Thanksgiving in Orlando, FL

When was the last time you actually felt thankful at Thanksgiving? For years, you have been the one that spends days cleaning your home, spending a small fortune on food, and then spending the entire day in the kitchen, preparing a meal that not everyone will appreciate. (Insert cranky Aunt Mabel here) There’s a reason people travel on Thanksgiving and even more reasons they make their way to the sunny climate of Orlando and if your holiday journey brings you our way and includes a stay in one of our Tropical Villas Orlando holiday hideaways, this guide to a beautiful Thanksgiving in Orlando will help remind you of all you have to be thankful for.

The Ritz Carlton Gobbler 5K, Thanksgiving Day, 4012 Central Florida Parkway

There is going to be a LOT of food on your table later in the day, whether you choose to prepare a feast in your Tropical Villas Orlando holiday haven or you choose to go out and let someone else do the hard work, and if running a 5K in the morning before your meal helps you feel less guilty about the carbs you consume, who is going to blame you? The Ritz Carlton Gobbler 5K is one of our favorite runs, taking participants through the beauty of the Grande Lakes Resort, offering a tee shirt, medal, goodie bag, and the opportunity to win a raffle giving away some gifts guaranteed to spoil. Costing $75 and open to the public.

Head to the Parks

The theme parks in the area are open year round and that includes on Thanksgiving Day, meaning you can spend the time you would normally be cooking and cleaning playing and having fun at the park of your choice. By the time turkey day rolls around, Christmas at the parks will be in full swing, encouraging visitors to get a head start on that holiday. SeaWorld, for example, offers live shows, millions of sparkling lights, snow flurries (without the cold weather that accompanies snow flurries in your home town) and holiday foods that may entice you to make Thanksgiving at SeaWorld an annual tradition in your family. Each park in the area offers their own holiday themed activities, included in the regular admittance fees.

Time to Eat

Now it is time to make the most important decision of your getaway, that of choosing between eating out or eating in. The good thing about vacationing in a big city is you can be sure there will be a large selection of restaurants open and waiting to take care of your hunger needs, with our Google search listing 304 open restaurants, but we have listed just a few of our favorites below.

• Haven Kitchen, 6100 Wave Hotel Drive – Haven kitchen offers a traditional Thanksgiving buffet that will enhance your holiday escape to Orlando and includes a yummy selection of desserts.

• Chima Steakhouse, 7830 W Sand Lake Road – Providing a Thanksgiving feast with a Brazilian twist, guests can expect traditional American side dishes such as stuffing or green bean casserole in addition to some of your new Brazilian favorites.

• The Capital Grille, 9101 International Drive and 4200 Conroy Road – This fine dining restaurant offers an elevated menu that will add an air of excitement to your dining experience.

• Raglan Road Irish Pub, 1640 Buena Vista Drive – Inexpensive, delicious, and entertaining, even though Thanksgiving is a strictly American holiday, adding a touch of the old country to your celebration promises to make this holiday unforgettable.

• Solita Tacos & Margaritas, 222 S Orange Avenue – We are always thankful for tacos and margaritas and Solita Tacos & Margaritas is usually open on Thanksgiving day, giving us even more to be thankful for.

Black Friday Shopping

Although many stores have stopped opening late on Thanksgiving, choosing to give their employees the opportunity to stay home with their own families, they will all be open and offering fantastic deals on Friday. The Mall at Millenia is known for its elevated service and high end stores, the Florida Mall with its upscale stores, and the Loop in Kissimmee, located near the big parks, are all destined to have the best sales in town, ensuring your Black Friday shopping experience is unforgettable.

Bring the Celebration Home to Tropical Villas Orlando

Welcoming, inviting, and offering all the amenities you need to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, our Tropical Villas Orlando holiday havens will be the highlight of your turkey day trip. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on state of the art televisions, prepare a turkey feast in our fully equipped kitchens, and gather round the dining table with your family, devouring the feast you just prepared and discussing all you have to be thankful for. Reserve your favorite escape and enjoy a Thanksgiving that everyone will talk about for years to come!