You Can Meet Elphaba and Glinda at Universal Studios Orlando’s Wicked Experience

The holidays are starting now at Universal Studios Orlando and Disneyland, and in Las Vegas and more fandom destinations. Here’s the latest news for the winter vacation offerings already rolled out!

It being the season of giving means that not only are visits to theme parks and immersive experiences a part of the holiday fun, but the merch game is intensifying—just take a look at what Wicked is up to at Universal Studios. With that in mind we’re adding some theme park insider pro-tips for the travelers among you, covering both gear essentials and those must-have Disney and Universal Studios fandom finds. And don’t worry, it’s not all only things in-park; most are picks you can order to have under the tree by Christmas or a part of your ‘fits to make holiday memories.

But first let’s get into the massive Wicked take-over at Universal Studios in this week’s theme park news!

The Wicked Experience

Take a look at the Oz vibes inside the Wicked Experience at Universal Studios Orlando. Courtesy of theme park content creators Park Hop, here’s a peek at the shopping destination filled with rooms that immerse visitors in Shiz and Emerald City-themed rooms filled with props from Wicked and official merchandise. Not only that but it’s so far the only Universal Studios theme park where you can meet the Elphaba and Glinda characters as part of the holiday’s seasonal offerings. For fans on the West Coast, it’s our holiday wish for them to also take an Emerald City train to Universal Studios Hollywood too. Guess we’ll have to make do with a smaller Wicked store and themed food, but no face characters to meet.

Gift ideas for Wicked fans

IMAGE: BoxLunch, Casetify, Vera Bradley, Loungefly

Bummed you might not be able to make it to either park for Wicked merch? Or have a Wicked superfan in your life you need to shop for? Don’t worry I’m determined to succeed, follow my lead!

And you will find some of the most popular options curated for the good of the fandom here:

• BoxLunch has you covered online and at your local mall with its Wicked collection of fashion and accessories like the exclusive Defying Gravity crewneck. Shop here.
• Loungefly has an Ariana Grande-approved version of her Galinda monogram luggage trunk and Elphaba’s Grimmerie spell book as crossbody bags as part of Loungefly and Funko’s Wicked line.
• Shop some of Universal Orlando’s Wicked collection online here, though the selection’s not as expansive as the video above shows.
• If the littles in your life want to dress up as Elphie and Glinda, find the exclusive premium Glinda Bubble Dress on Amazon, the exclusive premium Elphaba Dress on Amazon, the exclusive deluxe Glinda Popular Dress at Target, and the exclusive deluxe Shiz University Uniform at Walmart.
• The Noble collection has hats, crowns, wands, brooms, and more replicas for kids and adults to accessorize their Wicked costumes! Shop here.
• Deck your travel gear with stylish luggage from Vera Bradley x Wicked, Beis x Wicked and tech with Casetify’s Wicked drop.
• LEGO Wicked Elphaba & Glinda Figures Fantasy Playset at Target
• For those sing-along screenings of Wicked at places like the Alamo Drafthouse (with special food menu) find themed fits from Forever21 x Wicked, Bombas, Walmart and Target for the whole family.

 Universal Monsters Unchained at Epic Universe animatronics first look

The Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, Florida is gearing up for a huge 2025; new theme park Epic Universe is going to shake things up as major fandom destination draw. We’re excited for Super Nintendo World and the How to Train Your Dragon land, but as monster fans we’re in for an especially huge treat. Here’s a look (previously covered here at io9) at the detailed animatronics for the park’s Dark Universe land, which will feature a state of the art attraction filled with robot monsters I wouldn’t mind being crushed by if they become sentient. Kidding, mostly.

Gift ideas for Universal Monsters and Universal Studios fans

Image: Hot Topic, Lowes, Kitsch, Sanrio, Swarovski, Universal Studios Products and Experiences

• For the Universal Monsters fan shop online and in-store at Hot Topic
• For the DreamWorks Land mom, a retro trolls necklace from Swarovski
• Get in the Grinchmas spirit at home with this Grinch inflatable from Lowes
• Heading to the theme parks? Pack these travel sleep and hair accessories from Hello Kitty and more at Kitsch online.
• And let’s not forget Universal Studios Orlando’s official Christmas mascot Earl the Squirrel and more holiday goodies featuring the new park icon. He’s inspired by a very real squirrel who lived the dream for a good while as a tenant of Universal’s Christmas tree but allegedly met his end by Christmas light electrocution. His life gets a darkly humorous homage in his very own children’s book, now on sale inside the park’s Holiday Tribute store at Universal Orlando.

Immersive Nightmare Before Christmas screenings return to AREA15

Image: AREA15

Traveling to Las Vegas this holiday season? AREA15 gets back to its quirky and whimsigoth holiday spirit. You can venture to Meow Wolf for portal jumping into bizarre and bombastic worlds at Omega Mart and also take a break in a fully immersive viewing of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The special movie offering involves plush cozy couches and themed drinks and treats inspired by the film. Catch a showtime between now and January 2, 2025. For more info visit here.

Gift ideas for Burton fans and cosmic road trippers

• Unique Vintage has a collection of Nightmare Before Christmas pieces like this gorgeous Jack Skellington Caftan
• BoxLunch has dad and baby covered with more Nightmare Before Christmas fashion for the whole family
• Travel to Omega Mart in Nevada and beyond with this Meow Wolf multi-experience portal pass; it lets you visit the experiential locations across the nation for an epic road trip to surreal worlds in Colorado, New Mexico, and multiple stops in Texas. 
• Capture travel memories with EOS R8 Content Creator Kit for beginning vloggers and photographers and print them on the go with the SELPHY QX10 Compact Photo Printer
• Don’t forget road trip with essential travel tech gear like the Ember bottle warmer and backseat kid or pet monitor from Tiny Traveller

Star Wars Holidays at the Disneyland Resort

Continue to celebrate Life Day the Wookiee-way in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at @Disneyland.

Visit Kat Saka’s Kettle for the Wookiee Life Day Bucket available while supplies last. pic.twitter.com/OcdjJUUQjb

— Star Wars (@starwars) November 27, 2024

Star Wars has a number of Life Day-inspired offerings debuting alongside the holidays at Disneyland, including a Wookiee popcorn bucket, special dining package at Docking Bay 7, and an exclusive viewing area of Galaxy’s Edge Fire of the Rising Moons fireworks show. For more info and reservation availability visit here.

Avengers Campus update

IMAGE: Disney Experiences

OC Register reports that permits have been filed to start construction on Avengers Campus’ E-ticket rides. Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab are set to start in 2025 at Disney California Adventure. In the meantime park attendees can celebrate a Deadpool & Wolverine Christmas storytime, and Mariachi carols with Miguel from Pixar’s Coco.

Holiday gift ideas for Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and Disney Parks fans

• Check out the Casetify’s We Are Groot and Deadpool & Wolverine collections for all your phone and tech needs
• Gear up for the Witches’ Road with Girls Crew and its official Agatha All Along collection 
• Represent your favorite characters with the Star Wars collection at Girls Crew
• Get in the holiday spirit with Disney x Forever21

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.