Walt Disney World Resort’s 2026 holiday plans include a new Santa location at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Santa’s Holiday Grove has intermittent snow flurries.
You’ll find the grove across from Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! at Theater in the Wild. Along with Santa visits, the area features specialty food and beverages and a seasonal soundtrack.
Holiday dates and hotel savings
EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional has a dated performance schedule, while Disney’s holiday hotel discounts have separate eligible stay windows.
- Candlelight Processional: Performances run November 27 to December 30, 2026, at America Gardens Theatre during EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
- Room discount: Save up to 20% on select Disney Resorts Collection rooms for stays select nights October 4 to December 24, 2026.
- Disney+ Perks package: Members can save up to 25% on rooms and receive free Park Hopper benefits with select 4-day, 4-night room-and-ticket packages. Eligible stays cover select nights September 25 to December 24, 2026.
- Free kids dining plan: Kids ages 3 to 9 get a free dining plan in 2026 with a Walt Disney Travel Company package. It must include a Disney Resorts Collection hotel room and a dining plan for each guest ages 10 and up.
Holiday rides, parties and shows
The holiday lineup includes attraction overlays, projection shows and Christmas parties:
- Frozen Holiday Surprise
- Jingle Cruise: A holiday attraction at Magic Kingdom Park.
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is available during the party.
- Sunset Seasons Greetings: A projection show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Holidays at Toy Story Land
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: The attraction gets an “Obligatory Holiday Overlay.”
- Disney Jollywood Nights
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: Holiday songs accompany the attraction. They include “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” and “Christmas Wrapping.”
- Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition
- Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouses: Disney includes this EPCOT attraction among its romantic holiday experiences.
- Holiday Storytellers Around World Showcase: An EPCOT selection among Disney’s family holiday picks.
Holiday characters and decorations
At EPCOT, Goofy meets guests as Santa at The Odyssey.
Mickey and Minnie also meet at Adventurers Outpost, with a Disney PhotoPass photographer available for holiday photos.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a 55-foot Christmas tree stands at the entrance. Harambe’s festive garlands incorporate recycled materials and traditional African textiles.
Disney PhotoPass photographers also take holiday photos beside the tree and at other locations around the park.
Source: Walt Disney World Resort
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