Ever wonder who turns the Magic Kingdom into a holiday fantasyland overnight? Meet Santa's chief elf, Scooter Huller.

Florida's Walt Disney World may be a long sleigh flight from the North Pole, but that's where you'll meet John "Scooter" Huller, the man many refer to as "Santa's chief elf."

To the million-plus guests who visit the Magic Kingdom between November 27 and December 31, Scooter is the behind-the-scenes genius who orchestrates an overnight metamorphosis of America's No. 1 family attraction into a "Jolly Holiday Christmas Spectacular." It takes him less than 12 hours, with the help of an 80-member crew, to assemble the park's giant trees, sparkling lights, glittering tinsel, regal costumes, and of course, "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade."

In reality, this is no overnight task. As soon as the last Christmas decoration is stashed away from one celebration, Scooter and crew are planning the next year's version. They operate from a 750-square-foot office - affectionately known as "Scooterville" - located within the parks boundaries but far from Main Street, Frontierland, and other familiar attractions. Here, Huller and company coordinate a search for the nation's most beautiful evergreen trees. This year's quest yielded an 80-foot giant Douglas fir from California that will stand in the park's Town Square.

Thousands of lights, ornaments, and electric candles will enhance trees in the Magic Kingdom and in each of the other Florida Disney attractions - Epcot, which features Christmas celebrations from around the world, and Disney-MGM Studios, with its "permafrost" displays of snowdrifts and a snowman no matter how tepid the weather. A giant 500-pound Santa cap - quite possibly the world's largest - sits on top of the "Earffel Tower."

Carolers, dressed in costumes right out of a Charles Dickens novel, again will stroll the Magic Kingdom's Main Street, giving impromptu concerts to visitors. Other attractions include animated figures in store windows, boughs of holly and wreaths of pine, and aromas of spices that transport guests back to their childhood days.

Each year, Disney insists on a 25 percent change in holiday decorations to add new Christmas magic for repeat visitors. At the same time, some traditions never change. Parents will always stand on tiptoe along the sidewalks, holding children high above their heads to get a better view of the candlelight procession of highschool choristers (more than 1,000 voices strong) winding their way through Epcot Center. The choirs then join with orchestra members to present the Christmas story through song and narration. Last year's guest narrator was actor James Earl Jones. This year's dates are Dec. 17-18.

Guests also look forward to the annual "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party," when the Magic Kingdom becomes a winter wonderland with miles of garland, marching toy soldiers, and this year, for the first time, "snow" - made from bubbles. An explosion of red and green fireworks lights up the nighttime sky, and "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade" winds down Main Street. Dates this year are Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, and 16.

Overseeing these lavish events is a demanding job, but Scooter - who turns 70 this year - sees it as the perfect cap to a career that has included 10 years as a high-school math and physics teacher and 25 years working at the atomic power division of a shipyard. His brisk pace often leaves younger employees lagging behind. Like a modern-day Peter Pan, he seems ageless. On the rare occasion when he needs a shot of energy, he merely meanders down Main Street just as the last explosion of the "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks show echoes over Cinderella Castle. There, he watches scores of moms and dads as they leave the park carrying in their arms sleepy children exhausted from a full day of excitement and thrills.

"That's what makes it all worthwhile," Scooter. says. "You just can't get old around here."

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