Holiday Festivals Bring Fun and Cheer to Orlando

With all the fun holiday festivities that the Orlando theme parks have to offer, you may not want to stray outside the parks for seasonal fun this winter. However, you and your family would definitely be missing out if you didn’t, as Orlando is home to several exciting and unique holiday festivals. From a holiday festival that takes you back in time to a cultural holiday celebration, be sure to check out some of these fun events happening soon in the Orlando metropolitan area.

On December 6th, one of Orlando’s largest holiday celebrations will attract over 8,000 people when the Navidad Jibara festival comes to town. Located on the TG Lee Boulevard Grounds near Orlando International Airport, the 7th annual festival is Central Florida’s largest Hispanic-focused holiday celebration. The highly anticipated Navidad Jibara festival celebrates the holiday season traditions of Puerto Rico and the rest of the Hispanic community. However, that’s not to say that this is a Hispanics-only event; anyone can come and enjoy the music, exhibits, and traditional Latin food.

And what place is more appropriate for a holiday festival than Fort Christmas? Located twenty miles east of Orlando, this fort replica was modeled after a fort and stockade created by a force of 2,000 US Army volunteers and Alabama volunteers on December 25th, 1837. One of over 200 forts built during the Second Seminole Indian War, the fort was abandoned in March 1838 and reproduced by Orange County Parks Department in 1977. Today, the replica of the fort houses historical exhibits and presentations, as well as ten restored historical homes and structures built in the “Cracker” architecture of East Orange County.

During the Cracker Christmas Weekend on December 6th and 7th, the fort celebrates its namesake holiday with an annual festival of arts and crafts. Visitors can enjoy a large craft fair, special exhibits, and lots of great food. There’ll also be Florida Cracker demonstrations of arts from pioneer times, including broom making, spinning and weaving, blacksmithing, wood carving, Dutch oven cooking, and more.

Finally, on December 13th, the city of Kissimmee in Orlando-neighboring Osceola County will host a scaled-down version of its annual Holiday Extravaganza. From 4 to 6 pm at Toho Square, families can enjoy Santa’s Social at Toho Square, where kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. And at night, the downtown streets of Kissimmee will illuminate with the Festival of Lights Parade at 6 pm, featuring Santa Claus and Scott & Erica from the Morning show on Mix 105.1. Food vendors will also be present offering tasty holiday treats during this seasonal spectacle.

So this winter, take a break from the parks to enjoy some of the sights and sounds of the season around Orlando and its neighboring cities. Be sure to also check out Celebration Town Center’s “Now Snowing” event, which features carolers, Santa, carriage rides, and nightly snowfall. And on December 4th and 5th, stop by Winter Park to see the Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting Ceremony, along with the annual lighting of a special Tiffany’s window holiday display in Central Park. With all the fun and magic of these seasonal events, there’s no place like Orlando Florida for the holidays.

Holiday Season Kicks Off After Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World

Everyone knows that Walt Disney World has some of the most incredible holiday attractions every season. This year is no different, with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party lighting up Magic Kingdom and the Holidays Around the World celebration taking over Epcot. However, with these two major Disney spectaculars, don’t forget what's happening over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, as the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights and Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade roll into the parks after Thanksgiving.

From November 28th, through January 4th, 2009, The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights comes back to illuminate Hollywood Studios in color, lights, and music. Millions of blinking lights make up this high-energy holiday symphony filled with 3-D and moving displays. You’ll see twirling carousels, sparkling snowflakes, heavenly angels, majestic trees, twinkling bells, colorful wreaths, and Santa and his reindeer all in one unparalleled light display, which lights up the building facades, and trees of the Streets of America backlot.

This year, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights presented by Sylvania will continue the tradition of Osborne family, who began putting up Christmas lights at their home in Arkansas nearly a decade ago. Each year, the Osborne’s display got bigger and brighter until neighbors complained, eventually leading to a Supreme Court judgment that the lights were a public nuisance. In stepped Walt Disney World, who brought the Osborne’s Christmas lights to Hollywood Studios in 1995, where they’ve been shining ever since. Some of the motion-based displays originally created by Jennings Osborne himself are still used today.

The Spectacle is one of the most impressive holiday light displays in the country, with 5 million lights, 66 snow machines (and 100 gallons of snow fluid a night), 32 extension cables, and 43 Hidden Mickeys in the mix. Be sure to catch the “dancing lights” moments, which occur every ten minutes for approximately two to three minutes.

Also starting the day after Thanksgiving until January 4th, 2009, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade blends the spirit of the park with the spirit of the season as Mickey, Donald, Minnie, and Goofy add unique holiday accessories to their safari costumes. As a holiday version of Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, this seasonal parade with a unique world beat twist heads through Animal Kingdom to the sounds of special holiday music and traditional classics.

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade will feature the sights and sounds of the season – literally! You’ll smell cinnamon in the air as Minnie’s “Candy and Cookies” float heads by. Also, visitors will find this parade to be a fun and different experience from holiday parades in the other park, as it includes exotic and abstract animal images, designs made from natural materials and fabrics, and unique holiday decorations. You’ll love the whimsical floats and larger-than-life puppetry that’s reminiscent of Broadway’s The Lion King.

This season, don’t miss these incredible Disney offerings that will make you a believer in the magic of the holidays. There’s no extra fee or ticket required to see the Osborne Family Spectacle or the Jingle Jungle Parade; simple get your discount Disney tickets at DWTickets.com and get ready to be dazzled by Disney holiday fun.

Best Thanksgiving Meals in Orlando

If you’re planning on celebrating Thanksgiving in Orlando this year, whether you’re a vacationer or a resident, you’ve made a great choice. There are plenty of excellent dining options for Turkey Day, so slaving over a hot stove isn’t necessary. But with so many restaurants to choose from, trying to pick where to have your holiday feast can be a daunting task. Never fear though – we’ve selected some of the Orlando’s tastiest Thanksgiving specials, so that this holiday, your most stressful decision will be choosing which pair of loose pants to wear.

Close to Walt Disney World in Celebration, Florida, the Columbia Restaurant continues to serve their holiday feast as they’ve done for more than 100 years. Columbia will offer all the traditional treats that your grandmother used to make: roast Vermont turkey, Columbia’s signature stuffing, veggies, whipped potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce, and giblet gravy. And downtown, amid views of the fantastic Orlando skyline, Doc’s Restaurant is offering a delicious four-course Thanksgiving Day menu with hot cider, pumpkin bisque or Plymouth Bay chowder, and choices of oven-roasted Vermont turkey, roasted prime rib, New England baked cod, and brown sugar and honey mustard glazed ham. You’ll definitely feel stuffed and satisfied after dining at either of these two appetizing options.

If you’re staying at the Walt Disney Parks or Resorts, dining there is certainly a convenient and delicious alternative. At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the California Grill is offering turkey with chestnut stuffing, whipped potatoes, beef filets with sweet potatoes, and pecan pie. Be sure to request a table by the windows, so that you can see the Magic Kingdom fireworks show for a spectacular view during your dinner. At Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, you’ll also enjoy nice views of the neighboring streams while you eat a Turkey Day feast of soup, salad, fresh greens, wine, and of course, turkey.

Inside the Disney parks, all the restaurants will be open, many offering Thanksgiving-themed buffets, special Thanksgiving Day menus, or prix-fixe meals. And at select locations, such as the Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom, fun Disney characters can join in on your family feast.

At Universal Studios Orlando, there are also plenty of tasty dining choices. At the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Mama Della’s Ristorante will be cooking up a maple-roasted turkey dinner with all the trimmings, including oyster cornbread, oven-roasted mushrooms, and garlic and herb mashed potatoes. It’s a romantic and classy setting for your Thanksgiving meal, and you’ll love dining to the sound of the strolling musicians.

And for those who like to enjoy their Thanksgiving meal extra-early (or for those who simply don’t want to wait until nighttime to enjoy the yummy goodness), Villa de Flora restaurant at the Gaylord Palms Resort is offering an all-day Thanksgiving brunch. Their menu, which will vary throughout the day, will offer delicious breakfast dishes such as Belgian waffles and apple crepes, as well as dinnertime delights such as turkey with sage gravy, sweet potato casserole, and fall harvest vegetable lasagna. The Thanksgiving brunch buffet at the Celebration Hotel’s Plantation Room Restaurant is another excellent option for the early diner. They’ll offer delicious entrees like hand-carved Virgina Ham and Granny Smith Apple-Vegetable Turkey, and savory sides like honey cornbread stuffing and spiced butternut squash. The brunch is offered at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.

And we haven’t forgotten our vegan readers – you can enjoy vegan versions of a traditional Thanksgiving feast at the Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar. There’ll be tofurkey, vegan stuffing, and veggie sides like gingered carrots and curried squash.

Ultimately, no matter which location you choose, you can’t go wrong having your Thanksgiving dinner in an Orlando restaurant. Our stomachs are already growling at the thought of dining at these flavorful eateries.

Gaylord Palms Resort Has the Best of Christmas

This holiday season, ice isn’t all you can see at the Gaylord Palms Resort – and when we say ice, we mean ICE!, the super-cool winter wonderland attraction carved from nearly two million pounds of ice. This year, the Gaylord Palms actually has a slew of Christmas fun planned for its guests with the Best of Florida Christmas celebration from November 17th through January 4th, 2009.

All the activities at this luxurious 63-acre resort will have you feeling merry and ready for the holiday season. First, guests can enjoy the 4.5-acre glass atrium, which is transformed into a magical Christmas wonderland with both elegant and whimsical decorations. There’s also a majestic 54-foot Christmas tree decked with tons of beautiful lights and ornaments.

And as part of the Best of Florida Christmas program, the resort has 49 days of revelry planned that is sure to spice up your holiday vacation. At the atrium, you can see Christmas in Florida – the Country Wreath Collection, which features holiday wreaths representing all the diverse and different areas of Florida. Also on display is an elaborate holiday model train courtesy of MTH Trains. And for some holiday-style entertainment, guests will love the Holiday Traditions stage show, which features classic holiday songs and a fun seasonal storyline.

Kids will also love the Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt – stashed all throughout the Gaylord Palms atrium are little gnomes, akin to the mascot of the Travelocity commercials. You and your family will love seeking out these little guys, each dressed in a special costume for the holiday. And what’s a holiday celebration without Santa? Children will be able to share their Christmas wishes with the big man in red in person at the atrium or via e-mail.

And let’s not forget about dining – the Gaylord Palms really goes all out for the holidays, and they’ve added a special brunch with Mrs. Claus on Saturdays and Sundays from November 29th through December 21st. This incredible holiday brunch includes delicious dishes from the Villa de Flora restaurant, which serves Italian, French, Spanish, and Greek fare. The resort also offers special Christmas Eve and Christmas day brunches and dinners.

In order to make your holiday experience really special, Gaylord Palms Resort is also offering a special Best of Florida Christmas package for overnight guests. The package’s perks include priority entry to ICE!, holiday bedtime stories broadcast every night via a special in-room channel, a Christmas concierge (who will help recommend and book unique Orlando holiday attractions), and the opportunity to create a family gingerbread house with the help of a Gaylord Palms pastry chef. For an additional fee, there are even bedtime tuck-ins with special holiday characters.

There’s no doubt that the Gaylord Palms Resort knows a thing or two about celebrating the holidays, and there’s really no better place to stay in Orlando for the holidays. Kids of all ages will love the Christmas spirit that absolutely emanates from this resort, and though the Grinches in us all might not admit it, the Best of Florida Christmas celebration will definitely warm your heart.

Merry Grinchmas! Now Eat Your Breakfast

There is so much going on in Orlando during the holiday season, it is next to impossible to keep track of everything. Luckily, at DWTickets.com we keep track of it for you, and that means giving you the best deals on cheap theme park tickets. Whether it’s Disney, Sea World or the Universal Orlando Resort, we are always your number one source for the best discounts in town. We also keep you up to date on the latest goings on in the theme parks and beyond with our own weekly parade of blogs. We are dedicated to providing you with the cheapest tickets and latest scoop every day.

Some of the more obvious holiday happenings around town have taken the spotlight in earlier weeks. At the Universal Orlando Resort, though, there are some other great yuletide events that deserve some attention too.

The biggie at Universal’s Islands of Adventure is the return of Grinchmas, but you can take that Green Christmas one step further and enjoy “Breakfast With The Grinch” at the Confisco Grill. This all-inclusive buffet features breakfast favorites along with visits from the Grinch, the Whos and other characters. This special holiday dining option is only available from December 13-16 and again from December 20-30, and reservations are recommended.

Guests can enjoy “Christmas in the City” as they stroll among the popular shops and restaurants at Universal’s CityWalk from December 14-28. Each day features a live band on the plaza stage, and visitors will be treated to appearances by Santa’s elves and reindeer, and the entertaining and unique powerskip performers.

The hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort are getting into the holiday fun too. The Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is celebrating “Festa Musica Della Notte” (Holiday Music of the Night) through Christmas Eve. This Italian festivity features the “Grand Illumination” of the Christmas tree at 6:30 each night with opera singers setting the holiday mood once it’s lit.

The Loews Royal Pacific Hotel is having a “North Pole Celebration” with strolling carolers and a gingerbread Christmas tree display. They will also have eggnog, apple cider and cookies to help ring in the spirit of the season, along with special demonstrations by the hotel’s executive pastry chef.

So, this holiday season, get your cheap theme park tickets right here at DWTickets.com. Share in some Grinchmas cheer and then enjoy some less well known, but still spectacular holiday events throughout the Universal Orlando Resort!

Cypress Gardens Celebrates it Old Style

The holiday season is in full bloom all over Orlando, and for many – even vacationers – that means rushing, stressing, traffic, stressing, shopping, stressing, and well…just stressing. If you need a break from the seasonal stress, DWTickets.com is the place for you. We have the best deals on tickets to all of your favorite Orlando theme parks all in one place, and you can get them with an easy click or phone call. We love making your holidays easier by doing all the work for you. One stop here and your theme park ticket shopping is done!

The folks over at Cypress Gardens want to de-stress your Christmas too, so this year they invite you to an “Old Fashioned Christmas.” From now through December 30, Cypress Gardens guests can leave that “holiday hustle” behind and “hearken back” to the days of yesteryear. The park is dressed to the nines and is set to bring back the good old days with an 80’ Christmas tree. The decorations include millions of lights twinkling throughout the park as well as some of the original displays used way back in 1936 when Cypress Gardens became Florida’s original theme park.

The peaceful garden holiday atmosphere is enhanced by strolling carolers and musicians that serve guests a heaping helping of Christmas cheer. And when the entertainment isn’t meandering through the winding paths, you can enjoy the festivities at a number of seasonal shows. “Jingle Fest” combines Christmas characters, caroling, dancing and food. You know that is definitely a must see.

A featured show at Cypress Gardens, “The Living Nativity” presents a wondrous, live musical account of the miracle of Christmas. If you want a romantic seasonal story, then the warmth of “A Holiday Homecoming” should be on your to do list. Bringing the Garden’s ice rink to life, “An Old Fashioned Christmas On Ice” features spectacular twists, turns and amazing grace…all on the ice set to a remarkable holiday soundtrack.

Jubilee Junction is home to many holiday treats and also features Dr. Christmas, the resident storyteller. The “Kringles” display takes guests young and old on the journey of “Santa Through History.” Then to top it all off, visit the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus.

So celebrate Christmas this year “as it SHOULD be” at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. While you’re at it, get your tickets at the prices you should pay only at DWTickets.com!