MONDAY PARK UPDATE
I always forget how quickly Universal shifts from “fall energy” to full-on holiday mode, but Thanksgiving week is the moment it really hits you. The minute you walk into the parks, everything feels bigger and brighter. The music changes, the food booths wake up, and you start seeing families in matching sweaters trying to get their first look at the parade balloons.
If you are in the parks this week, you are stepping straight into that sweet spot where the holidays feel brand new and the crowds are… well, very real. But with the right plan, this week can be one of the most fun, high-vibe times to be at Universal.
Holidays celebration is officially live through January 4
Universal’s destination-wide Holidays celebration is now officially running daily through January 4, 2026 across Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe.
The big highlights this season:
Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is now happening in all three wizarding areas for the first time, including the new Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe. Expect full holiday decor, special performances, and “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” as the nighttime cap.
Grinchmas is back in Seuss Landing with the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular and the new Who-ville Tree Lot, which is basically a mini land of character-themed trees.
Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s is running at Universal Studios Florida with the giant balloons, floats, and characters you expect.
There is a full lineup of seasonal food, including things like a Snickerdoodle Crepe, Elegant Ornament dessert, Sunday Roast at Finnegan’s, holiday churros and drinks in Epic Universe, and the return of the “Gingy” cookie.
Why this matters for your trip:
If you are traveling anytime between now and early January, you should plan time in your day for holiday entertainment. The parade, Hogwarts Castle holiday show, and Grinchmas show can eat up a good chunk of your evening, but they are absolutely worth structuring around. The nice part is that all of this is included with regular park admission, so you are not chasing an extra hard-ticket event to see the good stuff.
Mardi Gras 2026 dates announced
Universal has set the dates for Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval next year: it will run February 7 through April 4, 2026 at Universal Studios Florida.
The event will bring back the usual combo of a nightly parade with floats, performers, and beads, plus select-night concerts and a big lineup of global and New Orleans-inspired food booths. The Float Ride & Dine Experience is also returning, which packages a three-course meal at select CityWalk and in-park restaurants with a reserved spot on one of the parade floats, starting around $95 per person before tax, with a Passholder discount available.
Why this matters for your trip:
If you are planning a spring trip, especially February or March 2026, you can now plan around Mardi Gras instead of wondering if you will hit it. My usual guidance: if you have flexible dates and like nighttime energy, aim into Mardi Gras rather than avoiding it. The parks are not “empty,” but the parade and food boost the value of your ticket a lot, especially for adults and older kids who care more about atmosphere than character meet-and-greets.
Epic Universe gets extended hours on New Year’s Eve
For New Year’s Eve this year, the schedule now shows Epic Universe open from 10 am to midnight on December 31, with a dedicated New Year’s Eve celebration and countdown in the park.
Details on specific entertainment are still light, but the official description calls out a midnight countdown and extended hours built into normal admission. There is no separate upcharge party announced at the moment, which is a big deal for anyone used to Disney’s paid NYE events.
Why this matters for your trip:
If you are in Orlando for New Year’s and deciding where to spend that night, Epic Universe is shaping up to be the strongest value play in town. You will be trading absolute peak crowds for a legitimately special environment, so think of this as a “one big night” splurge: plan a slower morning the next day and do not expect to get every headliner done that evening without Express or strategic patience.
Quick Hits
Universal is heavily marketing the Universal Holiday Tour and the Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast as the “upgrade” options for the season, both of which include reserved viewing or special character time. These can help if you hate waiting in long lines for Grinchmas or the parade.
The official holiday lineup now highlights holiday decor and treats in Epic Universe for the first time, especially in Celestial Park and the Ministry of Magic. If you were on the fence about popping over to Epic for a few hours, the seasonal overlay is one more reason to swing by
Crowd levels & park hours snapshot
For the week of November 24, the publicly listed hours look roughly like this:
Universal Studios Florida
9 am to 9 pm most days from November 24 through November 27.
Islands of Adventure
9 am to 9 pm on those same dates.
Epic Universe
generally 10 am to 10 pm across this stretch.
Volcano Bay
10 am to 5 pm, with a scheduled closure on November 26.
Early Park Admission is available on select dates around Thanksgiving week, with Universal listing windows from November 19–24 and then again November 27–December 2. Exactly which park gets early entry can change, so you will want to confirm the specific park the night before you use it.
On the crowd side, this whole stretch is flagged as busy on at least one major crowd calendar, which lines up with what we have seen year after year during Thanksgiving week.
Practical strategy notes:
If you are staying on-site and have Early Park Admission, treat that as your main edge. Pick one headliner that your group cares about most and build the first ninety minutes of your day around that area.
If you do not have Early Park Admission, lean into later evenings. Most people with kids burn out and head back to the hotel after the parade, while the parks stay open a bit longer with slightly lighter lines.
For this specific week, I would treat Express Pass or a VIP-style experience as a “nice to have” rather than a must, unless your group absolutely hates waiting. A solid plan plus realistic expectations goes a long way.
Ride closures & refurbishments
Right now, this coming week looks relatively kind on the closure front, especially inside the two “classic” parks.
Currently active or relevant:
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure)
This had a scheduled refurbishment earlier in the month (listed as November 3–16), but it is now showing as reopened for your dates. If Forbidden Journey is a must-do for your group, treat this as “good to go,” but keep in mind that fresh-reopened rides can still have occasional downtime.DreamWorks Imagination Celebration (Universal Studios Florida)
This show had a short refurbishment window (November 7–17) and is also slated to be back by the time your Thanksgiving week trip starts. If you are visiting with younger kids who care about DreamWorks characters, double-check the daily schedule the night before you go to Universal Studios Florida and plug a showtime into your plan.Volcano Bay – Honu and Ika Moana slides
At Volcano Bay, the Honu and Ika Moana raft slides are still down for refurbishment through December 18, 2025. The rest of the park is operating, but if these are favorites, it is worth managing expectations before you hype anyone up for “the big blue slide.”
I am not seeing any new surprise closures announced for headliner attractions at Epic Universe or the two original parks for the week of November 24, but there are always “day of” weather or technical closures that you cannot predict from home.
How to adjust your plan:
Treat Forbidden Journey and DreamWorks Imagination Celebration as back in the mix and aim them for earlier in the day if they are important. Recently reopened attractions sometimes open late or have extended downtimes.
If you booked a water-park day at Volcano Bay and care about maximum slide variety, consider nudging that day into winter or spring instead. The core experience is still great, but your lineup is not “complete” until Honu and Ika Moana reopen.
If you have a Universal trip coming up in December, early January, or Mardi Gras season, hit reply and tell me:
Your dates.
Who you are traveling with.
Whether your group is more “rides first” or “vibes and shows first.”
I can point you to the right past issues and guides so you are not reinventing the plan from scratch.
That is the pulse for this week. If you are in the parks, I hope you get at least one quiet moment with a hot drink in your hand, holiday music in your ears, and zero thoughts about wait times for a few minutes. Enjoy this Grinch gif!
Talk soon,
Bradley