Hey there, hi there, Courtney! You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney! I'm so glad that you've stopped by with such a great question.
My family and I absolutely love spending Thanksgiving at
Walt Disney World Resort. The weather is usually nice, it is the practically perfect way to kick off the holiday season and nothing makes me feel more grateful than spending time with my family at The Most Magical Place on Earth. Of course, besides giving thanks and spending time with family, the next most important part of Thanksgiving is the food, so let's get to it.
If your heart is set on having Thanksgiving lunch or dinner at
Whispering Canyon Cafe or
Steakhouse 71 (great choices!), I recommend that you keep up your search for availability at these locations. You will find that Guests' plans change all the time, so you may just be able to find availability as your vacation approaches, even up to the day before! However, you will want a fantastic backup plan, so let's chat about your options.
To ensure y'all have a delicious down-home Thanksgiving meal, I recommend making reservations at
Trail's End Restaurant at The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness or
Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' in Disney Springs. The Trail's End dinner is served family-style (perfect for Thanksgiving), and the menu is similar to what you will find at Whispering Canyon Cafe. At Homecomin', you can enjoy a seemingly home-cooked, delicious family meal (Seriously, it's SO good), and you are sure to leave your Thanksgiving dinner just as you should - with full hearts and bellies.
While the Thanksgiving menus at the various Resort and Disney Springs restaurants have not yet been released, in the past, I found that several restaurants offered a more traditional Thanksgiving meal option, even if they don't typically offer that sort of fare. In fact, one year, I was surprised to see that even
Sanaa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, which typically serves African-inspired dishes, offered a more traditional Thanksgiving meal option. I have also had delicious Thanksgiving meals at
Trattoria al Forno on the BoardWalk and some of the quick-service locations at the Disney Resorts Collection Hotels. As your vacation approaches, just keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog and the different restaurants' menus to see your endless options, Courtney. I'm so excited for you!
I hope this was helpful, Courtney, and I hope you have the most magical vacation and the happiest Thanksgiving! Please stop by any time with any questions you may have along the way.
See ya real soon,
Mandy