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Are you planning a holiday trip to Disneyland? Disneyland is extra magical around the holidays, so it’s a great time to visit Disneyland Resort. We’re going to answer all your questions about Thanksgiving at Disneyland!

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Disneyland Train Station with Fall leaves

Is Disneyland Open on Thanksgiving Day?

We always get questions about when Disneyland is open and when is the best time to visit. So if you are hoping to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on Thanksgiving, the answer is yes, Disneyland is open on Thanksgiving Day 2023! Don’t forget, you will need a reservation and holidays at the Happiest Place on Earth tend to book up quickly!

Is Disneyland busy on Thanksgiving Day?

If you are planning to be in Disneyland Thanksgiving Day, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. First, Thanksgiving weekend will be one of the busiest weekends (especially the day after Thanksgiving), because kids have a long weekend off of school for Thanksgiving break. Lots of California schools even get the whole Thanksgiving week off! Also, a lot of parents will have an extra day or two off work. So you should expect long lines for the most popular rides. A great way to make sure you are getting through lines without long wait times is to purchase Disney Genie+.

Next, while it might not seem like it’s one of the busiest days in the morning, the crowd levels will definitely go up as people finish up their Thanksgiving dinner and head into the parks to hit their favorite attraction at Disneyland. One of our best tips for Thanksgiving at Disneyland is to rope drop if you can, arriving about an hour before the park opens. Get there early while there are fewer crowds at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure to get on all your rides with a shorter wait time. It can be helpful to utilize Genie+ during the afternoon and evening when busier.

Last, make sure you don’t let the little things get you down. It might be busier or slower than you think, but just enjoy the magic of Disneyland during the holidays! Make sure you take in all the beautiful Christmas decorations and the holiday overlays on the popular attractions.

Pro Tip: While the parks during Thanksgiving week can be a busy time to visit, we have had luck going the week before the week of Thanksgiving and seeing fewer crowds and smaller wait times.

Does Disneyland do a special Thanksgiving Meal?

The holiday season at Disneyland is always extra special and if you are visiting Disneyland at Thanksgiving you can expect even a little bit more!

Like other holidays, you will see special seasonal Thanksgiving food offerings to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

In previous years, there have been traditional Thanksgiving offerings like a full turkey dinner at Blue Bayou, River Belle Terrace, Carnation Cafe, and Flo’s V8 Cafe.

Don’t forget that French Market, Jolly Holiday, Plaza Inn, and other places will also be offering Thanksgiving-themed quick meals, treats, and desserts.

There has also previously been a Thanksgiving buffet at the Disneyland Hotel. Make sure you get your reservations for table service restaurants as soon as they are open because they will book up quickly.

Also, make sure to use mobile ordering at quick-service restaurants for your Thanksgiving meals during peak dining hours to keep from having to wait forever for your food.

Does Disneyland have Thanksgiving Decorations?

By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, the holiday magic at Disneyland has already been sprinkled everywhere to start getting all the holiday decorations up, like the Christmas Tree on Main Street. The 2023 holidays at Disneyland are expected to begin on November 10th, 2023, and end on January 7th, 2024. You will start to see the shift in decor begin on November 3rd from Halloween to the Holidays.

How long are Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park open on Thanksgiving?

To make sure you get the most up-to-date information, always check the Disneyland app for Disneyland hours of operation. Disneyland is usually open from 8am to 12am, while California Adventure is usually open from 8am to 10pm. Once again, make sure you are checking park hours in the app for more reliable – up to date information.

What else do I need to know about visiting Disneyland in November?

Disneyland is a great place to visit any time of year, but there is something special about what Disneyland offers during the holidays. To make the most of your time at Disneyland during the holiday season, try to plan ahead when it comes to dining options.

Get your reservations early. If you miss out on in-park dining, remember that there are amazing restaurants around Disneyland and in Downtown Disney that might be easier to get into.

Make a plan for any must-do rides or shows so that you don’t feel disappointed by missing something you really wanted to do. Remember, It’s a Small World does a special holiday overlay that is so pretty!

The weather in November can be really pleasant, but you also need to plan for cooler temps and possible rain. We suggest dressing in layers and bringing a small umbrella or rain poncho if the weather forecast calls for rain.

The Thanksgiving and Christmas season have some of the best days to visit. You get a lot of benefits from the of cooler weather, the festival of holidays, and depending on the day of the week, you might even experience it being less busy in terms of crowds.

Getting Disneyland Tickets for November 2023.

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If you are planning to visit Disneyland on Thanksgiving, they will tell you everything you need to know to make sure you have the best experience at Disneyland. Make sure you let them know that we sent you and use our affiliate link to save an extra $10 on your vacation package.

We hope that we were able to answer all your questions about Disneyland during Thanksgiving. If there is anything we missed, leave us a comment and we’ll get your question answered.

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