Holiday Matsuri 2021 Florida Anime Convention

The Florida sun will take away your winter blues
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2059
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Located in Orlando Florida, Holiday Matsuri is an anime convention and vacation destination wrapped up in a convenient package. With two world class theme park resorts nearby (Walt Disney World and Universal Studios) it’s easy to combine two vacations into one. I can’t think of a better place to be in the month of December than smothered in the balmy subtropical weather.

Table of Contents

The Convention

The warm weather and attractions are enough of a reason to attend, but the convention has much to offer as well. Vendors and artists sell their unique wares. Numerous panels, contests and cosplay meetups offer as much opportunity for fun and entertainment as you can find at any anime convention. The people behind the convention strive to offer all of the fun and they don’t shield themselves from public display like most conventions do. They hold live video streams throughout the year to keep fans informed about guests, hotel room blocks, registration, and other important events. You can see their names and faces and ask questions live. Compared to some conventions whose staff members remain mostly anonymous, this is refreshing and something that I'll argue produces a better attendee experience.
Food trucks line the convention center entrance.
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Food trucks line the convention center entrance.

As usual I didn't spend very much time in the convention center. I perused the vendor hall and artist alley, which were more spread out this year. There was a nice display of cosplays from cosplayers of various levels of fame, but I failed to take a photo of them 😅. Otherwise it was a pretty normal layout. I spent most of my time outdoors filming cosplayers, of course. The lighting and decor inside the hotel is not as nice looking and I'm becoming more of a stickler about it. I always appreciate a convention that has food trucks. Who doesn't like to eat, right? Holiday Matsuri has one of the largest gatherings of food trucks that I've seen at any convention. This year they were conveniently located right outside the convention center lobby. I caught them on Friday when it wasn't too busy, but I heard that they were very crowded on Saturday.
Traffic control
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Traffic control

The Holiday Matsuri mascots are always fun designs.
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The Holiday Matsuri mascots are always fun designs.

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The Venue

Fun fact: the Orlando World Center Marriott has the largest pool in Orlando.
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Fun fact: the Orlando World Center Marriott has the largest pool in Orlando.

Holiday Matsuri is held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, which is the largest Marriott resort in the world. With that kind of claim it had better be impressive. While it certainly has a lot of guest rooms (2,008), lots of convention space (450,000 square feet), and large grounds (200 acres), it somehow isn't overwhelming. It doesn't have a massive atrium like the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta or the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland. The lobby is relatively modest in size and aesthetic. The hallways are appropriately sized for large conventions, but don't feel cavernous like a civic convention center.
The hotel lobby.
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The hotel lobby.

Sunset over the convention center.
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Sunset over the convention center.

The convention center lobby.
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The convention center lobby.

An empty hallway in the convention center.
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An empty hallway in the convention center.

A glimpse of the new waterpark under construction.
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A glimpse of the new waterpark under construction.

Despite having one of the largest pools in Orlando, it has just one modest hot tub. The pool area went through an entire rebuild in 2021 after a large crack formed at the bottom. As part of the remodel the former hot tub grotto area was removed. That left the one hot tub on the upper part of the pool area which seems odd given the size of the resort. The pool area is very nice, especially since it's newly remodeled. It has plenty of lounge seating and you can order drinks from the nearby cafe and bar. There's a waterslide just around the corner, but the resort is in the process of building a proper waterpark. Construction was underway and will probably be finished by the next Holiday Matsuri.

COVID Concerns

Holiday Matsuri wasn’t the first anime convention to be held during the pandemic, but it was one that many people looked forward to with great anticipation. As we all know, the pandemic has been a difficult time and it hit conventions and attendees especially hard. For many attendees a convention is the only time they are able to see long distance friends. It's a special time to reconnect, share unique experiences and build long-lasting memories. Holiday Matsuri is a convention that brings people together.
Attendees fill the convention center lobby.
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Attendees fill the convention center lobby.

If you're reading this article post-COVID, try to recall the ever-changing situation that was the pandemic. Mandates were constantly in flux and fears and anxieties both real and imagined were rampant. This variant is over, but look out for the next one. Lock down. Wear a mask. Get a shot. Flatten the curve. Florida was among the states with the least restrictive measures throughout the pandemic. For some there is something attractive about going to a convention where there are less COVID restrictions. Wearing a mask gets uncomfortable and isn't ideal for photoshoots. At the same time, not wearing masks makes some people uncomfortable and afraid that such events would cause the virus to spread. Judging by how busy the convention was, there were plenty of people willing to take the risk. I have it on good authority that Holiday Matsuri staff were not particularly worried about COVID, but they needed to satisfy the concerns of domestic and international guests. Thusly, masks were required while indoors. While some people did contract COVID-19 at the convention, it wasn't a super spreader event (and neither was Anime NYC).
A CDC report finding that Anime NYC was not a super spreader event.
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A CDC report finding that Anime NYC was not a super spreader event.

Enough about the pandemic, though. A convention like this is all about fun and it seemed like everyone came out to Holiday Matsuri like it was a family reunion. I recognized so many people and met even more for the first time. The weather was great and everyone was in good spirits. The bitter delays and cancellations made the coming together again all that much sweeter.

Getting There and Cost

It seemed as though everyone in the US was looking at Florida as not only a vacation getaway, but a getaway from the pandemic. Flights were scarce and expensive if you waited until November. Fortunately I bought mine before then and was able to use airline miles, otherwise they would've been over $500. I visited Universal Studios on the Thursday before the convention and while it wasn't too busy that day, I know it was busier closer to Christmas. I left the following Monday but kinda wished I had stuck around and did the Disney parks. Despite the crowds it would have been nice to go since I haven't been there for years. I split a room with some fellow photographers, so that helped keep the costs down. It was still expensive because I stayed four nights and I indulged in the amazing breakfast buffet a few times. It's one of the best I've seen anywhere.
The breakfast buffet features a wide variety of items including made-to-order omelets and prosciutto.
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The breakfast buffet features a wide variety of items including made-to-order omelets and prosciutto.

Any kind of Uber rides to and from the airport can be expensive given the distance to the resort and the presence of toll roads. I was fortunate that my family travelled to Florida with me and we had a rental car. If you want to park a car at the resort be sure to book a room under the Holiday Matsuri room block since you get a special $12/day rate and a guaranteed parking spot. Otherwise the parking garage fills up and there's really no where else to park. The resort is a solitary destination with no public parking areas, no convenience stores, or anything like that. You can't even walk to it since the surrounding roads are basically all highways with no sidewalks. Plan ahead. Although I could have applied for a press badge, I bought a regular 3 day pass. Sometimes it's just easier to buy one instead of having to meet certain requirements as press. I don't recall specifically what the requirements for Holiday Matsuri are, but I believe you have to cover at least one event. I covered zero events 😄.
Cost
Flights $11.20 (I used airline miles)
Transportation $76.46
Hotel $428.86
Meals $95.13
Registration $68.47
$680.12

The Cosplayers

Holiday Matsuri has a nice mix of festive holiday themed cosplay, swimsuit cosplay, and just really good normal cosplay 😄. This year's event drew people from all over the country including some of the most famous cosplayers in the industry such as Alyson Tabbitha, Kate Sarkissian, and Danielle Denicola. I don't make it a point to shoot high profile cosplayers. I was just in the right place at the right time. Shout out to Kate who was very friendly and remembered my name the next day.
yusufdaza Hideo Kojima from Metal Gear Solid
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yusufdaza Hideo Kojima from Metal Gear Solid

foggyknight14 Knightmare Batman
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foggyknight14 Knightmare Batman

zazzycat__cosplays Rem from Re: Zero
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zazzycat__cosplays Rem from Re: Zero

sayakatcosplay Fish Speaker from Dune
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sayakatcosplay Fish Speaker from Dune

veena.cos Jinx from League of Legends
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veena.cos Jinx from League of Legends

lava_salmon Dio from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
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lava_salmon Dio from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

candescent_cosplay Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter
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candescent_cosplay Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter

nonbinatecosplay Catra from She-Ra
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nonbinatecosplay Catra from She-Ra

thegirlwithagreatsmile Midnight from My Hero Academia
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thegirlwithagreatsmile Midnight from My Hero Academia

susie_creates_cosplay Antiope
luxsteezcosplay Amazonian
alysontabbitha Wonder Woman
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susie_creates_cosplay Antiope luxsteezcosplay Amazonian alysontabbitha Wonder Woman

jamboreecosplay Nobara Kugisaki from Jujutsu Kaisen
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jamboreecosplay Nobara Kugisaki from Jujutsu Kaisen

dazed_senpai Jinx from League of Legends
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dazed_senpai Jinx from League of Legends

Starcraft
siashicat Sarah Kerrigan
dark.lady.cosplay Nova
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Starcraft siashicat Sarah Kerrigan dark.lady.cosplay Nova

k8sarkissian Roadhog Overwatch
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k8sarkissian Roadhog Overwatch

Santa's Reindeer
elphiemonstercosplay Blitzen
kainosaurus_ Comet
khainsaw Emo Rudolph
feisty_vee Vixen
caught_red_headed Dancer
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Santa's Reindeer elphiemonstercosplay Blitzen kainosaurus_ Comet khainsaw Emo Rudolph feisty_vee Vixen caught_red_headed Dancer

hollowrosewood She-Ra
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sirahcos Benten from Zone 00
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sirahcos Benten from Zone 00

kitpupzz Tiger Lily from Cookie Run
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kitpupzz Tiger Lily from Cookie Run

ayame.hime Tinker Bell
therovingthief Peter Pan
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ayame.hime Tinker Bell therovingthief Peter Pan

vickybunnyangel Chun Li
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vickybunnyangel Chun Li

Final Fantasy XIV
malinda_chan Alisaie
ex_shadow Godbert
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Final Fantasy XIV malinda_chan Alisaie ex_shadow Godbert

suteroozu Cami from My Hero Academia
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suteroozu Cami from My Hero Academia

skymuted UMP45 from Girls Frontline
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skymuted UMP45 from Girls Frontline

zoevolf 2B from Nier: Automata
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zoevolf 2B from Nier: Automata

k8sarkissian Dark Magician Girl from Yu-Gi-Oh!
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k8sarkissian Dark Magician Girl from Yu-Gi-Oh!

dueling_pisces Tentacle from Pokémon
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dueling_pisces Tentacle from Pokémon

aquajoestar13 Luffy from One Piece
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aquajoestar13 Luffy from One Piece

dannydoitcosplays Franky from One Piece
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dannydoitcosplays Franky from One Piece

pashavixen Krampus
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pashavixen Krampus

ashuri_senpapi Yamato from One Piece
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ashuri_senpapi Yamato from One Piece

heyblugeek Spider-man
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heyblugeek Spider-man

World of Warcraft
siashicat Astral Warden Druid
dark.lady.cosplay Sylvanas Windrunner
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World of Warcraft siashicat Astral Warden Druid dark.lady.cosplay Sylvanas Windrunner

ethericacosplay Princess Peach
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ethericacosplay Princess Peach

suteroozu Inosuke from Demon Slayer
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suteroozu Inosuke from Demon Slayer

bindismalls Noelle from Genshin Impact
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bindismalls Noelle from Genshin Impact

ottiemottie Quetzalcoatl from Fate Grand Order
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ottiemottie Quetzalcoatl from Fate Grand Order

sayakatcosplay Shagaru Magara from Monster Hunter 4
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sayakatcosplay Shagaru Magara from Monster Hunter 4

Genshin Impact
loveamiibo Barbara
camiicatcosplay Venti
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Genshin Impact loveamiibo Barbara camiicatcosplay Venti

Sesame Street
cassdevilcos Oscar the Grouch
pbpuffs_cosplay Cookie Monster
kittykattgigglescosplay Burlesque Big Bird
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Sesame Street cassdevilcos Oscar the Grouch pbpuffs_cosplay Cookie Monster kittykattgigglescosplay Burlesque Big Bird

kxeru Hinoa from Monster Hunter
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kxeru Hinoa from Monster Hunter

imaginationbycat Diamond from Land of the Lustrous
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imaginationbycat Diamond from Land of the Lustrous

candescent_cosplay Ganyu from Genshin Impact
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candescent_cosplay Ganyu from Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact
ayame.hime NingGuang
tianxiacosplay ZhongLi
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Genshin Impact ayame.hime NingGuang tianxiacosplay ZhongLi

goodoldfashioncos Tiana
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celestica.cosplay Elizabeth Báthory (Halloween version) from Fate
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celestica.cosplay Elizabeth Báthory (Halloween version) from Fate

blodvydawn Hatsune Miku from Vocaloid
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blodvydawn Hatsune Miku from Vocaloid

One Piece
aestheticallydorky Nico Robin
sakurabrii Nani
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One Piece aestheticallydorky Nico Robin sakurabrii Nani

atarashiraven Deku from My Hero Academia
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atarashiraven Deku from My Hero Academia

ayame.hime Coconut from Nekopara
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ayame.hime Coconut from Nekopara

danielledenicola Mai Valentine Yu-Gi-Oh!
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danielledenicola Mai Valentine Yu-Gi-Oh!

clockworkk_angel 2B Nier: Automata
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clockworkk_angel 2B Nier: Automata

ethericacosplay Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda
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ethericacosplay Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda

itskristinamaria Elle Woods from Legally Blonde
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itskristinamaria Elle Woods from Legally Blonde

kpoptrashcosplay Zero Two from Darling in the FranXX
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kpoptrashcosplay Zero Two from Darling in the FranXX

rose.alter_ Atilla from Fate Grand Order
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rose.alter_ Atilla from Fate Grand Order

mana_knight Snow Miku from Vocaloid
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mana_knight Snow Miku from Vocaloid

pinkuperfect Rapunzel
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pinkuperfect Rapunzel

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