Fan-Favorite Disney Character Officially Debuts New Look, Fans Queue for Access
The holidays have officially arrived at Walt Disney World Resort, and this year, a familiar face from Halloween Town is helping to spread the cheer. After enchanting guests during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party earlier this fall, Jack Skellington has returned to Magic Kingdom Park—this time as Sandy Claws.
The newly refreshed version of Jack first caught fans’ attention during the Halloween season, when he debuted an updated design inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton. Voiced in the film by Chris Sarandon, the Pumpkin King’s new look, revealed on the official Disney Parks Instagram account, showcased a face and costume closer than ever to his cinematic counterpart. The response was immediate, with comments like, “Awesome, he looks like himself now,” and “Looks so much better,” celebrating the enhancement.
Guests at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party—held on select nights between August 15 and October 31—lined up throughout the evening to meet the updated Pumpkin King, making him one of the most talked-about characters at the event.
Now, as the park transitions from pumpkins to poinsettias, Jack’s transformation continues at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The redesigned Sandy Claws version, confirmed by the Disney Parks social media team, has officially arrived to celebrate the season alongside the returning festivities, from snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., to the magic of the park’s nighttime parades.
Guests eager to meet Jack and Sally can find them inside Town Square Theater, where the duo greets visitors starting at 4 p.m. Wait times have stretched to nearly an hour, according to guests on a Disney World holiday party Facebook page, as fans queue up for photos and an exclusive autograph card. The keepsake features signatures from Jack, Sally, and their ghostly companion Zero, surrounded by ornaments and a playful coiled orange-and-black snake—a nod to the film’s unique charm.
Whether you encountered Jack amid the Halloween festivities or during the Christmas celebration, his new look has quickly become a highlight of both seasons, bridging two beloved holidays in true Disney style.
