Orlando events & things to do in December 2026
Start with EPCOT, Disney's Animal Kingdom, plus Universal Studios Florida. December in Orlando averages 23°C / 74°F highs, 12°C / 53°F nights, and about 7 rainy days.
Expect 23°C/74°F days and about 7 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- EPCOT★ 4.7 · 162.0k reviewsEPCOT opened in 1982 with Spaceship Earth, World Showcase pavilions, seasonal festivals, and science-and-culture attractions.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom★ 4.7 · 142.3k reviewsAnimal Kingdom opened in 1998 with the Tree of Life, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, Pandora, and animal trails.
- Death Becomes HerDec 1Walt Disney Theater at Dr Phillips Center · Source: SeatGeek
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Orlando in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
74°F / 53°F
23.2°C / 11.6°C
RainPrecipitation
7d
2.6in · 65mm
LightDaylight
10.2h
December is mild and festive, with peak holiday crowds around Disney, Universal, and International Drive.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 18
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
A special holiday event at Magic Kingdom featuring festive parades, fireworks, character meet-and-greets, and holiday-themed shows.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 30
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Celebrate holiday traditions from around the world with seasonal food, live entertainment, and the Candlelight Processional at Epcot.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 3
Show all 35 events for December
- Dec 3
Holiday Tree Lighting at Lake Eola Park
Annual tree lighting ceremony with live music, food vendors, and family activities in downtown Orlando.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 3
- Dec 4
- Dec 4 – Dec 27
- Dec 4 – Dec 6
Christmas in the Park at Central Park Winter Garden
Holiday market and entertainment event featuring local artisans, food trucks, and live performances.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 4
- Dec 5
Winter Park Christmas Parade
Annual festive parade in nearby Winter Park featuring floats, marching bands, and holiday characters.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10
- Dec 10
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 11 – Dec 20
Holiday Nights at Harry P. Leu Gardens
Evening holiday light displays and themed events at the botanical gardens.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 11
- Dec 12 – Dec 13
Leu Gardens Holiday House Tour
Guided tours of historic homes decorated for the holidays in the Leu Gardens area.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 12
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
- Dec 20
- Dec 26 – Dec 27
- Dec 27
- Dec 30 – Dec 31
- Dec 31
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Orlando
City overview
Orlando sits in Central Florida between Atlantic and Gulf coast day-trip range, but its visitor map is shaped by theme-park resorts southwest of Downtown and older neighborhoods around Lake Eola, Winter Park, and Mills 50. The city is most useful when Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, International Drive, and quieter local districts are treated as separate travel zones rather than one compact downtown.
Food & drink
Orlando food stretches beyond theme-park snacks into Cuban sandwiches, Puerto Rican mofongo, Vietnamese pho, Brazilian steakhouse meals, smoked barbecue, gator bites, key lime pie, and citrus desserts. Mills 50, East End Market, Disney Springs, International Drive, Winter Park, and the Milk District are the most useful food zones.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Universal Studios Florida
- 2Universal Islands of Adventure
- 3Lake Eola Park
- 4Magic Kingdom
- 5Disney's Hollywood Studios
- 6Universal Volcano Bay
- 7SeaWorld Orlando
- 8Harry P. Leu Gardens
1Universal Studios Florida
4.7★ · 160,574outdoorOpen dailyUniversal Studios Florida opened in 1990 with movie-based rides, Diagon Alley, soundstage theming, and CityWalk access. It is inside Orlando city limits near International Drive and pairs with Islands of Adventure by park-to-park ticket.
Wikipedia
2Universal Islands of Adventure
4.7★ · 108,236outdoorOpen dailyIslands of Adventure opened in 1999 with themed islands, Marvel rides, Jurassic Park, Seuss Landing, and Hogsmeade. The Hogwarts Express connects it with Universal Studios Florida for visitors holding the correct ticket.
Wikipedia
3Lake Eola Park
4.7★ · 24,509outdoorOpen dailyLake Eola became Orlando's central park in the late 19th century and its 1957 Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain remains the Downtown icon. The walking loop, swan boats, Sunday farmers market, and skyline views make it the easiest non-theme-park stop.
Wikipedia
Show 3 more sights
- 4Magic Kingdom
- 5Disney's Hollywood Studios
- 6Universal Volcano Bay
Neighborhoods
1Downtown and Lake Eola
Downtown is civic and compact, with Lake Eola, the Dr. Phillips Center, Church Street, sports venues, courthouses, bars, and Sunday market traffic.
2Thornton Park and Milk District
These close-in districts are local and low-rise, with bungalow streets, coffee shops, Lake Eola access, murals, breweries, and casual restaurants.
3Winter Park and Park Avenue
Winter Park is polished and leafy, with Rollins College, Park Avenue, museums, lakes, boat tours, brick streets, and restaurant patios.
Day trips
80km / 1h by car from Downtown Orlando
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Apollo, shuttle, rocket garden, launch-viewing logistics, and Cape Canaveral history make it the strongest non-theme-park day from Orlando.
95km / 1h by car from International Drive
Cocoa Beach
The Atlantic beach adds surf shops, the pier, sand time, and an easy pairing with Cape Canaveral.
10km / 20min by SunRail or car from Downtown Orlando
Winter Park
Park Avenue, the Scenic Boat Tour, Rollins College, museums, and lakefront homes work as a half-day without leaving the metro area.
Getting around
LYNX buses, SunRail commuter trains, the I-Ride Trolley, hotel shuttles, rideshares, and rental cars all matter because Orlando is spread out. Cars are usually fastest between Disney, Universal, Downtown, Winter Park, and the airport, while park shuttles are useful once inside a resort zone.
Planning a Orlando trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Orlando in December
- What to pack for Orlando in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Orlando checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 23°C / 74°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 12°C / 53°F.
- A small umbrella or packable shell for scattered rain across about 7 days.
- How many days do you need in Orlando
- 4 days covers the main Orlando highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Orlando worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Orlando averages 23°C / 74°F highs, 12°C / 53°F nights, and about 7 rainy days.
Ready to plan Orlando?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Orlando plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.