Are you wondering if you should go to Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida this year?
Short answer, absolutely!
It’s a jingle bell rock’n good time for all ages.
With an incredible show of massive Macy’s balloons, beloved favorite characters from Illumination and DreamWorks Animation, and dazzling floats and dancers it is one holiday extravaganza you don’t want to miss.
Universal Studios Florida is fun all year round but when the holiday season wraps around, they sparkle and shine through Christmastime.
So let’s go through everything you need to know to have a holly jolly good time at Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida.
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Visiting the 2024 Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida at a Glance:
- Holidays at Universal runs from November 22nd until December 31st, 2024.
- The Christmas parade at Universal Studios Florida performs nightly around 5:30 pm.
- Admission to the parade is included in your theme park ticket so it’s an extra holiday bonus!
- Join in the festive spirit as your favorite Illumination and DreamWorks Animation characters come alive in this holiday extravaganza.
- Witness larger-than-life Macy’s balloons, dazzling costumes, dancers, and spectacular festive floats delight parade-goers.
- Watch jolly’ ol Santa light up the 80 ft Christmas tree as he passes with Christmas cheer.
Keep reading to get the full guide on how to conquer Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida like a pro!
What is the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Christmas Parade likes to go big for the holidays!
This is not your typical holiday parade. The Christmas parade at Universal Studios Florida is a larger-than-life, gigantic, blown-up extravaganza of all things merry and bright.
Taking flight around 5:30 pm nightly the Universal Studios Holiday Parade makes its way through the decorated streets. However, it can be subject to change at times and weather can affect the start time.
There will be plenty of signage throughout the holiday parade route so if you aren’t quite sure you can take a quick peek so you don’t miss out on one of the best things to do at Universal Studios at Christmas.
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What to Expect at the Universal Studios Holiday Parade
This annual event lasts for around 30 magical minutes and is one of the highlights of the holiday season.
From the adorably mischievous Minions and their mayhem to Shrek, Despicable Me, and Gru family, the Universal Studios Holiday Parade is full of festive spirit and cheer.
The Universal Studios Christmas Parade takes its inspiration from the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade creating an iconic parade of incredible floats, enchanted costumes, and dazzling dancers.
Santa himself makes an appearance in his golden-lined sleigh perched above the snowy rooftops.
As he wishes everyone a merry Christmas waving with holiday cheer you can’t help but feel a rush of childhood nostalgia. It’s the most priceless gift of all!
The parade extravaganza wraps up with the classic Macy’s giant balloon star closing off the unforgettable experience.
Universal Studios Christmas Parade Route
Universal Studios Holiday Parade takes route in a clockwise direction beginning at the Horror Make-up Show gate area.
It then proceeds to move along through to Hollywood entering into MinionLand.
Making its way towards Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, passing Starbucks, Transformers 3D, and Mel’s Diner it makes its way back around returning to the same gate exit.
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Best Days to Go to The Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida
The Universal Studios Christmas Parade remains the same throughout each performance so no one showing is better than another.
However, if you are hoping to catch the parade without the overwhelming crowd, I suggest celebrating Christmas at the theme park a bit early.
The best days to go to see the Christmas parade at Universal Studios Florida would be the first two weeks of December.
Christmas week and even the week before you will start to find the crowd becoming a bit enormous since this is the busiest time of the year.
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5 Beginner Tips for Visiting The Universal Studios Christmas Parade
Now that you know what to expect at this holiday parade, let’s go over a few things to help you make the most of your time!
1. Arrive Early to Get a Good Spot
Watching the Universal Studios Christmas Parade can be a bit of an investment in your time but it may just end up being one of the highlights of your day at the theme park.
Getting there early to secure your spot can make all the difference in your parade experience. I recommend setting aside 30 minutes to an hour so that you can find your ideal spot.
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2. Pack Your Patience
Remember it’s the holidays so you aren’t the only one on vacation.
You will want to be sure to pack enough holly jolly spirit as there will be large crowds and sometimes there are unexpected delays.
This may be the most wonderful time of the year but it is also one of the most popular times of the year to visit Universal Studios Florida.
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3. Stay Around the Outer Perimeter
If you don’t want to be caught in pedestrian traffic and chaos after the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida you may want to think about watching from the outer perimeter ring.
This way you won’t find yourself getting trapped within the crowd if you need to move around or when the parade ends and everyone is on the move.
4. Choose Your Spot Wisely
Choosing the right spot to watch the Christmas parade at Universal Studios Florida can determine how unforgettable your holiday experience is.
Here are a few ideal viewing spots :
- In front of Starbucks: This spot will give you an amazing view of the parade and is great for those who want to take pictures and videos
- Mel’s Drive-In or the Pantages Theatre: This spot is for those who want to see the parade twice and aren’t in a rush when the parade comes to an end
- Bourne Spectacular show area: Perfect for families and you can take a seat and rest along the sidewalk (my favorite spot).
- Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride: This is the best place if want to have festive scenery when capturing photos
- Hollywood Boulevard area: This is an overall great spot to watch the parade pass by
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5. Plan Your Visit Around the Parade
The Christmas parade at Universal Studios Florida is an absolute must-do holiday experience.
You can’t help but feel young at heart as some of your favorite characters float their way past you.
So be sure to plan your day around the parade time that way you can still enjoy all the holiday-themed activities and make the most of your theme park visit.
Recommended: 27 Most Festive Things to Do in Orlando for Christmas
My Final Thoughts on The Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida
I hope this guide has you feeling much more prepared for your upcoming visit to this festive and magical event.
The Christmas parade at Universal Studios Florida showcases the spirit of the season through its incredible colors and costumes, enchanted floats and displays, and favorite fun characters filling our hearts with holiday cheer.
Until next time, Merry Christmas Hipsters!
About the Author
Sarah Jordan is a solo traveler enthusiast, professional travel writer, and proud mama to her rescue dog Coconut.
With a love for destinations across the globe, she made Epcot her first theme park and still treasures her EPCOT World Showcase passport to this day.
After finally following her inner wanderlust, she discovered the freedom and empowerment that solo travel brings.
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(Original Article Date: December 14, 2023/Updated by Editor on October 13, 2024)
We are thinking of coming to Universal over New Year’s and through the first week of January. Does this parade definitely end on 12/31? Last year we went to Sea World and somethings stayed up past there initial take down date of 1/7 and hoping this may be the case here as well.
To my knowledge, Universal ends the parade on 12/31 each year. However, as your vacation approaches, you can call their help line or chat with them on their app to see if it will be extended until the first of the year.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday vacation!
Nikky