Help Save Christmas at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium with The Elf on the Shelf

From Nov. 20 through Jan. 3, families can join The Sea Star Search, an interactive holiday adventure where guests help Santa's Scout Elves recover missing decorations from an Undersea Christmas Tree.

This holiday season, Christmas is in peril at SEA LIFE Orlando! Decorations from the Undersea Christmas Tree have mysteriously disappeared throughout the aquarium, including the extra-special Christmas Sea Star that belongs at the very top. 

Santa has sent his trusted Scout Elves from The Elf on the Shelf® Santaverse™ to SEA LIFE Orlando to recover the missing decorations. They've tracked them down, but now they need the help of young festive explorers to complete their mission and save Christmas beneath the waves. 

Guests are invited to join The Sea Star Search with The Elf on the Shelf, an interactive Christmas adventure where families can explore SEA LIFE Orlando, complete festive challenges and help the Scout Elves return the missing decorations to the Undersea Christmas Tree. 

Upon arrival, guests will receive an activity booklet and a lanyard featuring an empty sea star template before setting off on their underwater adventure. Throughout the aquarium, guests will encounter six interactive challenge points, completing an activity at each stop to help the Scout Elves recover the missing decorations. 

At each challenge, participants will collect another arm of the Christmas Sea Star to add to their lanyard. Once all six challenges are complete, they'll have a full Christmas Sea Star ornament to take home as a keepsake from their adventure. 

Those who complete the search can also earn their place alongside the Scout Elves as true Christmas Stars and collect an exclusive The Elf on the Shelf Christmas Star Certificate to commemorate their achievement. 

Set amongst SEA LIFE Orlando’s immersive marine habitats and fascinating ocean creatures, The Sea Star Search combines festive storytelling, interactive challenges and underwater discovery to create a new holiday experience for families this Christmas. 

Orlando offers a magical choice of events to celebrate the holidays, including light-up events, parades, movie nights, concerts, and more. Check out our 2026 Guide to Christmas and Holiday Events in Orlando.

Global Partnership Bringing Christmas Magic to Life 

The Sea Star Search is part of a new collaboration between SEA LIFE and The Lumistella Company, creators of the The Elf on the Shelf® Santaverse™. The experience brings the beloved Christmas tradition into SEA LIFE's underwater environments, combining festive storytelling with exploration and discovery. 

Families can join the Scout Elves and help save Christmas at SEA LIFE Orlando from Nov. 20, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027. 

For more details: https://www.visitsealife.com/orlando/whats-inside/events-experiences/the-elf-on-the-shelf/  

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