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DECK THE PARKS
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Florida theme parks turn on the holiday cheer even with social distancing. | BY JENNIFER THOMAS
ach holiday season I look forward to embracing holiday traditions coupled with the sights and sounds of Christmas. From the local neighborhood lights, to the sparkling delights at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, to the exceptional and over-the-top North Pole decorations at the theme parks. Our celebrations might be a bit different this season, but the theme parks and resorts are stepping up to the challenge acting as our own personal elves. I’ve had the pleasure of attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resorts nearly every year I’ve lived in Southwest Florida; and although it’s canceled this year, Disney has surprised guests with character cavalcades that include a visit from Santa and a new holiday light display
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on Cinderella’s Castle. SWFL Parent & Child brought you the details on Disney last month. This month, we look at the other parks’ plans. Favorites for my family include Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town and SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. We have also stayed multiple times at the Gaylord Palms resort in the Orlando area to experience ICE!, a walk-through carved ice display at 9 degrees, and its Cirque du Soleil Christmas show. While ICE! is canceled, its replacement is bigger than life. Universal Orlando Resort also pulls out all the stops for festive cheer and is known to showcase balloons and floats from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Florida’s theme parks are embracing changes because of the pandemic, but they still aim to thrill. Here’s what’s happening:
