Celebrate the season with holiday activities at Universal Orlando hotels

Universal Orlando Resort invites guests to celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, and New Year’s with holiday activities at Universal Orlando hotels through Jan. 1, 2023.

Here’s a look at some of the holiday activities at Universal Orlando hotel that guests can enjoy this holiday season, from holiday meals and special ceremonies to parties and entertainment.

Special Ceremonies and Seasonal Entertainment Offerings:

• Chanukah Menorah Lightings (Dec. 18-26, 2022) – Each night around sundown, a Chanukah Menorah Lighting ceremony will take place in the lobby of each Universal Orlando hotel. Guests can visit or call the concierge or front desk for times.
• Strolling Holiday Carolers (Dec.19-25, 2022) – From 7-9 p.m. each night, guests can enjoy festive performances by strolling holiday carolers in the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel lobby.

Christmas Day Meals at Universal Orlando Hotels (Dec. 25, 2022):

Call 407-503-DINE (3463) or visit or call the hotel concierge to make reservations.

• Christmas Day Buffet in Trattoria del Porto at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel (available noon-9 p.m.) – This holiday dining experience includes live music and a variety of menu options, including a cheese station, seafood, pasta, meats, dessert, and more. Click here for the full menu. 
• Christmas Day Menu in Mama Della’s Ristorante at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel – Guests can choose from special Christmas Day menu items or à la carte menu items while listening to the beautiful sounds of the hotel’s opera singers and strolling musicians.
• Christmas Day Acoustic Brunch in The Kitchen at Hard Rock Hotel (available 7 a.m.-2 p.m.) – Guests can enjoy breakfast classics like buttermilk pancakes, bacon, and potatoes; made-to-order eggs benedict and omelets; a chef’s selection of meats; and a variety of desserts including vanilla bean crème brûlée, Southern Comfort red velvet cake pops, donuts, and more. Click here for the full menu.
• Christmas Day Buffet in Islands Dining Room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort (available 11 a.m.-9 p.m.) – A special Christmas Day buffet features unique buffet stations – including sushi, stir-fry, pastries, and more – while diners enjoy live music, hula dancers, and a balloon artist. Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Bloody Mary cocktails for just $21. Click here for the full menu.
• Christmas Day Buffets in Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort (available noon-8 p.m.) – Guests can choose from a breakfast buffet or a daytime buffet featuring ceviche and churrasco stations, lobster bisque with sherry sour cream, citrus brined free-range Carolina turkey with sausage and sage cornbread stuffing, an array of freshly baked pastry items, and more. Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Cubanita cocktails for just $21. Click here for the full menu.

New Year’s Eve Celebrations (Dec. 31, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023):

Call 407-503-DINE (3463) or visit or call the hotel concierge to make reservations.

• New Year’s Eve Party on the Piazza at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel (8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2022, to 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2023) – Ring in the new year with a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration on the hotel’s picturesque outdoor Harbor Piazza featuring gourmet foods, desserts, beer, wine, a live DJ, and dancing (Alcoholic beverages for 21+ only). Click here to purchase tickets.
• Prix Fixe Menu in Mama Della’s Ristorante at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel – Enjoy a special New Year’s Eve prix fixe menu or à la carte menu items in Mama Della’s Ristorante.
• New Year’s Eve Buffet in The Kitchen at Hard Rock Hotel – Kick off the night with a New Year’s Eve buffet in The Kitchen before heading to the lobby for an evening of specially prepared desserts, music, balloon artists, roaming magicians, a countdown live from Times Square, and more. The Lobby Party is included with the purchase of the New Year’s Eve buffet. Click here to make reservations for the New Year’s Eve buffet.
• ROCK-in 2023! New Year’s Eve at Hard Rock Hotel – Hard Rock’s ROCK-in 2023! New Year’s Eve lobby party features specially prepared desserts, music, balloon artists, roaming magicians, and a countdown to midnight live from Times Square. Click here to purchase tickets for the New Year’s Eve Lobby Party only (buffet not included).
• New Year’s Eve Dining and Celebrations at Loews Royal Pacific Resort – Enjoy a New Year’s Eve buffet in Islands Dining Room (available 6-10 p.m.) featuring a musician, hula dancers, and a balloon artist. For just $20 more, guests can access the dessert celebration in the Tahitian Room. Click here for the full New Year’s Eve buffet menu, and click here for reservations. An additional New Year’s Eve Celebration in Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar will be available for guests to celebrate with a DJ, kids crafts, and a balloon drop at midnight.
• New Year’s Eve Celebration in Strong Water Tavern and Buffet in Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – Guests can start the night with an artisan antipasto bar, coffee spice-crusted prime rib of beef, coconut rice with black-eyed peas, and more as part of the New Year’s Eve buffet in Amatista Cookhouse (available 5-10 p.m.). Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Cubanita cocktails for just $21 more. Click here for the full menu, and click here to make reservations. In addition, adults 21+ can welcome 2023 with a midnight champagne toast, live entertainment, music, dancing, and more during the New Year’s Eve Celebration in Strong Water Tavern. Click here to purchase tickets.
• New Year’s Eve Celebration at Universal’s Aventura Hotel – Guests 21+ can begin the celebration at 8:00 p.m. with a standing room ticket – starting at $150 plus tax and ticketing fees – which includes food, beer, wine, and featured specialty cocktails until 10:00 p.m. A cash bar will be available from 10:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. Guests can also choose the VIP Package – starting at $1,260 plus tax and ticketing fees – which includes all the benefits of a standing room ticket for up to six people per party, plus couch seating and two bottles of champagne. The celebration includes a DJ, party favors, and a midnight prosecco toast. Click here to purchase tickets.

New Year’s Day Meals at Universal Orlando Hotels (Jan. 1, 2023):

Call 407-503-DINE (3463) or visit or call the hotel concierge to make reservations.

• New Year’s Day Acoustic Brunch at Hard Rock Hotel (available 7 a.m.-2 p.m.) – Celebrate the new year with made-to-order pancakes, waffles, smoked salmon, cheese tortellini, antipasto salad, and more, all accompanied by live music. Click here for the full menu.
• New Year’s Day Breakfast Buffet in Islands Dining Room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort –New Year’s Day breakfast buffet in Islands Dining Room. Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Bloody Mary cocktails for just $21 more.
• New Year’s Day Breakfast Buffet in Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – New Year’s Day breakfast buffet at Amatista Cookhouse. Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Cubanita cocktails for just $21 more. Click here to make a reservation.

In addition to holiday activities at Universal Orlando hotels, Universal’s Holiday Celebration runs daily through Jan. 1, 2023, including Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Grinchmas, and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. Access to Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration is included with regular admission to the theme parks and with a valid annual or seasonal pass (blockout dates apply).

Guests staying at a Universal Orlando hotel can take advantage of exclusive benefits – including Early Park Admission to the theme parks up to an hour before park opening, complimentary transportation to and from the parks, resort-wide charging privileges, and more. Plus, guests staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines at participating rides and attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Click here for more information about the holiday celebration at Universal Orlando Resort.