Santa lost his spot at Disney’s Animal Kingdom when DinoLand closed. Disney announced Oct. 6 that he’s moving to a snowy trail called Santa’s Holiday Grove from Nov. 13 to Jan. 6, 2027.
Santa needed a new place to sit at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney gave him a forest with snow in it.
Santa’s Holiday Grove is new for the 2026 holiday season, Disney announced Tuesday, Oct. 6, in its Disney Parks Blog guide to the holidays at Walt Disney World. The season runs Nov. 13 to Jan. 6, 2027.
Disney’s post, written by Kati Gauer, promises “a magical trail with intermittent snow flurries and Santa himself, ready to hear your holiday wish list.”
What is Santa’s Holiday Grove at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
A Santa visit you walk into. Guests follow a trail through the grove, catch some fake snow along the way and end up in front of the big guy.
Disney says the grove will also have specialty food and drinks and a holiday soundtrack. It hasn’t shared the menu yet, and there’s no concept art either, WDWMAGIC noted, so nobody outside Disney knows exactly what the grove looks like.
Where is Santa’s Holiday Grove?
Across from Theater in the Wild, the home of Finding Nemo: The Big Blue ... and Beyond!
WDWMAGIC thinks the grove could go in the old Rivers of Light viewing area, the lakeside seating for a nighttime show that hasn’t run since 2020. Disney hasn’t confirmed the exact spot, so that one’s a guess for now.
Why did Santa leave DinoLand at Animal Kingdom?
DinoLand doesn’t exist anymore. Its last day was Feb. 1, 2026, when DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus closed for good, WDW News Today reported.
Last year Santa met guests on the Restaurantosaurus patio from Nov. 14 to Dec. 24, 2025, surrounded by dinosaur-themed holiday decorations. Disney billed it as his last Christmas in DinoLand. The whole area is being rebuilt as Tropical Americas, a land themed to Central and South America.
So Santa went from a dinosaur patio to a snowy grove. The reindeer probably prefer the new place.
When does Santa’s Holiday Grove open?
Nov. 13, the first day of Disney World’s holiday season. It runs through Jan. 6, 2027, the last day of the season.
Disney lists the grove with Animal Kingdom’s regular holiday offerings, apart from the separately ticketed events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. It hasn’t said yet whether a visit with Santa will need a reservation or a virtual queue.
What else is happening at Animal Kingdom for the holidays?
A fair amount, judging by Disney’s holiday guide. Here’s the rest of the park’s lineup:
The Merry Menagerie: puppet penguins, reindeer, foxes and polar bears wandering Discovery Island
Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition: wintry projections on the Tree of Life, about every 10 minutes after sunset
Mickey and Minnie: in holiday outfits at Adventurers Outpost
The ECO-RHYTHMiCS: the recycling-themed percussion band, in holiday gear
Artist Rob Kaz: meeting guests at Island Mercantile from Nov. 1 to Nov. 22
And yes, Expedition Everest is still there, Yeti and all. Disney’s guide counts the snowy Himalayan peaks as a holiday activity, which is a bit of a stretch, but a fun one.
Where else can you meet Santa at Disney World?
All four parks. Disney says Santa will stop by each Disney World theme park this season, plus Disney Springs through Dec. 24.
Times and locations will show up in the My Disney Experience app. Disney Springs also has its own nightly snowfall in Town Center, so the grove won’t be the only spot in Central Florida where it “snows” on a schedule.
Animal Kingdom’s grove is the newest stop on his route, though. The forecast there for Nov. 13 is Santa, with a chance of flurries.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Disney Parks Blog (Oct. 6, 2026), Santa’s Holiday Grove details, the holiday season dates, Santa’s visits across Disney World and the Animal Kingdom holiday lineup
WDWMAGIC (Oct. 6, 2026), the lack of concept art and the possible Rivers of Light location; (Nov. 5, 2025), Santa’s last season at Restaurantosaurus
WDW News Today (Sept. 2025), DinoLand’s Feb. 1, 2026 final day
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