The World Report - Nov 20, 2001

The World Report
Page 1 of 2

by Stephen Halpin (archives)
November 20, 2001
Steve talks about options for Thanksgiving at The World and previews Christmas.

So you have decided to take the plunge and head to Walt Disney World for Thanksgiving. Great idea. Why? Because you will get the pleasure of two holidays for the price on one. Thanksgiving officially begins the Christmas season at the World and Christmas is one of the prettiest times here. But first lets look at the holiday at hand…Thanksgiving.

Where to eat?
Pick a hotel or a park and Disney will give you a Thanksgiving to remember. Want the best? Try Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. For $100.00 per person (excluding gratuity, tax or alcohol) you can dine on such delicacies as Smoked Buffalo, Maine Lobster, Dover Sole, Prime Beef or Cranberry Glazed Turkey. For something a little less pricey but still on the higher end you may want to try Artist's Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. For $39.99 for adults and $12.59 for children you can enjoy bread, a choice of appetizer such as Sea Scallops, Rabbit sausage and more, and a choice of entrée including Turkey with all the trimmings, Salmon with an Oyster Risotto, Grilled Filet of Beef with Creamy Dungeness Crab. For the same price you can have a nice meal at the top of the Contemporary Resort Hotel at California Grill. Also at the Contemporary Hotel Chef Mickey’s is offering a Thanksgiving Buffet at $25.00 for adults and $12.99 for children.

For a fun Thanksgiving meal you could try ‘Ohana’s at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Hotel. Besides their usual menu they are adding a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The cost is $21.99 for adults and $10.99 for children. Even the food courts at the All Star Resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans Riverside are offering Thanksgiving meals at $12.99 for adults and $6.99. For you campers out at Fort Wilderness, the River Country Pavillion will be open for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. There are seating times at 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm. Besides a great meal you will also get a live country-western band, Line Dancing, Mickey, Minnie and Chip n’ Dale and from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. there will be hay rides. The cost is $38.00 for adults and $25.00 for children.

Each of the parks offers an opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal between FastPasses to your favorite attractions. Here is a current list of theme park restaurants serving a Thanksgiving meal.

  • Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Royal Table, The Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Plaza Restaurant, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.
  • EPCOT: All sit down full service restaurants will be offering a Thanksgiving dinner.
  • Disney-MGM Studios: 50’s Prime Time Café, Hollywood & Vine, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, Sci-Fi Drive-In Theater Restaurant.
  • Animal Kingdom: You can try the Rainforest Café or Restaurantosaurus. Remember, since the parks tend to be busier on Thanksgiving and people want to have a nice meal for the holiday, Priority Seating (call 407-WDW-DINE) is advised for any place you want to eat at.

Thanksgiving is not the only thing going on at WDW this weekend. Just look at the many Christmas events that begin this weekend:

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The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights

Christmas
At the Disney-MGM Studios you can catch "The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights" What started in 1995 with 1 million lights has grown to over 5 million lights. There is a lighting ceremony each day and there are complimentary holographic glasses handed out that allow you to see angels that appear over the lights. With the new Sorcerer’s Hat in front of the Chinese Theater, you can find the Studios Christmas tree at the entrance of the park outside the turnstiles. Don’t forget to stop in and see One Man’ Dream, an excellent look at the life of Walt Disney.

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