Review: Is Universal Orlando’s VIP Holiday Tour Worth the Price
The holidays at Universal Orlando kicked off this past weekend, with beautiful decor, festive food and drinks, entertainment, and Holiday character meet and greets. There's lots of Holiday offerings you can enjoy with just your regular theme park admission ticket. However, If you’re wanting to add some extra holiday magic to your Universal Orlando vacation, one option is to add the Universal Holiday Tour! Having done the Holiday Tour every year it's been offered, I obviously signed up for he first night of this years Holiday tour. In this post I'll break down everything you get to see and do during the tour, and if it's worth the price.
What Is Universal Orlando’s Holiday Tour?
This tour gives you the opportunity to enjoy festive activities in a guided small group. The Universal Holiday Tour takes place on select dates from November 12th through January 1st, 2023. You will need to have a separate park-to-park ticket and reservations slot in order to attend the Holiday tour. So, this cost is in addition to your regular ticket cost.The Holiday tour takes you through both Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. This is why you need the park-to-park ticket! What’s Included in Universal’s Holiday Tour?
Exclusive Meet and Greet meeting with the Grinch and MaxSmall bites. non-alcoholic beverages, and a hot cocoa bar at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendousReserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday SpectacularA private Santa meetingPriority access to 1 attractionAn after-hours showing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle
What To Expect
Holiday Tour Pricing$79.99+tax
Duration5 Hours
Tours will include multiple parties in the same tour group; up to 12 guests per tour
Holiday Tour Check-In
You start off by checking in outside Universal Studios Florida near the entrance to the former Blue Man Group Sound Stage. I arrived for check in at 6pm. After showing giving my confirmation number and showing I had park admission, I given a wristband.The check-in process felt slower than the past 2 years in my opinion. In total, I waited 45 mins before be split into our groups, and meeting our Holiday tour guide for the night. I had 11 people in my group.🎶 The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular Show
Our night started night by seeing The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular! As part of the tour, you get reserved viewing fo the show. We were in the last showing for the daytime general admission guests at 7PM.View wise— We were seated in the middle section, 11 rows back from the stage.The show is a live retelling of the story of the Grinch and includes music from Mannheim Steamroller.
💚 Meet & Greet With The Grinch & Max 🐶
Meeting the Grinch himself in Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-Pendous is a huge perk with this Holiday Tour!Unlike last year where the Grinch wandered around & stood for photo’s, he basically stood in 1 area, & we queued for our interaction with him.Max was stationed separately for his meet & greet, and had little to. no wait. There was a TM stationed to help take your photos.Food and drinks in the cafe are included in the price of the Holiday Tour.Before leaving the cafe, we were given 1 complimentary Grinch PostcardSmall bites included:
Who HashPizza totsVegan option available
Chicken & wafflesPopcorn shrimp with fries2 Christmas decorated sugar cookies options
Hot chocolate bar + coffee
Toppings: marshmallowsMini Candy canesChocolate springs
🌈 Walked Around Seuss Landing
Before walking over to Universal Studios Florida, you’re given the option to walk around Seuss Landing as daytime guests start to make their way to the exit for the night.Universal’s Holiday Tribute Store
You're given the option to go inside and explore the Tribute Store. It's a great chance to enjoy it without waiting or with typical daytime holiday crowds.
🎄Iconic Universal Christmas Tree Photo Opportunity
While the group waits for everyone to finish inside the Tribute Store, you tour guide can help you get that iconic Christmas Tree photo without guests constantly walking into your photo like during the daytime.You can also explore the New York area of Universal Studios Florida. Again, giving you the ability to get all the pretty empty park Holiday photos.
🎢 Priority Access to 1 Attraction
The 1 attraction you get to do during your Holiday Tour is subject to Tour itinerary at Universal's discretion. This means the ride you get during each Holiday Tour varies. Ours was Jimmy Fallon.There wasn't an option to switch what ride I got access too . Trust me, I asked, lol.
🎅🏾 Meeting Santa Claus
Santa iis located in the executive room about Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. You’re escorted to the 30 Rock balcony for a cool view of Universal Studios Florida before spending some time with Santa.A Universal photographer takes your photo with Santa and then you can talk to him for a moment and tell him what you want for Christmas.1 My Universal Photos digital download per party is complimentary.This is the only way to meet Santa Claus in Universal Orlando Resotr, and it’s the first way they’ve done a real meet and greet with Santa.🚽 Bathroom break
After meeting Santa, we got a few minutes to use the restrooms and take some pictures of the holiday decor with an empty Universal Studios Florida.For those with littles— This is a great time to check their diapers, and change them into their pajama’s if they’re not already in them.🌈 Walkthrough An Empty Seuss Landing
As you make your way to Hogsmeade, you get to stroll through a peaceful Seuss Landing perfectly decorated for Christmas. I love how well you can hear the music since there's no crowds walking around with you.
🪄Experience A Crowd Free Hogsmeade
Before the grand finale of the evening, you get about 30 minutes to explore Hogsmeade.This is your change to take empty WIZARDING WORLD photo’s, and soak in the magical Hogsmeade ambiance before the light show officially started. Don't forget to bring your interactive wand. During this time, you can practice your spells at all the Hogsmeade spell locations.Hogshead Pub was open if you wanted to buy Butterbeer + Alcohol. Sadly, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter shops were not open. (Last year Honeydukes and Dervish & Banges were open.
🏰 Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle Show
To end the night and the Holiday Tour, you get to see an exclusive after-hours showing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle Show. You get to watch this show after regular, daytime guests have left the park.Our Hogwarts Castle light show started promptly at 10:45 PM.I did notice that the viewing area was more crowded than in 2021. It seemed like all the tour groups for the evening watched this one showing together.
👋 Escorted Out of Islands of Adventure
After the Holiday Tour ends, you have the option to explore CityWalk. You could go inside the Universal Studios CityWalk Store, Go see a movie, or grab a bite to eat before heading back to your Hotel.What Makes Universal Orlando’s Holiday Tour Great?
📝The tour hits almost all the big holiday experiences at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure without crowds. X-mas parade is NOT included📝You can enjoy the Holiday offerings without the stress of planning around daytime showtimes, peak Holiday crowds, AND you don't have to worry about getting a virtual line spot for the Grinch meet and greet at Honk Honkers.📝The Holiday Tour is the only way to meet Santa at Universal Orlando Resort📝This tour runs on an organized schedule~45 mins at Circus McGurkus Cafe with the Grinch~30 mins to explore inside the Tribute Store~30 mins roaming in Hogsmeade before the light showHogwarts Castle light show is 8 minutes long
Previous Holiday Tour Offerings NOT Provided in 2022
❌ No free ornament❌ No exclusive “Who & A” with some of the Whos from The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular❌ The Grinch wasn't really wandering around inside Circus McGurkus Cafe for additional interactions ❌ None of the WWoHP shops were open in Hogsmeade🏆 Overall Review of Universal's Holiday Tour
If you’re looking for a way to get the most out of the holidays at Universal without planning, I recommend the tour!
