PHOTOS, VIDEO: Merry Menagerie Returns for 2023 Holiday Season at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Brit Tuttle

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Merry Menagerie Returns for 2023 Holiday Season at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The 2023 holiday season is in full swing at Walt Disney World Resort, and with it comes the return of the Merry Menagerie to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The puppet experience happens periodically throughout the day on Discovery Island.

Merry Menagerie

The Merry Menagerie features artisan-sculpted puppets of wintry animals, as well as musicians.

The puppets walk among guests, and can be approached to “pet” if you’d like.

The animals included in the menagerie are reindeer, foxes, polar bears, penguins, and “flying” birds.

The bird puppets appear as though they’re flying above guests’ heads.

All of the puppets are depicted in a blue and white color scheme to emphasize the winter theme.

The puppets are textured and some of them even have faux fur attached.

The puppeteers wear matching outfits in the same colors.

Most of the puppets are operated by one person, though some require two puppeteers.

Check out our video of the Merry Menagerie in action:

Check out our other holiday updates from Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

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