Thanksgiving week is popular at the Disney parks – so if you are planning a trip, you might be wondering if the park is even open!

The good news is – yes! It is open! But it’s going to be busy, so in this article, we are sharing everything you need to know about Disneyland and Thanksgiving – including where to find Thanksgiving dinner and other seasonal offerings!

Is Disneyland open on Thanksgiving Day?

Yes, Disneyland is open on Thanksgiving Day! So if you’re looking for a fun and festive way to spend Thanksgiving, Disneyland is the place to be. There are some fun meals and foods available during Thanksgiving week which can make it an even more unique event.

How Busy is Thanksgiving at Disneyland

Thanksgiving week is usually a busy day at the parks. Because many schools are off for most of the week, it has become a prime time for visiting the park.

With that said, the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are like the busiest days during Thanksgiving week. You might get lucky and find some lower crowds throughout the day on the actual day of Thanksgiving – especially during typical Thanksgiving dinner times (early afternoon) as many people who are visiting may not want to eat dinner in the park.

Here are the predictions from various websites:

• Is it Packed? lists Thanksgiving as “Yup, it’s packed!” but it also marked it as a “best bet” for best crowds that week.
• Undercover Tourist has Thanksgiving listed as a 10/10 with the highest crowds
• Magic Guides has Thanksgiving listed as “above average crowds”, one level below their highest designation of “Heavy crowds”

California Adventure’s “Festival of Holidays” food fest is also in full swing, which is always certain to bring in crowds.

No matter what way you spin it, you are going to likely encounter crowds while you are visiting. It’s certainly not the end of the world, but it’s just something to be aware of while you plan your trip.

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

When to book for Thanksgiving at Disneyland

Because Thanksgiving week is going to be busy, the sooner you book your tickets and hotel, the better!

As of right now, Disneyland and California Adventure are still using the reservation system. At the time of this writing, reservations are not currently available, but I am sure once the availability is released, they will fill up quickly.

Hotels – especially those closer to Disneyland – will be filling up quickly as well. We definitely recommend booking your trip as soon as possible through Get Away Today to take advantage of any savings you can.

Pro Tip: Even if single park ticket reservations are not available, they sometimes are available with the Park Hopper. You may need to purchase a park hopper ticket if this is the case.

Does Disneyland serve Thanksgiving dinner?

Yes! There are places that you can get Thanksgiving dinner (or Thanksgiving-esque foods) while you are at the parks during Thanksgiving week. Here are some of the different options that have traditional Thanksgiving meals available.

• Disneyland Hotel’s Grand Ballroom*
• Napa Rose*
• Storyteller’s Cafe*
• Goofy’s Kitchen*
• Carnation Cafe
• River Belle Terrace
• Wine Country Trattoria

Many of these restaurants require reservations, which are available 60 days before you arrive. These will definitely go fast, so grab them if you see them! You can cancel up to 72 hours beforehand to avoid cancellation fees.

*These are the restaurants that serve full Thanksgiving dinners and reservations will definitely be limited!

Other Thanksgiving-Themed Foods at Disneyland.

One of the most fun parts of Thanksgiving at Disneyland is the opportunity to try out some of their seasonal offerings.

Not looking for turkey and mashed potatoes? Well, there are still lots of fun Thanksgiving foods (savory and sweet!) available at the park. Here are a few places to check out for some yummy options, though be sure to check your app for random places around the park!

• Flo’s Cafe – Typically has turkey available but not a specific Thanksgiving dinner. They do serve a delicious “Day After Thanksgiving” sandwich
• Pacific Wharf Cafe
• Festival of Holiday Booths – there are always some holiday-themed foods at these booths! If you want little bites of a variety of fun foods, definitely take advantage of the food pass!
• Cafe Orleans
• French Market Restaurant
• Plaza Inn
• Rancho del Zocalo
• Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (their Holiday sandwich is to DIE for).
• Carthay Circle Lounge
• Candy Shops

And of course, you can get a smoked Turkey Leg ALL Year round at both parks. This a great option for those who are looking for a less traditional approach to Thanksgiving dinner!

Tips for Thanksgiving at Disneyland

Many of the tips for a successful Thanksgiving trip are the same ones we’d recommend for ANY busy time of year at Disneyland – but they are always worth reiterating!

Use Mobile Ordering

Download the Disneyland app to take advantage of mobile ordering at select quick-service restaurants. This will help you avoid long lines and enjoy your time in the parks more!

Take Advantage of Genie+

Disney Genie+ is definitely a necessity during peak season at Disneyland! Unless you really love standing in lines, having a holiday Disney Genie+ strategy can greatly limit the amount of time you spend waiting in line.

Arrive Early

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your day! This will almost assuredly give you a couple hours of lower crowds. You should definitely rope drop some of the most popular rides as well.

Make Reservations Early

This is important for both park reservations and for restaurant reservations. I suspect that as soon as these disappear, it will be difficult to grab one. They are both available 60 days before Thanksgiving!

Stay Close By

Stay as close as you can to the park! It will make it easier to get to the parks early, take a break midday, and just take advantage of Disney magic for longer. There are quite a few affordable hotels nearby, so grab one while you ca.

Consider Staying On Site

If you are staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel, you have the opportunity to enter the parks an hour early each morning of your stay. This is a great way to get some extra rides in before the parks get too busy later in the day.

Disneyland is a great place to spend Thanksgiving, and this guide has everything you need to know to make the most of your trip. From restaurants that are serving traditional Thanksgiving meals to tips on avoiding long lines, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to download the Disneyland app and take advantage of Genie+ so you can make the most of your time in the parks! We’d love to hear your experience at Disneyland during Thanksgiving – share below!

The post Is Disneyland open on Thanksgiving day? Tips for Thanksgiving Success appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Enjoy!

Tickets to Disneyland or Disney World

Okay, I know this isn’t the most realistic or budget friendly, but I think a trip to either of these places would be pretty amazing for a Disney fanatic. Get Away Today makes it even easier and more affordable – they often run giveaways and specials! You can even get $10 off a package by using the code MFTG.

Disney Movie Club

The Disney Book

Disneyland Puzzle

Capturing the Magic

Disney Book Club

Vintage Disneyland Map

Haunted Mansion Stretch Painting

Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary Necklace

Disneyland Drive Key Tag

Disneyland Castle Illustration

Mickey Poster

Disney Pictopia

Personalized Water Bottles

Disney Partners Lantern

Disney Inspired Candle Melts

Disney Eye Found It

Minnie Mouse Apron

Disney Scene It?

Disney Castle Bangle

Slip on Disney Vans

Ellie Grape Soda Badge

Disney Brushed Art (The sell these inside of Downtown Disney – super cool!).

Personalized Disney Welcome Sign

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Disney+, Disney’s official streaming service, launched in 2019. Since then, it has grown in popularity and currently has more than 100 million subscribers.

If you have not yet invested in Disney+, you may be wondering if it’s really worth it? In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know before subscribing to Disney+.

Disney+ Bundles and Pricing Options

Disney offers a bundle that combines subscriptions to Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month.

Users have been very pleased with the package because the bundle costs the same as two of the services’ monthly fees, making it less than paying for each of the services individually.

With the bundle, you get access to Hulu’s library of 80,000+ TV episodes and 1,000 films, ESPN’s 1,000+ sporting events and assorted sports content, and Disney+’s 500+ films, 7,500+ episodes, and original series.

Recently, Disney announced that all ESPN+ content will be available on Hulu so users do not have to use two different platforms.

If you are not interested in Hulu or ESPN+, you can also sign up for Disney+ only. You can pay $6.99 on a monthly basis or a one-time fee of $69.99 for a year-long subscription.

What to Watch on Disney+?

After you’ve decided to pay for a subscription, you may be wondering what you should watch first. Well, here are a few options:

Children

There are many categories that were created with children in mind. After all, Disney is a family-friendly company.

The Walt Disney Animated Studios Collection brings some family favorites like Peter Pan, Bambi, The Little Mermaid and many more together, separated by decade.

There are many other collections for children like Toy Story, Tangled, Mickey and Friends, Disney Junior, and more.

There are many titles, series, and collections for the young, and the young at heart.

Original Series

Marvel’s WandaVision, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, There are many Disney+ original series such as The Imagineering Story, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and many more.

There are shows that dive in to the history and making of Disneyland, the magic behind Disney weddings, the making of your favorite series, and shows that highlight Disney careers.

Whether you are interested in Marvel, Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic, or you want to relive the classic Disney Channel shows from your youth, there are shows for you.

Movies

Disney+ has a large library of movies ranging from Walt Disney Animation Studios films to Musicals to Live Action Movies, making it the perfect streaming platform for both children and adults.

The movies listed on Disney+ have the ability to bring out the child in all of us and bring families together for a fun activity together.

Along with all of the movies that are already listed on Disney+ from different franchises, Disney+ started releasing movies exclusively on the streaming service.

With the release of Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan, Disney+ debuted on September 4^th, 2020 as a “Premier Access” title.

Disney+ subscribers could spend an additional $30 to preview the film earlier than everyone else, or users could wait util December of 2020 to view the film at no additional cost.

Now, subscribers can view Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon as a “Premier Access” title.

With the release of Disney’s Soul, Disney+ released the film at no additional cost on Christmas day of 2020.

It is unclear moving forward if future releases will use the “Premier Access” feature on Disney+, but it is an option for future debuts.

What’s Coming up on Disney+?

Fans of different franchises are looking forward to upcoming series and movies after the announcement of upcoming content in December of 2020.

With the release and popularity of Marvel Studios’ WandaVision, Marvel fans are eagerly awaiting the release of series like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and Hawkeye, amongst many others recently announced.

And, after the raging poplarity of The Mandalorian, Star Wars fans are awaiting the release of new series like The Book of Boba Fett, Lando, Rangers of the New Republic, and the Lando series, amongst many others.

Is Disney+ Worth It?

Overall, Disney+ is most worth it if you have children or if you are a Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars fan.

It does lack the adult-based content that other platforms have, but it makes up for it with the specialized content that subscribers love.

If any of this piqued your interest, don’t wait! Sign up and discover the magic of Disney+ for yourself.

The post Is Disney+ Worth it? Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

I think everyone can agree – these are strange times we live in. And one thing is for sure. We all miss some things that make us happy.

Disneyland Resort has gone to every measure possible to bring a little piece of happiness to visitors, even though the parks are closed for the time being.

I took a little trip to Downtown Disney to see what the experience is like right now, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

Upon entry, you are greeted with signs that encourage mask wearing and 6-foot distancing, as well as a reminder to prepare for temperature screenings before being allowed to enter Downtown Disney.

Parking & Downtown Disney Entry

There are two ways to enter Downtown Disney. First, guests can choose to park in the Simba parking lot next to the Paradise Pier hotel along Disneyland Drive.

However, many guests have figured out that you can drive down to the Anaheim Garden Walk and park there for a fee.

Another option is driving down the road to find certain businesses that are offering day long parking for anywhere from $10-$25.

Disney California Adventure – Buena Vista Street & Hollywood Land

For a short time, Disney opened Disney California Adventure – Buena Vista Street & Hollywood Land to the public.

Now, it has once again been closed to the public and the space is being used for Disney’s “Touch of Disney” event that will last until April, just before the parks will reopen.

Dining Options

As of right now, dining options available in Downtown Disney are:

• Black Tap
• Earl of Sandwich
• Jamba Juice
• La Brea Bakery Cafe
• Naples Ristorante e Bar
• Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (and Jazz Kitchen Express)
• Salt & Straw
• Sprinkles Cupcakes
• Starbucks
• Tortilla Jo’s
• Uva Bar & Cafe
• Wetzel’s Pretzels

The dining locations located on Buena Vista Street will close starting March 14th to make way for the “A Touch of Disney” event.

Shopping Locations

A lot of guests will come to Downtown Disney for the shopping, even more than the dining options. I mean, who doesn’t want to take home some new Disney merchandise?

With magical touches in many shops located on Downtown Disney, it brings the magic of Disney outside the parks.

Shops open on Downtown Disney are:

• California Sole
• Curl Surf
• The Disney Dress Shop
• Disney Home
• Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop
• Disney’s Pin Traders
• The LEGO Store
• Marceline’s Confectionery
• PANDORA Jewelry
• Sephora
• Star Wars Trading Post
• Sugarboo & Co.
• Sunglass Icon
• WonderGround Gallery
• World of Disney

The World of Disney is by far the most popular store to visit, and there will almost always be a line to get in. The lines have changed from virtual queues to standby lines, and they move fairly quickly. So, while the line lengths may vary, it has never taken me longer than 30 minutes to get in.

There will generally be lines for The World of Disney, Star Wars Trading Post, Off the Page, Marceline’s Confectionary, The LEGO Store, Elias & Co., Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop, and Disney Home.

The same applies for each of these stores – the line lengths will vary, but it does not take long to get in.

Entertainment and New Attractions

The newest attraction on Downtown Disney is the Star Wars Trading Post. Previously known as the Rainforest Cafe, Disney Imaginears have turned the space into a Star Wars shopping center unlike any other.

One of the best parts about the Star Wars Trading Post is the merchandise sold within. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, found within the Disneyland park, was designed to be an extension of the movie franchise, and therefore does not sell any merchandise from Star Wars films or television shows.

But because the Star Wars Trading Post is separate from the parks, you can find film and television merchandise, as well as merchandise that would normally be sold inside the parks. Located down by the Disneyland Hotel entrance, and surrounded by other fun shops and eateries, it is definitely worth a visit.

“A Touch of Disney” Event

Beginning March 18th, Disney will bring ticketed guests entry to the park, familiar sounds, and flavors that people have been missing during the pandemic.

The ticketed event will be held in select outdoor areas of Disney California Adventure Park, Thursdays through Mondays from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Tickets for the experience went on sale March 4th, and must be purchased in advance and online for a specific date (subject to availability).

Guests that purchase tickets will receive:

• Parking at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure beginning at 11:30 AM
• A $25 dining card that will be redeemable for food and non-alcoholic beverages at select dining locations
• Unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos captured the day of the experience.

Tickets will no be available for purchase at the Main Entrance Ticket Booth, but tickets will be released on a rolling basis until the experience ends.

Overall Experience Review

Some have said that visiting the Disney Parks or Shopping Locations during Covid is not worth it because of the restrictions put in place.

Because Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land were open for a brief time to the public, guests got a brief taste of what it is going to be like once the parks reopen. The restrictions they have put in place make guests feel safe, without taking away too much of the magic.

My family felt completely safe visiting the Disney property because of those restrictions. Everyone is required to wear a mask, there are hand washing and hand sanitizing stations set up along Downtown Disney, and 6-foot social distancing is encouraged by markers placed on the ground and cast member reminders.

Disney is updating their merchandise regularly and the visit allowed us to take a break from the stress of the world.

If you are looking for that little bit of magic through sights, tastes, smells, and the familiar Disney ambiance, I would definitely suggest paying Downtown Disney a visit.

The post Visiting Downtown Disney During COVID: What You Need to Know appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.