A Guide to Thanksgiving and Holiday Eating at Disney World

I love traditions.  I always related to Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof…TRADITION! I mean, if I do it one time and enjoy it, you can pretty much bet that I’ll be planning a return trip, at the same time the next year!  I think that it is part of my genetic make up, as my entire family suffers from this “we gotta do that again this year” mentality.  That is why I questioned my genes about three years ago, when my extended family decided to break with typical Thanksgiving traditions and serve seafood for Thanksgiving dinner. No turkey?  No mac and cheese?  No pumpkin pie?  I remember fighting (or at least trying to fight) the look of total disgust as I passed around a steaming hot plate of what we call in the south, low country boil or Beaufort Stew (aka shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cob, and sausage).  I’ve got nothing against this delicious meal, I mean, break it out in July and I am a happy girl, but on Thanksgiving?  Really?

All that said, I have decided to abandon non-traditional holiday fare.  Keep your shrimp.  I’m stuffing my face with carbs, sugar, carbs, and turkey.  All of this traditionalist got me to thinking,0″ what would I go for if I was at Disney during Thanksgiving or the holiday season?”  I quickly started forming a list of restaurants that I knew would meet my traditional food item requirements.  Apparently Disney has had the same thought (clearly, this is yet another sign that they should hire me as a Disney Imagineer).  They have created a special holiday appropriate menu at several of our favorite restaurants (both in the parks and resorts).  These restaurant sites offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving day by reservation.  They also offer Christmas and New Year’s eve/day meals.  You can check out the details on their website!

Since we know that Thanksgiving day and other holidays have been taken care of by Disney, today, I wanted to share some turkey friendly spots throughout the parks that can quench your Thanksgiving tradition, a few days earlier.  That’s right, today, we are looking at spots that will let you “get your turkey on,” all week!  Hey, why not celebrate with a couple of feasts?  I can promise you that Disney has just what you need to satisfy your tradition tooth (like your sweet tooth, only traditional).  I know that everyone holds different traditions, so I hope you’ll bear with me here as I explore some of the typical, Thanksgiving traditions.  Let’s take a look at some of my favorite spots!

Eat Like a Pilgrim at the Liberty Tree Tavern

Oh my goodness, who knew that every day could be Thanksgiving?  Well, the patriots over at the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom sure did!  I LOVE Liberty Tree Tavern, lunch or dinner, you are sure to be pleased.  If you are in the parks on a day other than Thanksgiving and you happen to have lunch reservations, might I humbly suggest the Pilgrim’s Feast plate.  Turkey, veggies, mashed potatoes, dressing, and for dessert, choose from a list of traditional American favorites (I’ll warn you, once you taste the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake, you. never. go. back…IT IS SO GOOD).

Got Turkey Legs?

If you’ve been to Disney World, chances are you’ve probably seen someone walking around eating a turkey leg.  I most often see and smell turkey legs in and around Frontierland ( although, you can buy them at several spots across the parks) , where guests are “one fisting” these gargantuan drumsticks.  Why not get your turkey on, on the go?  The good news is, they are huge and you can share, that way you can save room for dessert!

Pumpkin, Spice, and Everything Nice!

Oh my goodness, I love fall desserts!  I love cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, pumpkin, chocolate, pies, pastries, cakes, and everything in between!  Disney caters to these seasonal flavors and provides guests with a plethora of autumnal offerings!  From pumpkin cupcakes throughout the parks to pumpkin flavored ice cream and everything in between, you’ll be sure to get your cake and eat it too!

Call it a Close Second

So, if you find yourself with no reservations, stuffed to the brim with turkey legs, and craving a quick service that can fill you up with a quasi feast, have no fear!  There are a variety of places within Disney property that will satisfy.  My favorite is the Sunshine Seasons food court in Epcot.  While you can’t get all of the traditional Thanksgiving trimmings, you can get a close second.  For example rostisseri style chicken with veggies, mashed potatoes, and a dessert of your choice.  The good part about Sunshine Seasons is you can find something to satisfy your entire family.  You’ll leave with happy tummies!

So, I’ll admit, that even I can break with tradition for a few of my Disney favorites, like a Dole Whip or Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar.  I can even see eating at one of the fabulous World Showcase restaurants, after I’ve had my helping of turkey of course.  I guess, you can say, I’m a little like Sam Eagle.  Yay America!  Yay Thanksgiving!  Yay traditions!  I don’t know why, but I think a quote from him would be appropriate to close, this post.  This post was,  “A Salute to All Nations, But Mostly America” (nailed it).  Today’s post is all about Thanksgiving, the uniting of families, and loved ones for a time of giving thanks for all we have…no matter what you call “tradition”.  I am thankful for many things, one of which is you!  Thank you for taking time to read and comment, thank you for sharing this passion with me, thank you for putting up with me!  So, to you and yours, have a blessed Thanksgiving!  Now, let’s have a little forced family fun!  List what you are thankful for in the comment section below!

As always, thank you for reading!

For more tips and ideas, check out my blog: Disney: Done Right!

See ya real soon!

Ashley

Related articles

• Thanksgiving Recipes from Disney’s Spoonful.com (chipandco.com)
• Disney’s Babble.com Helps Make Thanksgiving Prep Easy as Pie (chipandco.com)

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.

Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel

Who is your Travel Agent?(Required)

Let us pick for youEric HilesStacy ReedAbbey JohnsonAlisa SullivanAlli WillisAmanda FolsomAmanda VannAmber BrillhartAmber FisherAmy SieburnAndrea SmithAngela AndersonAngie BaycuraAnna PetrilliAnnabelle DuboseApril StefanskiAshley RamseyBeth ParsonsBetsy SantoroBrandie McQueenBrian BuckleyBridget HatchBryan SchwartzCandice SneedCarrie ButlerCarson DockumCasey BoltCharleen HortonChelsea RoyChelsea WuebkerChris BoyerChristie GrubeChristina FratturaChristina SmithCourtney WhiteCraig YoderDan MercedDanielle NorcrossDarby MouritsenDavid ForrestDeborah AlvaradoEmilee BiegelEmily MorrisFaith HakesGail HatchGreg MatzkerHelen HummerHolly CurryJackie CavistonJaclyn PepitoneJamie SwansonJeanine JordanJeff CallahanJenni MaierJennifer BrownJennifer StephensonJennifer StoessnerJessica HatfieldJessica HuffJessica WunderJoe GuertinJon CarpentierJoseph SliwaJulie McCombJustin BrownKat AttridgeKathryn EberhartKathy AndersonKatie HarrellKatie PrevotKayla CookKelsey SullensKim HelmsKimberly HutchinsonKristi GallagherKyle RamsdenLauren DewlenLeanne MonterLinda DurhamLindsay AckermannLindsey VromanLissette BritoLori HardyMallory MorrisonMandi QuinnMaranda PerkinsMarisa AlvaradoMegan TeismannMeghan BlairMelissa ReedMichele KlineMike BeyerMissy McCormickMisty DickersonNancy CasteelNicole ThorntonPatrick O'ConnorPaul SulPeyton Ward-KubikRaylene CooganRegan OstranderRobbie BulusRobert ThomasSara SolbergSarah McCandlishShanna BrowningShelley BennettShelly MetzStacy CristStacy KrzyminskiStacy SmithStephanie DraganoStephanie FerencStephanie WalshSusannah McCordTara SlusserTerri MillerTiffany DobraskiTiffany DrenkhahnTina FarmerTonya LesiukTracy DaneTroy DuncanVeronica RenteriaVicki FesslerWendy CarllWendy HauserWendy KellehanWendy Shelley

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Destination(Required)

Walt Disney WorldDisneyland ResortDisney Cruise LineAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaUniversal FloridaUniversal HollywoodRoyal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian or other Cruise LineI don't know yet

# of Adults(Required)

# of Children(Required)

Check-in-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Check-out-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Comments, Questions or Special Requests

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!