American celebrations are always wonderful experiences, and Thanksgiving is up there with the best. A true national occasion, this weekend is unmissable, especially if you’re visiting Orlando at this particular time! Whether you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit or enjoy some of the events that take place in the area during Thanksgiving, our guide will help you maximise your holiday during this period.

What and When is Thanksgiving in the USA?

The basic idea of Thanksgiving is a celebration of the harvest, and similar festivities are held in other countries, such as Canada and Germany. However, America’s Thanksgiving has developed a far-reaching presence over many generations. Nowadays, it is seen in a similar, albeit more subdued light to the country’s Independence Day on 4th July. Thanksgiving in modern America is a celebration of American lifestyles, including plentiful food, family, religion and much more.

American Thanksgiving takes place on the fourth Thursday of November every year, which, in 2019, falls on 28th November. Modern celebrations also include the following Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner

As a celebration of the harvest, it’s no surprise that the biggest thing about Thanksgiving is the food! The main dinner is a major annual event for families, and there are many ways for you to sample a Thanksgiving meal during your stay in Orlando.

Thanksgiving dinner is similar to Christmas in the UK, with turkey often at the centre of celebrations. Almost all restaurants in Orlando will have a special Thanksgiving menu for the Thursday which you can enjoy. You could choose to experience a restaurant Thanksgiving meal at a popular location such as Cracker Barrel, who serve a turkey dinner every Thursday as part of their weekly specials menu. So, even if you’re not in Orlando during this time, you can still have a taste of this traditional American meal. If you want to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner, we would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance, but check the opening and closing times in advance as these can change during this period.

Create Your Own Thanksgiving Dinner

If you want to find the true spirit of Thanksgiving in America, experience it as millions of Americans do, in your own villa surrounded by family or friends. Thanksgiving is a chance to get together and ‘give thanks’ to all the positive things in our lives, so spending the celebrations with those who mean the most can be very special.

If you’re planning to throw your own Thanksgiving, we would recommend buying the items you need as early as possible. Holiday staples such as turkey and potatoes are often in short supply on the day, even in the biggest supermarkets. Therefore, if you want a wholly authentic celebration, stock up when you arrive for your holiday.

That being said, there are so many dishes associated with Thanksgiving; if you want to try something different, why not go for a pumpkin pie or a green bean casserole? If you’re not a fan of the big, heavy foods that are associated with Thanksgiving, you could always turn to another American classic, the barbecue! You can hire one from us to use during your stay in one of our villas.. Throw on some American favourites like hamburgers and hot dogs and enjoy a patriotic evening as a group!

Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World

Although Orlando’s theme parks don’t tend to do significant Thanksgiving celebrations, the holiday can certainly be sensed amongst the crowds. Walt Disney World gets busier than usual during the Thanksgiving weekend, with American’s visiting Orlando during the mini-holiday as well as overseas visitors. If you want to enjoy Disney World during this weekend, we would certainly suggest arriving early at the parks and reserving your dinner plans as soon as possible too. You should also take advantage of their FastPass+ scheme, which is included free with park tickets when you buy with us.

While there are no specific celebrations around the park, Thanksgiving dinner can still be enjoyed at some of the restaurants in Walt Disney World. Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom Park is a traditional America-inspired dining experience that is hugely popular for Thanksgiving.

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World during this time, you’ll also get the chance to experience some of their early Christmas celebrations! Many of their seasonal events, including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, start in November and fill the park with seasonal cheer. Another Christmas celebration is Epcot’s annual Candlelight Processional, which begins on Thanksgiving weekend. Taking place on the stage at The American Adventure section of the park every evening, this is a stunning retelling of the biblical Christmas story. The Candlelight Processional also features celebrity narrators - Ming-Na Wen performs from 29th November until 1st December.

Thanksgiving at Universal Orlando

Similar to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort doesn’t host any particular celebrations for Thanksgiving. Again, their parks will be considerably busier due to the influx of visitors during this period, so book everything you want to do in advance if possible. Universal Orlando offers Express Passes that allow you to skip the lines on a certain number of rides. An Express Pass can be handy during this period, but there is an extra charge for this.

As with Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando also begins its big Christmas festivities during November. This means that the park will be full of seasonal sights and events during your visit! From Christmas lights adorning Hogwarts to Grinch-themed shows and dining, there are many unique highlights to experience!

One of the most significant events across the whole of America during Thanksgiving is the Macy’s Parade in New York City. This iconic celebration features floats, marching bands and huge balloon figures floating through the city. While you can watch the party on American TV on Thanksgiving, you can actually experience a slice of the celebrations at Universal over the Christmas period! The Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, sees their incredible exhibition fill the park with Christmas excitement. This event runs throughout Universal’s Christmas season, meaning you should be able to catch a show if you’re visiting over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving Shopping in Orlando

Almost as big as Thanksgiving itself is the shopping that follows. The day after the celebration is Black Friday, now world-renowned for the incredible discounts that can be found. Historically, Black Friday was regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. As schoolchildren and other professions got the day off alongside Thanksgiving, it was the perfect day to go out as a family, which started the shopping craze that has evolved into what we see today.

Orlando has a range of excellent shopping locations and these become hugely popular destinations for shoppers across the weekend, as people start getting ready for Christmas. The most popular stores on this day are the classic American favourites, such as Macy’s, Walmart and Best Buy. These stores sell all manner of goods and are often the best places to find bargains on tech and other potential Christmas presents.

You’ll find even more bargains at the Orlando Premium Outlets, containing many of the biggest global fashion brands, from Adidas and Calvin Klein to Tommy Hilfiger and Yankee Candle. For something more high-end, the Mall at Millenia hosts some of the biggest luxury brands such as Versace alongside lesser-known designers, tech brands and many more.

Events in Orlando on Thanksgiving Weekend

One of the most common events taking place around Thanksgiving in America is Turkey Trots, 5K fun-runs for people to burn some calories during the festivities! There are two happening in Orlando on 28th November, one in Downtown Avalon Park and another at Lake Eola. If you’re in the mood for some family fun and a bit of light-hearted activity, then this could be the thing for you!

Many other locations around Orlando use this time of year to begin their Christmas celebrations, meaning that there’s plenty of festivities to discover during your stay! SeaWorld transforms into a winter wonderland from 23rd November, with opportunities for children to meet Santa and his reindeer, along with watching various Christmas shows in the park. Just south of Orlando, Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales is a charming location that transforms into a festive wonder at the end of November. Red flowers, festive lights, Christmas trees and special festive carillon concerts from their famous Singing Tower make it a beautiful location away from the bustle of the theme parks.

Thanksgiving is a special time of the year in America, and we’re sure your stay will be even better thanks to the celebrations! If you’re looking for villas near Disney, Universal or any of Orlando’s popular locations, be sure to check out our stunning properties that are perfect for your stay.