Meet Santa Claus at the Odyssey Pavilion at Epcot (2024)
Santa has a gorgeous meet-and-greet location at the Odyssey Pavilion at Epcot this year. He will meet at this location from November 29th through December 24th. 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.
Update: This location is no longer available. If you would like to know Santa’s current location, see our guide on where to meet Santa Claus at Disney World. It offers an overview of his locations at all four parks and at Disney Springs.
Santa’s Meet and Greet Times at The Odyssey Pavilion
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 My Disney Experience app and select the pin drop at the bottom of the home screen.
- Scroll (left to right) through the icons at the top of the screen and select “Characters.”
- After selecting characters, use the locations drop-down to select the park of your choice.
- Then, on the bottom right of the screen, select “Show List.”
- Scroll through the list of characters with their times and locations.
- As an alternative, you can use the map view to locate characters.
*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.
Learn More: How to Use the My Disney Experience App to Locate Characters (Full Tutorial)
Santa’s Location at the Odyssey Pavilion
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 the characters who meet at Disney World take their time to make each person feel important.
If you’re planning a visit during the holidays, you might also like our overview of Christmas Events at Disney World. Stop by Resorts Gal again for more updates.
In the Comments
Do you hope to meet Santa at the Odyssey Pavilion this year? Let us know in the comments below.
