Thanksgiving in Orlando: What To Expect at Orlando's Major Theme Parks

One of the best times to visit Orlando, if you can manage it, is right around Thanksgiving. November boasts one of the best Florida climates, with pleasantly warm days and nights that are cool but not cold. Meanwhile, the theme park capital of the world doesn't disappoint when it comes to celebrating this national holiday. Here's what you can expect to see at each of Orlando's major theme parks if you visit for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving at Disney World is considered a transitional holiday, so while you won't see a lot of Thanksgiving decorations, you will see the emergence of the year's Christmas décor. On Thanksgiving itself, many of the restaurants in Disney will serve traditional Thanksgiving fare with all the fixings.

Over at Epcot, you can enjoy the International Festival of the Holidays Candlelight Processional. This special event gives you the opportunity to appreciate holidays from around the world. Other special events include a holiday cookie stroll, Disney's Yuletide Fantasy Tour, and the much-beloved Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party which is available the week of Thanksgiving, though not on Thanksgiving night.

Seaworld is an exciting place to visit for Thanksgiving, as you can get up close and personal with the very animals you're so thankful for. One must-do Thanksgiving Day activity is feeding the birds at Discovery Cove. These exotic birds will fly right down and land on your hand to eat provided snacks.

Your kids will love the newly-opened Sesame Street Land. Additionally, because Seaworld is a certified autism center, you can feel good about bringing any member of your family to enjoy Thanksgiving at Seaworld.

Universal Studios is one park that goes all out for Thanksgiving. In addition to offering both quick-service and full-service Thanksgiving meals at their restaurants, they also offer huge holiday parades. This year, the Minions are prominently featured in the Universal's Holiday Parade.

Over at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley will both be decked out for the Christmas holidays. They serve special holiday treats and beverages that you can't get anywhere else in the park, and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees will be performing a show.

Last, but by no means least, are the events and activities that LegoLand has to offer. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, LegoLand comes to life with interactive holiday shows and activities. Don't miss the 30-foot LEGO Christmas tree or the LEGO sleigh and reindeer, which both present amazing photo opportunities for the whole family. You can also meet LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier.

LegoLand has become more spectacular than ever with the recent addition of the LEGO Movie Land. Become a Master Builder and create the ultimate Thanksgiving experience in this interactive park, which will be decked out for the holiday season.

One of the best things about enjoying Thanksgiving in Orlando is the ability to see all the Christmas decorations and excitement with a smaller crowd than you'd get if you visited the parks in December. Thanksgiving week, though crowded, is one of the least crowded holiday weeks in these parks. This allows you to enjoy just the right amount of hustle and bustle to kick your holiday season off right. No matter which park you visit, you'll be able to indulge in a traditional Thanksgiving feast that you don't have to cook, followed by as many holiday festivities as you can handle. Orlando parks are also a great place to kick off your holiday shopping in style. If you're looking for a Thanksgiving that will get you stoked for the holiday season, look no further than Orlando's theme parks.