Where to Meet Santa Claus at Epcot (Location and Photos)
Santa has a gorgeous meet-and-greet location at Epcot. He meets in The Odyssey Pavilion, which is in the World Celebration area of the park. Below, we’ll walk through Santa’s meet-and-greet at Epcot. This is an excellent indoor location for meeting Santa. It’s also the perfect spot for a family photo commemorating your holiday visit to Epcot. Santa will meet at this location from November 29th through December 24th. Our experience from last year is detailed below.
Santa’s Meet and Greet Times at Epcot
Santa meets intermittently between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Here is an example of his scheduled times in the My Disney Experience app.
- 11:00 a.m.
- 12:30 p.m.
- 2:00 p.m.
- 3:30 p.m.
- 5:00 p.m.
- 6:30 p.m.
You’ll want to check the app for exact times on the day of your visit. Santa is listed in the character section. But make sure to filter for Epcot so you get the correct location. Here are the instructions to do that.
How to Locate Characters in the My Disney Experience App
- Open the MDE app and select the pin drop at the bottom of the home screen.
- Select the “Characters” category at the top middle of the screen. (The default is “Wait Times”.)
- After selecting characters, use the park filter to select the park on the top left side of the screen.
- Then, on the top right side of the screen, select “Show List.”
- Scroll through the list of characters with their times and locations.
*As the day passes, you might notice that characters disappear from the app. When their last scheduled time passes, the meet-and-greet automatically disappears. A new schedule won’t be loaded until the following day. It is essential to check the app for meet-and-greets on the day of your visit.
Santa’s Location at Epcot
Santa meets inside the Odyssey Pavilion. Below is a photo of the building, which has entrances on each side.
If you’re walking along the World Showcase Promenade, you might see this sign that says, “Meet Santa,” with an arrow pointing to the Odyssey Pavilion.
Both entrances indicate that you can meet Santa inside. This location is also home to the Holiday Hearth Desserts kitchen, where you can purchase seasonal treats.
Inside the Odyssey Pavilion, you’ll find ample open space with tables and chairs. This area is somewhat of a transitional space used for various purposes over the years. Santa’s meet-and-greet sits toward the back of the room. Here are a few photos of the location.
You’ll find a roped-off queue near the meet-and-greet area. Depending on when you visit, you might encounter a long line. We waited 40 minutes to meet Santa at Epcot on the first day of the Festival of the Holidays. Santa will meet here through December 24th. I understand he’s pretty busy later on the evening of the 24th, and then he’s off on a much-needed vacation with Mrs. Claus shortly after. Last year, Santa Goofy took over the space for the remainder of the festival between Christmas Day and the 30th. If you’re visiting during that busy week, you might want to stop in and see if he’s available.
Santa’s sleigh is quite sizable, with two rows. So, even if you’re part of a larger group, some guests can stand in the back row, while others can sit in the front row.
A PhotoPass photographer is available to take family pictures. If you don’t have the Memory Maker add-on, you might ask them to take a family photo with your phone or camera.
Santa was exceptionally kind and posed for a few photos before he went on break. However, I can assure you that seeing guests meet Santa Claus while you’re waiting is not for the faint of heart. As usual, I found myself humbled seeing Santa meet a few guests who were likely going through a tough time.
So I reminded myself that the wait takes however long it takes. It’s always wonderful to see someone offering a little hope. It’s also nice that all the characters who meet at Disney World take their time to make each person feel important. For more details, check out our list of every location to Meet Santa at Disney World in 2024, or try these individual locations.
- Santa Returns to It’s a Wonderful Shop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Santa Claus Debuts at New Disney Springs Location in 2024
- Santa Claus is Coming to Restaurantosaurus at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Santa to Debut New Santa’s Carnival Location at Storybook Circus
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In the Comments
Do you hope to meet Santa at Epcot or any other location? Let us know in the comments below.
