The holiday season is always one of the best times to visit the Orlando area theme parks and one of the most fun Christmas celebrations is hosted by SeaWorld Orlando.
Starting in early November of every year, SeaWorld Orlando is transformed into a complete “Winter Wonderland” with over 3-million holiday lights, amazing holiday themed shows & experiences and great food & beverages.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is included with park admission and SeaWorld offers a number of different vacation packages (including a Christmas Celebration Vacation Package), reserved seating at shows and deals at local area official and partner SeaWorld Orlando hotels.
Learn more about this year’s events in this Complete Guide to Christmas at SeaWorld Orlando.
SeaWorld Christmas Celebration (2023)
For 2023, SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration is held on select dates starting from November 10th and extending to January 2, 2023.
Following in a complete list of all of this year’s holiday offerings:
Holiday Reflections: Fireworks Finale
Experience one of the best holiday themed fireworks and fountains shows of all the Orlando area theme parks in Holiday Reflections: Fireworks Finale. This amazing show is located in the SeaWorld Lagoon and can be viewed a number of different areas including the Bayside Stadium, the Orca Encounter Pathway, the Waterfront and the Spice Mill Patio.
Holiday Reflections is held just before park closing on select Christmas Celebration dates.
Sesame Street Christmas Parade
Located in Sesame Street Land, guests will join Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and more for the Sesame Street Christmas Parade. Showtimes for the parade vary so please check the park schedule.
In addition to the parade, there is also the Sesame Street Christmas Breakfast (at SeaFire Grill) where guests can mix and mingle with their favorite Sesame Street characters. The cost is $32.99 per adult ages 10+ with kids costing $16.99 (ages 3 to 9).
Winter Wonderland on Ice
Winter Wonderland on Ice has been a part of SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration for years and always is a joy to watch. Held multiple times per night, guests will enjoy watching this holiday themes ice skating extravaganza.
Similar to last year, guests are allowed to go skating on the ice prior to the show. Each skating session costs $15.00 per person and least 30 minutes – skate rental is included in the price of admission. Guests much have crew socks and gloves; since most don’t have these items, SeaWorld sells them right next to the registration table.
Sea of Trees
Throughout the night guests will experience an amazing light show extravaganza as dozens of Christmas trees located throughout SeaWorld’s lagoon will light up and dance to some of your favorite holiday tunes. This show is held several times per night.
One of the best places to watch the Sea of Trees is from the bridge that crosses the lagoon.
Elmo’s Christmas Wish Show
Join Elmo and his friends as they look for his Christmas wish. Located in the Seaport Theater, this holiday themed show is offered several times per day.
O Wondrous Night
Back from a two-year hiatus is O Wondrous Night. Guests will enjoy watching “the greatest story never told” through the eyes of the animals that were there, hearing their favorite Christmas songs by a fantastic group of performers.
O Wondrous Night is based on the original story about the birth of Jesus and is one of those Christmas shows that is not to be missed.
Other Holiday Shows & Entertainment Include
- Snow Flurries at the Waterfront
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (immersive experience)
- Meet Santa at Wild Arctic
- An Elf’s Story
- Big Bird’s Christmas Storytime
In addition to all the shows and entertainment at this year’s Christmas Celebration, SeaWorld is proud to offer 20 individual food & beverage specialty locations throughout the park. These include:
- Claus Cookie Co.
- Tis the Season Beignets
- Treat Yo Elf
- Holly Jolly Cookies & Cocoa
- Sugarplum Delights
- Festin Feliz
- Waffle Wonderland
- Waterway Bar
- Happy Holi-Glaze
- Holiday Cheers
- Wine Tasting Hut
- Holiday Moonshine
- North Pole Eats
- Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa Hut
- Christmas Comforts
- Seasons Eatings
- Lil Sweet Lil Salty Kettle Corn
SeaWorld is offering a 5 and 10 tasting sample lanyard. The 5 sample lanyard costs $45.00 while the 10 sample lanyard costs $60.00.
Christmas at SeaWorld Orlando (Prior Years)
Following are some of the shows and experiences that were offered during SeaWorld’s prior years Christmas celebrations.
It’s a Wonderful Night
It’s a Wonderful Night “A New Story to Tell” is SeaWorld Orlando’s version for 2020. This show celebrates the holiday’s in keeping with the themed of this crazy year.
Sea Lion High, The Christmas Special
Watch as Clyde and Seamore get ready for their Christmas Pageant in this zany holiday themed show.
Winder Wonderland On Ice
In addition to the shows and experiences above, SeaWorld hosted a number of additional holiday features during 2020 which included:
- Sea of Trees
- Sesame Street Parade
- Waterfront Snow Flurries
- Visits with Santa Claus
One of our favorite SeaWorld holiday events was Shamu Christmas Miracles. This show was “retired” in 2019 but its memory lives on as one of the best Orca shows that we have seen.
Our Favorite SeaWorld Area Hotels for the Holidays
The Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
If you plan on spending some time at SeaWorld for the holidays, then the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is the smart choice to make. The hotels open atrium is usually very well decorated for the holidays and the Renaissance typically hosts a number of holiday themed events. The hotel is directly across the street from SeaWorld and it’s a short walk to the main entrance.
Click here to learn more about The Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld.
The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is one of our favorite (if not our favorite) off site hotels in the Orlando theme park area. Although its right outside the entrance to Walt Disney World, it’s only 10 to 15 minutes to SeaWorld Orlando and about 20 minutes to the Universal Orlando Resort.
In addition to its fantastic rooms and amenities, the resort hosts CHRISTMAS AT THE GAYLORD PALMS which features a number of amazing holiday themed shows and experiences. Its lineup for 2021 includes:
- ICE!
- Snow Flow Mountain (tube slides)
- Snowball Build and Blast
- Cirque: Spirit of Christmas
- The Greatest Story Stage Show
- Shine Light Show
Check our our post CHRISTMAS AT THE GAYLORD PALMS (2020) to make reservations to the hotel and watch our video below.
