show on most nights in December with a giant Christmas Tree in the atrium that has dancing lights during the performance. The resort turns into a mini-indoor theme park with Dreamworks Character Meet and Greets and pool parties if the weather is warm enough.

Rosen Hotels on International Drive

On International Drive, several of the Rosen Hotels have Christmas and Holiday events taking place mostly on the weekends with a majority of the larger events taking place at the Rosen Shingle Creek and the Rosen Centre.



The Rosen Shingle Creek features holiday ballet shows on the Friday and Saturday Nights in the early part of December from the Elizabeth Parsons School of Dance and Windermere Ballet Community Theatre.

Later on in the month of December on Friday and Saturday nights, the Rosen Shingle Creek transforms it’s outdoor area into the annual Winter Wonderland Festival that features gently falling snow, holiday carolers, the Shingle Creek Express train, a beautifully decorated 25-foot Christmas tree, storytelling with Mrs. Claus, holiday movies, karaoke and appearances from winter characters such as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Santa and the first ever “Live Remote Controlled Toys.”

Over at the Rosen Centre is an ice skating rink that is on International Drive on December 6th, 7th, and 8th and 13th, 14th, and 15th in 2013.

Grande Lakes and Bonnet Creek

The Grande Lakes Orlando Resort, that comprises of the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton, has a few holiday events taking place around the holidays including a Gingerbread School. The Hilton and Waldorf Astoria at the Bonnet Creek Resort will have several events at the resort throughout the month of December including Christmas Caroling, visits from Santa Claus, Horse and Carriage Rides, and fireworks.

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Christmas Articles from Orlando Local Guide

  • Christmas Lights Displays in Orlando Neighborhoods and Homes
  • ICE! at the Gaylord Palms 2018 featuring ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
  • Santa Claus Arrival at the Mall at Millenia for Christmas on November 4th, 2016
  • Best Christmas Events in Downtown Orlando and Lake Eola in 2015 including New Years
  • Free Santa Photo and Crafts at Bass Pro Shops in Orlando This Christmas in 2015
  • Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at the Magic Kingdom in 2015
  • 2015 Epcot Candlelight Christmas Show at Disney World Featuring the Walt Disney Orchestra, Voices of Liberty, Choirs, and Celebrity Narrators
  • 2015 Orlando Magic Home Games Around Christmas and New Years featuring Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat
  • Christmas Eve Services at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando 2015 in Downtown Orlando
  • Winter Park Outdoor Ice Skating during the Holidays in Central Park 2015
  • Waterford Lakes Santa’s Winter Wonderland Village Carnival 2015
  • Orlando Ballet Presents The Nutcracker 2015 at the Dr. Phillips Center during the Christmas Season in December
  • Light Up UCF 2015 Christmas Event at the University of Central Florida Features Ice Skating, Light Show, Outdoor Movies, and a Ferris Wheel
  • Gingerbread Christmas Tree at Contemporary Resort at Disney World
  • 2015 Baldwin Park Winter Spark Christmas Parade at Night on December 12th
  • Free Nutcracker Performance by the Russian Ballet of Orlando at Lake Eola on December 19th, 2015
  • The Singing Christmas Trees 2015 at First Baptist Church of Orlando is the Best Christmas Event in Orlando
  • 2015 Holiday at Heritage Square Christmas Event at the Orange County History Center on December 12th
  • Holiday Lights Orlando 2015 Featuring the Gift Christmas Festival and Show
  • Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2015 Christmas Concert in Downtown Orlando
  • 2015 Handel’s Messiah Free Christmas Concert at the Bob Carr on November 29th
  • Home for the Holidays Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Christmas Concert 2015 in Downtown Orlando
  • Holiday Heroes Orange County Toy Drive 2014 Collects 4,655 Toys
  • 2014 Light Up Viera Christmas Event and Parade
  • Santa Claus Events around Orlando in 2015
  • Attending the Disney World Christmas Day Parade Taping with 2014 Dates
  • Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom Celebrates the Holidays with Characters, Parades, and Fireworks in 2015
  • Voices of Liberty Christmas Caroling at Epcot in Disney World
  • Winter Park Christmas Tree Lighting in Central Park 2014 with Holiday Movies
  • A Guide to Spending the Christmas Holidays at the Gaylord Palms Resort in 2015
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