Celebrating 25 Years of Grinchmas at Universal Islands of Adventure

Grinchmas Turns 25 at Universal Orlando, And The Whos Are Throwing a Full-On Who-bilation

Grinchmas has been decking the halls of Seuss Landing at Universal’s Islands of Adventure for a quarter of a century, and 2025 is shaping up to be the most Who-tacular celebration yet. What started as a quirky little holiday add-on in the early 2000s has grown into a full-blown tradition for so many families, complete with returning Team Members who have literally spent decades living their best Who lives on stage. This year, Universal is turning the nostalgia dial all the way up to celebrate 25 years of mean, green, merry magic.

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Grinchmas first snuck into the parks in late 2000, led by none other than Mike Aiello, now senior director of creative development in entertainment at Universal Orlando. Back then, Mike was covered head to toe in prosthetics and yak fur playing the Grinch himself. He later traded the green for a sash and became Mayor Maywho, leaning into that delightfully over-the-top “vote for me” energy that lives somewhere between political rally and holiday pageant.

These days, you can still hear Mike in Seuss Landing as DJ Drew Who, the unseen Who spinning records and banter in the land’s background audio. For the 25th anniversary, he even re-recorded his classic lines so the whole celebration has a fresh-but-familiar sound running through the air.

The original version of The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular looked very different from the show guests pack into today. Back in the early years, the action played out in three separate acts staged outside All The Books You Can Read. Guests met the Whos in one show, the Grinch in another, and wrapped it up with a standalone Who-bilation. Fun, yes, but tricky for families trying to juggle a full park day. In 2002, the entertainment team listened to that feedback and reimagined the story as a single 15 to 20 minute production performed multiple times a day. That update gave guests the full heart-growing-three-sizes story in one sitting, and it’s the foundation of the beloved stage show we know today.

Choreographer-turned-show-director Lora Sauls has been part of that evolution for 24 of Grinchmas’ 25 years. She spent more than a decade directing The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular before stepping into her current role as assistant director of creative development. For her, the Grinchmas crew has become a little holiday family, growing up together in Whoville while refining the show year after year. That long history is part of what makes this anniversary season feel extra special for the Team Members who have been there since those early outdoor shows.

Senior show director Matt Flood also has deep roots in Seuss Landing. His first job at Universal back in 2002 was performing as a Who, and he’s stayed close to Grinchmas ever since. Over the years he’s hopped from performing to coordinating to directing, always circling back to the greenest holiday of them all. For Matt, the magic is knowing that families plan entire trips around Grinchmas and return year after year to make it part of their holiday traditions. That sense of “we’re part of their memories now” is baked into everything the team does.

For 2025, the 25th anniversary celebration is turning Seuss Landing into an even bigger Who-liday playground. Guests can stroll through a brand-new tree farm complete with six character-themed trees inspired by some of your Seuss favorites. There are also new or newly dressed characters roaming the land in fresh costumes, giving returning visitors new reasons to stop, chat, and snap photos with the Whos.

The musical heartbeat of Grinchmas is back in a big way too. The Who-Ops return with a slate of holiday tunes, including fan-favorite “104 Days of Christmas.” Guests can grab sheet music and sing along like honorary Whos, which makes the whole land feel like a walking, talking, rhyming carol session.

Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous is once again home to The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast, where you can dine under the big top with the Grinch himself in his Santa best. For the 25th anniversary, Cindy Lou Who is joining the breakfast lineup for the first time, making this year’s event an extra sweet option for families who love her storybook heart. The Whos work the room too, greeting tables and adding a little extra Who-energy to your morning omelets and pastries.

Universal Orlando Annual Passholders get a special treat this season with an exclusive UOAP Grinchmas button featuring the Grinch’s fabulously grumpy face. The button is available through January 4, 2026 at the UOAP Lounge in Islands of Adventure and at The Tonight Shop in Universal Studios Florida, so passholders have plenty of time to add that little bit of collectible cheer to their lanyards or jackets.

If your sweet tooth is feeling particularly Who-ish, Hop on Pop Ice Cream Shop is serving two new holiday treats for the season. Guests can cozy up with a Crunch Bunch Ice Cream Bunch ice cream sandwich and pair it with a warm Holiday Hot Chocolate. It’s the kind of combo that screams “Florida winter,” where you can snack on ice cream in a T-shirt and still feel festive.

Guests looking to go all-in on Universal’s holiday offerings, including Grinchmas, can book the Universal Holiday Tour. With a valid 2-Park 1-Day ticket, this guided experience stitches together some of the season’s biggest highlights: a meet and greet with the Grinch and Max, reserved viewing for the Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, reserved seating for The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, cookie decorating, light bites and non-alcoholic drinks at select locations, plus a meet and greet with Santa himself. It’s a curated way to pack a lot of holiday cheer into a single night without juggling as many separate queues and showtimes.

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Throughout it all, the creative team is encouraging guests to slow down and actually hang out in Whoville instead of just racing from stage show to the next attraction. Between impromptu games with the Whos, singalongs in the streets, character banter, and those new tree farm details, there are plenty of smaller, unscripted moments that can quickly become the memories everyone talks about on the way home.

After 25 years, Grinchmas is more than a seasonal overlay. It’s a full holiday tradition stitched into Universal Orlando’s DNA, kept alive by the performers, designers, and creative minds who have grown up right alongside it. Whether you’ve been coming since those early three-act shows or you’re meeting the Grinch for the first time this year, the 25th Who-bilation is ready to wrap you up in lights, laughter, and just the right amount of snarky, green holiday cheer.

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