Grinchmas may seem like a tradition spanning back centuries, but it has actually only existed for 25 years. The celebration first began at Seuss Landing in Universal Islands of Adventure back in 2000, coinciding with the release of the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas film.
Grinchmas 25th Anniversary
Discover Universal Blog took a look back at 25 years of The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular and other Seuss holiday offerings.
Mike Aiello is now senior director of creative development in entertainment at Universal Orlando, but 25 years ago, he played the Grinch.
“It was my first time being in that level of prosthetics,” he said. “You’re completely gone (with) the way you’re completely covered, and you can’t help but kind of become the character.”
After three years portraying the mean one, Mike decided to explore other avenues and landed the role of Mayor Maywho.
“The Mayor was awesome because he’s a showman. He’s the typical, ‘I’m shaking your hand because I want your vote, not necessarily because I like you,’” Mike said. “He’s like the Grinch, too, but on a whole different spectrum. He’s overly happy because that’s the air that he put on, but deep inside, he loathed the Grinch and honestly just wanted to win the award.”
Mike also lent his hand (or voice) to the creation of an original Who-liday character: DJ Drew Who. Guests can hear Mike as the voice of the DJ spinning holiday songs throughout Seuss Landing.
“It was kind of by chance,” he explained. “We were doing new music in the land one year, and we came up with an idea that there should be a Who DJ spinning records somewhere in Who-ville. We wrote it up real fast, and I was around and said, ‘Well, I’ll take a stab at reading it,’ and that became DJ Drew Who.”
The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular is now a half-hour stage show, but the original iteration was split into three acts that played at different times a day outside All The Books You Can Read. Act I featured the Whos, Act II introduced the Grinch, and Act III was the Who-bilation.
It wasn’t easy for guests to catch all three acts, and many missed the Grinch. Lora Sauls, assistant director of creative development, said, “This is where we really listened to our guests. So, in 2002, we combined those three acts into one cohesive 15- to 20-minute show that (we) performed several times a day, and that really made our guests happy because they got the whole story.”
Lora began as a choreographer for the show 24 years ago. She was later the show director for over a decade.
“I really absolutely love being a show director for Grinchmas,” she said. “Now, I am the assistant director of our team, and I really help guide and place people in the right roles to do the shows that they absolutely have the passion to direct.”
“We all have kind of grown up and seen the evolution of Grinchmas,” she added, “and we all are so excited that now we can celebrate 25 years.”
Matt Flood, senior show director of creative development, got his start at Universal in 2002 as the Lederhosen Who.
“It really does feel like a privilege — a treat — something special each year,” he said. “It is such a special show, and I know that so many people come to the parks for Grinchmas … and to be a part of somebody’s family tradition and to play a role in that entertainment is a really special thing.”
He continued, “Working with a team that knows it so well — all of entertainment values the show so much. Everybody has ownership of this in such a fun way, so working with a team that values what we’re doing just makes it all work.”
The Grinchmas team rolled out some updates for the 25th Who-bilation Celebration. Mike re-recorded his lines as DJ Drew Who. A new tree farm has been planted, featuring six trees themed to characters. A couple of new characters are also roaming the land.
The Who-Ops are back to perform Christmas Carols like “104 Days of Christmas.” Guests can meet the Grinch at Honk Honkers and The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous. Cindy Lou Who is making her breakfast debut this year.
With the Universal Holiday Tour, guests get an exclusive meet and greet with the Grinch and his dog Max, reserved seating for The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, and more.
Two new, festive treats are available at Hop on Pop Ice Cream Shop. Pair the Crunch Bunch Ice Cream Bunch ice cream sandwich with the Holiday Hot Chocolate.
“It’s so fulfilling to know that the stuff that we’re able to create and do — people really enjoy and come back year after year and live it,” Mike said about the enduring power of Grinchmas. “There’s nothing like it.”
Watch our video of The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular:
Universal recently teased a Grinch UOAP lanyard for 25 years of Grinchmas.
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