Santa Claus is back at Walt Disney World, and at Disney’s Animal Kingdom he has a brand-new home. Santa’s Holiday Grove opened today, November 13, across from “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” at Theater in the Wild, and it is one of five places guests can meet Santa around the resort this holiday season.
The holidays officially arrived at Walt Disney World overnight, and Disney marked the start of the season with a new video of the parks dressed for Christmas.
While the world was sleeping, the holidays arrived at #WaltDisneyWorld 🎄✨ Which Parks are you most excited to visit this holiday season?
— Walt Disney World (@WaltDisneyWorld) November 13, 2026
Santa’s Holiday Grove At Animal Kingdom
The Grove is set up as Santa’s campsite along the Discovery River. Guests follow a trail with intermittent snow flurries to reach him, and the area also has specialty food and beverage items and a holiday soundtrack. Inside, Santa’s camp is filled with handcrafted toys and sculptures from his travels, his tools for finishing a few last gifts, and the maps and navigational instruments he uses to plan his route.
“As Santa is traveling the globe, he’s made a special stop along the Discovery River where he’s joining in the ways that people around the world celebrate the spirit of the season through the sharing of toys, traditions, and craftsmanship,” said James Silson, show director at Disney Live Entertainment.
Santa greets guests at the Grove from November 13 through December 24. Today’s schedule lists four visits: 10:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. After Santa leaves on Christmas Eve, Goofy dressed as Santa takes over at the Grove from December 25 through January 3.
Santa used to meet guests on the Restaurantosaurus porch in DinoLand U.S.A., which closed for good on February 2 to make way for Tropical Americas.
Where To Meet Santa At The Other Parks
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Santa meets guests inside Walt Disney Presents through December 24. The attraction has a new holiday installation this year, and its theater is showing classic Disney holiday shorts, including Walt Disney’s On Ice, Pluto’s Christmas Tree and The Art of Skiing. During Disney Jollywood Nights, Duffy may also turn up dressed as Santa.
EPCOT: Santa moves into CommuniCore Hall from November 27 through December 24, once the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays begins. The hall will also have a Spaceship Earth gingerbread display, and Goofy dressed as Santa poses for photos at The Odyssey.
Magic Kingdom: Santa gets his own meet spot in Storybook Circus starting Thanksgiving Day, running through December 24. He also waves from his sleigh in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.
Disney Springs: Santa’s workshop near Disney’s Pin Traders runs through December 24. This one uses a virtual queue only, so you will need to join through the My Disney Experience app. There is no standby line, and Disney opens multiple chances to join throughout the day.
Planning Tips
Animal Kingdom’s Grove is open now, while the EPCOT and Magic Kingdom locations do not start until later this month. The four daily times spread across the day, so it is easy to fit a visit around a safari or a show at the nearby Finding Nemo theater.
Disney’s full rundown of where to meet Santa at Disney World has the latest details. PhotoPass photographers are stationed throughout the parks too, and this year’s holiday PhotoPass Magic Shots include a Snowman Groot and a BB-8 snowman.
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