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After more than a decade of silence, Disney’s beloved Prep & Landing elves are clocking in once again. The franchise’s new special, Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol, will premiere on Thanksgiving night, November 27, at 7 p.m. on Disney Channel. It hits Disney+ the following day and will later air on ABC and as part of Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas.”
A long-awaited return to the field
Fourteen years is a long time to wait for new elf mischief, but for fans of the Prep & Landing series, the wait might just be worth it. The original special debuted in 2009 and quickly became a holiday favorite, with its clever concept of elite elves prepping the world for Santa’s landing. Subsequent installments—Operation: Secret Santa (2010) and Naughty vs. Nice (2011)—expanded the universe, mixing humor, heart, and high-tech North Pole wizardry.
From the start, I’ve always admired how these specials tapped into something that felt both modern and timeless. The tech-savvy elves, the sleek storytelling, the warm visuals—it was the kind of Christmas content that respected its audience, including the grown-ups.
Familiar voices, new faces
Reuniting with these characters after so long feels like opening a box of cherished decorations. Dave Foley returns as Wayne, the grumpy but deeply committed field elf. Sarah Chalke is back as Magee, the command center boss who doesn’t start a 12-hour shift without her eggnog latte. And of course, Lanny, Wayne’s ever-optimistic partner, is once again voiced by Derek Richardson. To read Pluribus finale shocks fans as season 2 faces long wait
In this new chapter, a few fresh voices join the team:
- Manny Jacinto lends his charm to Renato, the North Pole’s massage therapist and holistic healer.
- Dulcé Sloan voices Janice, a post office clerk whose role is likely more than it seems.
- Danny Pudi appears as Chef Geoff, who oversees the Fruitcake Factory—because this is the North Pole, and yes, fruitcake still matters.
- Christopher Swindle takes on the iconic role of Santa Claus.
Adding names like Jacinto and Pudi feels like a nice touch. They bring comedy chops and warmth, two ingredients that always made these specials stand out. I’m particularly curious about how the Santa character will evolve with this new energy in the cast.
Legacy, quality, and continuation
The return of directors Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton, the duo who created this universe in the first place, is a reassuring sign. When a franchise comes back after so long, keeping the original creative pulse helps it stay grounded. Colleen Evanson joins them as co-producer, suggesting a blend of legacy and new ideas.
The special is produced by Disney Television Animation under Disney Branded Television. What that usually means is solid craftsmanship, richly designed visuals, and the kind of pacing that respects children’s attention spans without dumbing anything down.
What’s always worked in Prep & Landing’s favor is its tone: heartwarming, fast-paced, and just irreverent enough. It captured the excitement of holiday nights as a kid, the anticipation, the behind-the-scenes magic we all imagined was really happening on rooftops while we slept. To read Taylor Swift opens up in final Eras Tour docuseries episode
Worth the wait?
Honestly, I didn’t expect Prep & Landing to come back. Its absence made it feel like one of those sweet one-shots Disney never overexploited. So when news hit of a fourth installment, I felt more hope than hesitation. If it brings back the wit, the warmth, and the sense of holiday magic that made the originals shine, then this could become a new staple for late November and December evenings.
The release strategy also makes sense: launching on Thanksgiving night plants it right in the holiday rhythm, and its later run on Disney+ and ABC ensures it becomes part of families’ seasonal playlists. If I were ten years old again, this is exactly the kind of special I’d look out for while flipping channels with a slice of pie in hand.
Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol arrives just in time to warm up the end of the year, and if it lives up to its roots, we’re in for a comforting return to one of Disney’s most underrated holiday gems.
