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How to meet Santa Claus in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

How to meet Santa Claus in Disney’s Hollywood Studios


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Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers a meet with Santa Claus.  This is an unusual move because Santa Goofy always met in this park on the former backlot.  Santa didn’t just move into the Studios park, he brought some serious class to the meet and greet.  This is the most beautiful location where you can meet Santa in all of Walt Disney World now!

Where is Santa?

Santa is located inside the Carthay Circle building on the end that is known as “Once Upon a Time.”  It is located right beside Beauty and the Beast.

How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios

You’ll find this building.  Just past this entrance on the right hand side is a small podium.  If you arrive and the line is more than 30 minutes long, a Cast Member will provide you with a pager that will notify you when you can return to meet Santa Claus.

The pager only works along Sunset Boulevard from the Tower of Terror back to the crossroad street with Hollywood Boulevard.  It’s a nice step to try to accommodate your guests with as short of a wait time as possible, but I’ve wondered for a couple of years why they don’t just use Text Message notification for this purpose.  You could be anywhere in Hollywood Studios (or Disney Springs for that meet) and it would notify you to return for the meet.

How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios

When should you meet Santa in Hollywood Studios?

I recommend arriving by 9:45am.  His schedule on the Times Guide says 10:00am to Closing, but he actually begins at 9:45am and has very specific set times and breaks in between.  I detail those on Character Locator, but it’s best to just plan to arrive around 9:30 to 9:45am and wait without the need of a pager.

What does the meet and greet look like?

In my opinion it’s the most beautiful Santa Claus photo in all of Walt Disney World.  Santa also meets in Disney Springs from mid-November, Epcot after Thanksgiving and Magic Kingdom after the final Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  He doesn’t meet in Animal Kingdom, but Santa Goofy does!

How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios

I love the details of Santa’s trees with the little elves and reindeer.How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Here’s the set with Santa Claus.How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Does this Santa meet offer Photopass service?

Yes all the Santa meet and greet locations offer Photopass / Memory Maker photo service and they are willing to take photos with your personal imaging device as well.How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios

The couch is big enough to accomodate the family with Santa holding little Junior on his knee.How to meet Santa Claus at Disney's Hollywood Studios

I think I want to decorate my living room like this for Christmas!

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Melanie

Thursday 28th of November 2019

When will Santa Goofy be at Disney Springs this year?

kennythepirate

Friday 29th of November 2019

Christmas day

Amanda King

Thursday 9th of November 2017

You could do both. Kona Cafe asks if I want a text message but they have pagers if I say no

lucy

Thursday 9th of November 2017

Text messages wouldn’t work for International guests. Disney tries to be inclusive to all visitors. I love the page option instead of waiting in line for over an hour.

Lee Tolton

Tuesday 8th of August 2017

Great article Kenny as ever. Is there any news on a 2017 return for the Santa meet? If so do you know when it starts? We're there from Nov' 4th thru 18th. Thanks.

kennythepirate

Tuesday 8th of August 2017

We're too far away to have any knowledge of Christmas activities. It will be listed on www.characterlocator.com just as soon as I hear any details.

ANDREZA TRIVILLIN

Tuesday 13th of December 2016

Thank you so much! Here the post with credits and link. Merry Christmas!! http://andrezadicaeindica.com.br/onde-encontrar-o-papai-noel-na-disney.html

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