Orlando World Center Marriott is rolling out a 12-day holiday activation called "Twelve Nights of Wonder" from Dec. 20 through Dec. 31, 2026, built around a trio of priced dining events at its signature restaurant and an evening village experience that debuts a new carousel this year. The program is an expansion of a multi-year initiative the 2,010-room Orlando property has refined annually.

The Holiday Dining Program

The culinary anchor of the activation is Latitude & Longitude, the resort's signature restaurant, which will host three separately ticketed buffets across the holiday stretch. A Thanksgiving Day Buffet on Nov. 26 runs 1–8 p.m. and features a Crown Roast of Turkey, mustard-rubbed ham, whole roasted Mahi Mahi, and seasonal pies, priced at $80 for adults and $32 for children ages 4–12. A Christmas Day Brunch Buffet on Dec. 25 (11 a.m.–2 p.m.) offers made-to-order omelet and waffle stations alongside coffee-crusted beef tenderloin at $55 for adults and $20 for children ages 4–12. The New Year's Eve Buffet on Dec. 31 (5–9 p.m.) anchors the finale with smoked prime rib, rack of lamb, lobster-crusted grouper, and a premium sushi selection at $80 for adults and $32 for children ages 4–12. Children 3 and under dine free at all three events. Reservations are available through OpenTable.

For hospitality operators, the tiered pricing structure and clear age-band strategy illustrate how large resort properties are segmenting holiday F&B into multiple revenue occasions rather than a single marquee dinner — a model with growing relevance across full-service hotel dining and holiday beverage programming.

Village Experience and Entertainment

Each evening from 6–9 p.m., the Falls Pool area converts into the Winter Wonderland Village, anchored by a train ride, classic carousel (new for 2026), rotating nightly entertainment, and four themed chalets: a story-time library, a children's snow workshop, Mingo's Ice Bar serving specialty signature drinks, and Mrs. Sugarplum's Sweets, where the resort's pastry team offers hand-crafted themed confections. The ice bar and sweets chalet function as standalone F&B activations embedded within the broader entertainment footprint — a design approach that keeps beverage and dessert revenue flowing through the evening programming without requiring guests to leave the experience zone.

Fireworks spectaculars are scheduled for Dec. 26, 28, 30, and 31. A Mermaid and Glow Event on Dec. 26 adds a poolside animation element. Santa and Mrs. Claus meet-and-greet appearances are available on select dates, and festive carolers will circulate through the lobby and outdoor areas throughout the 12-day run.

Operator Takeaways

Robert Bray, general manager of Orlando World Center Marriott, credited the event's longevity to consistent iteration. "Our team curated this immersive holiday escape a few years ago, and we continue to build on these events and experiences to ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy," Bray said.

For foodservice and hospitality operators watching large-resort holiday strategy, the Twelve Nights of Wonder model demonstrates how properties can layer culinary, beverage, and entertainment touchpoints across an extended window rather than concentrating investment in a single night. The multi-week approach distributes labor, spreads covers across the season, and creates multiple upsell moments — lessons applicable to hospitality food-and-beverage operators well beyond a single resort market.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.