Can You Meet Santa in Disney World This Year? Here's What You Need To Know.

Disney World recently released information about all of the holiday entertainment coming to the parks this year.

Toy Soldiers During the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

Christmas is coming to Walt Disney World on November 6th and the seasonal festivities will stick around through December 30th. And while there will be plenty of holiday offerings including a new Cinderella Castle makeover, holiday character cavalcades, and the return of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, several iconic experiences will be unavailable this year.

Both Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the EPCOT Candlelight Processional have been canceled for 2020. Many families have a yearly tradition of attending these events, so it’s understandable that the announcement of these cancellations received a lot of attention. But, there’s another holiday tradition that will look a little bit different as well.

Neil Patrick Harris Narrating the Candlelight Processional

In previous years, Santa has made appearances at several locations in Disney World where guests could meet him and share their holiday wishes. In the past, we’ve greeted Santa on the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs, in the Town Square of Magic Kingdom, and in the American Adventure Pavilion at EPCOT, among other places.

Magic Kingdom

But this year, guests will not be able to personally meet-and-greet Santa Claus in Disney World. Much like the temporary suspension of character meet-and-greets and the adjustments to character dining experiences, this change was made as a safety precaution.

Santa and Mrs. Claus in Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion

But even though you can’t meet him up-close in Disney World this year, he’ll still be making the rounds! That’s right, Santa Claus WILL be making pop-up, distanced appearances in all four parks AND in Disney Springs!

Santa and Mrs. Claus in EPCOT

So, while this holiday tradition will look a little bit different this year, Santa Claus IS still coming to town! We give him props for making the trip down to Disney World from the North Pole, even if we do have to wave at him from a distance for now!

Check out what other holiday entertainment is coming to Disney World this year!

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