Book a Black Friday shopping holiday in Orlando

Where to go for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in the US is all about the food. Whatever your plans are for the day, you just have to make time for an American-style holiday feast, and with over 350 restaurants in Orlando to choose from, you won’t go hungry. For a traditional Thanksgiving feast, Seasons 52 on Sand Lake Road and Capital Grille on International Drive are both great options. Or if you’re not a turkey fan, venues like Mi Tomatina and Tamarind serve alternative holiday-themed dinners.

If you’re planning on having a magical Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World, plenty of restaurants offer special Thanksgiving menus. There’s Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom, The Hollywood Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios, Tusker House at Animal Kingdom, and loads more options in Epcot’s World Showcase and Disney Springs. Of course, we don’t blame you if you’d rather spend all your time on the rides than go for a sit-down meal – just grab one of the famous giant turkey legs for a quick taste of Thanksgiving while you’re queuing.

Universal Orlando® also have a few celebrations planned at their on-site resorts. Last year, Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Hard Rock Hotel® at Universal Orlando® and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando® held Thanksgiving buffets with live entertainment and a tree-lighting luau. If you happen to be at Universal Orlando® over Christmas, you’ll see the balloons and floats from the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, which are sent straight to the park after Thanksgiving.

Where to shop

So onto the shopping. Big discounts on everything from clothes to electronics are available the whole day long, but if you want to bag the best bargains, make sure you get to the malls early. The Florida Mall is Orlando’s biggest with over 250 stories to choose from, including a huge H&M, Macy’s and American Girl. At Orlando Premium Outlets, you’ll find all the biggest designer and sports brands, including Nike, Converse and Armani. And, if you’re after a designer handbag or two, Mall at Millenia is the one for high-end luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Burberry.

Watch our Florida shopping video for some more top tips.

Ready for fun, food and shopping?

Browse our Orlando deals and hotels for your Black Friday holiday. And, if you need more Florida inspiration, find out why the Sunshine State isn’t just for kids and what’s new at Walt Disney World.

Author: Selina Akhtar

Published: 15.09.2016.