Are you looking for some tips for visiting Disneyland at Thanksgiving? Visiting Disneyland Park on Thanksgiving Day or any time in the holiday season can be both fantastic and challenging, so be sure to make your plans with a bit of preparation. Visiting the parks during the week of Thanksgiving is certainly a great time in the happiest place on Earth, but keep reading for some answers to the most common questions I hear as a travel advisor specializing in Disney travel. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your Disneyland vacation!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the link. Please see my disclosure for more info.
Is Disneyland open on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes! Disneyland is open on Thanksgiving Day! Disneyland Park hours are officially from 8 AM to 12 midnight, with early entry allowing onsite guests at the Disneyland resort hotels to enter the Disney parks at 7:30 AM. Disney California Adventure park also opens at 8 AM, with early entry beginning at 7:30, and closes at 11 PM. Downtown Disney will be open from 7 AM to 1 AM on Thanksgiving Day. You will have plenty of time to explore all of the fantastic holiday festivities going on all around Main Street USA!
Is a park hopper available on Thanksgiving Day at Disneyland?
Yes! You can always upgrade a base park ticket at Disneyland theme parks to a park hopper ticket which allows you to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure park. This is a great tip during the busiest times of the year, as it enables you to park hop after 1 PM from park to park. (Note that this is different from Disney World in Florida which allows you to park hop after 2 PM.)
What is included in Early Entry for Disneyland?
If you stay on property at a Disney property, like the fabulous Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel, or Paradise Pier, you will qualify for Early Entry admission into the parks. This is a good idea because it gives you half an hour to get into the parks and beat the crowds to the most popular rides! Also, it enables you to easily return to your hotel for a little downtime if the big crowds cause long lines later in the day.
Early Entry includes access to rides like:
- Alice in Wonderland
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Orbiters
- Dumbo
- King Arthur Carousel
- Monorail
- Mad Tea Party
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Star Tours
- Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission Breakout
- Incredicoaster
- The Little Mermaid
- Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
- Monsters Inc.
- Soarin’
- Web Slingers
This time of year, the Disney hotels are absolutely beautiful as they are already fully decorated for the holidays. Be sure to plan some down time at your resort to fully enjoy the amenities of the resort while you are there!
Is Disneyland crowded on Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving weekend will be crowded, especially on Black Friday and the Saturday after the Thanksgiving holiday. Many will have traveled to Southern California for vacation and many California locals will also come out to the parks, including those with annual passes. Everyone wants to enjoy the holiday decorations for the Christmas season. It is the best way to celebrate after Thanksgiving dinner is over!
Be sure to check the park pass calendar before purchasing your park tickets or making your vacation package reservation. Also, always consider using a travel agent specializing in Disney to get all of these steps covered. You can expect big crowds during the holidays, as they are the busiest days of the year.
Dining at Disneyland on Thanksgiving
Be sure to plan some dining while you are visiting Disneyland at Thanksgiving. You can begin making dining reservations 60 days in advance of your trip. Consider making a plan for your Thanksgiving meals reservation at sit down restaurants like Napa Rose, Storytellers Cafe, Blue Bayou, or Goofy’s Kitchen.
Goofy’s Kitchen adds turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and holiday desserts to their buffet for Thanksgiving. Napa Rose features a multi-course dining option with wine pairings for Turkey Day. Storyteller’s Cafe adds a special menu to their buffet options as well, featuring turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, and a variety of holiday pies.
If you are visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World resort during major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, consider booking a sit down reservation or placing mobile orders for quick service restaurants during the off-peak hours. During a time of year when crowd levels are high, spend your time riding rides and meeting your favorite Disney characters when everyone else is eating at noon and 6 PM!
If you don’t get a dining reservation, keep checking prior to your trip or sign up for dining alert services to notify you when options pop up. Having a chance to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal is a great way to relax and decompress away from lots of people during the busy holiday time.
What are some tips for the crowds at Disneyland on Thanksgiving?
There are a few tips to keep in mind when visiting Disneyland on Thanksgiving. First, again, be sure to make park pass reservations as soon as you are able to do so! There are different timelines and calendars between regular ticket holders, annual passholders, Magic Key holders and resort guests so keep those in mind.
Consider consulting a Disneyland crowd calendar for the most current information on the best days and the worst days to visit the parks. If you are flexible on your travel dates during the month of November, early November (after Halloween time) will most likely be less crowded.
In general, the best time to arrive at Disneyland is in the early morning. Take advantage of Early Entry, if you are staying at Disney hotels. Get through security with smaller crowds and head towards the most popular rides first, taking advantage of lower crowds.
During busy times like Thanksgiving, purchase Genie+. You can purchase Disney Genie+ service as an add-on with a new ticket or your vacation packages before your visit to Disneyland or as a single-day purchase for existing ticket holders through the Disneyland app on the day of your park visit after park entry. This allows you to go into what used to be considered a “fast pass” lane and get quicker access onto the ride. From personal experiences, I can tell you that it is a great way to beat the crowds.
What special events are happening at Disneyland at Thanksgiving?
There are so many special events happening at Disneyland at Thanksgiving. The Festival of Holidays begins in mid November and lasts until the beginning of January. You can listen to Mickey’s Happy Holidays with Mickey Mouse, his pals and drummers. You can spot Mirabel from Encanto – a favorite around our house! There is fantastic live entertainment throughout the park, celebrating Hanukah, Diwali, Christmas, Navidad, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day!
You can also check festive foods from multiple countries from the Festive Foods Marketplace. Santa Claus comes for a visit near Critter Country in Disneyland Park, near the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure park, and at the Disneyland hotels.
Disneyland parks are fully decorated for the holidays by mid-November, so plenty of decorations abound when you are there at Thanksgiving. At Disneyland, Main Street USA is covered in wreaths, garlands, and lights. The Christmas tree is covered in thousands of lights. Sleeping Beauty castle is decked out with festive garlands. Be sure to stay for nighttime, as the castle absolutely glistens in tons of lights and icicles.
You will also find loads of holiday decor and ornaments in the Disneyland gift shops like Plaza Point. Be inspired to decorate your own home while you visit the Disney parks!
California Adventure park is also decked out for the holidays. Their main street, Buena Vista Street, takes on a vintage look straight from old Hollywood. It is very similar to the look of Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando. The 50-foot tall tree takes on center stage. Be sure to catch the lighting of the tree at 5:00 PM each night.
The World of Color Season of Light show at California Adventure is a sight to behold! The fountains light up and dance to the music of well-loved Disney and Pixar films. See the Disneyland app for the latest times. Most nights, the show takes place at 9 PM and 10:30 PM. You can also check out a virtual cue for preferred seating or purchase a voucher for the show with a dining package or a dessert party.
Cars Land at California Adventure park is another area to visit during the holidays! The entire area is transformed into Mater’s Jingle Jamboree. Holiday music and lights will get you into the holiday spirit.
Be sure to visit the Disney hotels to take in all of the amazing Christmas decorations and the Christmas tree in the lobbies. It is such a wonderful experience to get you into the holiday spirit! The Christmas Fantasy Parade in Disneyland features reindeer, toy soldiers, gingerbread cookies, Santa and your favorite Disney characters! Check the Disneyland app for the parade times. Most days it runs at 3:30 and 6:30 PM, as long as weather permits.
Favorite rides like “It’s a Small World” receive a fantastic holiday overlay with tons of shimmering lights and fantastic costume enhancements. There are 50,000 lights and video projections on the outside of the ride welcoming the holidays! Even the Haunted Mansion holiday overlay gets you into the holiday spirit! The Pumpkin King Jack Skellington takes over and Sally and Oogie Boogie will be there to greet you.
Believe in the Holiday Magic Fireworks will get you into the holiday spirit and some snow may even fall in the warm, pleasant So Cal weather! Sleeping Beauty Castle will light up, usually at 7:30 PM, and the snow will begin to fall! Generally, it “snows” about three times a night in the parks, making it such a magical place to be!
What is the weather like at Disneyland in November?
In general, weather in Southern California is pretty delightful, perfect for days outside in the parks. November still has a fairly temperate climate. Early mornings and evenings can get a bit chilly once the sun goes down. Average high temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s with some warmer days getting into the 80s. Average low temperatures in the early morning or evenings generally fall in the 50s.
You don’t need to worry too much about rain at Disneyland in November! Typically, there are just 3 to 4 days with any significant rainfall.
What should I pack for Disneyland in November?
In general, the weather is very comfortable at Disneyland in November. You may want a sweater or light jacket for the mornings or evenings. Consider layering on top of short sleeves to stay comfortable as the day gets warmer. I usually pack leggings or jeans, but some may prefer shorts. Just be sure to check the weather forecast before your trip!
The most important thing to remember is sunglasses, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. You will log lots of miles on your feet, so enjoy your trip without any foot pain! Another tip is to never pack new shoes. You want to make sure your shoes are comfortable and perfectly fitted for your feet.
Also, remember a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated, a good park bag, and a portable phone charger as the Disney apps can drain your phone battery.
If you want to get into the holiday spirit after Thanksgiving, pack your favorite holiday sweatshirt, sweater or tshirt. Amazon has plenty of fun options with a Disney theme. I just ordered this Mickey tee for my next trip!
What special snacks will be featured at Thanksgiving at Disneyland?
The Festive Foods Marketplace in California Adventure Park features plenty of fun holiday snacks from mid-November to early January. You can find traditional holiday food with a Disney flair, some special brews for the holiday kitchen, Grandma’s recipes with items themed from days gone by, holiday spirits and cocktails, fantastic sliders and some delicious sweets and treats.
You can even purchase a Sip and Savor Pass. This pass allows you to try 8 different items at the Festive Foods Marketplace kiosks for some bite-sized treats during the holiday season.
Be sure to snag a holiday themed beignet at at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square while you are visiting the parks in November. The Jolly Holly Bakery also has some fantastic fun treats to help celebrate the season! You can also find more great options at Trolley Treats at California Adventure, Pooh Corner and Candy Palace Bakery at Disneyland.
I hope this post helps you prepare for visiting Disneyland at Thanksgiving. I hope it answers your question is Disneyland open at Thanksgiving? Be sure to sign up for my free packing list and keep reading for more great Disney travel related content. Happy Thanksgiving!
What to Wear to Disney World in December
The Best Buffets in Disney World
Disney World’s Magic Bands and MagicBand+
Leave a Reply