Where to Meet Santa at Disney World This Holiday Season

The holiday season is feeling extra festive at Walt Disney World Resort. With thousands of twinkling lights, merry music, and, of course, the jolliest of them all! Yes, Santa Claus will be making appearances across all four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs as he prepares for the holidays. 

Whether you are looking for a heartwarming photo opportunity or simply want to share your wish list with Santa, I have a guide to where Santa will be stopping at Walt Disney World this holiday season up until his big day on Christmas Eve.

Discover where Santa might visit at Disney World in 2025: 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Lights, camera, holidays! Walt Disney Presents is sparkling with a new holiday installation that celebrates beloved Disney stories this season. 

You can enjoy festive displays featuring props and artifacts from cherished films like Noelle, Babes in Toyland, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and one of my personal favorites, The Santa Clause. 

To enhance the festive atmosphere, the attraction’s theater will feature a seasonal twist with a limited-time experience showcasing “Holiday Shorts” such as Walt Disney’s On Ice, Pluto’s Christmas Tree, and The Art of Skiing starring Goofy. Those attending Disney Jollywood Nights might even catch a glimpse of Duffy dressed as Santa.

Where to See Santa at Hollywood Studios

• Walt Disney Presents, until December 24th

Indeed, Santa himself will make an appearance at Walt Disney Presents, adorned in its festive glory. With all the new holiday decorations in the building, cast members have ensured a warm welcome for the guest of honor. 

Matthew, the Show Director with Disney Live Entertainment, and his team were inspired by Walt Disney's fondness for the season while preparing for Santa's arrival.

"The new location at Disney's Hollywood Studios is inspired by one of Walt's early works, the 1932 Silly Symphony short, Santa's Workshop," Matthew explained. "We hope guests experience the joy, imagination, and whimsy of the holidays."

Amie, Disney Live Entertainment Producer, added, “I think guests will love the feeling of stepping right into Santa’s cozy toy shop when they come meet him at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year.  One of my favorite parts of the room is actually as you first walk in! Be sure to look around you to spot beautiful Disney artwork from holidays past!”  

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park  

Disney’s Animal Kingdom marks the holiday season with distinctive, globally inspired decorations, featuring the delightful Merry Menagerie of life-sized animal puppets on Discovery Island and the mesmerizing holiday Tree of Life Awakenings projection show.

For humorous holiday photos, head to Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand U.S.A. Dinosaur enthusiasts will spot stockings, statues, and ornaments belonging to their favorite paleontologists, along with decor celebrating Cretaceous creatures, all with a festive twist.  

Where to Find Santa at Animal Kingdom

• Restaurantosaurus, from November 14 to December 24

Visitors stepping onto the Parasaurolophus Porch will encounter Santa in a setting that’s brimming with dino-sized charm and festive spirit. Before meeting Santa, you should keep an eye out both high and low (yes, tiny dinosaurs with tiny parachutes descend from the ceiling) this Santa encounter is a dino delight!

EPCOT  

EPCOT is preparing to bring the festive to festival with the start of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth on November 28. Around World Showcase, visitors can encounter international holiday storytellers such as Père Noël in France and Barn Santa in Norway, celebrating wonderful holiday traditions from around the world.  

Where to See Santa at EPCOT

• Communicore Hall, from November 28 to December 24

Cast members will soon be decorating CommuniCore Hall! Visitors can stop by when the festival begins to admire a stunning Spaceship Earth gingerbread display and meet Santa in a winter-themed setting. 

For those seeking even more holiday excitement, The Odyssey is the place to be, where Santa Goofy is ready to pose for pictures with families. 

Magic Kingdom Park 

The Christmas season at Magic Kingdom is filled with nostalgic winter enchantment. Main Street, U.S.A. is adorned with garlands and giant bows, featuring the iconic towering Christmas tree and "snoap" flurries that create a classic holiday atmosphere.  

Where to See Santa at Magic Kingdom

• Storybook Circus, beginning Thanksgiving Day

During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, guests should watch for Santa waving from his sleigh during Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, adding that perfect touch of Disney magic to Main Street, U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle.  

Starting Thanksgiving Day, all guests can visit Storybook Circus, now festively decorated for the first time! Santa will also have a dedicated spot to meet families eager to check items off their wish lists!  

For an extra dose of holiday excitement, venture into Adventureland, where the iconic pun-filled ride has become the Jingle Cruise. This version features skippers delivering festive holiday jokes and boasts charmingly tacky Christmas decorations throughout the boathouse and jungle scenes.

Disney Springs  

At Disney Springs, visitors can find Santa in his workshop near Disney’s Pin Traders, it’s one of the season's most sought-after photo opportunities!  

Where to See Santa at Disney Springs

• Located near Disney’s Pin Traders, available until December 24

For a smooth and enjoyable experience, guests can join a virtual queue through the My Disney Experience app. There will be no standby line, so guests should check the app for various entry times throughout the day.  

Behind the Magic: The Cast Making Santa Feel Right at Home  

From lighting every sparkling garland to perfectly positioning Santa’s chair, a team of cast members and Imagineers ensures these moments are truly special. Steve, a Disney Live Entertainment cast member and Senior Art Director, shared some favorite details he hopes guests will appreciate.

“My favorite part of meeting Santa is how the space creates a nostalgic feeling and anticipation before meeting Santa Claus himself,” Steve said. “The hallways are adorned with vintage holiday greeting cards, showcasing decades of joy and holiday harmony. You’ll see letters from all over the world addressed to Santa!”  

Wherever guests go, from the theme parks to Disney Springs, holiday cheer is ready to brighten their holiday.  

Families can capture every magical moment with Disney PhotoPass photographers stationed throughout all four parks and Disney Springs. With twinkling lights, festive backdrops, and even limited-time seasonal props and Magic Shots, they’ll help guests preserve the season's spirit, perfect for any holiday card you plan to send to loved ones.

For added convenience, you can download all you photos using Memory Maker, a comprehensive photo package.