Where to Meet Santa at the Walt Disney World Resort

Where to Meet Santa Claus at Walt Disney World This Holiday Season

The most wonderful time of the year has arrived at Walt Disney World Resort! With thousands of twinkling lights, merry music filling the air, and the scent of gingerbread all around, the holiday season is truly shining. And best of all? The jolliest man of all, Santa Claus, is making special stops across all four theme parks and Disney Springs before his big ride on Christmas Eve.

Whether your family is looking for that quintessential photo moment or just a chance to whisper a wish list, here is your essential guide to where to find Santa and all his festive fun this holiday season.

Related-Santa Claus Meet and Greet Opens at Disney Springs

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Hollywood Holidays

Lights, camera, holidays! Santa Claus is making a glamorous appearance in the newly decorated Walt Disney Presents.

• Location: Walt Disney Presents in Animation Courtyard.
• The Vibe: The attraction is decked out in a brand-new holiday installation celebrating favorite Disney Christmas stories. Guests can explore festive displays featuring props and artifacts from beloved films like Noelle, The Muppets Christmas Carol, and The Santa Clause before meeting the man himself in a truly welcoming space.

• Bonus Cheer: The attraction’s theater offers a seasonal twist, showcasing limited-time “Holiday Shorts.” If you’re attending Disney Jollywood Nights, keep your eyes peeled for the rare sighting of Duffy dressed as Santa!

Related-Santa Duffy Greeting Guests at a New Location for Jollywood Nights

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: A Dino-Sized Christmas

Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates the holidays with unique, globally-inspired décor. While the Merry Menagerie of life-sized animal puppets on Discovery Island and the holiday Tree of Life Awakenings projection show are dazzling, Santa has found his own quirky spot.

• Location: Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand U.S.A.
• The Vibe: For a photo op with a sense of humor, head to the Parasaurolophus Porch. Dinosaur fans will notice stockings, statues, and ornaments belonging to favorite paleontologists—with a prehistoric Christmas twist, of course! Keep an eye out high and low (there are tiny dinosaurs with tiny parachutes from the ceiling!) as you wait to meet Santa in a setting that’s dino-sized in charm and festive spirit.

EPCOT: A Global Festival of Holiday Cheer

EPCOT is putting the festive in festival when the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays begins on November 28. While you explore World Showcase and discover international holiday storytellers like Père Noël in France and Barn Santa in Norway, Santa Claus will have his own dedicated wintery home.

• Location: CommuniCore Hall in World Celebration (during the Festival of the Holidays).
• The Vibe: CommuniCore Hall will be fully decked out for the season. Be sure to check out an incredible Spaceship Earth gingerbread display before meeting Santa in a beautiful winter setting.
• Extra Festive Fun: Swing by The Odyssey Pavilion, where Santa Goofy is ready to strike a pose with your family!

Magic Kingdom Park: Storybook Christmas

The Christmas season at Magic Kingdom is pure, nostalgic winter magic, from the iconic towering Christmas tree to the “snoap” flurries on Main Street, U.S.A.

• Location 1 (Party Exclusive): Waving from his sleigh in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (select nights through December 21).

• Location 2 (Regular Guests): Storybook Circus (Starting Thanksgiving Day).
• The Vibe: All guests can make their way to the newly-decorated Storybook Circus, which is decked out in fun and jolly decor for the first time! Santa will have his own dedicated spot under the big top to meet families hoping to cross things off their wish lists. For even more fun, experience the festive transformation of the Jungle Cruise into Jingle Cruise!

Disney Springs: A Virtual Queue to the North Pole

For a Santa stop without needing a park ticket, head to Disney Springs—one of the most popular photo ops of the season!

• Location: Marketplace near Disney’s Pin Traders.
• The Vibe: Guests will find Santa in his workshop, ready to hear your holiday wishes.
• Pro Tip: Virtual Queue: To make your experience merry and efficient, guests must join a virtual queue through the My Disney Experience app for this experience. A standby queue will not be available. Be sure to check the app for multiple entry opportunities throughout the day and join once you have arrived at Disney Springs.

Behind the Magic: Capturing the Moment

It takes a village of Cast Members and Imagineers to ensure Santa’s visit is perfect. Cast Member Steve, a Senior Art Director, notes that they’ve filled the hallways with vintage holiday greeting cards to create that perfect nostalgic feeling and anticipation before you meet the Big Man himself.

No matter where you choose to visit Santa, from the theme parks to Disney Springs, be sure to utilize the Disney PhotoPass photographers, who are stationed throughout to help you capture every magical moment—perfect for your holiday cards!