Santa Claus is celebrating the holiday season with special visits to some of Orlando’s top attractions and events including Lake Nona’s Oh, What Fun!® Holiday Celebration (pictured).
Updated Nov. 30, 2023
Ready for some holiday cheer? Santa Claus is getting ready for the big day and making several stops throughout Orlando to hear what you want for Christmas. With meet and greets and various special events, there are plenty of opportunities to get the perfect picture of your children with Santa and feel the magic of the season.
Discover: Celebrate the Holiday Season in Orlando
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The Mall at Millenia
Through Dec. 24, you can meet Santa at The Mall at Millenia. You can snap your own photos for a small donation or book a photography package that includes a professional photographer, festive props, and digital or printed photos. Make sure to bring your wish list to put in Santa’s very own mailbox. Advance reservations are required.
Discover: 5 Must-Know Holiday Shopping Tips
The Florida Mall®
Santa is flying in to visit The Florida Mall® through Dec. 24. Sensory-friendly sessions are also available on select dates with Caring Santa®, created exclusively for children with special needs. Your pets can even tell Santa what they want this year on select dates during Pet Photos. Reservations are highly recommended for all Santa experiences, and you can even receive a free phone call from Santa when you book online.
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ICON Park®
Step into a winter wonderland at The Santa Workshop Experience at ICON Park®. Enjoy a magical meet and greet with Santa followed by a joy-filled ride in a private holiday capsule on The Orlando Eye at ICON Park. Kids ride free with the purchase of a Santa photo package.
Gatorland
Stop by Gatorland for one of the most unique holiday celebrations, the Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Down. Here you can celebrate the season with the one-and-only Gator Claus as well as the more mischievous Krampus Croc. From a wide array of vendors spread throughout the park to “Cryptid carols” performed by the Florida Skunk Ape, there are plenty of ways to join Gator Claus in the holiday spirit.
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Oh, What Fun!® Holiday Festival in Lake Nona
At Lake Nona’s Oh, What Fun!® Holiday Festival, you can join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a holiday story time and sing-along. After, you can pose with the couple for the perfect holiday photo. The Lake Nona festivities also include snowfall, a snow slide, special holiday treats and enchanting entertainment.
Discover: Things to Do in Lake Nona
Wall Crawl in Orlando’s Parramore District
Looking for a private photo session with the big man himself? Wall Crawl in Orlando’s Parramore District offers semi-private and private photo packages, along with stories and songs from Santa. With 20+ holiday backdrops and several festive props, you will be sure to take home countless magical memories and perfect pictures.
Discover: Things to Do in Parramore
Now Snowing in Celebration
Santa will be spreading joy and meeting visitors in Celebration, close to Walt Disney World® Resort. Hosted by Celebration Town Center, Now Snowing occurs nightly through Dec. 31 and features horse drawn carriage rides, ice skating and train rides perfect for your children. End your night with a magical snowfall in the town center.
Santa’s Enchanted Workshop
For an incredibly unique and personalized holiday experience, plan a visit to Santa’s Enchanted Workshop at Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. In this one-hour, private meet and greet with Santa, your children will get to find their names on Santa’s nice list, enjoy milk and cookies, place an ornament on his tree, play with Santa in his workshop, and ask him any question they would like. An artist will then handcraft a unique art piece of your children with Santa, available for purchase, that you can treasure for years to come.
Christmas at Gaylord Palms
See Gaylord Palms transformed into a winter wonderland with snow tubing, gingerbread decorating, elf training, special entertainment and of course, the opportunity to tell Santa what you want this year. Tickets are required for most experiences.
Discover: 10 Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season in Orlando
Eola Winter Wonderland at Lake Eola Park
Downtown Orlando is transforming into the Eola Winter Wonderland from Dec. 1 – 23 featuring snowfall, a weekend Christmas market featuring local businesses and vendors, and visits from Santa every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Located in the Eola House, children will be able to share what they want with Santa and parents will have plenty of time to take pictures.
Meet Santa at Orlando’s Theme Parks
Everyone loves Orlando’s theme parks — including Santa Claus. Best of all, these appearances are all included with park admission.
Walt Disney World® Resort
Find Santa at all four Walt Disney World® Resort theme parks — Magic Kingdom® Park, EPCOT®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park — plus meet a tropical-dressed Santa at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Outside of the theme parks, you can meet Santa at Disney Springs® or savor an unforgettable family-style Italian Breakfast With Santa at Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante on select dates. You can also play a round or more at Santa’s favorite off-season retreat: Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. (Please note that reservations are required for all Walt Disney World theme parks.)
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SeaWorld® Orlando
At SeaWorld® Orlando, share wishes and dreams with Santa Claus as you explore SeaWorld’s Wild Arctic this Christmas. Plus, meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and friends and experience amazing animal encounters in a holiday adventure you can only have at SeaWorld.
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Universal Orlando Resort
Not only does Santa headline Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida, but he also lights the park’s tree during the parade’s finale. Universal Orlando Resort also offers a decidedly grumpier take on the season with Grinchmas™ at Universal Islands of Adventure. You can even savor a Grinchy good morning and feast with the mean green one himself at The Grinch™ & Friends Character Breakfast (advance reservations required).
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LEGOLAND® Florida Resort
See LEGO® Santa, LEGO Gingerbread, Holiday Unikitty and more at LEGOLAND® Florida Theme Park, part of LEGOLAND® Florida Resort. You can also discover a giant LEGO Christmas tree, unforgettable seasonal shows, holiday characters, special treats, LEGO activities, twinkling lights and more during Holidays at LEGOLAND® (select dates, Dec. 2 – 31).
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