Thanksgiving Recommendations

[calilou]

Hello! We are a California family of four (two teen daughters) who will be spending Thanksgiving week in WDW (first time visit!). FYI we are experienced Disneyland annual passholders and have spent many a holiday at DLR including Thanksgiving. We are staying at the Contemporary over Thanksgiving and would love recommendations for where to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and whether or not we should visit a park that day. Currently, we don't have a ticket or reservation for Thanksgiving day because we were originally scheduled to depart that evening, but extended our trip.

Should we visit a park that day? If so, which one(s) and where should we try to get an ADR? Or should we focus our day on a more formal Thanksgiving meal at one of the resorts? We're not staying at the Grand Floridian, but it's always been my dream location so would like to eat a meal there at the very least... what about making it our Thanksgiving meal?

Thank you in advance for your recommendations and advice!

 

[CynBeth]

We visit every few years and usually do AK on Thanksgiving followed by an early dinner at Boma. Make sure to do Epcot on Black Friday or Saturday so you get the storytellers in the different countries and Candlelight Processional.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would have a hard time resisting doing LIberty Tree Tavern for Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I would agree that Boma is a great choice far, far away from the crazy parks! Go early, sit in the rocking chairs by the fire and enjoy the animals. Stay late and get back to those rocking chairs by the fire!

 

[disneydiz]

Hello! We are a California family of four (two teen daughters) who will be spending Thanksgiving week in WDW (first time visit!). FYI we are experienced Disneyland annual passholders and have spent many a holiday at DLR including Thanksgiving. We are staying at the Contemporary over Thanksgiving and would love recommendations for where to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and whether or not we should visit a park that day. Currently, we don't have a ticket or reservation for Thanksgiving day because we were originally scheduled to depart that evening, but extended our trip.

Should we visit a park that day? If so, which one(s) and where should we try to get an ADR? Or should we focus our day on a more formal Thanksgiving meal at one of the resorts? We're not staying at the Grand Floridian, but it's always been my dream location so would like to eat a meal there at the very least... what about making it our Thanksgiving meal?

Thank you in advance for your recommendations and advice!

A lot of the restaurants at Disney Springs, the parks, and the resorts will have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner option. I have eaten Thanksgiving dinner at Raglan Road, Olivia's, Teralina Italian (all very good), other places that have turkey dinners are The Edison, Liberty Tree Tavern, Garden Grill, Hollywood & Vine, Tiffins, City Works, etc. Most restaurants will offer a Thanksgiving dinner that day.

 

[Marthasor]

Hello! We are a California family of four (two teen daughters) who will be spending Thanksgiving week in WDW (first time visit!). FYI we are experienced Disneyland annual passholders and have spent many a holiday at DLR including Thanksgiving. We are staying at the Contemporary over Thanksgiving and would love recommendations for where to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and whether or not we should visit a park that day. Currently, we don't have a ticket or reservation for Thanksgiving day because we were originally scheduled to depart that evening, but extended our trip.

Should we visit a park that day? If so, which one(s) and where should we try to get an ADR? Or should we focus our day on a more formal Thanksgiving meal at one of the resorts? We're not staying at the Grand Floridian, but it's always been my dream location so would like to eat a meal there at the very least... what about making it our Thanksgiving meal?

Thank you in advance for your recommendations and advice!

Citricos at GF is the best signature restaurant on-property, IMHO, so perhaps consider making a reservation there. You could also eat right in your resort at Cali Grill or Steakhouse 71 (more casual than Cali or Citricos). You might also consider Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge which would be gorgeous for a Thanksgiving meal, IMHO. If you want to visit a park, I would consider simply going to MK to avoid transportation that day. If not, maybe consider a MK monorail/boat crawl, starting at Trader Sam's at Poly (I would get there no later than 2 pm to get your name on the list), going to GF for your dinner (Citricos) or drinks/apps (Enchanted Rose or Citricos lounge), boat to Wilderness Lodge and back (you could eat at Whispering Canyon, get a drink at Geyser Point) and then back to Contemporary (and maybe have your dinner there) - lots of options.

 

[calilou]

We visit every few years and usually do AK on Thanksgiving followed by an early dinner at Boma. Make sure to do Epcot on Black Friday or Saturday so you get the storytellers in the different countries and Candlelight Processional.

Thank you! We depart Friday morning so I don’t think we can make those experiences work sadly. I’m guessing Black Friday is the very first day offered?

 

[calilou]

I would have a hard time resisting doing LIberty Tree Tavern for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thank you! It does seem like the obvious choice, especially if we choose to go into the parks.

 

[calilou]

I would agree that Boma is a great choice far, far away from the crazy parks! Go early, sit in the rocking chairs by the fire and enjoy the animals. Stay late and get back to those rocking chairs by the fire!

Sounds absolutely lovely! We stay at AKL earlier in our trip so this will be a must-do even if not on Thanksgiving.

 

[calilou]

A lot of the restaurants at Disney Springs, the parks, and the resorts will have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner option. I have eaten Thanksgiving dinner at Raglan Road, Olivia's, Teralina Italian (all very good), other places that have turkey dinners are The Edison, Liberty Tree Tavern, Garden Grill, Hollywood & Vine, Tiffins, City Works, etc. Most restaurants will offer a Thanksgiving dinner that day.

Thank you for all the choices!

 

[calilou]

Citricos at GF is the best signature restaurant on-property, IMHO, so perhaps consider making a reservation there. You could also eat right in your resort at Cali Grill or Steakhouse 71 (more casual than Cali or Citricos). You might also consider Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge which would be gorgeous for a Thanksgiving meal, IMHO. If you want to visit a park, I would consider simply going to MK to avoid transportation that day. If not, maybe consider a MK monorail/boat crawl, starting at Trader Sam's at Poly (I would get there no later than 2 pm to get your name on the list), going to GF for your dinner (Citricos) or drinks/apps (Enchanted Rose or Citricos lounge), boat to Wilderness Lodge and back (you could eat at Whispering Canyon, get a drink at Geyser Point) and then back to Contemporary (and maybe have your dinner there) - lots of options.

This sounds like an absolutely delightful itinerary! Thank you. I hadn’t considered a monorail/boat crawl for our trip which is a great idea. That’s topping the list of Thanksgiving options now!

 

[FSU Girl]

I’m not sure if it still happens since I went before Covid, but the Garden Grove at the swan is where we went for one thanksgiving. It was buffet and had a carving station for turkey. Made it feel like an at home thanksgiving with that food set up. They also had characters which was fun.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

We visit every few years and usually do AK on Thanksgiving followed by an early dinner at Boma. Make sure to do Epcot on Black Friday or Saturday so you get the storytellers in the different countries and Candlelight Processional.

This has always been us when we got over thanksgiving to Christmas is to go to AK on the holiday in the morning and then do dinner at a resort.

I also highly recommend going to Epcot to see the storytellers after thanksgiving if possible.

One option to consider for thanksgiving dinner could be Hoop Dee Doo Revue. You are staying at the contemporary so you are not that far away or you could try California grill.