Shrek, Minions, and more appear in Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s, an evening spectacle featuring larger-than-life balloons and floats at Universal Studios Florida.
Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s
The parade travels from the gate near Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show through the Hollywood and New York sections of Universal Studios Florida. It begins at 5:30 p.m., as the sun begins to set.
The parade starts with dancers in warm blue coats with white fur trim. Some of them carry light-up reindeer figures.
The first float has a giant snowflake with the name of the parade in its center. It’s on a circular screen base that also features the parade name. The base of the float is illuminated by swirls of blue lights.
The float is followed by dancers in giant floating skirts with built-in lights.
Snowmen wear blue scarves and top hats. Snowflake stilt walkers finish out the wintry first unit.
The first Macy’s balloons are a pair of blue star-shaped balloons. They are dotted with white snowflakes and have the Macy’s logo in their centers.
Last year, these balloons had slightly different designs and wore Santa hats. The balloon holders are in white outfits with blue snowflake vests.
Minion dancers wearing the iconic overalls (and sweaters) lead the “Despicable Me” unit. The next float features Minions in and around a Christmas tree.
The next balloon is Bob the Minion’s teddy bear, Tim. He sticks out of a Minion stocking.
After Tim is a float of the human “Despicable Me” characters on a winter vacation. The next float has Minions going down a ski float in a rocket-powered sled.
A balloon depicts a Minion in a red sweater holding an envelope. His handlers wear red jumpsuits and blue vests featuring Minion snowmen. They previously wore blue jumpsuits.
The penguins of Madagascar are in a high-tech vehicle painted “Operation Find Santa.” They’re wearing winter and Christmas gear and playing in a pile of presents. String lights run over the float.
A new balloon resembles one of the penguins in a broken green Christmas ornament. He holds a candy cane-striped mallet. Previously, there was a penguin hot air balloon in this section of the parade.
King Julien gets his own Christmas present throne as the next float. String lights are wrapped around palm trees next to him.
The pineapple float is absent from this section of the parade, too.
Dancers resembling red flowers on green vines separate King Julien from the next float.
The main animals from the original “Madagascar” film are on this float of crates. They wear holiday accessories and have gifts all around them.
The “Shrek” unit begins with a giant balloon of Gingy, the gingerbread man, wearing a Santa hat and holding candies.
The Three Little Pigs are in a house made of Christmas candies. The Three Blind Mice and Wolf are on the ground.
Donkey gets his own float of colorful Christmas presents.
One of his donkey-dragon children is a balloon behind him. The giant baby has red dragon wings and a wreath collar.
Dancers in medieval-style dress dance with Puss in Boots. The cat has traded his usual boots, cape, and hat for Santa-inspired gear.
Speaking of Santa, Shrek is wearing his own makeshift Santa suit atop the next float. He’s joined by Pinocchio, Fiona, and the dragon.
The next unit is comprised of everyone’s favorite presents — toys! Dancers are dressed like toy blocks, robots, and clowns.
A train float has giant elf figures in each cab.
Dolls with pull strings and wind-up handles dance in the street after the train. The next float resembles a wooden toy with a drumming nutcracker, teddy bear, rocking horse, and blocks.
The next round of stilt walkers are dressed like toy soldiers with green pants and red tunics.
A giant nutcracker balloon also wears a red top.
Snow starts to fall as dancers in red velvet coats and green pointed hats introduce the final unit of the parade.
A single illuminated reindeer leads the pack on a float of Christmas trees. It’s followed by more stilt walkers.
The next float has several more reindeer flying over houses. The parade ends with Santa Claus’ arrival and the lighting of the park’s 80-foot Christmas tree in New York.
Santa is in a float featuring a globe, his naughty and nice list, and houses. His sleigh is atop a snow-covered roof.
The final balloons are two gold star-shaped Macy’s balloons.
Watch our video of Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s:
The holiday season at Universal Orlando Resort runs through December 31, 2024. Check out Holiday Parade merchandise and decorations.
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