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Christmas Cheer Takes Flight as Holiday Décor Arrives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The most wildly wonderful time of the year has arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! As the rest of Walt Disney World prepares to flip from pumpkins to pine trees, Discovery Island has already decked its halls — or rather, its rooftops — with the park’s signature nature-inspired Christmas décor.
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The first wave of decorations has landed around the main gift shops, including Island Mercantile, Riverside Depot, and Discovery Trading Company. True to the park’s earthy aesthetic, the displays feature handcrafted woodland animals, woven garlands, and organic textures that blend beautifully with Animal Kingdom’s natural backdrop.
At Island Mercantile, a parade of charming animal sculptures — including birds, deer, squirrels, and foxes — perch on the building’s roofline. These whimsical figures are carved in a rustic folk-art style, keeping with the park’s storytelling of harmony between nature and humanity.
Next door, Riverside Depot carries the theme with its own set of perched creatures, including owls huddled together amid lush greenery. The animals are complemented by garlands of natural fibers and soft, earthy colors that shimmer subtly when the Florida sun hits just right.
Related: 2025 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Foodie Guide Is Here!
Discovery Trading Company, which connects seamlessly with the other Discovery Island shops, has joined in with similar rooftop decor to maintain a cohesive look across the heart of the park. Around the area, larger animal figures and bird sculptures can be found nestled in the bushes or soaring above the treetops — a detail that feels perfectly at home in Animal Kingdom’s festive yet grounded atmosphere.
While Magic Kingdom’s full transformation begins November 2 (with snoap machines already in place!), and Hollywood Studios has started its own Christmas glow-up, Animal Kingdom is embracing a holiday look that remains uniquely its own — less glitter and garland, more nature and nurture.
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