Celebrate fall & winter in Orlando with food festivals, Halloween thrills and holiday spirit
With several new holiday firework shows, exclusive events and themed parties, the Theme Park Capital of the World is ready to celebrate the upcoming holidays like only Orlando can.
90 Days to wine and dine in Orlando
This year boasts the longest-ever Epcot International Food and Wine Festival on top of other top-notch returning favorites. Beginning with a month-long discount dining program in August, this year offers more than 90 days of foodie-centric events in Orlando – guaranteed satisfy everyone’s appetite.
• Guests can dine on haute cuisine without burning through their budget during Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month (Aug. 23 – Sep. 30), when more than 100 of Central Florida’s top restaurants feature three-course, prix fixe dinner menus for $35.
• At the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (Aug. 29 – Nov. 23), guests will savor exciting and unexpected flavors from around the globe as they circle the iconic World Showcase. This year’s new additions include make-your-own candy sushi workshops, wine and cheese pairing classes, international specialty dining experiences and more.
• Food and Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek (Sept. 30 – Nov. 24) is a celebration of fine wine and the culinary arts. Throughout the event weekends, guests can enjoy complimentary cocktail creation classes as well as a gourmet popsicle bar, traditional Royal Tea and the Bar du Chocolat with champagne. Tasting dinners at the hotels’ signature restaurants – Bull & Bear, La Luce and Zeta Asia – give both aspiring foodies and serious epicureans a chance to experience authentic dishes inspired by American, Italian and Asian cuisine.
• The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic (Nov. 8 – 9) is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The event treats guests to a street party festival with unlimited food tastings at dozens of stations, featuring culinary selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants and wine from around the world amidst a festive backdrop of live entertainment. Numerous themed areas include a beer garden and hands-on seminars with the hotel’s chefs and certified beverage experts.
Halloween thrills in Orlando
The Halloween Vacation CapitalSM is preparing an especially spooky Halloween season, with brand new immersive experiences from September through November. Hauntingly delightful festivities and ghoulish fun come together to truly scare visitors into having the times of their lives. Those looking for a milder thrill can also find plenty of mellow Halloween fun in Orlando, the only destination that truly offers something for everyone.
• At Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights (select nights Sept. 6 – Nov. 2) 80s and 80s-themed cult classics return in the 10 haunted houses, five scare zones and live entertainment. Returning in 2019 are the fan favorites “Stranger Things” house and original concept “Nightingales: Blood Pit” house. Debuting this year is “Depths of Fear,” where deep-sea nightmares prepare for your watery grave.
• During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (select nights Aug. 16 – Nov. 1), Magic Kingdom Park comes alive with jack-o-lanterns, not-so-scary characters and family friendly entertainment. Visitors can trick-or-treat, masquerade with costumed characters and enjoy new ghostly surprises throughout the park. Follow Mickey, Minnie and friends as they trick-or-treat in a mysterious haunted house and encounter Disney villains in a new fireworks spectacular. Also debuting is a “101 Dalmatians”-themed experience featuring popular villain Cruella de Ville.
• SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular (weekends Sept. 21 – Oct. 27) returns for family friendly trick-or-treating, not-so-spooky live shows, whimsical sea creatures, playtime fun with favorite Sesame Street friends and more. This year’s events include the Pet’s Ahoy Halloween show, a Halloween Dance Party with under-the-sea friends and the opportunity to meet mermaids in their colorful grotto.
• LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s Brick or Treat (select nights Oct. 5-27) frightens things up with larger-than-life LEGO Halloween character models, a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating, a pirate-themed fireworks show and more.
• New on the Halloween circuit is Cocktails & Screams, Orlando’s first and only Halloween-themed bar. Set to open in the upcoming months, this bar’s wicked décor, creepy music and an all-around spooky atmosphere will chill even the most sinister spirits. Signature cocktails will include Frogs Breath and Jack & Sally straight from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Discover a winter wonderland in Orlando
New Coaster Experience at Universal Orlando Resort
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year in warm, sunny Orlando by experiencing brand new Disney parties, entertaining holiday-themed live shows and spectacular “snow” in Orlando – where you can still wear your flip flops!
• Holidays at Walt Disney World Resort offers spirited fun for guests of all ages (starting Nov. 8), including a new firework show and the transformation of Cinderella Castle into a glistening ice palace at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. New at Animal Kingdom will be the Tree of Like Awakenings spectacular, arctic Discovery Island Entertainment, the Holiday Hoopla Dance Party with Chip ‘n Dale and Christmas at Pongu Pongu in Pandora – The World of Avatar. Other returning holiday favorites include Epcot’s Candlelight Processional, a holiday wonderland at Disney Springs and more.
• Holidays Universal Orlando Resort invites guests, wizards and the people of Whoville (Nov. 16 – Jan. 5) to the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios. Families will light up with Christmas cheer as the Grinch comes to life in the Who-liday Spectacular. Visitors can experience Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: both Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios will be bursting with joy for the most wonderful time of the year.
• Waves of holiday spirit splash during SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration (Nov. 23 – Dec. 31), where guests of all ages can enjoy stunning live shows, meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and marvel at the glimmering Christmas tree forest in the sea.
• Families will experience seasonal joy and holiday cheer at Happy Holidays at LEGOLAND (select dates Nov. 29 – Dec. 31), featuring LEGO building activities, Christmas-themed photo-ops, an adventure show into Santa’s workshop and other holiday surprises.
• Frosty’s Christmastime Lounge in downtown Orlando celebrates the Christmas season all year-round. With snow cone cocktails, the occasional snowfall and a cabin-like design, Frosty’s brings a fun, adult twist to classic Christmas traditions. Open to adults age 21 and up.
Home to seven of the world’s top theme parks, Orlando is the No. 1 family vacation destination, Theme Park Capital of the World, and most visited destination in the United States. An unparalleled mix of unique experiences create cherished memories for visitors, including legendary theme parks from Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, an array of world-class water parks, entertainment venues, an award-winning food scene, shopping, sports and nightlife. And, with 450 hotels, Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly any other destination in the world, from expansive resorts to uniquely themed hotels.