Guide to Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World

If your Thanksgiving holiday brings you to Walt Disney World, get ready for extra food and loads of things to be grateful for! Because Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World comes with all sort of trimmings. While the holidays are in full force in the parks and resorts, you can still find Thanksgiving Dinner at Disney World, specialty snacks, and lots of reasons to visit to during Disney during Thanksgiving week. From turkey and stuffing to cranberry sauce and pecan pie. Here are all the restaurants, snacks, and seasonal flavors to try for the Thanksgiving season. 

 If you’re headed to the most magical place on earth this Thanksgiving, you’re in for a treat, lots of them! Since Christmas has already started at Disney World with loads of amazing Christmas Food at Disney to try, there is plenty to sample. We’ll be adding all the Thanksgiving snacks and menus to this list as they’re released.  

Disney World on Thanksgiving Day

Visiting Disney World on Thanksgiving Day, is the same as visiting any other time that week. The exception here being that Disney Dining Reservations are the hardest to get for Thanksgiving Day. In addition to figuring out where to eat Thanksgiving Dinner at Disney World, you can get an early start on some Holiday fun. Because at this time of year Christmas Decorations at Walt Disney World are all over the parks, and resorts. Plus, most all of the Gingerbread Displays at Disney World Resorts are up by Thanksgiving Week at Disney World. So be sure to check them out before you head home. Since visiting the resorts is free, it’s one of our favorite Free Things to Do at Disney for the Holidays. 

Is Disney Open on Thanksgiving Day?

Yes, Disney World is open every day of the year, including Thanksgiving and all holidays. If you’re visiting on Thanksgiving Day, know that the Disney World Crowds are sometimes tough, since it’s a holiday. While there is not any special Thanksgiving Day Parade at Disney World, there are amazing snacks and great places to grab Thanksgiving Dinner, which we share below. 

Disney Thanksgiving Hours

This year Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 27, 2025. Here are the park hours for each park at Walt Disney World and Disney Springs if you’re adding some Disney to your holiday. 

• Magic Kingdom: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• Epcot: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Hollywood Studios: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Animal Kingdom: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Disney Springs: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Disney World Thanksgiving Crowds

Is Thanksgiving at Disney World Crowded? Yes. Very. Let us just say, that Thanksgiving Week at Disney World is one of the BUSIEST of the entire year! You read that right. While you may not think that families would be heading to the theme parks on Thanksgiving day, they are! While we’re firmly planted at home baking all day, many families are hunting down of a Thanksgiving Meal at Disney World. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from. As always be sure to check out Best Days to Visit Each Park so that you can plan ahead. Something to remember is that while the parks will be full, all regular tips for Crowds at Disney World still apply. So be sure to read the post for all the ways you can stay out of the crowds during the holiday. 

Disney World Thanksgiving Parade

Contrary to popular belief, the crowds in the parks are not the result of a robust Disney Thanksgiving Week lineup of events. In fact, apart from seeing the Disney Float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, there is no other parade to see. There is no Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade, Fireworks or special events. Specialty experiences are limited to the Thanksgiving Meals at Disney offered across the resorts, parks and Disney Springs. 

Magic Kingdom on Thanksgiving Day

As noted, it won’t matter what day you visit Disney Parks during Thanksgiving Week, there are not any special activities at any of the parks for Thanksgiving. However, if you’re headed  to Magic Kingdom Park, then you can get your fill of Christmas decorations, and try out the Most Popular Disney World Restaurants for Thanksgiving; Liberty Tree Tavern and Diamond Horseshoe. Know that these two restaurants serve a Thanksgiving Meal, and are some of the most difficult Disney Dining Reservations to get for Thanksgiving Day. 

Disney World Thanksgiving Dinner Menus

With a slew of restaurants across the parks, resorts and Disney Springs, here are all the places you can grab festive Thanksgiving foods this holiday season. 

Do you Need Dinner Reservations for Thanksgiving Dinner at Disney World?

Yes. Most important during the busiest times of year, if you’re hoping to eat at a sit down restaurant, or have a group of people to accommodate, just reserve it ahead of time. You can do this in the My Disney Experience App up to 60 days in advance if you’re a Disney Resort Guests. And if you’re trying for a restaurant that is always busy, be sure to read all our Tips about Hard To Get Dining Reservations at Disney World  and how to get them. 

Where to find Thanksgiving Dinner at Disney World

If you’re heading to the parks or Disney Springs for the Thanksgiving holiday, then you can find specialty menus at select restaurants offering foods of the season to help you celebrate. Pumpkin, Turkey, and apple pie are all on the menu. If you’re not going to the parks for the Thanksgiving holiday but still need somewhere to eat, you can grab a slew of Thanksgiving Dinner options at Disney Springs Restaurants and the Resorts. Some even offer Thanksgiving To Go Meals. And while there aren’t as many options as there for Christmas Dinner at Disney World, there are still plenty of ways to get an amazing holiday meal on the table! 

Liberty Tree Tavern | Magic Kingdom Park

Liberty Tree Tavern serves an all-you-care to enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner year round you can grab a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner at Disney World any time of year! Serving a variety of turkey, pork, and ribs, you can also grab a vegetarian option here. Sides include mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad and rolls. And of course, no meal would be complete without the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake to top it all off. By far one of our favorite restaurants at Disney World. 

Diamond Horseshoe | Magic Kingdom Park

Honoring the American West, and our favorite holiday, you can find Diamond Horseshoe Restaurant. just next door to Liberty Tree Tavern. Here you can find the Frontier Feast! While the menu is nearly identical, the decor is different and offers you a surefire chance of getting Thanksgiving Dinner in Magic Kingdom, with two restaurants serving up the same menu. 

Garden Grill | EPCOT Park

One of our favorite restaurants for Thanksgiving Dinner at Walt Disney World is Garden Grill. While this restaurant doesn’t offer the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, you can grab classic comfort foods to enjoy for the holiday. As a Disney Character Meal, you’ll also get to chat with Chip and Dale, Mickey, and Pluto, all in their best farming attire. The family-style feast here includes barbecue roasted chicken, grilled beef, mac and cheese, veggies, mashed potatoes, and berry shortcake! Yum!

Via Napoli | EPCOT Park

Via Napoli has debuted a Fall-inspired pizza, the Autunno, topped with butternut squash, fresh ricotta, fried crispy prosciutto and arugula, available until Nov. 30, 2024. This dish is perfectly paired with the new Amaro Sour cocktail — made with Artichoke-infused Amaro. The pizza is $25 for an individual, $42 for large (serves 2-3), or $58 for mezzo metro (serves 3-4).

Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine | Hollywood Studios

While this Disney Christmas Character Dinner features the fab five in their holiday attire, the menu is decidedly traditional American. And simply perfect for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Serving carved roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, sauteed green beans, turkey gravy, and cranberry orange relish, it will feel just like home! 

Whispering Canyon Cafe | Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 

Another great restaurant for a Disney Thanksgiving Dinner is Whispering Canyon Cafe. Offering traditional American fare in skillets, you can even get a plant based Thanksgiving Meal here.   

Rainforest Cafe | Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs

While we’re not huge fans of this restaurant, simply because we don’t love the theme, the food seems to be a fan favorite for vacationers. As such if you’re at Animal Kingdom for Thanksgiving you can grab a  Turkey Dinner Menu featuring Roasted Turkey, Turkey Gravy, Stuffing, Green Beans Mushrooms & Onions, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Pie.

Whispering Canyon Cafe | Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 

Another great restaurant for a Disney Thanksgiving Dinner is Whispering Canyon Cafe. Offering traditional American fare in skillets, you can even get a plant based Thanksgiving Meal here.

• Thanksgiving Skillet featuring oak-smoked turkey, slow-smoked pulled pork, Western-style sausages, maple-chipotle pork ribs, cornbread stuffing, sautéed green beans, giblet gravy, cranberry relish, buttered corn and smashed Yukon potatoes
• Plant-Based Skillet featuring maple-chipotle barbecued jackfruit, spicy ‘sausage’, mustard-glazed beefless tips, herb-brushed Trick’n Chick’n, roasted potatoes, oven-roasted carrots, sautéed green beans and charred peppers

Ale and Compass Restaurant | Disney’s Yacht Club

Available 12 Noon- 10 PM on Thanksgiving Day you can grab a specialty meal at Ale and Compass, and a dessert in addition to the regular dinner menu. 

• A traditional Thanksgiving meal with roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, vegetables and cranberry relish
• A holiday roulade dessert featuring molasses chiffon cake, orange Earl Grey mousse, spiced fruit chutney and blood orange sauce

Steakhouse 71 Restaurant | Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Thanksgiving Day specialty Menu at Steakhouse 71 is available from 11:30 AM- 9 PM. Here you can grab a Turkey Dinner, Butternut Squash Soup and Pumpkin Cake Cheesecake. 

Garden Grove | Disney’s Swan Hotel on the Disney Boardwalk

Offering up Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Roasted Turkey, Ham, Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes, and even a Pumpkin Tart, the Thanksgiving Dinner at Disney’s Swan Hotel is impressive! Check out the Garden Grove Full Thanksgiving Dinner Menu for all the options.

Rosa Mexicano | Disney’s Dolphin Hotel

Mole Roasted Turkey Breast: Chorizo Stuffing, Sweet Potato Puree, Tequila Blistered Haricot Verts, Crispy Corn Crumble, Cranberry & Blackberry Compote

il Mulino New York Trattoria | Disney’s Dolphin Hotel

Turkey En Croute: Herb Marinaded Turkey Breast, Sauté Spinach, Mushroom Duxelle, Duchess Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Roasted Chestnut Puree, Blue Foot Mushrooms,
Turkey Reduction

Todd English’s Blue Zoo | Disney Dolphin Hotel

36 Hours Heritage Turkey Confit: Sweet Potato Mille-Feuille, Cauliflower Puree, Croquettes, Cremini Mushrooms, Gremolata

Amare | Disney Swan Reserve Hotel

Slow Roasted Free-Range Turkey: Rye-Chantelle Stuffing, Sweet Potato Puree, Cranberry Fluid Gel, Glazed Dragon Carrots, Brown Butter Haricot Verts, Potatoes Fondant, Turkey Gravy

The Fountain and Cabana | Disney Dolphin Hotel

Honey Glazed Turkey Breast:nSmoked Gouda, Bibb Lettuce, Tomato, Cranberry Relish, Sage Mayo, Toasted Brioche

Disney World Thanksgiving Dinner | Select Disney World Resorts

Roasted turkey dinner, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, seasonal vegetables, and cranberry relish (Available Thanksgiving Day Only; mobile order available) Available at the following: 

• Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort 
• World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort 
• End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort 
• Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Capt. Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort 
• Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Riverside Mill and Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and French Quarter 
• The Artist’s Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 

Disney World Thanksgiving Dinner at Disney Springs

Want to get a Thanksgiving Meal at Disney without going into the parks? Luckily, Disney Springs is filled with restaurants that offer Thanksgiving menus, or specialty items. Here are the places in Disney Springs to grab reservations if you can. Participating Restaurants Coming in November!

Tips for Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World 

Just like every other holiday season at Disney Parks you can expect crowds as a result of vacationing families everywhere. As such, it’s important to take note of a few things. 

Stay Healthy While Traveling

Time to stock up on the Emergencee, Cough Drops, travel masks and sanitizing wipes! Tis the season for colds and flu, and if you’re traveling, you’re at greater risk than those folks staying home. But, never fear, going prepared is key. So be sure to beef up your vitamin C intake the week before you leave. We like the Emergencee powder best, and it makes a difference for us every time. Add some sanitizing wipes to your bags, so that you can wipe down airplane seats, and keep things you’re touching clean. Don’t forget the hand sanitizer! We have cute Disney Hand Sanitizer holders for mini sanitizers you can grab at bathandbodyworks.com. 

Have a Plan

A Disney Trip for Thanksgiving is so much fun, but, it can also be a harried mess, if you’re not prepared. With higher crowds, there will be lines at buses, lines at rides, and a lack of restaurants with availability. That said, have a plan. From choosing which park to go to each day, to what activities, rides, and restaurants you are hoping to add to this trip, write it all down. Check out our post on how to plan your Disney Days, for a template of what works.

Pick Your Top 3 Rides

If you’re getting Lightning Lane then choosing your top 3 rides is already in the plan with the new Multi-Pass system. Because starting 7 days before your vacation, you can sign in to the My Disney Experience App, and select your first 3 ride selections for everyone in your family. If you’re not getting lightning lane, you still need a plan, so be sure to pick your top 3… and make those your priority. 

Stick to One Park Per Day

While Park Hopping on Thanksgiving may sound fun, it won’t be. Lines at the buses during the holiday season can be up to an hour, and you will be waiting all that time, just to get to another park. As such, Maximize your time at Disney World by sticking to one park per day, and doing everything you can do while you’re there! 

Reserve Your Dining Ahead of Time

We can’t say this enough- make your Disney Dining Reservations ahead of time. You can make Dining reservations 60 days in advance. So, be ready to log into your Disney Account and grab a reservation for your Thanksgiving Dinner. While the hard to get ones with “be full” within minutes, know that you can always change reservations if you something you like better opens up. 

Get Clear on Transportation Options

How are you getting to and from the parks? Are you on the monorail, have boat transportation or at a Skyliner Resort? Maybe you’re within walking distance of the parks and won’t need to take the Disney buses. Where you stay matters for this reason alone. Decide how you’re getting to and from all the places you want to go, and build in enough time to get there. 

Pick the Best Resort

For our money, during the holidays, nothing beats the Boardwalk Hotels for being within walking distance of Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. Of course, if you’re going to be at Magic Kingdom for Thanksgiving, then a Monorail Resort, or one of the Wilderness resorts may better suit your fancy. Check out all our resort reviews so you can decide which is best. 

Get to know the My Disney Experience App

Last but not least, be sure to download the My Disney Experience app on your phone, to ensure everything goes smoothly. Within the app you can see your friends and family list, make lightning lane reservations, see ride wait times, see bus arrival times at your resort, see Dining reservations, and access your Magical Extras. Learn the app, and use it! It will be a lifesaver through the busy season. 

Celebrate a Disney Thanksgiving

So, if you’re heading to Walt Disney World for the Thanksgiving holiday you are in for a treat! Literally. But if you’re staying home and just getting a glimpse of new November snacks at the parks, then check out our Disney Thanksgiving Movies and Recipes post for ideas on how to make the week special. And be sure to take a look at our Disney Gratitude Quotes for Thanksgiving to help get you in the spirit of the thankful season.