Christmas at Universal Studios Florida in 1998.

NOTE: I believe I may be incorrect about the dates here. I think these photos are actually from 1999. I am not sure why I have a bunch of Universal Studios photos that are off by one year, but from looking at my Disney trips, I see I visited in November 1999. With that in mind, assume that “1998” below is probably actually be “1999.”

Today I am quite familiar with Halloween and Christmas events at Disney, but there was a time “not too long ago” (but longer than many of you reading this have even existed) when Halloween wasn’t really much of a thing in the parks.

Back then, there was a small Fall transition where you’d start to see some pumpkins or Fall decorations before Christmas would take over later. I went through my photo gallery trying to see if I captured any of this “before Halloween” stuff, but I find that the first trip I made in November with a digital camera was in 1998.

I found some photos from Universal Studios Florida, back when it was just Universal Studios (long before Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and before Islands of Adventure opened).

Universal was already in Christmas mode by November at that time. Let’s take a look.

The original movie-themed park had different areas representing different big cities. As such, they put up traditional city-style decorations.

Christmas decorations at Universal Studios Florida on November 17, 1998.

As a kid in the 1970s, I have fond memories of seeing the Christmas decorations like these candy-stuffed stockings on light posts.

Christmas decorations at Universal Studios Florida on November 17, 1998.

I don’t recall seeing any of these “across the street” decorations, though. I suppose it’s easier to decorate fake streets that don’t have actual traffic (other than parades).

Christmas decorations at Universal Studios Florida on November 17, 1998.

I *think* these “shooting star” decorations may have been from the Hollywood Boulevard area of the park.

Christmas decorations at Universal Studios Florida on November 17, 1998.

Of course the park has a Christmas tree.

Christmas decorations at Universal Studios Florida on November 17, 1998.

The tree was located just across the way from the Islands of Adventure preview center.

Christmas decorations at Universal Studios Florida on November 17, 1998.

Since Universal Studios was based on a movie backlot, its “lands” were supposed to be backlot filming sets based on different cities and such. Thus, the attractions were often placed in buildings that usually didn’t make sense. King Kong was an exception, since it was a public transportation ride located in a public transportation station building. It was decorated for happy holidays, in spite of giant gorilla inside…

Christmas decorations at Universal Studios Florida on November 17, 1998.

As I keep digging through my archives, I expect I may locate some photos of the in-between decorations the Disney parks had (Main Street and Frontierland, I think). Today, though, I think they go straight from Halloween to Christmas, with no room for anything in between like Thanksgiving or Fall.

Until next time…