Thanksgiving travellers...

[Disney1fan2002]

I know during a poll some weeks back, some mentioned they were cooking a Thanksgiving dinner in the DVC room. If you are one of them, where did you get the turkey? I think since this past Thanksgiving dinner was a HUGE watse of money, because my kids did not eat one bite, we are thinking of cooking next year. We stayed out of the parks anyway, and we are going with another family next year. So maybe the men can take the kiddies to the pool/playground while my friend and I cook dinner in the room. I am thinking a frozen turkey in a cooler, we are driving and it is a 24/hr drive. It should thaw and be OK in the fridge until Thanksgiving.

 

[disynut]

I haven't gone during Thanksgiving..but I bought a 6 lb turkey breast(Butterball) at WalMart this year and it was very good. My mom and grandma have always sworn by Butterball and I've always had good luck with them and so I've never tried anything else. I cooked that and a ham for 6 adults and 1 child and we still have ham! It is pretty easy to cook these two things--I just put the turkey breast in with some onion and potatoes stuffedin it and around it and around 3-4 hours later it was done. I would think your idea with starting out with a frozen one ina cooler would work fine, or you could just stop by the WalMart down there and pick one up if you got there a few days before Thanksgiving. I'm sure there are other reputable groceries there...we've also used Publix with good luck but I'm not sure about the kinds of turkey you'd get there

How were the crowds during Thanksgiving this year? We have debated going during this time but were worried about the crowds.

Anyway, I hope I helped!!! Good luck!

Jennifer

 

[Niagara2]

We have done the full from scratch dinners and bought all Turkeys and fixins at major grochery stores like Winn Dixie and Publix. We have also done the preorder dinner in a box from Publix and you heat in Oven that day. Of couse the homecookin was better but alot of work. The warm up plan at Publix is as good as the restaurants on site for a fraction of the cost.

 

[NancyDVC]

We visited at Thanksgiving in 2000. My sister's kids (then 21, 19 and 15) wanted to go to the parks on Thanksgiving, my folks wanted a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. None of wanted to cook. We decided to skip the big meal on Thanksgiving and chose instead to celebrate the next night by going to the Candlelight Processional with the dinner package. The day after Thanksgiving was the first performance. It was terrific. We saw the early show and then had dinner in Germany.
We all had a blast! I offer this as an alternative suggestion to cooking that everyone can enjoy!

 

[llane]

another option ... make the big turkey dinner with all the fixings the weekend before or after your trip.

 

[lurontravel]

We haven't had Thhanksgiving at WDW b/c our crowd numbers in the mid 20's each year, and we'd need at least 2 GV's and that's a LOT of points. We have, however, fixed turkey in our villa before. I would suggest that since you are driving, you pick up your groceries in Florida near the park at Publix. There, they sell a frozen turkey breast that run about 5-7 pounds. THe package label tells you that it goes from freezer to oven to table (I can't remember the brand name, but I'll call my mom later and ask her).
We put our turkey (it comes in it's own self contained bag, so clean-up is a breeze if you choose to use the baking pan in the villa, and not a disposable pan from the store) in the oven and set the "time bake" so that it is ready within an hour or so of when we get back to our room, and then we fix corn, mashed potaoes (I use the fake flake kind, they're so easy), gravy, and etc... maybe some pumpkin pies that you baked and froze at home before leaving. Not everything has to be homemade, I'd suggest that you find the easiest way for side dishes that your family finds acceptable, and go ahead and do the homemade ones for the dishes that your family really has to have. You have a year or so to experiment with canned corn, and powdered gravies to see which are best for your family. I find the kitchens at Disney to be as well stocked as my own (except for a food processor, a George Foreman and a breadmaker!)

Happy Planning!

I agree that taking younger kids out to eat can be a huge waste of $, esp. around a holiday and vacation! I find it easier to eat meals in sometimes...

Laura

 

[colleen costello]

We were there this Thanksgiving and had a blast. I am no cook and so we headed to BOMA for Thanksgiving dinner. It was wonderful as always. They had added turkey and mashed potoatoes to the menu but everything else was so good we barely noticed the traditional stuff!

The crowds were really heavy. We had been warned to do our park visits BEFORE Wednesday so we hit the MK the Monday before Thanksgiving. About 1pm the area outside Philharmagic was practically a sea of bodies - -very hard to move. My Mom uses a scooter and it was really hard to get around. Fastpasses were for hours later and it was just no fun. We left and came back later for Spectromagic and Wishes, both wonderful. Wishes made me cry... I know I am a goober but I couldn't help it!

If you want to do Thanksgiving, go for it -- it's worth it to see the decorations BUT plan on minimal park time. We had a ball swimming and touring the resorts and seeing all the decorations. Took a million photos and got my "perfect Xmas card picture!" The gingerbread house at the GF is worth a trip all by itself!

See you at WDW.

 

[lisareniff]

Our family was there this Thanksgiving and to tell you the truth, none of us cared about having turkey in the least. (Being at sunny WDW is SO NOT our normal thanksgiving in Upstate NY in my parents crowded house anyway) So we had dinner at the Rose and Crown and watch Illuminations. It was a great Thanksgiving!!

 

[CarolAnnC]

This year we were in a two bedroom Boardwalk Villa and served Thanksgiving dinner for 6 people. Crissup had ordered a Turducken online and it was delicious! It is a boneless chicken stuffed with cornbread dressing then stuffed into a boneless duck then stuffed into a boneless turkey. All the space is filled in with the stuffing and it was delicious! Put it in the oven early that morning and ate around 4 pm. We also had mashed potatos, rolls, corn and some other assorted side dishes. It was a great way to enjoy the holiday!!

 

[Crissup]

If anyone wants to order a Turducken, I ordered mine from CajunCrawfish.com. I chose the one stuffed with corn bread stuffing since Carol and her DD's aren't real adventurous, so I have to start them out easy. Just getting them to eat something with duck in it was humorous. Another year or so, they'll be ready for the crawfish dressing.

 

[Nanajo1]

This was our second time getting the precooked dinner from Publix. We ordered it on the day we arrived and picked it up early Wed. We are 10 adults, three preschoolers and two one year olds. We got two turkeys(because DH always order too much)mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, squash, cranberry relish, rolls. We added green bean and sweet potato casseroles, pies, ice cream. The meal takes a while to reheat. We went to the pool. We love the left overs. I'd be happy to answer any questions. We used one of our two bedrooms to set up dinner. We used the dining table and chairs, the table and chairs from the porch, the bedroom table and chairs. It was great.

 

[disneyfreak2127]

We will be going home next Thanksgiving for the first time in a 2BR at BCV. (Myself, DH, DD11, DS4 AND my Parents, who have NEVER been to WDW). We will be arriving very early the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving (November 20). My DH and I love WDW as much as our kids and we really want to show off the whole resort as well as our new purchase into DVC.

My Mom can get a little high maintenance at times and I hope the week before the holiday won't be overly crowded. We have told them so many times how we have had great vacations, even at Spring Break that haven't been too crowded. I just want them to love it as much as we do. And I also want a stress free vacation. Will it be warm enough to swim in SAB without Grandma fretting over kids getting chilled?

I know, lots of questions. But reading the Boards today I am already getting excited about where to eat Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, did I mention that I will be celebrating my 38th birthday while we are there? Just a bid Disney Kid at heart.

Thanks for your advice on the crowds the week before Thanksgiving. Our travel dates are November 20-27.

 

[colleen costello]

Disneyfreak, if you decide to "eat out" for Thanksgiving dinner, get the reservation as early as possible. This year it was 120 days, and that's when I called -- late July. I wanted Boma at 6pm and that's what we got!

The weather is unpredictable. We lucked out and swam every day -- it was gorgeous. But the day we checked out -- the Saturday after Thanksgiving -- it was very cool. The high was only going to be maybe 60 degrees. But it was sunny and beautiful and all the red poinsettias looked SO pretty against the clear blue sky...

You'll have to think on some "if the parks are super-crowded" plans (like "visit the parks early am and late pm only") and some "what to do if it's chilly" plans (like "if there is only one warm day we'll spend it at the pool") and just go with the flow. All I can suggest for your Mom is a pina colada!

 

[llane]

disneyfreak - we went last year friday before to friday after. We also celebrated two birthdays. My DH on the 22nd - we ate at CP for the first time. My DD turned 2 on tday - we spent the day at TL and had a bday/tday dinner at GG. Epcot was very doable that evening. If the weather is okay going to a water park is great on actual tday, but you'll have SAB right there (we stayed at VWL).

This is a busy time, if you want to make PSs do it at 120 days. Not just for tday but for the entire week. We saw no one seated without one.

I would try to avoid EE days if possible - the participating park seemed to be REALLY crowded.

This year we are going in October, my DM 66th bday and MNSSHP, but we will do tday again.

 

[timC]

Great thread!

I've got a 2BR at VWL reserved for TG, plenty of room for the 4 of us, plus turkey. Since we normally check-out on Friday , I think we'll go for a small turkey breast. It only takes 4 hrs to cook from frozen, and there are no leftovers to deal with.

In previous TG's we did restaurants: YC/BC convention center, Artist Point, LTT. Honestly, each time something was missing from the experience. We've come to realize we missed the smell of turkey cooking, football on TV, fixins we enjoy.

Next TG will be our best ever.

 

[AZKathy]

We are planning on Thanksgiving Day this year to visit Epcot in the AM while the teenagers spend the day at DisneyQuest. We will get one of those pre done dinners from Publix or Winn Dixie and reheat everything that afternoon. DH insists on a traditional dinner for Thanksgiving. If I had my way, I would rather go to Bomas or OHanas but he wants the left overs for snacking!

We did the Publix pre done dinner in 1998 and it was very good.

 

[colleen costello]

Just remember to remind family members who "insist" on leftovers that they must help prepare and clean up... Remember the story of the Little Red Hen?

I have to remind my clan that "Mom is on vacation too!"

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Just remember to remind family members who "insist" on leftovers that they must help prepare and clean up... Remember the story of the Little Red Hen?

I have to remind my clan that "Mom is on vacation too!"

Too Funny!!!!!! Too true!!!!!!!!