‘Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol’ Trailer Explodes with High-Stakes Holiday Action

The official trailer and key art for Disney’s upcoming animated holiday special Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol debuts today, bringing back Santa’s top special operatives for a new bell-jingling adventure. The Emmy-winning franchise returns after more than a decade for a fourth installment, following Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne as their holiday mission as part of an elite team that prepares homes worldwide for Santa’s arrival unfolds with many merry mishaps.

The new special streams on Disney+ from November 28, the day after its Thanksgiving Day premiere on Disney Channel, on November 27 at 7 p.m. EST/PST.

Announced today, the special will make its ABC network premiere on Sunday, November 30 (9 p.m. EST/PST), following encore airings of the previous specials Prep & Landing and Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice beginning at 8 p.m. EST/PST. Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol will also join Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” on December 13 (2:40 p.m. EST/PST) following the original Prep & Landing at 2:10 p.m. EST/PST.

Synopsis: Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne’s holiday mission goes awry, leaving Wayne convinced he’s in major trouble with Santa and accidentally revealing other merry mishaps. Magee, the North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator and lover of eggnog lattes, brings along her pet arctic seal pup Nog to the office — kicking off endless hijinks.

The returning cast for Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol includes Dave Foley as Wayne, Sarah Chalke as Magee and Derek Richardson as Lanny. Joining the cast is Manny Jacinto as Renato, Dulcé Sloan as Janice, Danny Pudi as Chef Geoff and Christopher Swindle as The Big Guy, a.k.a. Santa.

Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton return to their roles as executive producers, and Colleen Evanson is co-producer and story editor. Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol is produced by Disney Television Animation, part of Disney Branded Television.

New Prep & Landing-focused Chibi Tiny Tales and How Not to Draw shorts will join YouTube, Disney Channel and Disney+ timed to the special’s release: Prep & Landing: As Told By Chibi premieres Saturday, November 15 (YouTube and Disney Channel), and streams November 26. How Not to Draw: Lanny and Wayne premieres Saturday, November 29 (YouTube and Disney Channel), and will stream in February 2026.

An official single from the special, “Where Would We Be without Magee,” will be available on digital platforms November 21.

Plus, a limited-edition merchandise collection from Toddland, inspired by the new holiday special, will be available for purchase soon on toddland.com.

Available now on Disney+, families can catch up on all previous specials: Prep & Landing (2009), Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa (2010) and Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011).