The jack-o’-lanterns are not yet rotting, but we have fresh information about holiday happenings at three Central Florida theme parks. Visitors may see the return of the sea lion show at SeaWorld Orlando, a 360,000-brick Christmas tree at Legoland Florida and a “Coco” character at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, the park is preparing a revival of “Clyde & Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas.” The comic sea lion duo were last seen in a show in the park’s holiday event in 2019. In the past, the production has included cameos by a walrus and a mime, plus some snarky attitude. Stay tuned.
The park will offer a reimagined version of Mrs. Claus’ Magic Kitchen, a new Santa experience and refreshed photo ops.
Other shows returning this season include “O Wondrous Night,” “Elmo’s Christmas Wish Show,” “Winter Wonderland on Ice,” “Sesame Street Christmas Parade” and “Holiday Reflections: Fireworks Finale.”
Additional activities will include the Sea of Trees display on the park lagoon, meet-and-greets for “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” characters and “Sesame Street” folks decked out in holiday attire, a miniature train display and, for an additional fee, ice skating on stage at Bayside Stadium.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is held on select dates between Nov. 7 and Jan. 5. The park incorporates shorter-term celebrations during this period as well, including Hanukkah (Dec. 14-21), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan.1) and Three Kings (Jan. 2-6). The events are included with regular SeaWorld admission.
For more information, go to seaworld.com/orlando.
The Holly Hype Dance Party, featuring Lego Reindeer Girl, will be part of the holiday festivities at Legoland Florida. (Courtesy Legoland Florida)
In Winter Haven, Legoland Florida will mark the holidays on Saturdays in December as well as during the Dec. 24-30 period. The park leans heavily into Lego-themed decor and characters for the holidays, fronted by its three-story-tall tree of bricks, which will be flanked by a life-size Lego sleigh with reindeer and a giant Lego wreath.
Lego characters will be stationed throughout the park, but it should be easy to spot Lego Snowman during the Festival of Flurries dance and sing-along or Lego Reindeer Girl at the Holly Hype Dance Party. Additional activities include sleigh-building competitions and a holiday traditions scavenger hunt in the Duplo Valley section of the park.
The holiday details extend down to Miniland USA, which also gets a seasonal makeover.
The festivities are included with regular admission on event days. For more information, go to legoland.com/florida.
“Disney Holidays in Hollywood” — featuring Kermit and Piggy — is staged during Disney Jollywood Nights, a separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. (Courtesy Olga Thompson/Walt Disney Co.)
Disney Jollywood Nights, an after-hours/extra-ticket event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, returns with 13 event nights between Nov. 8 and Dec. 22.
New elements include a character appearance by Miguel (“Coco”) at the Holiday Fiesta en la Calle in the coaster courtyard. Jollywood also features Disney characters, including rarely seen ones such as Stitch in Santa mode, Max Goof as Powerline, Baloo and King Louie from “The Jungle Book” and Bing Bong from “Inside Out.” Two additional debuts will be Chewbacca “celebrating Life Day” and Partysaurus Rex, stationed in Toy Story Land, Disney says.
Two non-holiday shows that debuted at the park this year — “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” and “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” — will be available during Jollywood Nights. The event also returns productions such as “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” (featuring Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog), “What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along,” “Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam” projections and the Twilight Soiree at the Tip Top Club and other musical acts. The “Glisten!” skating show will be staged four times nightly near the Chinese Theater.
A holiday menu will appear at Backlot Express, plus holiday items at new locations such as Tune-in Lounge, KRNR Rock Station, and Pretzel Palooza.
Ticket prices vary with dates, ranging between $159 and $199 for the night. Official event hours are 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., but ticketholders are allowed entry to the theme park at 5:30 p.m. on event days.
For more details, go to disneyworld.com/holidays.
New and nibbles
• Some Halloween events don’t turn into pumpkins at midnight. Here are some activities that linger into the weekend (and their end dates): Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld and at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Nov. 1), Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld (Nov. 2), Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios (Nov. 2), and Brick-or-Treat at Legoland Florida (Nov. 2).
• Universal Orlando is selling ticket packages for 2026 that include the power to hop over to Epic Universe during days at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. They are available in three-, four- and five-day combos only. The resort had not yet revealed an annual pass plan or add-on that includes Epic, which opened in late May. More information: universalorlando.com
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is selling a ticket that allows unlimited daily admission through Dec. 31. The price for the Come Back 2025 ticket, available for purchase through Nov. 16, is $91. Tickets must be purchased in advance either online or via the call center at 855-433-4210. (Note: The attraction has remained open during the U.S. government shutdown.) More information: kennedyspacecenter.com
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.