Disney’s Animal Kingdom is bursting with holiday cheer this season, with new festivities and decor around every bend. This morning, Discovery Island sprang to life with the new Merry Menagerie show making its debut, and we were there to capture all the festive delight. This delightful experience features multiple life-size, artisan sculpted puppets brought to life by their performers as they create a playful atmosphere of festive fun.

It all begins when you cross the bridge to Discovery Island, finding yourself in the midst of a celebration of winter, hand-crafted by the eclectic community of artists who make the island their home. The village is filled with sparkling white holiday decorations. Colorful, animal-inspired luminaries line the rooftops, and wireframe lanterns in the shape of beautiful birds can be found perched throughout the area.

The arrival of birds swooping over the skies signals the start of the Merry Menagerie.

The menagerie is followed by a holiday gathering of winter animals, realized in the form of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets. Reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins and more interact with guests. It appears they come out in sets, so you might not get all of the animals at once. (We’re definitely coming back for the penguins.)

This is one of the new holiday additions we’ve been anxiously waiting to experience, and the handcrafted puppets certainly don’t disappoint… we only wish there were more of them! You can check out the full Merry Menagerie experience on Discovery Island in the video below:

Rosie Villeda