Christmas in Orlando: see the free lights first, then pay for one event

What usually runs

Holiday decorations go up across Orlando's parks and resorts from early or mid November and usually stay through the first days of January. Here's what to expect:

• EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays: holiday kitchens and storytellers around World Showcase, included with admission. See our EPCOT festivals calendar.
• Magic Kingdom's Christmas party: a separate-ticket evening event on select nights, usually November through December, with a holiday parade and fireworks.
• Universal holidays: usually from mid November, with a holiday parade, a holiday show and decorations in the Wizarding World areas, included with admission.
• SeaWorld's Christmas celebration: lights, shows and decorations on select nights, included with admission.
• Disney Springs: decorated trees and a festive evening stroll, free to visit; see Disney Springs as a free evening.

Free things worth seeing

Many resort hotels go all out with lobby decorations. Several Disney resorts build large gingerbread displays, which are free to see if you can get there and park. Winter Park lights up Park Avenue and holds a tree lighting, usually in early December. Lake Eola has lights around the lake, and an evening walk around the loop is free and festive. Free holiday concerts and parades pop up in nearby towns most weekends.

How to plan a holiday trip

1. Choose your dates first. The first two weeks of December are the sweet spot for crowds and prices.
2. Pick one paid evening event, such as a party or light show, and book it early. Popular nights sell out.
3. Fill free evenings with hotel lobbies, Disney Springs or Winter Park's lights.
4. Do park days on weekdays, and arrive at opening.
5. Book restaurants for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day well ahead.

Which paid event to choose

If you have young kids who love Disney characters, the Magic Kingdom Christmas party is the classic choice. The parade, fireworks and seasonal treats make the night feel special, and crowds are capped compared with a regular day. It's pricey, though, and the earliest November dates feel less festive than December ones.

For teens and adults, Universal's holiday events are a better fit, and they're included with a regular day ticket. EPCOT's holiday festival is the best pick for food lovers who want to graze through World Showcase.

Outside the parks, look for drive-through light shows and ticketed holiday displays around the region, usually from late November. Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee usually runs a large holiday attraction with ice sculptures and activities. These events change often, so check what's running the year you visit and book ahead for weekends. A light show on a weeknight is a calm, cheap way to get your holiday fix.

Weather, packing and the busiest week

December in Orlando is usually mild, with highs in the 70s and cool evenings that can dip into the 40s or 50s. Bring layers. Rain is less common than in summer, but cold fronts can bring a gray day or two. See Orlando in December for more. Pools at most hotels stay open, but heated ones are the only comfortable choice on cooler days.

The days between Christmas and New Year's are among the most crowded of the year at every Orlando park. Lines are long, parks can hit capacity, and prices peak. If you must go then, arrive at opening, take a midday break, and accept that you'll do less. New Year's Eve is especially packed. Hotel rates also tend to jump sharply for that week, so compare prices for early December before you lock in dates.

Mistakes to avoid

• Trying to do every holiday event. Pick one or two and enjoy them.
• Waiting to book the parties. The best nights sell out weeks ahead.
• Forgetting a jacket. Evening events get chilly.
• Driving to hotel lobbies without checking parking. Some resorts charge or restrict non-guest parking.
• Assuming it will feel wintry. Sunny 75-degree days are common. Enjoy them, and pack sunscreen as well as a sweater.