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There’s Still Time to See Santa! Here’s Where You Can Find Him at Disney World

Disney Springs Santa Claus
Credit: Disney

Christmas Eve is officially two weeks away! Bells are jingling, presents are being wrapped, carols are being sung, and the jolly old man in the red suit is bringing smiles to the faces of kids around the world. One of the best places to celebrate and get into the spirit of the season is Walt Disney World Resort. Everywhere you look there are gorgeous Christmas trees and holiday magic is in the air, and best of all, Santa has made his way down there!

Credit: Disney

Christmas is right around the corner and there is still a little bit of time left to see Santa if you are visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth. Let’s take a look at all of the places you can see Father Christmas.

A Visit With Santa

EPCOT

Guests visiting EPCOT can see Santa if they head to the American Adventure Pavilion in the World Showcase. In order to keep everyone safe, meetings with Santa will be socially distanced. Guests visiting Santa will be able to talk to Santa and take a picture — also socially distanced — with him before they continue to enjoy the International Festival of the Holidays food booths.

Santa

Credit: Disney Dining

Guests can also say hello to “Mischievous Barn Santa” at EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion. Other Santas from around the world can also be found at the France Pavilion — where he is known as Père Noel — and in the United Kingdom.

Disney Springs

This Santa Claus meet and greet will be a little bit different than the meet and greet at EPCOT. Guests who would like to visit Santa without going to a theme park can head to Disney Springs, but they will need a reservation. Every day a virtual queue will open at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to meet Santa and queue spots will be given out on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Santa Claus Disney Springs

Credit: Disney

Until December 14, Santa will be greeting Guests daily from 10 a.m. until 9 pm by the store Once Upon A Toy. Beginning on December 15 and lasting until December 24, Santa will be extending his hours and visiting with Guests from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Guests who would like to make a reservation for the Santa experience can do so by going on the My Disney Experience app and seeing if any time slots are available in the virtual queue.

Magic Kingdom – After Hours Ticket Required

This year, Disney replaced Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party with the new Disney Very Merriest After Hours, a special hard-ticketed event. Guests who attend this event can meet Santa — still socially distanced — near Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, where they can have a chat and get their picture taken.

Very Merriest After Hours

Credit: Disney

Seeing Santa

While there are several locations where Guests can have personal interactions with Santa — and maybe even Mrs. Claus — there are even more places where you can see Santa from afar during your time in the Parks.

Hollywood Studios

Parades and character cavalcades are always popular events at Disney World, and special parades and cavalcades that take place during certain times of the year are even more popular. If you are visiting Hollywood Studios, you can check out the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade, which happens many times throughout the day. As the name suggests, Santa will be a part of the motorcade, so if you get a good spot you will be able to see Santa and wave to him as he goes by.

Santa Merry Motorcade

Credit: Undercover Tourist

Be sure to check out the My Disney Experience app to see what times the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade is happening during your visit.

Animal Kingdom

One fun experience Guests can have while visiting Animal Kingdom Park is seeing characters float down the rivers of the Park. During the holiday season, the boats — called flotillas — receive a festive makeover and characters don their fun Christmas outfits. During the day, Guests can also see Santa during the Santa Claus Festive Flotilla show. Showtimes for this experience can be found on the My Disney Experience app.

Santa Claus Festive Flotilla

Credit: Undercover Tourist

Magic Kingdom

Until December 21, Guests attending Disney Very Merriest After Hours will also have the chance to see Santa during Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Beginning December 22, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will be shown during normal Park operating hours, so Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom during the day will have a chance to see and wave to the man in red as well!

Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

Credit: Disney

We hope you enjoy all that Walt Disney World has to offer during the holiday season!

Is seeing Santa Claus part of your holiday tradition?

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!