Brian
I hope you check back on this thread one more time! Why? Because the Santa at ECPOT is far superior to the one at Downtown Disney.
The EPCOT Santa and Mrs. Claus are as real as you and I! I think they believe they are Santa - and with their attitudes, I would never quesion them!!! They are wonderful, they look great, the beard is real, the fat tummy is real and the laugh is real!
The Santa at DD had a real beard, but his attitude wasn't anything like Santa. He told my husband while my daughter was on his lap that he was from Nebraska!!! He didn't even really pretend to be Santa! He was just a guy doing a job. (He wasn't mean or anything, but he wasn't 'into' his character either.)
Have a great Santa experience - go to the American Pavillion at EPCOT!
Jackie