Walt Disney World Holidays: Thanksgiving Tips for WDW

Walt Disney World Holidays: Thanksgiving Tips for WDW

Families headed to Walt Disney World for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday will find the parks and resorts already decorated in their holiday best.

Disney's Grand Floridian during the holiday season features a beautiful tree.

Disney’s Grand Floridian during the holiday season.

WDW will be immersed in a wonderland of candy canes, ornaments, and catchy seasonal tunes. Remember, you won’t see much décor with pilgrims, the Christmas trimmings will add to the festivities. Yes, you’ll need to embrace the holiday season along with your Thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving Tips Walt Disney World

Thanksgiving Dinner

Gratefully, your family won’t go hungry as there will be a bounty of menu options. From quick, casual meals with traditional entrees to table service meals with specialty fixings, your loved ones can easily find a familiar holiday meal on Thanksgiving day.

The "Yacht Club" Club Sandwich at The Boathouse.

The “Yacht Club” Club Sandwich at The Boathouse.

In fact, you’ll find 28 dining locations offering a full buffet or special plated meal of traditional turkey day cuisine. Some of the places that your family can feast are:

• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Lunch and dinner
• Biergarten Restaurant – Lunch and dinner
• Chef Mickey’s – Dinner only
• Coral Reef Restaurant – Lunch and dinner
• Jiko – The Cooking Place – Dinner only
• Le Cellier Steakhouse – Lunch and dinner
• Olivia’s Cafe – Lunch and dinner
• The Wave… of American Flavors – Lunch and dinner
• Whispering Canyon Cafe – Lunch and dinner

Carving Board Turkey Dinner at Port Orleans Riverside.

Carving Board Dinner at Port Orleans Riverside.

More festive flavors will be offered at:

  • Magic Kingdom’s Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Café – turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy.
  • Plus, Pinocchio’s Village Haus has Thanksgiving-inspired flatbread that is offered all month. The menu boasts cheese, turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce drizzled in gravy.
  • Epcot’s Sunshine Seasons – turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and cranberry sauce for lunch and dinner.
  • Animal Kingdom’s Satu’li Canteen will feature the Na’vi’s version of a holiday meal. On Pandora, wood-grilled roasted turkey breast with gravy, apple and sage stuffing, green beans, orange marmalade glazed sweet potatoes with candied pecans, mashed potatoes and cranberry boba pearls will be served; available in both adult and kids’ portions. You’ll find a delicious pumpkin cheesecake mousse for dessert.
  • Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ at Disney Springs is offering a Thanksgiving roast turkey special.

Or… you might want to make the holiday even more memorable by noshing on a turkey leg or a decidedly non-traditional meal like Via Napoli’s Italian offerings in Epcot’s Italy pavilion.

Pizza at Via Napoli in Epcot

Pizza at Via Napoli.

Suggested Thanksgiving Itineraries

  • Reserve a carriage ride. Dine at your hotel food court. Take a walk around your resort. Visit Disney Springs for dessert. End your evening with miniature golf.
  • At Epcot, take in some of the shows around World Showcase that you’ve skipped on other trips. Collect photographs with characters. Stop by the Liberty Inn for dinner; get cobbler for dessert.
  • Go horseback riding at Fort Wilderness and then have a take-out meal/picnic from P&Js Southern Takeout. Take the boat to Disney’s Contemporary Resort to check out the holiday decorations. Board the monorail and visit the Polynesian Village and Grand Floridian resorts; pose for family photos in front of the holiday trees for your Christmas cards.
  • Find a football game on in one of the resort lounges before going to dinner at your resort hotel. Take a walk around the BoardWalk, then get ice cream at Ample Hills Creamery.
BoardWalk Resort WDW

Take a walk around the boardwalk from Beach Club to BoardWalk.

Go shopping at Disney Springs, graze at the quick service spots, then go see a movie. I love the idea of having an appetizer at one place, entree at the next, and finishing up with dessert at another location.

AMC Disney Springs 24 with Dine-In Theatres

See a movie.

Thanksgiving Day Planning

If you’re just planning a last minute trip to Walt Disney World, don’t despair. While most restaurants are booked to capacity, you won’t go hungry. Some restaurants still have availability and many quick service venues offer delicious meals. Next year, plan 180 days in advance to secure your first-choice Advance Dining Reservations.

The most popular restaurants, including Liberty Tree Tavern, offer traditional meals in a memorable atmosphere.
No reservation? Think of an alternate plan; for example, try Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square. Get your meal, then dine upstairs on the second floor.

Find quaint Thanksgiving Day seating on the second floor of the Columbia Harbour House.

Find quaint seating on the second floor of the Columbia Harbour House.

Thanksgiving Touring Plans

Your Thanksgiving touring plans should accommodate the crowds. Utilize FastPass+; checking for last minute availability as some families will decide they are too tired to tour after their holiday feasts. Plan to use single rider lines.

Eat a holiday meal at your reserved restaurant. Hit up a park and ride the overlooked attractions that have little wait. How long has it been since you’ve seen Carousel of Progress or rode the train around the Magic Kingdom? Finish the night with a caramel apple on Main Street U.S.A.

Caramel Apple WDW

Finish your holiday with an old-fashioned treat.

Look for information on the Thanksgiving Parade of Bands. This mass marching band performance includes award-winning bands from around the country, along with the Boston Brass. They have performed traditionally at 2PM in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Finally, don’t forget about Black Friday at Disney Springs! Arrive around opening time at Disney Springs for an uncrowded experience and some fun deals. Crowds pick up around 11AM.

Disney Springs - a great place to unwind.

Plan some time at Disney Springs.

Walt Disney World Holidays are always fun. With our tips you’ll find navigating Thanksgiving at WDW to be memorable. Turkey dinner has a variety of options; look for quick service meals featuring a traditional menu or full service restaurants offering special plated entrees.

From carriage rides, movies, and fishing to shows, rides, and shopping, Walt Disney World serves up a bounty of Thanksgiving fun!

We’ll be in Walt Disney World for the Thanksgiving week. We hope you’ll follow our holiday explorations; we plan to dine at Tusker House for our holiday dinner!

Share your Thanksgiving holiday experiences at WDW with us.

WDW Quick Service Snack Review: Satu’li Canteen

WDW Quick Service Snack Review: Satu’li Canteen

WDW Quick Service Snack Review: Satu’li Canteen

Now that our family has made the exciting trek to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to explore the all-new Pandora – The World of Avator, it’s time to take a look at some of our latest Walt Disney World trip highlights. We discovered the treasures within this new land by day and by night, including a visit to Satu’li Canteen.

Bioluminescence in Pandora World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Pandora’s night time illumination is awe-inspiring.

During a quick walkabout to get more photographs, Michael and I surveyed the provisions available at Pandora’s Quick Service Restaurant — Satu’li Canteen.

Satu'li Canteen

As expected, the bounty grown in Pandora boasts fresh ingredients of wholesome grains, crunchy vegetables, and hearty proteins. Satu’li Canteen, therefore, features many health-conscious menu items that can be customized at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Menu Options at Satu'li Canteen at Pandora The World of Avatar.

Menu Options.

Upon arrival, you’ll first notice the outdoor seating area tucked inside the Quonset-hut.

Outdoor seating at Satu'li Canteen.

Outdoor seating.

Tables for Satu'li Guests in Pandora.

Tables for Satu’li Guests only.

Indoor seating is also available. High chairs are stocked for smaller Pandora tourists.

High Chairs at Satu'li Canteen.

High Chairs.

Weary travelers will discover that the venue is now owned and operated by Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE). ACE is the sole provider of eco tours to Pandora from Earth. And you’ll be so glad that you took the tour!

Cast Members at Satu'li Canteen.

Cast Members.

Learn the backstory to Satu'li Canteen.

Photos and letters are framed near the ordering queue.

Look for documents that explain the backstory of Satu’li Canteen, including a document signed by Marshall Lamm, ACE’s founder. Pictures show his successful efforts to partner with the Na’vi.

Satu'li Canteen's backstory is on display in the restaurant's queue.

Backstory items are on display in the queue.

Photographs at Satu'li Canteen.

Photo Wall.

Upon closer inspection, Na’vi artifacts such as tapestries and cookware decorate the canteen.

Na'vi artifacts decorate Satu'li Canteen.

Na’vi artifacts.

Na'vi artifacts decorate Satu'li Canteen at Pandora - The World of Avatar.

Satu’li Canteen Decor.

Na’vi art and culture is celebrated throughout this former RDA (Resources Development Administration) mess hall. Look for Earth references as well.

Satu'li Canteen

Some equipment has been offworld tested.

Satu'li Canteen is the former mess hall for the Resources Development Administration (RDA).

Former mess hall for the Resources Development Administration (RDA).

Celebrate the Na'vi culture at Satu'li Canteen.

Na’vi cultural influences.

Satu'li Canteen

Satu’li Canteen

Satu'li Canteen.

Satu’li Canteen.

Satu'li Canteen.

Satu’li Canteen.

Our first visit to Satu’li Canteen was for an early afternoon snack accompanied by thirst-quenching beverages. We needed a quick recharge and hydration as the summer heat was zapping our strength as we hiked through the Valley of Mo’ara.

Valley of Mo'ara Photograph

Valley of Mo’ara.

My husband and I shared a Chocolate Cake, Pandoran Sunrise, and Diet Coke from the fast-casual menu. One of the nice perks of dining here — your food selections will be served on beautiful dishes with nice cutlery. After dining, return your Earthly materials to these bins.

Satu'li Canteen

Return dishes here.

Chocolate Cake

The chocolate cake was quite airy. And while I wasn’t sure how the crunchy cookie layer would play out, it was an absolute winner. You’ll want to get some of that scrumptious banana cream topping and crunchy bottom in every bite.

Chocolate Cake at Satu'li Canteen in Pandora

Chocolate Cake at Satu’li Canteen.

Now, one of my must eat snacks at Walt Disney World!

Satu'li Canteen serves up a delicious chocolate cake. Visit Pandora!

Order the Chocolate Cake!

Topped with healthy Goji Berries, the current cost is $5.29.

Satu'li Canteen Dessert at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Stop by Satu’li Canteen for dessert.

Pandoran Sunrise

The Pandoran Sunrise is a refreshing balance of Tropical Juices blended with Powerade® Melon for a current price of $4.49. Since it’s non-alcholic, it’s fun for all ages.

Pandoran Sunrise at Satu'li Canteen.

Pandoran Sunrise.

Go ahead and take a sip when it’s time to hydrate. This drink is delicious! And not too sweet. Pineapple fans will appreciate the garnish.

Pandoran Sunrise at Satu'li Canteen at Pandora The World of Avatar.

Pandoran Sunrise – take a sip!

Assorted Fountain Beverages include:
Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Coca-Cola Zero®, Sprite®, Sprite Zero®, Fanta® Orange, Barq’s®, Minute Maid® Light Lemonade, Powerade® Mountain Blast, Vitamin Water [Acai-Blueberry-Pomegranate], Coca-Cola® Cherry, Gold Peak Sweet Iced Tea, and Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea.

The price is a hefty $3.29 as of July 2017, however you’ll enjoy free refills while you dine. For animal safety, Disney’s Animal Kingdom restaurants serve beverages with paper straws.

Diet Coke fountain beverage at Satu'li Canteen.

Diet Coke.

Draft Beer is also offered. You might want to taste test the Pandora Amber Ale or the green-tinted Pandora Grog Ale.

Draft Beer at Satu'li Canteen.

Beer on tap.

Recommendation and Tips

If you’re in a hurry to get back to Earth (or to delve deeper into Pandora’s gorgeous paths), consider Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering via the My Disney Experience app.

Note that picky eaters may have difficulty here although the kids menu will be a safe bet for most guests. Yes, adults can order kid food too!

Nestled within Pandora, Satu’li Canteen provides quick service meals for hungry travelers. We recommend stopping by during your tour.

Disney Restaurant Facts

  • Animal Kingdom Theme Park/Pandora
  • Health Conscious and Vegetarian Options
  • Kids Menu
  • Fast Casual/Quick Service
  • Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering
  • Some Dining Plans Accepted
  • Menu

What item do you most want to try on your tour to Satu’li Canteen? Contact Us, Follow Us on Twitter, or comment below to share your firsthand Satu’li experience.