Thanksgiving at Disneyland

Last updated on October 25th, 2023 at 07:13 am

Thanksgiving at Disneyland Resort sounds like the most magical of holidays: no cooking, no cleaning and no crazy relatives. Well I’m not sure about that last one, but if you’re planning a Thanksgiving trip to Disneyland here is everything you need to know in 2023.

There are so many places to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at Disneyland. Most require advance reservations which can be made up to 60 days in advance or by signing up for free dining alerts with MouseDining here. 

Thanksgiving Dinner at The Disney Hotels

The three Disney owned hotels, The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, The Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel are all known for their unique assortment of dining and snack options. 

Thanksgiving Day brings that unique flavor to the forefront as we celebrate together with a mix of tradition and Disney flare.

Brunch and Dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen

Take part in American tradition with a scrumptious buffet feast, along with some favorite friends at the Disneyland Hotel on Thanksgiving Day 2023.

 

 

On November 23, 2023, Disney Characters will be on hand to make your Thanksgiving meal an especially memorable outing. 

Make your reservation for Goofy’s Kitchen on Thanksgiving Day here. Remember, if no spots are showing available sign up for free dining alerts with MouseDining here.

On November 23, 2023, you can treat your taste buds—along with family and friends—to an exciting meal with a host of options. Disney Characters will be on hand to make your Thanksgiving meal an especially memorable outing. Brunch Buffet Get an early start to your Thanksgiving celebration with a bountiful brunch featuring turkey and tasty fixings. Time: 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM Price: Brunch is $60 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and up) and $32 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include tax and gratuities. Dinner Buffet Savor a delectable dinner featuring turkey, popular Thanksgiving sides, prime ribeye, seafood cocktail, and pumpkin and assorted pies. Time: 1:30 PM to 9:00 PM Price: Dinner is $85 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include tax and gratuities.

Brunch Buffet
Kick off your Thanksgiving celebration with a bountiful brunch featuring turkey and all the tasty sides and desserts you love. Brunch is $60 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and up) and $32 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include tax and gratuities.

 

 

Dinner Buffet
Sit down for a delectable dinner featuring turkey, quintessential Thanksgiving sides, prime ribeye, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes and pumpkin pie. Dinner Buffet Savor a delectable dinner featuring turkey, popular Thanksgiving sides, prime ribeye, seafood cocktail, and pumpkin and assorted pies. Time: 1:30 PM to 9:00 PM Price: Dinner is $85 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include tax and gratuities.

 

 

Brunch and Dinner at Storytellers Cafe

Storytellers is all about bounty, and your Thanksgiving Day will include all the traditional elements in a brunch or dinner buffet—along with some beloved Disney Characters at the Grand Californian Hotel.

 

 

On November 23, 2023, begin your Thanksgiving meal with a trip to the all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet. And wave hellos and grab a selfie when Disney Characters come to visit.

Make your reservation for Storytellers Cafe on Thanksgiving Day here. Remember, if no spots are showing available sign up for free dining alerts with MouseDining here.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a bountiful brunch or dinner buffet—and encounter some beloved Disney Characters!

Brunch Buffet
Thanksgiving brunch will be served from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The buffet menu will feature holiday favorites and breakfast foods, including:

• Carved turkey
• Popular Thanksgiving sides
• Pumpkin and assorted pies
• An array of breakfast options, both hot and cold
• Price: $60 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and up) and $32 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include tax and gratuities.

 

Dinner Buffet
Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The buffet menu will feature holiday favorites, including:

• Carved turkey
• Popular Thanksgiving sides
• Roasted ribeye
• Seafood cocktail
• Pumpkin and assorted pies
• An array of classic comfort foods, both hot and cold
• Price: $85 plus tax per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 plus tax per child (ages 3 to 9). Prices do not include tax and gratuities.

 

 

Thanksgiving Dinner at Napa Rose

Another dining option at The Grand Californian, you’ll be treated to a Thanksgiving feast featuring authentic California cuisine.

 

 

On November 23, 2023, celebrate family and friends over a Thanksgiving experience with Chef Andrew Sutton’s indulgent 4-Course Wine Country Feast.

Make your reservation for Napa Rose on Thanksgiving Day here. Remember, if no spots are showing available sign up for free dining alerts with MouseDining here.

 

 

Enjoy a Thanksgiving feast featuring authentic California cuisine that will take your taste buds on an unforgettable epicurean adventure!

Kids can pick the turkey dinner or items from the children’s menu.

Thanksgiving Dinner Details

• Location: Napa Rose Restaurant
• Time: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Price: Thanksgiving dinner is $140 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 per child (ages 3 to 9). A wine pairing for an additional $70 per Guest (ages 21 and up) can be added. Prices do not include tax and gratuities.

Disneyland Hotel Classic Thanksgiving Dinner

The last time we saw the Disneyland Hotel classic Thanksgiving dinner was 2019. Disney seems to be favoring smaller, more intimate Thanksgiving meals rather than the massive, indulgent spread that once was hosted in the Disneyland Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

 

 

While we no longer have this as an option, you can take a look back at 2019’s offering at The Disneyland Hotel. 

 

Disneyland Hotel Thanksgiving Dinner Price

Disneyland Hotel Thanksgiving Dinner in 2019 cost $180 for adults, $70 for kids ages 3-9, and free for children under 3. Prices includes tax and gratuity. Read more about tipping at Disneyland Resort here. 

 

 

This Thanksgiving Disneyland meal is an over-the-top amazing buffet style meal. Thanksgiving at Disneyland Hotel requires a reservation that can be made 60 days in advance, but often times they don’t open reservations for this meal until closer to the date. 

 

 

While you wait to be seated, kids can enjoy a movie and festive fall crafts. Upon checking in, you’ll also receive your special gift which in years past was a Thanksgiving Day button or trading pin. You’ll show this as your parking validation when you exit the hotel. 

 

 

Disneyland Hotel Thanksgiving Day Menu consists of various buffet options, along with an extensive list of eats for kids like chicken nuggets, Mac and cheese and more. But let’s start with a photo of dessert, because why not?

 

 

Adults will enjoy all the kid food including these options available for everyone:

• Salad Station featuring spinach blend, harvest blend, vegetable ratatouille blend, sweet potato
• Cold Side Starters with assorted cheeses and meats, smoked salmon, jumbo prawns

 

 

• Carving Station with prime rib or beef, chicken, turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy
• Pasta Station with various pastas, accompany meats and sauces, along with vegetarian options
• Soup Station features seasonal soups
• Hot Side Dishes like mashed potatoes, cranberry apple stuffing, sweet potatoes, vegetables and fish

 

 

And of course, an abundance of Thanksgiving Day desserts like soft serve ice cream station, chocolate fondue fountain and mini treats all in smaller portions so you can enjoy the variety. 

 

 

Thanksgiving dinner at the Disneyland Hotel isn’t all about the food. You’ll also be serenaded by live music during your meal. 

 

 

And enjoy the company of some of your favorite Disney friends. Each family receives a time to visit characters for photo ops so you can have the best Thanksgiving meal possible, without a ton of waiting. 

Princesses take turns making a visit, so yours may be different but Snow White and Dopey arrived in style and posed next to the wishing well. Pocahontas and Meeko arrived for the occasion, as well as Pluto, Donald, Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale. 

 

 

Always the characters, those two! And let’s throw in one more picture of the food because we totally can picture ourselves right here! Each family also received a parting gift as they left. 

 

 

While I am sad to see this option no longer available, I do like the idea of a smaller, less frazzled Thanksgiving feast at Napa Rose, Storytellers Cafe or even Goofy’s Kitchen. The more intimate settings with a more focused, compact buffet set up is much better for families as well. 

Thanksgiving Dinner inside Disneyland

Many restaurants across Disneyland Resort jazz up their menus just in time for Thanksgiving day including the following options.

The following were Thanksgiving dinner options from past year, but it gives you an idea of which restaurants typically serve a Thanksgiving menu. 

 

Consider checking out reservations for some of these Disneyland Resort restaraunts on Thanksgiving Day:

• Blue Bayou dinner at Disneyland Park
• Cafe Orleans Thanksgiving at Disneyland Park
• Carthay Circle Thanksgiving feast at California Adventure Park
• Carnation Cafe Thanksgiving Meal at Disneyland Park
• River Belle Terrace Traditional Thanksgiving at Disneyland Park
• Wine Country Trattoria Thanksgiving Dinner at California Adventure Park

 

 

Day-of Thanksgiving Dinner Options

If you’re spending a day in Disneyland Park you may not have time to sit down for a two or three hour Thanksgiving Day meal. Or maybe you missed out on dining reservations, and that’s totally okay.

The following were Thanksgiving dinner options from past years, but it gives you an idea of which restaurants typically serve a Thanksgiving menu. I’ll update this with 2023 information as it’s released. 

 

 

Here we list the many restaurants across the resort that typically offer seasonal Thanksgiving day menus.

• Flo’s V8 Cafe Fried Chicken with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Seasonal Vegetables.
• French Market Restaurant Southern-style Oven Roasted Half Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, and Seasonal Vegetables.
• Jolly Holiday Holiday Sandwich – Roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce on rustic bread served with house-made chips or Turkey Noodle Soup

 

• Paradise Garden Grill Traditional Pork Tamales with Golden Rice and Black Beans, topped with Cheese and Red Chile Sauce.
• Smokejumpers Grill: Cranberry Turkey Burger – Grilled turkey burger, cranberry BBQ sauce, seasoned sweet potato fries, and fried onion strings served with choice of waffle-cut fries or onion rings
• Plaza Inn three pieces of Chicken fried to a golden brown and seasoned with distinctive Herbs and Spices, served with Mashed Potatoes, Buttermilk Biscuit and a mixture of Vegetables.
• Turkey Leg Carts throughout the park for turkey on the go.
• Rancho del Zocalo 1/2 Chicken seasoned in a Savory Marinade of Chile and Citrus served with Mexican Rice and Refried Beans.

Downtown Disney Thanksgiving Dinner 

Looking for a day out, a day of relaxation and maybe some shopping? Disneyland Resort is ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with special dining you only get once a year. If you’re not finding what you’re looking for be sure to sign up for free dining alerts with MouseDining here. 

On past Thanksgivings Black Tap got in on the action, so we’ll see if this offering makes a return. Black Tap who’s famous Crazy Shakes are literally over the top!

 

 

Thanksgiving Tickets & Crowds

Is it going to be crowded at Disneyland on Thanksgiving? You’d be surprised at how many people want to spend their Thanksgiving day at Disneyland as well. 

 

 

But don’t let that deter you. Even if it’s not completely empty, here’s how to make the most of Thanksgiving at Disneyland:

1. Get discount tickets and book reservations prior to your arrival
2. Download the official Disneyland app and get familiar with layout layout of the resort
3. See what holiday festivities you can enjoy during your Thanksgiving visit
4. Print out a Disneyland Plan to get you from ride to ride in less time
5. Plan out your Thanksgiving Day dinner.

 

We have covered a lot of food in this short time; I would love to see what you eat at Disneyland on Thanksgiving day, please send your photos to jessica@thehappiestblogonearth.com to be featured in this article. Need more tips for Disneyland? See our yearly planning guide here for ride closures, new entertainment and more.