Land O' Lakes family puts on yearly animatronic Christmas display

Welcome to the 'North Pole Experience'

FOX 13’s Jennifer Kveglis reports on the special reason one Land O’ Lakes family spends weeks and months setting up an interactive animatronic Christmas display outside of their home.

LAND O' LAKES, Fla. - A Land O' Lakes man created an interactive holiday light and animatronic display in his front yard for the community called 'The North Pole Experience.'

Greg Mueller and his family prepare for it 365 days a year.

"We take the entire week of Thanksgiving off, and it's 12 hours a day, all day," Mueller said. "Next year is already planned out."

The front of Mueller's home during the North Pole Experience.

Mueller’s love for the Christmas season stems from his childhood.

"Unfortunately, my parents aren't with us anymore," he said. "But they instilled this belief, this pride, this focus on that it should be around love, family, the holidays, giving."

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Almost everything is done by Mueller himself or his wife, Ale.

"She would have an idea, or I would have an idea, and we said, 'let's figure it out,'" Mueller said. "I want elves. How do I make elves? We had no idea how to do it, so we bought some plush elves. We DIY it all."

Mueller working to build an elf that will be part of the display.

"Figure out how to make them (elves) move," Mueller continued. "And it just started growing and growing and growing."

The North Pole Experience features scavenger hunts for children and adults.

"The goal really is, rather than just pulling up in your car and looking at lights, how do you interact? So you have to find certain puzzles and make your way around, count certain things," Mueller said.

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The display features multiple themed areas.

"If you went to the North Pole, what would you experience? What would you see? For us, it was the elves working hard," Mueller said. "They need a break too, so Peppermint Park started with that idea. What would they do if they were on a break?"

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There's also a Department of Elfland Security.

"You've got to have a workshop, of course," Mueller said. "Then you have Claus Cottage, where, of course, Mrs. Claus would be. The bakery."

"You can't have a village without a bakery," Ale added.

For Mueller, it's about bringing families together.

People participating in the games featured as part of the Christmas display.

"My mom was huge into Christmas. Decorating, holidays, everything," Mueller said.

Last year, Mueller’s mom died from lung cancer.

"Unfortunately, she didn't get the chance to see last year's big display," Mueller said. "But we do this partly in honor of her."

Mueller channels her in his decorating process.

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"She would reference something Walt Disney would always say, which is a plus one. Add something to it. For her, it was always the details. The details matter," Mueller said.

"Every time I finish an area, I always channel my mother, 'What would she say right now?' and I know she would say, ‘Add this. Add that. Like add a bow to an elf hat or make a sign,’" Mueller finished.

The North Pole Experience is open Thursday through Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 3552 Ballastone Drive in Land O' Lakes.

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