When guests think of celebrating the holidays at Walt Disney World, they usually immediately think of Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Disney’s The Magic Kingdom has always had its Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party throughout November and December, and all four parks at Disney World are extremely festive during those months. Magic Kingdom also famously has its special New Year’s Eve fireworks and countdown.
For those guests whose favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, though, or for international guests who’d love to experience American Thanksgiving, there are a number of dining and entertainment options and opportunities to celebrate Thanksgiving at Disney World, as well. While the crowds will be larger than normal, because it is a holiday week, it will still be a bit less crowded than at Christmas or New Year’s.
Dining Options
This year Thanksgiving takes place on November 26, and there will be several dining locations at Disney World with Thanksgiving fare. Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is always a wonderful table-service location to eat at Disney. Known for their large portions and fun times, Whispering Canyon announced that there will be a “cornucopia of food” for guests dining there on Thanksgiving Day. While they have not announced a specific menu, their menu is, generally, geared toward those who love Thanksgiving. Even on their regular menu, they have turkey sandwiches, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and apple pie.
Liberty Tree Tavern, located in Liberty Square at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, is also a great place to spend your Thanksgiving dinner. They traditionally serve classically American meals. For Thanksgiving lunch and dinner, they also offer the Patriot’s Platter, which provides with all the Thanksgiving food you could want, including roasted turkey breast, post roast, roasted pork, and traditional sides.
Some quick-service locations at Disney World have Thanksgiving Day dinners for guests on November 26, as well. Only one of these Thanksgiving specific meals – announced as of yet – is located at the parks. Sunshine Seasons at EPCOT’s The Land will offer both an adult and child Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner, including rotisserie-smoked turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Sunshine Seasons will also feature a Thanksgiving-themed dessert, a spice cupcake filled with cream cheese mouse and topped with a mini pumpkin pie. And of course, guests can find Disney’s famous turkey legs at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.
Most of the specifically Thanksgiving-themed dinners will be located at Disney’s resorts, more closely resembling a Thanksgiving feast at home. Primo Piatto, located at Disney’s Rivera Resort, offers an adult Thanksgiving meal, a kids’ Thanksgiving meal, as well as a caramelized pumpkin crème brulee for dessert. Both the adult and child Thanksgiving meals include roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and cranberry sauce. The Thanksgiving Feast entrée will also be available at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort’s Landscape of Flavors and Disney’s Pop Century Resort’s Everything POP Shopping and Dining, as well as an apple or pumpkin tart for dessert. Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will offer a Thanksgiving meal including turkey, stuffing, cranberry dressing, carrots, haricot verts, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a dinner roll. Beach Club Marketplace at Disney’s Beach Club Resort will offer a meal including slow-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, vegetables, and cornbread. Beach Club Marketplace also has a Pumpkin Cheesecake, which isn’t marketed as specifically for Thanksgiving, but is served with caramel sauce, whipped cream, sugar leaves, and pumpkin-flavored sugar crystals. While Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge doesn’t have any Thanksgiving-exclusive meals, it does offer a turkey sandwich, as well as a Thanksgiving-themed cupcake, pumpkin-spiced vanilla with caramel filling and white chocolate icing.
Entertainment
Disney World is filled to the brim with entertainment at this time of year, both holiday and regular. None of the entertainment is specifically geared toward Thanksgiving, but the Christmas trees, decorations, music, treats, and character cavalcades are the perfect way to get in the mood for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
Of course, if guests are looking for a more patriotic Thanksgiving at Disney World, there are some options. Magic Kingdom’s Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square is always a popular attraction, and air-conditioned for those looking to escape the heat. The theater attraction includes a 25-minute show including a film that describes the founding of the United States and its history since then. The show culminates in the curtain rising to show audio-animatronics of each of America’s 45 Presidents rising to introduce themselves, and several of them making short speeches. The American Adventure in EPCOT’s American Pavilion in the World Showcase is another popular patriotic attraction at Disney World. Located in a stately Colonial theater that includes a 72ft screen, as well as 34 audio-animatronics of famous Americans, including Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. Through this 29-minute attraction, guests are able to watch America’s journey through time, including the Mayflower, Valley Forge, the Civil War, and the Great Depression, as well as more recent events.
There’s so much to experience at Disney World at Thanksgiving, from its Thanksgiving feasts and treats, festive Christmas decorations, events, and cavalcades, as well as the parks’ patriotic attractions. Crowds will be high, but so will the spirit of the holiday, and it’s one of the most exciting times of year to visit Disney World.
DVC Shop Editorial Team
