Thanksgiving at Disney World is like no other, offering a mix of enchanting experiences and delectable feasts.
At select restaurants across the parks and Disney resorts, you can savor mouthwatering Thanksgiving meals that will tantalize your taste buds.
Just keep in mind that this magical event attracts a bustling crowd, but trust me, the incredible atmosphere and joyful festivities make it all worthwhile.
Get ready to immerse yourself in a whimsical world where turkey, cranberry sauce, and Disney enchantment blend seamlessly to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
It’s literally the joys of Christmas with the comfort of Thanksgiving dinner.
Spending Thanksgiving at Disney World
Here’s everything you’ll need to know about spending Thanksgiving at Disney World.
Thanksgiving Meals at Disney World
On Thanksgiving, you’ll be able to indulge in a delightful Thanksgiving feast at select Disney World restaurants at the parks and resorts, as well some spots in Disney Springs.
Check back later for a complete listing of restaurants that will offer a Thanksgiving meal including their menus and pricing.
Thanksgiving Festivities
Unfortunately, Disney World doesn’t decorate their park for Thanksgiving. Instead, you’ll find Christmas decorations everywhere, including the parks (Magic Kingdom especially), the resets, and Epcot’s World Showcase.
Special Events during Thanksgiving
As there are no special Thanksgiving parades or events, there are a few holiday festivities that will be going on during Thanksgiving week:
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (must purchase a separate ticket)
- Candlelight Processional (towards the tail end of Thanksgiving week, if not the following week)
Disney World Park Hours on Thanksgiving
During Thanksgiving week, you should expect the parks to be open later than it would during other times of the year.
But before you make any plans, be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for any updates as Disney will sometimes make adjustments to their park hours during the holidays.
Check back later for a complete listing of park hours during Thanksgiving.
Crowd Levels at Disney World during Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving at Disney World is pretty popular, so brace yourself for some bustling crowds. Each year, Disney World claims that their three biggest holidays are the 4th of July, Thanksgiving week, and Christmas week.
Thankfully, of the major holidays, Thanksgiving isn’t nearly as crowded as Christmas week.
Throughout the week, the Sunday through Wednesday before Thanksgiving will generally have slightly lighter crowds than Thursday to Sunday.
Here were the average wait times at each park on Thanksgiving Week in 2022:
- Animal Kingdom = 42 minutes
- Hollywood Studios = 48 minutes
- EPCOT = 32 minutes
- Magic Kingdom = 30 minutes
I personally expect this year to be even more crowded.
So if you plan on being there the entire week, be sure to knock out as much as you can at the parks between Monday through Wednesday before the crowds start to pour in.
Is Disney World expensive on Thanksgiving?
Yes, during Thanksgiving week, Disney World is generally more expensive than normal.
Since the crowds level will be high, you can expect to pay a premium on on park tickets, hotels/resorts, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane Selections.
Expensive nightly hotel rates are always expected, as well as the highest possible variable pricing on park tickets and Genie+.
So if you plan on visiting Disney on Thanksgiving, be sure to take the premium prices into consideration during your planning.
Is Thanksgiving at Disney World worth it?
Personally, if I had to choose a holiday to spend a week at Disney World during, it would 100% be Thanksgiving.
Fourth of July is hot and stormy. And Christmas is just so insanely busy.
For me, Thanksgiving at Disney World is a slightly emptier and cheaper Christmas vacation. You’ll get to see all of the beautiful Christmas park decorations, enjoy cooler weather, as well as have access to some popular holiday events like the Candlelight Processional and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Yes, you will have to deal with a lot of crowds and will more than likely have nightly hotel room rates go out the roof, but if this is these are the only times that you can make it to WDW, I think it’s worth spending Thanksgiving week at Disney World at least once.
Hope you have a great Disney Thanksgiving!
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