Holidays at Animal Kingdom: Dino Christmas, Diwali Lights, and More
Jambo! The next stop of my Christmas and holiday decor tour is truly one of a kind. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has five major lands, all receiving holiday overlays. Each area has specific decor that tells the story of the people who live and work there. Along with its conservation messaging, Animal Kingdom is a love letter to nature and understanding other cultures. These themes are mirrored in the various holiday displays across the entire park.
DinoLand U.S.A.
While DinoLand looks different compared to previous years, its charm and detail are still on display. Once inside, you’ll find familiar sights and dinosaur-related decor.
Restaurantosaurus is decorated incredibly well. The windows are covered with frosted snowflakes and dinosaurs wearing scarves. On the roof, a lit-up Santa and his reindeer prepare to take off. Above Restaurantasaurus’s outdoor porch, you will find three dinosaurs singing Christmas carols.
On this same porch, guests can meet Santa himself! This incredible character interaction is located in an equally impressive holiday set, filled with festive decor.
This time of year, I often find myself putting on WDNO Radio’s Christmas broadcast at home. The kitschy radio announcers have defined a lifetime of memories for me. The Dino Institute’s Christmas celebration will surely be missed when the land closes.
Pandora
The Christmas celebration continues across the park in Pandora. When living on a foreign moon, it’s understandable to feel a little homesick. Luckily for us, the humans occupying Pandora have decorated for the season. Look up to see a variety of hand-carved ornaments. Banshees, Direhorses, and a few mini Santas all hang from the sky. Even the AMP suit outside Pongu Pongu is draped in festive lights.
Africa
Harambe Village offers a unique blend of culturally relevant decor and eco-friendly materials. This region of the park is alive with theming. The holiday overlay is a tribute to the people who live and work in Harambe. Visitors come to this region for a real-life safari, but walk away with a new knowledge of conservation.
The decor is filled with common African designs and influences. However, my favorite pieces are handcrafted and made from recycled materials. Animals made from bottle caps, decorative cloths, and repurposed cans are a few highlights.
Asia
Continuing to Anandapur, the holiday celebrations continue with Diwali, the Festival of Lights. This holiday is a staple of Indian culture and Eastern religions. The Diwali decor transforms the theatre district with lanterns and marigolds hanging above the street. Much like the name would suggest, this area is best experienced at night. The lanterns glow beautifully and transform a common space into a show-stopper.
Discovery Island
Next, we arrive at the heart of Animal Kingdom. Discovery Island has several offerings during the holidays. Daytime guests are treated to the Merry Menagerie, a dazzling display of life-sized animal puppets. In addition to this, the entire island is decorated in a peaceful white Christmas. Wreaths and garlands reinforce the use of natural materials and simplicity.
Atop the many gift shops are animal lanterns and figures. If you are fortunate enough to stay until the park closes (you should), the post-sunset scenery is spectacular. Guests can witness Tree of Life Awakenings as a special wintry projection show takes place after dark. This area’s decor is best defined as peaceful and calming.
Animal Kingdom’s Christmas tree
The holiday decorations continue outside the park. Hand-carved ornaments cover Animal Kingdom’s massive Christmas tree. Near the entrance, guests can pose in front of a mural that includes the Tree of Life, the Merry Menagerie, and those Discovery Island lanterns.
This wraps up my holiday decor tour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Thank you once again for reading my festive guide. Taking photos across Walt Disney World brings me great joy, and I am honored to be able to share that passion with you. Sivako!
