When I think of Thanksgiving I think of family, friends, giving back, and giving thanks. Oh, and the food. Plenty of delicious, indulgent food! It’s the perfect lead in to the Christmas season, and a touch of Disney magic only makes it better. Here’s my guide to celebrating a Disney Thanksgiving!
Disney Thanksgiving Playlist
Thanksgiving always reminds me of meals surrounded by family and friends. Because our family moves around so often and lives far away from our parents, the holidays become a time to welcome in those around us, even those we’ve just met, and gather together to celebrate (gotta love military life).
I’ve put together a fun playlist themed around hospitality, family, friendship, and gratitude for the world around us. Check it out!
- Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast
- Welcome – Brother Bear
- If I Didn’t Have You – Monsters, Inc.
- Best of Friends – The Fox and the Hound
- You’ll Be in My Heart – Tarzan
- Colors of the Wind – Pocahontas
- Friend Like Me – Aladdin
- Two Worlds – Tarzan
- You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Toy Story
- You’re Welcome – Moana
If you’re hosting a dinner party this Thanksgiving, I also have some great background music that everyone will enjoy. This is some of my favorite music to listen to while I’m working, and it will make for a fun and pleasant atmosphere.
- Music from Carthay Circle Restaurant
- Music from Club 33
- Walt’s – An American Restaurant at Disneyland Paris
Disney Thanksgiving Movie Marathon
Thanks to Freeform (formerly ABC Family), I think we all spend October – December each year looking forward to the “countdown to the countdown to the countdown..” movie marathons. This year’s Countdown to the 25 Days of Christmas began Friday, November 1st. You can check out the line up here.
I’ve also come up with a fun movie marathon focused on family and friendship (with a touch of history thrown in):
- The Incredibles
- Oliver & Company
- Up
- Frozen
- 101 Dalmatians
- Toy Story
- Brave
- Pocahontas
So are your family dinners calm or more like The Incredibles?
Oh, and if you’re the type of person who loves spending Thanksgiving with some football, check out Goofy’s “How to Play Football” short!
Disney Thanksgiving Activities
Looking for fun Thanksgiving activities the kids will enjoy? I’ve got some great ideas for you.
First, print off a Disney-themed Thanksgiving planner and let the kids help you design the menu and shopping list. When the whole family is involved in the prep it feels like less of a chore.
You can find some adorable Disney activity pages and place mats that will encourage kids to share what they are most thankful for this year. As a bonus, they’ll also help entertain them throughout the meal. Printable coloring pages are also easy to find.
Other perfect activities for Thanksgiving include gratitude exercises (daily challenges, crafts, or a Thanksgiving day list), taking family photos, and working together on a family tree. You can find this adorable tree silhouette with a favorite quote from Walt Disney to display your love of family.
Opportunities to Give Back
One of my favorite things about this time of year is that it reminds us to think of others. If you’d like to spend this month finding ways to serve your community, here are a few great organizations that Disney partners with throughout the year:
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- First Book
- Starlight Children’s Foundation
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Toys for Tots
I also love to support the USO, as they have helped us so much while traveling for personal and official reasons.
If you’re planning a Disney vacation or you’re local to the Orlando area, you might consider volunteering at Give the Kids the World. This nonprofit resort is located in Kissimmee and provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses. It often partners with Make-A-Wish to help make Disney dreams come true.
Finally, if you’re a runner, think about running for a cause at your next runDisney event. Each race offers the opportunity to raise money and support a variety of charities, and it can even get you a race bib after the regular registration has been sold out.
Disney Thanksgiving Recipes & Treats
Ah, what we’ve all been waiting for! The food! I look forward to our Thanksgiving menu all year long, and as such, I rarely make any changes to it. Ours includes all the favorites: roast turkey, mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, corn, biscuits, and homemade cranberry orange sauce. And of course there’s pie for dessert.
But like most times of the year, Disney knows how to do it right. If you’re in the parks, there are several table-service restaurants that serve up a full Thanksgiving meal and even one that does it all year round.
I’ve put together a collection of Disney-inspired recipes that are perfect for your Thanksgiving table. Many of these are inspired by Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom.
Disney Thanksgiving Crafts
Finally, making crafts together is always a fun family activity. I’ve found a ton of cute Disney crafts that will help you decorate for autumn and get into the spirit of Thanksgiving. Which is your favorite?
Planning a Disney Family Thanksgiving Vacation
While some people love to gather everyone at home, others prefer to use their time off to take a family vacation. If the idea of planning an elaborate dinner and inviting everyone to your house is overwhelming, why not invite everyone to take a vacation together instead?
Now is a great time to start planning your next year’s Disney holiday vacations. You can choose from a variety of great destinations, such as Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani (Hawaii), or Adventures by Disney. As I mentioned earlier, you’ll find festive events surrounding the holidays that are perfect for starting new family traditions.
Planning is key when it comes to any holiday spent with Disney, and I’d love to help you handle it all so you can focus on enjoying your vacation. My booking, planning, and concierge services are completely free when you book your Disney vacation with me!
Request a free quote and consultation, or feel free to send me an email at jtullino@themouseexperts.com for more information.
Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!
