Create Unforgettable Memories At Universal Orlando Resort's Holidays Celebration

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Orlando Resort's Holidays celebration is where families create holiday memories to last a lifetime. With one-of-a-kind holiday traditions that all ages can enjoy, it's the only place where guests can come face-to-face with The Grinch at Grinchmas, watch majestic Macy's balloons wind through the streets and hear Christmas music sensation – Mannheim Steamroller – perform beloved holiday classics. Beginning Dec. 1 and running through Jan.1, the Holidays at Universal Orlando offers incredible holiday experiences at both theme parks.

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At Universal's Islands of Adventure, families will be filled with holiday cheer as Grinchmas comes to life throughout Seuss Landing. Guests can watch the heartwarming live show, "Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular," featuring The Grinch and the Whos from Who-ville accompanied by an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. Guests can also meet The Grinch and the Whos and on select dates, purchase and enjoy a special breakfast with the characters.

At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy's Holiday Parade will fill the streets every evening with the same larger-than-life balloons seen in the famous New York City parade.  This year, the parade will include all-new Nutcracker and Mouse King "trycaloons" – tandem tricycles that appear to be pedaled by whimsical balloon characters from the popular holiday tale. Guests will also enjoy colorful holiday characters, fantasy-filled floats and a tree-lighting ceremony by Santa Claus.

Returning this year with more concerts than ever before is Mannheim Steamroller – the masters of Christmas music with more than 40 million albums sold worldwide. The acclaimed musical group will take to the Music Plaza stage in Universal Studios eight nights this year to perform their memorable holiday hits for guests. Performance nights are Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23.

All theme park holiday entertainment – including Mannheim Steamroller concerts – is included as part of two-park or multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. For a memorable getaway, guests can take advantage of the following holiday vacation package:

Holiday Festivities at the Three On-Site Hotels at Universal Orlando

The celebration continues at the three on-site hotels at Universal Orlando – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort – all of which will glisten with holiday decorations. Hotel guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with holiday buffets and dining events, tree-lighting ceremonies, special musical performances, and holiday pool-side "dive-in" movie presentations.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel features an all-new, harborside celebration of the first Thanksgiving feast with Pilgrims and Indians on Thanksgiving night, then kicks off the holiday season on Friday, November 23 with 'Holiday Harbor Nights,' a wine, food, jazz and tree lighting celebration on the Harbor Piazza.  On select nights in December at Portofino, guests can enjoy Holiday in the Harbor, with carolers, acrobatic elves, scavenger hunts and storytelling. Hard Rock Hotel features special Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve buffets and welcomes Santa to The Kitchen restaurant on Fridays in December.  Loews Royal Pacific Resort offers holiday buffets for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, plus a special New Year's Eve luau to ring in the New Year.

New Year's Eve at Universal CityWalk

On December 31^st, guests can celebrate the New Year at one of the hottest parties of the year – Universal CityWalk's New Year's Eve celebration. This year's electrifying event features a rockin' concert by one of today's top artists, access to seven of CityWalk's high-energy nightclubs, all-you-can-eat gourmet cuisine and a midnight champagne toast.

For more information on the Holidays at Universal Orlando, vacation packages and ticket offers, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/holidays.

About Universal Orlando Resort

There are many ways to enjoy your Orlando vacation, but there is only one place where vacation becomes adventure:  Universal Orlando Resort. It is a unique destination featuring two theme parks, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex. It's the only Orlando destination where you are not just entertained – you become part of the most exhilarating entertainment ever created. You can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, be transformed into a banana-loving minion in the hilarious and heartwarming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride and help Shrek save Princess Fiona in Shrek 4-D.

Universal Orlando Resort is an NBCUniversal company.

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SOURCE Universal Orlando Resort