REVIEW: 2023 Universal Orlando Holiday Tour
The Universal Holiday Tour has returned for the 2023 Christmas season at Universal Orlando Resort!The Holiday tour has been offered since 2020, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience every year so far. Here’s everything offered on this year’s Holiday Tour, what to expect, and if it’s worth the price.
Universal Orlando Holiday Tour 2023 Overview
This is a 5 hour guided tour gives you special access to all the exciting holiday entertainment experiences taking place inside Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure parks. Theme park admission isn't included in the price. Reservations and a separate park admission ticket is required. Your park-to-park admission and Universal's Holiday Tour ticket must be valid for the same calendar day. The tour is subject to availability and elements are subject to change without notice.The Holiday Tour starts at $79.99 per person, but prices vary depending on the date. Most dates start at $99.99.
Universal Holiday Tour Includes:
Reserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular.Exclusive Meet and Greets with the Grinch and his faithful dog, Max.Light bites, desserts, and more.Private Meet and Greet with SantaPriority access to one pre-selected attractionAn after-hours showing of The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle
Holiday Tour Check-in
Check-in starts at 5:30 p.m. and guests should arrive no later than 6:15 p.m.The check-in area is located between Universal Studios Florida, where you will scan your park ticket, the Hard Rock Cafe.Once you’ve checked in, you’ll stand in line to get a wristband and then get grouped with a tour guide.If you arrive early, you will be waiting in this area until almost 6:30 p.m., so eat ahead of time, and pack a water bottle.First Stop of the Night— The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectactular
Reserved seating for the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular. This show is a live retelling of the classic tale starring the Grinch, featuring music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller. Thanks to the Holiday Tour, I had a great seat in the middle with a perfect view!
Priority Access to 1 Pre-Selected Attraction
After the Grinchmas show, our group headed to Universal Studios Florida to ride the new Illumination Villain-Con Minion Blast attraction.While Universal Orlando was still open to daytime guests, our group was guided into the Express line to experience this attraction. Last year the attraction was Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon… so a much better option than year!
Time to Meet Santa!
The Santa Meet and Greet is located in the upstairs VIP area of Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. This holiday meet and greet is exclusive to the Universal Holiday Tour, and is not available to regular park guests. It does not feel rushed like it did last year, so this was a better experience. A Team Member will use your phone camera to take a photo for you.You can see Santa in Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, but the Holiday Tour is the only way to actually meet and talk with Santa.Iconic Universal Christmas Tree Photo Op
After the Santa Meet and Greet, we walked over to the New York area of the park to get photos in front of the iconic Universal Christmas tree. You can get some really epic empty photos when the Universal Orlando is closed.
Holiday Tribute Store
After our Christmas tree photos, we headed to the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Florida to explore an empty Holiday Tribute Store. You’re given a couple of minutes to go into each room of the tribute store before a food break.
Light Bites and Rest Break
We got roughy 40 minutes to eat and relax at Cafe la Bamba.In previous years, the snacks have been in Circus McGurkus with the Grinch. Guests had the option of meeting the Grinch & Max while enjoying cookies, hot chocolate & light bites. Due to the Circus McGurkus refurbishment, Universal Orlando modified to this part of the Holiday Tour.This year, The Holiday Tour food options were a major downgrade. Last year, the food options were amazing; and really made the value of the Holiday Tour incredible.Light Bites Include:
“White Christmas Pasta.”Chicken bitesFriesSalad barCheese and cracker stationFruit barVarious small dessertsCoffeeHot chocolateBottled Water + Bottled Soda
One a positive note, you don’t have to rush to eat in order meet with the Grinch and Max. Last year, the Grinch line got pretty long, snd some guests accidentally spent their time eating, and never had time to meet with the Grinch or Max.
On our way back to Universal Islands of Adventure, we were taken through one of the old soundstages.On the walls there’s photographs of some of the productions filmed in the park including a picture of what Universal Studios Florida looked like when it first opened. It was pretty cool’s seeing photographs from different commercials, movies, and music videos shot in the park!Grinch Meet and Greet
The most anticipated part of Universal’s Holiday tour is getting to hang out with the Grinch. Universal Orlando’s Grinch meet and greet in the park is a stand-by queue instead of a Virtual Line this year, so the Universal Holiday Tour is a stress free way to meet him without waiting in a really long line during precious daytime park hours.During the Holiday Tour, the Grinch meets guests inside the theater, which has wayyyyyy better lighting and a more immersive backdrop behind you.While you wait in line to meet for the Grinch, you can watch & hear his interactions with other guests. Get ready for lots of belly laughs. 
Photo Opportunity with Max
Meeting Max is exclusive to the Universal Holiday Tour, so it’s 100% worth it right there!
Meet a Who Character
This was a new addition to the Holiday Tour. While you wait for the Grinch or Max they have a Who character out for photos or just to chat with.
Dessert Break
Desserts Included:
Mini chocolate cakes
Peppermint cheesecake popsChicharronsMini Italian rainbow cakesGrinch CookiesFruitBottled water + sodaCoffee + Hot chocolate
Last year meeting the Grinch, Max, and all the food were all in the same location making it cramped and rushed, so it was nice having more space and a little extra time to sit.
After-Hours Showing of the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle
The last stop of the Holiday Tour was to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. While in Hogsmeade you get an after-hours showing of the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.You get roughly 10-15 minutes to take photos of an empty Hogsmeade or practice your spells. Sadly this year,none of the shops or dining locations like the HogsHead Pub were open. In previous years, you could buy Butterbeer during to enjoy during this part of the Holiday Tour.The Christmas light show is the same show available each night, but this after-hours showing is exclusively for guests on the tour and provided you with a minimal crowd viewing experience.After the light show, the tour guides lead all the groups to the exit of the Islands of Adventure to say goodnight.
Overall Holiday Tour Review:
I had an awesome time on the Holiday Tour and would recommend it to those looking for a unique Holiday experience. I still enjoyed the Holiday tour even with the changes, but would really really really love to see the food offerings be better next year.There’s a lot of great improvements from last year’s Holiday tour, but also some major downgrades. The flow of the Holiday Tour runs so smooth and is very efficient + organized. Nothing felt rushed. There’s not as much standing around and waiting free time, which is much appreciated. Meeting the Grinch and Max in the theater was fantastic. The lighting is significantly better than the daytime meet and greet. Compared to last years Holiday Tour, it’s an even shorter wait for meeting the Grinch.Your tour guide can really make or break your Holiday Tour experience. Ours was so fun, and had a really enthusiastic vibe. Our guide loved hyping up each offering, knew about a lot of holiday Easter eggs in the lark, and explained in detail everything that was coming up next.The worst part was the “light bites” portion of the tour. This year, it felt like the food was an after thought. No holiday themed food really.There was no hot chocolate and cookies this year. The savory food choices were really sad compare to tots, chicken and waffles, popcorn shrimp, etc like last year. Definitely eat dinner before the tour.Other Small Holiday Tour Perks Left Out this Year:
No digital download of your photo with SantaNo digital download of your photo with the GrinchNo WWoHP postcards during the dessert portionNo ornament souvenir gift handed out at the end of the HolidayTour
Is Universal Orlando’s Holiday Tour Worth the Price in 2023?
Yes! Considering everything Included, there’s a lot of value to the Holiday Tour.If you’re looking for a special Holiday experience with guaranteed photos with the Grinch, Max, andSanta the Universal Holiday Tour is perfect for you. The Grinch meet and greet alone is worth the price so you can avoid the long wait times to meet the Grinch during regular daytime park hours. The exclusive meet and greet with Max is SO worth it as well!With the changes to the food this year, I can see that be a deciding factor for some booking or not. The Holiday Tour was a great way to try some of the iconic food ordering at Circus McGurkus.
Things to Consider Before Booking Universal’s Holiday Tour:
The Holiday Tour is pretty long with minimal breaksIt runs very late into the night. If you have littles, the tour could go late enough into the night where they don’t get to fully enjoy itThe Priority access to one attraction is already pre-selected prior to the tourDepending on your dates it could be chilly in the evening so make sure you bring a sweatshirt for layering
