Animal Kingdom Holidays 2026: Santa’s Holiday Grove, Merry Menagerie and More

Disney’s Animal Kingdom takes a wilder approach to the holidays, and this year’s lineup includes a special artist appearance alongside the park’s seasonal favorites.

Meet Artist Rob Kaz

Original artwork by Rob Kaz will be sold at Island Mercantile on Discovery Island throughout the holiday season, and Kaz himself will be greeting guests in the shop from November 1 through November 22. If you collect his Disney pieces, that’s your window.

Santa’s Holiday Grove

Santa is set up at Theater in the Wild, across from “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” The trail features occasional snow flurries, a holiday soundtrack and specialty food and drinks.

The Merry Menagerie

Puppets of arctic animals, including polar bears, penguins, reindeer and foxes, roam Discovery Island. These handcrafted puppets are some of the most impressive holiday entertainment anywhere at Walt Disney World, and they make for great photos.

Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition

After sunset, the Tree of Life comes alive with holiday themed stories and music. Shows run roughly every 10 minutes until park close, so it’s easy to catch on your way out.

More Holiday Fun

The ECO-RHYTHMiCS percussion band returns in holiday gear with its recycling themed beats, and Mickey and Minnie greet guests in holiday explorer outfits at Adventurers Outpost.

See everything happening across the resort this season in our complete Disney World Christmas 2026 guide.

You May Also Enjoy: Everything New for the Holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026

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Scott Atwood is the Co-Owner, Co-Creator, and Webmaster of The Main Street Mouse, one of Florida's leading Disney and theme park news sources Co-Host of the TMSM Weekly Podcast. With an 18-year background in technical support and systems management, Scott brings a detail-oriented, research-driven approach to everything he does — from managing the technical infrastructure of TMSM to covering the latest Disney news, Marvel updates, and technology developments. As Project Planner and Business Relations Manager for TMSM, Scott works behind the scenes to ensure the site runs smoothly while also contributing articles on topics he's passionate about — including Star Wars, Marvel, Disney Parks, and the latest in tech and pop culture. What started as a hobby alongside his wife Michele has grown into a full-time labor of love, reaching Disney fans across the country every day.

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