Disney has decked out the Odyssey with festive decor for the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, including a meet and greet with Santa Goofy and the Glittering Grove “forest.” The latter was moved from Communicore Hall, where Santa Claus himself is meeting this year.
Glittering Grove Decor
Sponsored by Balsam Hill, Glittering Grove lies “far from the hustle of the bustling city with trees oh-so-pretty” inside The Odyssey. The Grove this year doubles partially as the queue for the Santa Goofy meet and greet.
The second scattering of trees has a plaque reading “Shining and Bold: With sparkling lights and touches of snow that is crisp but not cold.”
The third and final scattering of trees has a plaque which reads “though naysayers say that the grove isn’t real, what’s realer than real is the Magic you Feel.”
Balsam Hill is a company that sells realistic-looking artificial trees and other holiday decor. They’ve sponsored the Glittering Grove, which is comprised of their trees.
The Odyssey Decor
Throughout the rest of the Odyssey, additional Christmas trees are scattered with more plaques, these read:
- Sanibel Spruce: You might think of artificial trees as a modern invention, but Germans started making goose-feather trees in the 1880s to prevent deforestation.
- Stratford Spruce: Did you know spruce trees can reach up to 130 feet in height? That’s as tall as the Statue of Liberty’s metal framework. Talk about a growth spurt!
- Balsam Fir: Ever wonder where the balsam fir gets it name? It comes from the Latin word for balm, which refers to the medicinal properties of the tree’s sap.
- Frosted Yukon Spruce: Not all trees lose their leaves in autumn. Conifers like spruce trees are evergreen, meaning they keep their needles all year long.
- Frosted Balsam Fir: Balsam firs have been popular Christmas trees for more than two centuries, thanks to their strong branches – which were able to support lit candles long before electric lights were invented.
- White Spruce: Spruce trees may be evergreen, but they can come in other colors! The white spruce is known for its waxy coating that can make it appear anywhere from ivory to icy blue.
There is a backdrop against the wall opposite the meet and greet, with a house covered in snow in the same art style as the sleigh and backdrop.
Santa Goofy Meet and Greet
There is a large photo opportunity in the center of the Odyssey with a Christmas Sleigh for the Santa Goofy meet and greet.
The sleigh is blue with a pop-up book background. The seating inside is red velvet where you can pose with Santa Goofy.
Santa Goofy Meet & Greet
Santa Goofy was not initially available after the Odyssey had opened. The rope had a special message:
Once Santa Goofy showed, our reporters took several pictures of the Holiday Goof.
Check out our full video tour of the Odyssey decorated:
Are you excited to meet Santa Goofy during the 2025 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays? Do you like the Odyssey holiday decorations? Let us know in the comments down below or on social media.
The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs from November 28 through December 30. Stay tuned for our complete coverage of the festival!
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