Where to Meet Santa at Walt Disney World in 2026

Santa Claus is making appearances across Walt Disney World Resort for the 2026 holiday season. Visitors can find him at all four theme parks and Disney Springs, though his schedule and locations vary by park.

What's new

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Santa is moving to an all-new location called Santa’s Holiday Grove. Located at the Theater in the Wild (across from “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue … and Beyond!”), this area features a festive trail with intermittent snow flurries and seasonal food and beverages. The setting is themed as a campsite where Santa displays handcrafted toys and navigational tools.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Walt Disney Presents attraction has added a holiday installation. The theater inside is also showing classic Disney holiday shorts, including *Pluto’s Christmas Tree* and *The Art of Skiing*.

EPCOT visitors will find Santa at the new CommuniCore Hall, which features a gingerbread display of Spaceship Earth.

When and where

Santa’s schedule differs depending on which park you visit. He will appear at the following locations through December 24:

* Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Santa’s Holiday Grove (Nov. 13 – Dec. 24). From Dec. 25 through Jan. 3, Goofy will take over this location dressed as Santa.

* Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Walt Disney Presents (available now through Dec. 24).

* EPCOT: CommuniCore Hall (Nov. 27 – Dec. 24).

* Magic Kingdom: Storybook Circus (Thanksgiving Day – Dec. 24). He also appears in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.

* Disney Springs: Near Disney’s Pin Traders (available now through Dec. 24).

Other characters are also appearing in holiday attire. You can find Goofy dressed as Santa at The Odyssey in EPCOT. During Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios, Duffy the Disney Bear will also be dressed as Santa.

What it means for your visit

If meeting Santa is a priority, plan your park days based on his start dates, as he does not arrive at EPCOT or Magic Kingdom until later in November.

For those visiting Disney Springs, you must use the My Disney Experience app to join a virtual queue. There is no standby line for Santa at this location. Check the app throughout the day for entry opportunities.

At the theme parks, meeting Santa often draws significant lines. Arriving at the designated locations early in the day is recommended to minimize wait times. If you miss the December 24 cutoff for Santa, you can still meet "Santa Goofy" at Animal Kingdom through early January.

Disney PhotoPass photographers will be available at these meet-and-greet locations. If you have purchased Memory Maker, these professional photos are included in your package.

Source: Disney Parks Blog