Walt Disney World has released its official Santa Claus meet-and-greet guide for the 2026 holiday season, confirming where guests can find Santa across all four theme parks and Disney Springs.
Published November 13, the new information includes several important scheduling details, including Santa’s return to Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom, his arrival at EPCOT’s CommuniCore Hall, and a post-Christmas change at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Disney has also confirmed that guests visiting Santa at Disney Springs must use a virtual queue through the My Disney Experience app.
While the resort’s holiday celebrations officially begin November 13, Santa’s appearances start on different dates depending on the location.
Santa’s Holiday Grove Opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Santa has a new home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this year following the permanent closure of DinoLand U.S.A.
Santa’s Holiday Grove is located across from Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! at Theater in the Wild.
The experience features a decorated walking trail, intermittent artificial snow flurries, seasonal music, and themed food and beverage offerings.
Disney has also revealed additional details about the setting. Santa’s campsite includes handcrafted toys, sculptures inspired by his travels, tools, maps, and navigational instruments.
The decorations are designed to suggest that Santa has temporarily established a workshop along Discovery River while preparing for his Christmas journey.
Santa will greet guests at the location from November 13 through December 24.
However, the experience will not disappear immediately after Christmas.
Beginning December 25, Goofy will take over the location dressed as Santa Claus. The Santa Goofy greeting will continue through January 3, 2027.
That post-Christmas character change is particularly useful for guests visiting Animal Kingdom between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Santa Returns to Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Santa will greet guests inside Walt Disney Presents through December 24.
The attraction has received a new holiday installation celebrating the ways Walt Disney World decorates for Christmas.
The seasonal presentation includes historic Disney holiday artwork and decorations designed to create a cozy toy-shop atmosphere.
The Walt Disney Presents theater will also offer classic Disney holiday shorts, including Walt Disney’s On Ice, Pluto’s Christmas Tree, and The Art of Skiing.
Santa’s appearance gives guests another reason to visit the attraction during the holiday season.
Disney has also confirmed that guests attending Disney Jollywood Nights may encounter Duffy dressed as Santa during the separately ticketed event.
EPCOT Santa Meet-and-Greet Begins November 27
EPCOT’s Santa experience will return to CommuniCore Hall beginning November 27, the opening day of the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
Santa will be available through December 24.
CommuniCore Hall will feature a winter-themed setting alongside the returning Spaceship Earth gingerbread display.
Guests exploring the festival can also encounter Goofy dressed as Santa at The Odyssey.
Elsewhere around World Showcase, EPCOT’s holiday storytellers will share traditions from different countries.
These include Père Noël in the France pavilion and Barn Santa in Norway.
The different experiences allow guests to combine traditional Santa photographs with EPCOT’s international holiday programming.
Santa Arrives at Magic Kingdom on Thanksgiving Day
Magic Kingdom’s regular daytime Santa meet-and-greet will begin on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.
Guests will find Santa in Storybook Circus, where he will greet families through December 24.
This location is separate from Santa’s appearances in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which is performed during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and on select regular park days later in the season.
The Thanksgiving start date means guests visiting Magic Kingdom during the first half of November should not expect to find the regular daytime Santa greeting already operating.
Storybook Circus provides a dedicated location for families who want a Santa photograph without purchasing admission to a Christmas party.
Disney Springs Santa Requires a Virtual Queue
Santa will also meet guests at Disney Springs near Disney’s Pin Traders through December 24.
Unlike the theme park greetings, Disney Springs uses a virtual queue for this experience.
Guests must join through the My Disney Experience app. Disney says a standby queue will not be available.
Multiple opportunities to enter the virtual queue may be offered throughout the day.
Because Disney Springs does not require theme park admission, the Santa greeting is an appealing option for families planning a resort day or holiday shopping trip.
However, guests should not assume they can simply walk up and join a traditional line.
Virtual queue access is subject to availability.
Santa Meet-and-Greet Dates at a Glance
| Location | Santa dates |
|---|---|
| Animal Kingdom — Santa’s Holiday Grove | November 13–December 24 |
| Animal Kingdom — Santa Goofy | December 25–January 3 |
| Hollywood Studios — Walt Disney Presents | Through December 24 |
| EPCOT — CommuniCore Hall | November 27–December 24 |
| Magic Kingdom — Storybook Circus | November 26–December 24 |
| Disney Springs — Near Disney’s Pin Traders | Through December 24 |
Disney PhotoPass photographers will also be available at holiday greeting locations throughout the resort.
Specific daily appearance times can vary, so guests should check My Disney Experience before visiting.
With Santa appearing in five different locations, and Goofy continuing the celebration after Christmas, Walt Disney World guests have several opportunities to add a traditional holiday greeting to their 2026 vacations.