It’s time to retire the idea that Friendsgiving has to be a potluck at one friend’s house, crowded around a folding table with mystery side dishes and a store-bought pie. For friend groups ready to elevate the tradition beyond the living room, there’s no place more magical to gather than Walt Disney World or Disneyland.
Between the festive atmosphere and endless entertainment, Disney creates the perfect backdrop for friendship, gratitude, and celebration.
Holiday Magic Meets Friendship
During the holiday season, both Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Disneyland in Anaheim, California, dial up the magic with dazzling decorations, seasonal treats, and spirited entertainment. The parks remain open at full capacity, so you can spend the day riding Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and end the night watching fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle.
While Disney is enchanting any time of year, November brings something special. Halloween lanterns give way to twinkling snow globes, and the parks transform into immersive winter wonderlands. Though there aren’t parades or events specifically for Thanksgiving, there’s no shortage of festive happenings to keep your group entertained.
Friendsgiving Feasts And Culinary Celebrations
If your Friendsgiving celebration takes you to Orlando, don’t miss Zootopia: Better Zoogether, a new show at the Tree of Life Theater in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which opened November 7. You can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast at park and resort restaurants like Whispering Canyon Café or Steakhouse 71, or sample seasonal small bites and cocktails at Jollywood Nights in Hollywood Studios. After sipping Mocha Espresso Mint-tinis and Spiced Pear Martinis, gather your crew for dinner at The Hollywood Brown Derby—where you might even share pumpkin pie with the Muppets.
Enjoy the Holiday Turkey Leg with cranberry sauce during your visit to the Festive Food Marketplace
David L Nguyen
If your group leans more towards being foodie than thrill-seekers, Disneyland is your ideal Friendsgiving destination. The Festive Food Marketplace returns on November 14, showcasing holiday treats from around the world. With the Sip and Savor Pass, you can taste your way through this global smorgasbord while making unforgettable memories. Several restaurants at Disneyland California Adventure will serve Thanksgiving-inspired dishes, including the beloved Holiday Sandwich—roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce on rustic sourdough bread—at Jolly Holiday Bakery. Between bites, relive childhood nostalgia by meeting the Country Bears in Grizzly Peak or catching a Disneyland Band holiday jam session on Main Street.
Create Memories In Style
For groups looking to stay together, Disney’s lodging options deliver the perfect balance of comfort and convenience.The Disney Vacation Club (DVC)offers a home-like setting ideal for Friendsgiving gatherings. Spacious villas and suites feature full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and generous living areas—perfect for cooking a shared meal before heading to the parks. Accommodations range from resort studios that sleep five to three-bedroom villas that can host up to 12. Villas are often decorated in themes from your favorite Disney classics including Bambi, Sleeping Beauty, Tiana and the Frog, and Moana. Guests can also enjoy resort amenities like pools, room service, private tours, and park discounts. The Disney Vacation Club has locations at both Disneyland and Disney World as well as Ko Olina, Hawaii, Hilton Head, South Carolina and more!
Three-bedroom villa at Disneyland Vacation Club at The Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California
Disney Vacation Club
Perfect Way To Celebrate As ‘Disney Adults’
Friendsgiving at Disney is the ultimate way to celebrate friendship and magic. It’s where “Disney Adults” can indulge their nostalgia, enjoy fine dining and craft cocktails, and experience exclusive seasonal events. Whether you’re eating your way around the world at EPCOT or toasting in your Disney Vacation Club suite, Disney makes Friendsgiving effortless, unforgettable, and full of joy.
Because at Disney, the happiest place on earth becomes the most heartwarming place to give thanks.
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