Wanda is the store manager of Gimbel's and Jovie's boss. He is played by Faizon Love.
When Buddy came into the store, Gimbel’s, Wanda spots him, thinking he’s one of the employees brought him into the toy department to help decorate where Buddy falls in love with an employee dressed in an elf uniform, Jovie (played by Zooey Deschanel). After he announced to his employees that Santa was coming the next day, Buddy got so excited believing the real Santa (played by the late Ed Asner) was going to arrive much to his annoyance.
The next morning, Wanda comes into the store, and sees all of the decorations and thinks that someone professional came by to set up the place, (unaware that it’s Buddy who spent all night in the store decorating.)
Later when the store Santa show up to meet the children, things don’t go the way everything was expected. Buddy thought that the store Santa was an imposter who was trying to fool the children, and pulls the fake beard off, causing the guy to furiously attack Buddy for ruining everything and trashes part of the store including the LEGO decorations Buddy built, causing Wanda to immediately tackle down the store Santa, saving Buddy, though Wanda was getting fought off by the store Santa. After the incident, Buddy was arrested, and was banned from the store for ruining the secret. As for Wanda himself, he had to pose as Santa for the children.
