Orlando treats tourists to holiday events

By Clara Bosonetto Maerz

For ajc.com

Get down to the Orlando area - quick - for fun holiday season festivities.

Holiday celebrations at Universal Orlando Resort start on Saturday, Dec. 5 and run through New Years' Day. All of the top entertainment on tap is included in the price of regular park admission with concerts starting at 7 p.m.

Here's what's scheduled during Universal's brand-new Holiday Concert Series:

- Mannheim Steamroller performs Dec. 5

- Chris Isaak performs on Dec. 12

- Catch Natalie Cole on Dec. 19

Plus, all of the huge floats and famous balloons from the New York City Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are part of the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios. And at Islands of Adventure, the popular Dr. Seuss book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is brought to life in Grinchmas, a live stage show featuring an original recorded musical score by Mannheim Steamroller.

A specially priced holiday package gives guests two free nights when they buy a three-night stay at a hotel near to Universal Orlando (such as the Fairfield Inn & Suites). Packages also include a 7-day unlimited theme park admission and complimentary transportation between the hotel and theme parks (with early park admission) at rates starting from $217 per person.

Rates for the upgrade to stay for five nights (for the price of three) at one of the three on-site properties - Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort - start from $477 per person. Also included is a Universal Express access to bypass the regular attraction lines.

These rates are valid when booking vacations by Jan. 31 for travel through April 30 (blackout dates may apply).

For more information on Universal Orlando’s holiday celebration and offers, visit http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays or call 1-877-801-9720.

The Universal Orlando Resort are two theme parks - Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure as well as Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre restaurant, shopping and nighttime entertainment complex. http://www.universalorlando.com