Best Things to Do in December in Orlando

Lake Nona Town Center will transform into the festive Peppermint Square. The festivities run from Nov. 26 through Jan. 2 and even spill over to the adjacent Boxi Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand for photos and the festival also will include plenty of Instagrammable holiday décor that will make the perfect holiday photo backdrop. The centerpiece is the 24-foot Christmas tree, but this is also the place to go if you're looking for a tree to take home. Peppermint Forest Christmas tree lot is on site ready for your to find your perfect tree. Come hungry. There will be plenty of holiday treats available for purchase.

There are more than 100 decorated trees with the centerpiece being a 70 feet giant sparkling tree above the water. Each night ends with the Fireworks and Fountains Finale, all choreographed to holiday music. Sesame Street fans will love the Christmas parade including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie and more. New this year is Elmo's Christmas Wish Show where friends from Sesame Street help Elmo find his Christmas wish. Another returning favorite is Rudolph's ChristmasTown where guests can immerse themselves in the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Guests can even take a spin around the outdoor ice skating rink.

Walt Disney World's first parade since March 2020 is hitting Magic Kingdom's Main Street just in time for the holidays. Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade kicks off with Mickey and Minnie in their holiday décor and ends with a visit from Santa Claus. The only way to see this parade is with a ticket to Disney's Very Merriest After Hours, which runs select nights through Dec. 21. The special holiday event is limited in capacity so guests get to enjoy a less crowded park and shorter ride lines at more than 20 attractions. Also included in the ticket price is unlimited ice cream novelties, popcorn, select beverages and seasonal treats. Other festivities include a special fireworks show, holiday-themed stage performances and dance parties. Aside from the holiday decorations throughout the park, guests may even get to experience a little snowfall in Florida.

Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf is a brand-new experience at Gaylord Palms. The immersive attraction, inspired by the classic Christmas film Elf, includes plenty of interactive experiences. Guests follow Buddy the Elf's from the North Pole to New York City and try to muster enough Christmas cheer to power the Kringle 3000 and help Santa's sleigh fly again. Be prepared for lots of surprises and photo opps along the way. Guests will even have a chance to recreate the iconic snowball fight scene from the movie. The experience also includes 100 Christmas trees, musical performances and acrobatic routines. It begins Nov. 19 and runs through Jan. 2.

Families from all over the world make this event a holiday tradition. Holiday Kitchens located throughout the 11 countries in Epcot's World Showcase show off how the holidays are celebrated around the globe. You'll easily get your steps in exploring the different cultures during the celebratory time of the year. You can spend an entire day strolling between the pavilions doing some holiday shopping and enjoying costumed performers entertaining in the different countries. Back to EPCOT this year is the beloved Candlelight Processional. Starting Nov. 26 and running through Dec. 30, each night a celebrity will tell the story of Christmas accompanied by an orchestra and choir. Guest readers include Ana Gasteyer, Blair Underwood and Pat Sajak.

Stay in the comfort and safety of your car while enjoying a drive-thru safari where dozens of animals are on display and zero human interaction is required. The safari covers more than 85 acres and includes animals like zebras, giraffes, bison, alligators and more. It's about an hour to complete the safari, but driver beware, you're at the mercy of the animals. If an emu takes a rest in the roadway, you have to wait for the fella to move before hitting the gas pedal. The speed limit on the safari is just 5 mph. Have your camera ready because more than likely a goat, white-tailed deer, longhorn cattle or one of their buddies will stroll right by your vehicle. If you want to stretch your legs, Wild Florida also has air boat rides and animal encounters with some exotic friends like albino alligators.

The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll includes 20 elaborately decorated trees spread out over the 120-acre shopping and entertainment complex. You'll find trees dedicated to some of your favorite Disney attractions and characters, including Star Wars, Black Panther, Coco and many more. If you get inspired by the ornaments and décor, you're in the perfect place to pick up some decorations for your own Christmas tree. Disney Springs also is the spot to get holiday gifts for your Disney-loving aunt, Toy Story-obsessed toddler or even a trinket or two for yourself. While strolling the outdoor area, you'll be entertained by a DJ spinning holiday tunes, stilt-walking toy soldiers, skating snowflakes and you may even catch a "Disney-style" snowflake falling from the sky. When you work up an appetite from all the shopping and walking, there are plenty of places to get a festive treat, like Amorette's Patisserie and The Ganachery.

This open-air entertainment complex is getting a visit from jolly old St. Nicholas. The Santa Workshop Experience allows families to book 5-minute private sessions with Santa through Dec. 24. After that, he's got a job to do. Each child who visits The Santa Workshop Experience gets a free ticket to ride The Wheel, a 400-foot, well wheel, where guests ride in enclosed capsules. Guests accompanying the children get 50 percent of their Wheel tickets. The Pearl Express train will also be at ICON Park giving festive rides. A 50-foot Christmas tree will be on site, giving a perfect backdrop for Christmas photos.

You'll feel like you're on an all-inclusive island rather than the center of a city known for theme parks. Your admission ticket not only gets you access to the dolphins, it also includes a snorkel experience with thousands of tropical fish and coral reef, entrance to the aviary and much more. Breakfast, lunch, drinks and snacks also are part of the deal. In fact, you don't even need towels or sunscreen. They are provided along with wetsuits. The lazy river is designed to look like a lagoon among a rainforest with waterfalls, caves and rocky terrain. Waterproof masks are given to guests when swimming with the dolphins and masks also need to be worn when in the restaurant or gift shops. You can rent a cabana to get an ultra-exclusive, private feel. There are other add-ons, like swimming with sharks or exploring the coral reef with a dive helmet.

It's called Night of a Million Lights, but there are actually more than three million lights on display. This is a rare chance for the public to see the grounds of the Give Kids the World Village. The non-profit fulfills the wishes of critically ill children who want to visit central Florida. Usually the property is only open to families staying on the nearly 90-acre grounds and the thousands of volunteers and small staff that help run it. This is the first year they are opening to the public and the proceeds from Night of a Million Lights benefit the organization. Walt Disney World donated the majority of lights and other companies, including LEGOLAND Florida, Kennedy Space Center and SeaWorld Orlando also pitched in. Guests are required to wear masks and tickets must be purchased online in advance. Entry times are staggered and guests are asked to limit visits to two hours to keep capacity low.