Things to Do During Christmas Vacation in Orlando: Theme Parks

1. Holidays at Disney Springs — Lake Buena Vista

Visit Disney Springs and stroll the trail of Christmas trees. Kids can also dig for fossils at T-Rex Café, ride the carousel and Express Train, and watch toy soldier stilt-walkers and snowflake skaters. Teens enjoy a bowling alley, movie theater, and more. Guests can take photos with Santa.

2. Holiday Decorations at Disney Resorts — Lake Buena Vista

You don't have to be a resort guest to enjoy the festive Disney magic at Disney's deluxe resorts. Visit the resorts during winter break to see stunning decorations, including a lifesize gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian, and then board the monorail to the Contemporary Resort to see more gingerbread displays. Bonus: If you visit at night, view Magic Kingdom fireworks on the outside balcony of the Contemporary.

3. New Year’s Eve — Various Locations

Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios are all open until midnight on New Year's Eve. Visit the Magic Kingdom for DJ dance parties and a special fireworks display. At Epcot, countdown to the new year again and again as you travel around the World Showcase as the clock strikes midnight in each country. 

Festivities at SeaWorld include music, entertainment, and a fireworks display at midnight. For younger kids, Legoland Florida offers a brick drop at an earlier kid-friendly hour as well as dance parties and special building activities throughout the day.

RELATED: Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Orlando

Spend the holiday break at Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens' Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild. Photo courtesy of the zoo

Things to Do During Christmas Vacation in Orlando: Close to Nature

4. Leu Gardens — Orlando

Explore this 50-acre garden oasis and enjoy the holiday-themed exhibit, Dazzling Nights. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the patio or lawn area and let the kids walk off some energy.

5. Asian Lantern Festival at Central Florida Zoo — Sanford

This event at the Central Florida Zoo is based on Asian lanterns and showcases more than 30 larger-than-life illuminated sculptures. Each sculpture is lit by thousands of LED lights, creating an amazing ambiance. Sample from food trucks and peruse Asian crafts for sale. 

Visit the manatees at Blue Springs State Park. Photo courtesy of the park

6. Manatees at Blue Springs State Park — Orange City

Every winter, hundreds of manatees from the St. Johns River migrate to Blue Springs State Park, seeking shelter from the cold. Visitors can walk along the boardwalk and watch these gentle giants in the clear water. Blue Springs also has a playground, gift shop, cafe, and historic frontier house.

7. Winter Wonderland at Wekiva Island — Longwood

Now through Christmas, Wekiva Island is transformed into a winter wonderland with Wekiva River sleigh rides and real snow flurries. Families can enjoy a movie by the river on select nights surrounded by thousands of lights.

It's strawberry harvest time in Florida! Photo by the author

8. U-Pick Strawberries - Multiple Locations

December is the start of strawberry season in Orlando, and many local u-pick farms are open during winter holiday break for families to enjoy a day outdoors picking the delectable fruit.

9. Local Playgrounds

The mild weather makes winter break the perfect time to get outdoors and visit one of Central Florida's amazing local playgrounds. We suggest mapping out a few to visit, packing a picnic, and making a full day of free outdoor family fun.

10. Snowcat Ridge Snow Park - Dade City

Enjoy the thrill of snow under the Florida sun at Snowcat Ridge Snow Park in Dade City. This winter wonderland features an awesome snow tubing hill, snow-covered Arctic igloos, an ice skating ribbon and new for 2023, Santa's Christmas Lane.

Unleash your inner paleontologist in DinoDigs at the Orlando Science Center. Photo by the author

Things to Do During Christmas Vacation in Orlando: Indoor Fun

11. Orlando Science Center — Orlando

Kids love the expansive KidsTown area with interactive play stations. Permanent exhibits include Kinetic Zone, with engineering activities; Our Planet, complete with a six-foot suspended projection sphere to learn about space; and Dino Digs, with large fossil replicas, a dig play area, and a holiday lights show.

12. Orlando Ice Den — Orlando

Orlando Ice Den offers public ice skating seven days a week for ages 3 and older. Be sure to check the rink's hours, as it varies for public skating. The rink offers winter break figure skating camp and learn to skate camp December 26, 2023-January 5, 2024.

13. Visit an Escape Room

Plan a fun outing for older kids and teens to a local escape room. Work together to find clues, solve puzzles, and beat the clock. With themes such as Mission Mars, Capture the Flag, Revenge of the Tomb, and many more, there's something for everyone.

RELATED: Must-Do Christmas and Holiday Events in the Orlando Area

Gaylord Palms is a holiday lover's delight! Photo courtesy of Gaylord Palms

Things to Do During Christmas Vacation in Orlando: Holiday Fun

14. Christmas at Gaylord Palms — Kissimmee

There are so many holiday activities at Gaylord Palms! Have a great time with Christmas light displays, Santa, ice tubing, and the return of the popular ICE! Experience, featuring two million pounds of colorful, sculpted ice.

Enjoy a traditional holiday season, snow included, in Celebration. Photo courtesy Town of Celebration

15. Now Snowing in Celebration — Celebration

Through New Year's Eve, this annual event brings nightly snowfall to Florida. Stroll the streets of downtown Celebration while enjoying carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating, train rides, and seasonal performances.

16. Crayola Colorful Christmas — Orlando

Kids will love this colorful Christmas event at Crayola Experience, complete with multiple holiday activities, including a life-size snowglobe, Christmas light show, and more. Kids enjoy the indoor color playground and dozens of hands-on activity stations.

17. Holidays in Space at Kennedy Space Center — Merritt Island

Through December 30, 2023, take a trip to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex for its annual Holidays in Space event, featuring a projection light show, holiday light displays, a 50-foot tree, and street performances.

Make sure to enjoy your winter break, you've earned that sleep-in time. And a happy new year from everyone here at Mommy Poppins!