Living on the east-side of Orlando for the last few years, my family has enjoyed visiting UCF during the Christmas season to attend their Light Up UCF event that features Christmas Caroling, outdoor movies, and an ice skating rink.
In 2012, the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel launched their inaugural Winter Wonderland event to the International Drive area that has different activities than the UCF event but has the same type of vibe that makes it a great night for families to celebrate the Christmas season. This is our guide to Winter Wonderland at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.
Shingle Creek Winter Wonderland
For the 2012 inaugural event, the Winter Wonderland event at the Rosen Shingle Creek was held on two days in December on Friday, December 21st and Saturday, December 22nd, 2012 from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm that featured free family activities and complimentary hot cocoa in their outdoor garden decorated in holiday decor with a towering Christmas Tree at the center.
Winter Wonderland Activities
The free event included a holiday karaoke area, Christmas Tree lighting with Santa Claus (at 7 pm), Christmas Lights, storytelling, outside holiday movie, and snowfall. For $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 4-12 a ride, children could take a ride on the Shingle Creek Express Train with Santa Claus and his elves that was very popular (see video below). Additional food and beverages are also available at dining carts at the event.
To say that the inaugural Winter Wonderland event was a success is an understatement and we believe that the event could and should be expanded and will prove to be just as popular on additional nights. The self-parking was almost at capacity at the hotel on the Saturday night that we attended.
We bring up the UCF event because we believe that the Winter Wonderland event at the Rosen Shingle Creek has the capability to bring together the community during the Christmas season in the International Drive area like the UCF event does for the east side of Orlando. It also brings one more Christmas event to all of Orlando for families to choose during the month of December and a great entertainment option for visitors staying in the I-Drive area to attend.
Rosen Shingle Creek Winter Wonderland Video
Rosen Shingle Creek Map