Santa Claus Returns to DinoLand at Disney's Animal Kingdom for Its Last Holiday Season in 2025

Nov 05, 2025 in "Holidays at Disney's Animal Kingdom"

Posted: Wednesday November 5, 2025 12:25pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Santa Claus will once again make his way to Disney's Animal Kingdom this holiday season - and for the final time, he'll be greeting guests in DinoLand U.S.A. before the area permanently closes to make way for the upcoming Tropical Americas expansion.

Meet Santa Claus at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2024

Guests can visit Santa on the patio of Restaurantosaurus from November 14 through December 24, 2025, where the space has been transformed into a festive celebration of the season, complete with dinosaur-themed holiday décor and vintage touches.

The Restaurantosaurus patio, once part of the original headquarters of the Dino Institute, has been reimagined by its "students and faculty" for their annual Dino Institute Holiday Party. The area will feature festive music, colorful stockings, sparkling lights, and creative décor blending prehistoric fun with traditional Christmas cheer.

Guests will have a chance to meet Santa Claus in this unique setting before the land officially closes in 2026 to begin construction on Tropical Americas, a new 11-acre area inspired by the cultures, wildlife, and landscapes of Central and South America.

Christmas Tree at DIsney's Animal Kingdom

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DCBaker14 hours ago

In addition to December 25 and 31, new Magic Kingdom park reservations for Annual Passholders are also currently unavailable on December 30:

DCBaker1 day ago

Jollywood Nights is now showing as sold out on December 22.

Splash4eva2 days ago

Thank you

HauntedPirate2 days ago

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure it does not run after NYE.

DCBaker2 days ago

What the Holidays Mean and Banded Nutcracker from "Holidays in Hollywood" at Jollywood Nights is now available on streaming:

Splash4eva2 days ago

Does the Christmas parade still run the weekend of 2-4th?

DCBaker2 days ago

Disney has confirmed Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade showtimes for December 22-31: 12pm and 3pm. Disney also says Fantasmic! will have 3 showtimes on Saturday, December 27: 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm.

Cooldip2 days ago

With today’s update, looks like WDW Christmas Week December 26-29, 2025 Hours are… MK 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM EPCOT 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM DHS 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM DAK 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

wdwmagic3 days ago

Magic Kingdom Reaches Capacity for Annual Passholders on New Year's Eve 2025 https://www.wdwmagic.com/events/holidays-at-the-magic-kingdom/news/04dec2025-magic-kingdom-reaches-capacity-for-annual-passholders-on-new-years-eve-2025.htm

Horizons '834 days ago

At this point in my life, I am not interested in trying to do everything in a day. To your point, I specifically seek out the after hour party nights and go to the parks during the day (typically a 1 or 2 crowd level). It's much more enjoyable and if you have a desire for more parks after 6PM, you can hop on the monorail and visit Epcot for the remainder of the night.

Sirwalterraleigh4 days ago

To each their own… I’d lose interest in ride hopping rather quickly…it’s just me. Sometimes the spirit moves me…but typically it’s more ambience than line skip schemes In the end…I’m not eager to support block pricing for half the day that is now 5-6X as much as 2010 Did the Disneyland thing in a hole in the travel schedule and found it rather underwhelming…so I’m good for another 10 years (which I my case may be permanent)

Touchdown4 days ago

Who said I ran? I didn’t run, in fact I only “walked with a purpose” 2 times, one was leaving the hub after fireworks (that’s more out of habit because I want to ditch the chaos that always is no matter how light the crowds are) the other after my last ride to make it back for the castle show the rest of the time it was a leisurely pace enjoying the sites. Also, you skipped over the over 2 hours I hung out on MSUSA and the hub soaking in the entertainment I didn’t just “pound out the park” I simply walked its entire length with only backtracking once the whole night, and that was because even without trying I had 25 min to kill at the end of the night to do one reride.

Sirwalterraleigh4 days ago

We did that at “star wars night” in Disneyland in April And at the end…I wondered what the point of running from ride to ride was? You shot past the point…it’s not a ride park. That’s cool for an ACE convention…but if you’ve been…repeatedly…why pound rides? 🤷🏻‍♂️ Actually the best play often is to go in when the park opens and stay until the close…avoid payout the block pricing ransom…enjoy your day when crowds are always light. Then take it easy after

Touchdown5 days ago

To people who knock the holiday parties for being overpriced, I just finished one now, got in at 3:50pm I then did: 1. Jingle Cruise (40 min wait, the longest of the whole day) 2. Pirates (15 min) 3. Tiana (15 min) 4. CBMJ -6:00 pm, park closes to day guests- 6:15 watched the Frozen show 5. Space Mountain: Christmas Rave Edition (15 min) 6. Tron (20 min) 7. Speedway (10 min) 8. TTA (5 min) -8:00, entertainment break, Parade, Castle Show, Fireworks- 9. Mansion (walk on) 10. Peter Pan (5 min) 11. Mermaid (walk on) 12. Dumbo (walk on) 13. Pooh (5 min) 14. SDMT (10 min) 15. Space (walk on) 11:55 Castle Show So in 8 hours for less then the cost of a day ticket I did the Magic Kingdom (when the only regrets I have are missing animatronic shows and a 3-D movie it’s a good day) got some free* snacks, got to see the best Disney Firework Show anywhere, a darn good parade and a castle show. No Lightning Lane, space around me for the fireworks and comfortable midways not to mention 6.5 hours of nighttime in the MK I really fail to see how this is a rip off, especially since I didn’t have a day ticket. It’s why even though I’m down here to visit the competition I still buy a party ticket.