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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Thanksgiving Dinner at Universal Orlando Resort
Loews Portofino Bay Resort – Thanksgiving Day Buffet
Escape away at the Portofino-inspired Thanksgiving Day feast in Trattoria del Porto™ complete with Universal Orlando™ characters, kids holiday crafts and activities table, face painter, and a balloonist.
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: Noon – 7 p.m.
- Location: Trattoria del Porto
- Price: $67* adult; $25* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
Hard Rock Hotel – Thanksgiving Day Breakfast Buffet
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- Location: Avalon Ballroom
- Price: $25* adult; $17* child (ages 10 – 14); $13* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
Thanksgiving Day Buffet at The Kitchen
The Kitchen Thanksgiving Buffet will have Universal Orlando™ characters, Magic Man and kid’s cookie decorating activities.
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Location: The Kitchen in the Hard Rock Hotel
- Price: $67* adult; $24* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
Loews Royal Pacific Resort – Thanksgiving Day Breakfast Buffet
This holiday meal not only includes a dash of a tropical feel, but you’ll get appearances by Universal Orlando™ characters, face painters, balloonists, and more!
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- Location: Jake’s American Bar
- Price: $23.99* adult; $13.99* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
Islands Dining Room – Thanksgiving Day Buffet
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- 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
Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Bloody Mary cocktails for just $15 more at both Jake’s American Bar and Islands Dining Room.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – Thanksgiving Day Breakfast Buffet
In the Amatista Cookhouse, you’ll get appearances by Universal Orlando™ characters, face painters and balloonists.
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- Location: Amatista Cookhouse
- Price: $22.99* adult; $12.99* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
Amatista Thanksgiving Day Dinner Buffet
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Location: Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
- Price: $59* adult; $27* child (ages 3 – 9); complimentary under age 3
Adults (ages 21+) can add all-you-care-to-enjoy mimosa and Cubanita cocktails for just $15 more for both breakfast and dinner.
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 28, 2019
- Time: Noon – 11 p.m.
- Location: Bayliner Diner
- Price: $18.99* adult; $9.99* child (ages 3 – 9)
Universal’s Aventura Hotel – Thanksgiving Day Meal
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: Noon – 11 p.m.
- Location: Urban Pantry
- Price: $24* adult; $12* child (ages 3 – 9)
Surfside Inn and Suites – Thanksgiving Day Meal
- Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
- Time: Noon – 11pm
- Location: Beach Break Cafe
- Price: $13.99* adult; $7.99* child (ages 3 – 9)
*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.
Holiday Activities for Thanksgiving at Universal Orlando
In addition to all of the delicious holiday food at Universal Orlando Resort, you’ll also be able to partake in yuletide activities.
Holiday Harbor Nights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel – Nov. 24
Here you’ll be able to indulge in delicious food, tantalizing wine, and complete your night with a tree lighting ceremony on the Harbor Piazza from 6:30 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s Winter Wonderland — Nov. 24
At Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you’ll be able to participate in another Christmas tree light ceremony.
Also, inside Cabana Bay’s lobby you’ll enjoy live holiday music, hot chocolate and cookies, face painting and so much more from 4 p.m.– 8 p.m.!
Feeding Children Everywhere — Nov. 25
This annual event hosted by Loews Hotels is your way to give back to the community. Here you and team members can come together to assemble meals for Feeding Children Everywhere.
This year’s goal is to make 375,000 meals across all five of Universal Orlando Resort. You can help out by signing up to volunteer there from 9 a.m.– 1 p.m.
Visit here to learn more about the Universal Orlando Resort hotel holiday activities.
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 Thanksgiving Day 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 (runs daily between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., depending on park hours)
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 2017/Update October 2, 2019)