Disney World Moves Santa to New Animal Kingdom Grove for 2026

Santa Claus has a new meeting spot at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this year. Santa’s Holiday Grove opened on Nov. 13, the first day of the Walt Disney World holiday season, and Santa will greet guests there through Dec. 24, according to the Disney Parks Blog.

Families who visited Santa at Animal Kingdom in past years will need to go somewhere else in the park. For the last two holiday seasons he met guests at Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand U.S.A., which closed on Feb. 1 to make way for Tropical Americas, WDW News Today reported.

Where Santa’s Holiday Grove is and what families will find

The grove sits across from “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue … and Beyond!” at Theater in the Wild. Laughing Place described the location as the former Rivers of Light seating area, along the path that once led from DinoLand to Asia. Signs point the way to Santa.

Disney has set up the meet-and-greet as Santa’s campsite during his travels. Inside a tent next to the Discovery River Amphitheater, WDW News Today found a workbench hung with knit stockings, wood carvings, a rocking horse, a wooden toy train and a decorated tree behind Santa’s bench. A world map and a map of Florida hang nearby. The walkway has two tents selling holiday treats, a festive soundtrack and snow flurries that come and go through the day.

After meeting Santa, guests receive free holiday-shaped Life Savers gummies, according to both WDW News Today and Laughing Place. Laughing Place also spotted Chip and Dale in scarves, and the Eco-Rhythmics performing Christmas songs from a flotilla on the river.

On Nov. 13, WDW News Today listed Santa’s meet times as 10:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., and noted that the times may change.

Goofy takes over after Christmas Eve

Once Santa leaves on Christmas Eve, Goofy dressed as Santa will greet guests at the grove from Dec. 25 through Jan. 3, the Disney Parks Blog said. Laughing Place gives the same end date, Jan. 3, 2027. WDW News Today reported that the resort’s wider holiday season runs through Jan. 6, 2027. Families planning a visit that week can check what to expect at Disney World on Christmas Day.

Where to meet Santa in the other parks

Disney published Santa’s other locations for 2026:

• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: inside Walt Disney Presents, until Dec. 24. Guests at Disney Jollywood Nights may also see Duffy dressed as Santa.
• EPCOT: CommuniCore Hall, from Nov. 27, when the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays begins, until Dec. 24. The hall will also have a Spaceship Earth gingerbread display, and Goofy dressed as Santa poses for photos at The Odyssey.
• Magic Kingdom: Storybook Circus, from Thanksgiving Day until Dec. 24. Santa also rides his sleigh in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.
• Disney Springs: Santa’s workshop near Disney’s Pin Traders, until Dec. 24.

What it means for families planning a visit

At Disney Springs, families need the My Disney Experience app. Disney said guests join a virtual queue there and no standby line will be offered, so the app is the only way in. The company said several entry opportunities open during the day.

The four theme parks and Disney Springs all have Disney PhotoPass photographers. Disney said they will have holiday backdrops, limited-time props and Magic Shots, and photos can be downloaded with the Memory Maker package.

At Animal Kingdom, the move puts Santa in a different part of the park from previous years, and posted meet times can shift during the season. Disney lists its holiday events at WaltDisneyWorld.com/holidays.

Sources: Disney Parks Blog, WDW News Today, Laughing Place