Where to have Thanksgiving dinner at Disney World 

If you’re planning to celebrate Thanksgiving at Disney World this year, it will soon be time to make reservations for your holiday dinner. 

Reservations open at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 25, 60 days before the holiday, or earlier if you have a reservation to stay on property. So if you’re scheduled to check in Nov. 19, the Saturday before the holiday, you can make your Thanksgiving reservation on Tuesday, Sept. 20. 

The most traditional Thanksgiving dinner on property — and probably the most thematically appropriate — is at the Liberty Tree Tavern at the Magic Kingdom. The setting is a Colonial-style inn, and the menu is 100% traditional Thanksgiving every day: the all-you-care-to-enjoy Patriot’s Platter, piled high with roasted turkey breast, pot roast and oven-roasted pork, and accompanied by traditional sides. Each room in the Liberty Tree Tavern commemorates a pivotal American hero: Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Paul Jones, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross, and George Washington. The same menu is available next door at the Diamond Horseshoe, with a slightly different vibe. 

The Garden Grill at Epcot’s Living With the Land pavilion offers a family-style feast of all-American foods every day, but in the past they’ve swapped out their usual chicken for sliced turkey breast with mashed potatoes and gravy. As a bonus, Chip, Dale and other Disney pals will stop by to say hi. 

Hollywood & Vine will be ready for Christmas well before Thanksgiving. Minnie Mouse hosts her Holiday Dine starting Nov. 8 at the Hollywood Studios staple. Minnie and Mickey appear in their holiday best, and Goofy takes the role of Santa. If you like a buffet with character and you like to kick off Christmas on Thanksgiving, this is a great option. The buffet price is $42 for adults and $27 per child (plus tax and gratuity). 

The buffet experience at Animal Kingdom’s Tusker House returns Nov. 1. Last year, the menu included all the staples: Spit-roasted turkey, turkey gravy, mashed red potatoes, and focaccia bread dressing along with seasonal vegetables, pork loin, flank steak, and an assortment of desserts. You can expect the same this year. If you’re looking for something a little more refined, Tiffins is always a great choice. It, too, offered a Thanksgiving entree last year. 

Outside of the parks, our favorite for this holiday: Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ serves up amazing fried chicken and delectable traditional sides like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. 

If you aren’t looking for something traditional but you do want a wonderful meal in spectacular surroundings, consider these upscale alternatives, all of which have fireworks views:

• The California Grill at the Contemporary Resort is serving a 3-course prix fixe menu that is honestly a bargain at $89 per adult or $39 per child (plus tax and gratuity).  
• Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera Resort also has sweeping rooftop views and a lovely Mediterranean a la carte menu. 
• Capa, the Michelin-rated 17th floor steakhouse at the Four Seasons Resort at Disney World. The menu is Spanish influenced, but the steaks are the stars. Call +1 (407) 313-7777 for reservations at Capa (the online reservations link on the website doesn’t work).

Don’t worry if you don’t get your preferred reservation. Lots of restaurants roll out a special Thanksgiving meal, including some of the quick-service spots. Last year, Satuli’i Canteen in Animal Kingdom’s Pandora section served up a Thanksgiving bowl with cornbread stuffing, sliced roasted turkey, cranberry boba pearls, gravy and slaw. And Restaurantosaurus offered an open-faced Thanksgiving sandwich. You will not go hungry, I promise.