If your idea of Thanksgiving Day is spending time in Orlando with family at a Universal Orlando Resort, then you’ve chosen the perfect place.
Among the coasters, magic, and fairy-tales are some of the best fall festival feasts right here in the theme park capital of the world.
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Listen to Full Podcast Episode 58 of Thanksgiving at Universal Orlando Below
Thanksgiving Dinner at Universal Orlando Resort
Because of the 2020 pandemic, many of the traditional buffet options will be offered in a family feast style and with precautions taken.
Thanksgiving Day Buffet at The Kitchen: Hard Rock Hotel
The Kitchen Thanksgiving Buffet will have an acoustic guitar player providing you will live entertainment in this family feast style dinner.
- Date: Thursday, November 26, 2020
- Time: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Location: The Kitchen in the Hard Rock Hotel
- Price: $59* adult; $24* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
- Read full menu here
Loews Royal Pacific Resort: Islands Dining Room – Thanksgiving Day Buffet
The Royal Pacific Resort will be taking safety measures to make sure your dining experience is as safe as possible. Precautions such as plexiglass around food and prepackage food.
- Date: Thursday, November 26, 2020
- Time: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Location: Islands Dining Room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort
- Price: $59* adult; $27* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
- Read full menu here
Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Bloody Mary cocktails for just $15 more at Islands Dining Room.
Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort – Thanksgiving Day Meal Special
Enjoy a Thanksgiving special at Bayliner Diner with traditional fall festival favorites including turkey, stuffing, cranberry compote, mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams and biscuits.
- Date: Thursday, November 26, 2020
- Time: Noon – 11 p.m.
- Location: Bayliner Diner
- Price: $18.99* adult; $9.99* child (ages 3 – 9)
- Read full menu here
Endless Summer: Surfside Inn and Suites – Thanksgiving Day Meal
Here you’ll enjoy another traditional Thanksgiving Day meal before or after your Universal Orlando theme park visit.
- Date: Thursday, November 26, 2020
- Time: 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.
- Location: Beach Break Cafe
- Price: $15.99* adult; $8.99* child (ages 3 – 9)
- Read the full menu here
*Please remember that tax and gratuity is not included in the prices. You can make your Thanksgiving reservations at Universal Orlando Resort by calling 407-503-DINE.
Thanksgiving Day at Universal Studios Itinerary
Now that you know all of the holiday happenings at Universal Orlando Resort, it’s time to jump into you’re your Thanksgiving Day itinerary.
- Purchase Express Passes Before Thanksgiving Day
- Have Breakfast at One of the Resort Hotels
- Head to Universal Studios
- Ride Despicable Me
- Party on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster
- Join the Cause and Ride Transformers
- Dive deep into the Revenge of the Mummy Ride
- Ride Fast & Furious Supercharged
- Explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley
- Ride Men in Black Alien Attack
- Explore Springfield
- Snack Time: Grab a Chicken and Waffle sandwich from Cletus’ Chicken Shack
- Ride the Classic E.T. Adventure
- Experience Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show
- Enjoy the Shopping and Roadside Entertainment Throughout Universal Studios
- Watch the Shrek 4-D show
- Ride Jimmy Fallon’s Race Through New York
- Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s balloon displays and floats
- Have Thanksgiving Day dinner at one of the resorts
Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!
How Crowded is it at Universal on Thanksgiving Day?
Holiday peaks, crowd sizes, weather, and a few other factors have a lot to do with your Universal Orlando experience, including how long you’ll be waiting in line for your favorite rides.
Because of this, expect high crowds both on Thanksgiving Day and the weekend following the holiday.
Since this will be a major holiday, I recommend purchasing the Express Pass.
Depending on the time of year you go, you’ll may want to think about getting an Express Pass. Universal Studios has some of the most innovative rides with wait times to prove it.
Are the Universal Express Passes worth it?
It depends on a few factors.
On those peak days, it gets extremely hard to do and see each attraction available at the park.
If you’re not into the whole ride thing and you’re just fine doing a ride here-and-there, then pass on the Express Pass and spend that money on some theme park food and merchandise.
Hipster Power Tip: A cool Universal Orlando Express Pass hack is to check pricing online before your trip. Based on the price of the Pass, you can predict the crowd level of your day. The higher the price, the higher the crowd level expectation.
Stay at a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel
If you can make it work, then I recommend staying at a Universal Orlando Resort during the Thanksgiving holiday. Not only can you enter the parks early, but if you stay in a higher cost resort, you’ll be able to use your room key as an Express Pass.
Be sure to play with your budget to see if this tip can work in your favor.
Final Thoughts on Thanksgiving at Universal Orlando
Overall, you’re going to have an incredible Thanksgiving holiday at Universal Orlando Resort. Just make sure that you book your Thanksgiving dining reservations in advance by calling 407-503-DINE.
What are your Thanksgiving Day plans? Let us know in the comments section below.
If you enjoyed this Packing List for Universal Orlando article, then you’ll love these:
- Universal Orlando Holiday Guide
- First Timer Solo Tips for Universal Orlando Resort
- Universal Studios One-Day Itinerary
- Islands of Adventure One-Day Itinerary
- Best Photo Spots at Islands of Adventure
- Diagon Alley Complete Guide
- Best Photo Spots at Universal Studios
- A Celebration of Harry Potter Tips and Tricks
- 7 Ways to Enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade
Until next time, Happy Thanksgiving Hipsters!
NikkyJ
(Original article date November 2016/Update November 19, 2020)