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What's Open on Thanksgiving in Orlando? 2026 Hours Guide
- Daniel Harper
- 2026-10-12
Quick answer: What's open on Thanksgiving Day in Orlando (Thursday, November 26, 2026)? Walt Disney World's four theme parks, Universal Orlando's parks, SeaWorld Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida and Gatorland all list Thanksgiving hours on their official pages, while Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Orlando Science Center say they are closed. Walmart says its stores will be closed this year, and Publix, Aldi and Costco say they close on Thanksgiving Day as a standing policy, so buy groceries by Wednesday, November 25.
We checked each fact below against the official page on October 12, 2026. Dates and hours change, so confirm before you go. Where a company had not published 2026 hours, we say so and label anything from last year.
Key Takeaways
- Open with posted hours: all four Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, three Universal theme parks, Universal CityWalk, SeaWorld Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida and Gatorland.
- Closed: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Orlando Science Center and Universal Volcano Bay, which is closed for season. SunRail does not operate on Thanksgiving Day.
- Groceries: Walmart says closed in 2026. Publix, Aldi and Costco say they close on Thanksgiving. Target and Walgreens had only last year's information on their official pages, Winn-Dixie had only a 2024 press release, and CVS had no holiday statement we could find.
- Thanksgiving Day buffets at Orlando resorts post dates, times and prices, and several ask for a reservation. Adult prices on the pages we read range from $68.95 to USD 170, and the three Rosen pages say tax and a service charge are extra.
- Low-cost options on the day include the free kids' runs at the Seniors First Turkey Trot at Lake Eola (the 5K has entry fees) and Wekiwa Springs State Park, which lists $6 per vehicle.
Thanksgiving Day 2026 at a glance
| Place | Thanksgiving Day hours (official page) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | 9 am to 10 pm | Happily Ever After fireworks at 8 pm. No ticketed holiday party that night. |
| EPCOT | 9 am to 9 pm | Luminous at 9 pm |
| Disney's Hollywood Studios | 9 am to 9 pm | Fantasmic! listed at 9:30 pm, after the 9 pm park close, so confirm the show time with Disney |
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | 8 am to 6 pm | Earliest close of the four Disney parks |
| Disney Springs | 10 am to 11 pm | Shops and restaurants may keep different hours |
| Universal Studios Florida | 10 am to 8 pm | Early Park Admission not available |
| Universal Islands of Adventure | 9 am to 8 pm | Early Park Admission 8 am |
| Universal Epic Universe | 10 am to 8 pm | Early Park Admission 9 am |
| Universal Volcano Bay | Closed for season | Planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027 |
| Universal CityWalk | 8 am to 12 am | Under-18 rule applies after 8 pm |
| SeaWorld Orlando | 9 am to 9 pm | Christmas Celebration is on the calendar |
| LEGOLAND Florida | 10 am to 6 pm | Christmas Bricktacular is not listed for Nov. 26 |
| Gatorland | 10 am to 5 pm | Open on all holidays |
| Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex | Closed | Reopens Nov. 27, 9 am to 5 pm |
| Orlando Science Center | Closed | Also closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day |
Disney World and Disney Springs on Thanksgiving Day
Disney's hours calendar for November 26 lists the four theme parks above and an Early Entry window of 8:30 to 9:00 am at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and 7:30 to 8:00 am at Animal Kingdom. Check Disney's site for who qualifies. The calendar lists no ticketed events on Thanksgiving Day itself. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party runs the nights on either side, and Disney's event page lists the party dates as November 24, 25, 27 and 29 (Disney event page). EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays starts the next day, November 27 (Disney festival page).
Disney Springs shows 10 am to 11 pm on Disney's calendar, but individual shops and restaurants may keep different hours. Disney Springs' own holiday page said the 2025 offering had concluded and 2026 information had not been posted when we checked, so look at each business before you drive over. If you take little ones to a park, Disney's park rules allow strollers up to 31 inches wide and 52 inches long and prohibit wagons and stroller wagons (Disney park rules).
Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND and Gatorland
Universal's park hours calendar lists Thanksgiving Day hours for three theme parks and CityWalk, and lists Universal Volcano Bay as closed for season, noting a maintenance closure scheduled to begin October 26, 2026, with a planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027. The Holidays at Universal run from November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and Universal says its Holiday Parade featuring Macy's is included with theme park admission (Universal's Holiday Parade). Guests under 18 at CityWalk without theme park admission must leave at 8 pm unless they are with a parent or guardian 21 or older, staying at a Universal hotel, or hold a CityWalk restaurant reservation, among other listed exceptions.
SeaWorld's park hours page lists 9 am to 9 pm on Thanksgiving Day and shows the Christmas Celebration on its calendar. SeaWorld's own pages disagree on the exact start date of the Christmas Celebration (November 6 on one line, November 7 on another), so check the calendar for your date. LEGOLAND's hours calendar lists 10 am to 6 pm on November 26, and its Christmas Bricktacular dates in November are the 21st, 22nd, 27th, 28th and 29th (LEGOLAND holiday page). Gatorland says it is open 10 am to 5 pm every day, holidays included, and lists single stroller rentals at $11 and double at $16.
What is closed on Thanksgiving Day
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: its 2026 hours page lists November 26 as closed and 9 am to 5 pm from November 27.
- Orlando Science Center: its visit page lists it as closed on Thanksgiving Day, with usual hours of 10 am to 5 pm.
- SunRail: SunRail says it does not operate on Thanksgiving Day (SunRail help center). LYNX had published a holiday schedule only for 2025 when we checked, so look for its 2026 notice before relying on a bus.
Grocery stores and pharmacies
This is the part that catches visitors in a vacation rental. The table shows what each company's official page said, and what year the statement is from.
| Chain | What the official page says | Year of the statement |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Stores will be closed again on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year | 2026 (October 7 announcement) |
| Publix | Stores are closed three days a year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter | Standing policy, not dated |
| Aldi | Closed on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day | Standing policy, not dated |
| Costco | U.S. warehouses are closed on Thanksgiving Day, which is on its holiday closure list | Standing list, on a page published in 2023 |
| Whole Foods Market | Many stores are open with modified hours on Thanksgiving. Check your local store page. | Standing statement, no 2026 hours |
| Target | No 2026 statement found. The page still shows last year's: closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27 (2025). | Last year only |
| Walgreens | No 2026 statement found. Its 2025 holiday hub said most stores were closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27) and 24-hour locations stayed open for essential pharmacy services. | Last year only |
| CVS | No holiday-hours statement found. It lists hours store by store in its store locator. | Not found |
| Winn-Dixie | No 2026 statement found. A November 20, 2024 press release said its stores would be closed on Thanksgiving Day 2024. Hours are listed store by store in its store locator. | Two years ago only |
The takeaway, as advice: do not count on a store run on Thursday. Shop by Wednesday, November 25, and get any prescription refills before the holiday. If you want a hot meal without cooking, Publix lists a Thanksgiving order-ahead page for dinners, sides and desserts, and Publix says it is closed on Thanksgiving, so pick up before the day. The page we read says to order ahead by November 24 but shows no year and still links a 2025 delivery page, so confirm the 2026 deadline with Publix. Our Thanksgiving vacation rental kitchen checklist has a shopping and thaw timeline.
Where to eat Thanksgiving dinner
For a full dinner out, book ahead. Disney describes the Patriot's Platter at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom as a traditional family-style Thanksgiving dinner with roasted turkey, pot roast and oven-roasted pork, and it says a confirmed dining reservation is highly recommended at in-park table-service restaurants (Liberty Tree Tavern). Disney's dining plan guide says reservations can be made starting 60 days before arrival, online or in the My Disney Experience app (Disney dining guide). The hotel buffets below post their 2026 details on official pages. Prices are as posted. The three Rosen pages say their prices exclude 6.5% tax and a service charge (27% at Rosen Plaza, 26% at Rosen Centre and 20% at Rosen Shingle Creek). The Four Seasons page does not say whether tax and service are added.
| Buffet | Thursday, November 26 hours | Adult price | Child price | Reservation notes from the page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosen Plaza Hotel | 11:30 am to 3:30 pm | $68.95 | $31.95 (ages 4 to 11), free age 3 and under | Call (407) 996-0256 |
| Rosen Centre Hotel, Cafe Gauguin | 11 am to 6 pm | $79.95 | $39.95 (ages 4 to 12), free age 3 and under | Parties above 6 must call directly, credit card to hold, cancellations by Monday, November 23, and a $25 per person fee for late cancellations and no-shows |
| Rosen Shingle Creek | Noon to 7 pm | $157.95 | $65.95 (ages 4 to 11), free age 3 and under | $25 per person no-show fee if not cancelled within 24 hours |
| Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Plancha | Noon to 7 pm | USD 150 | USD 58 | See the page for booking |
| Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Ravello | 1 pm to 8 pm | USD 170 | USD 58 | See the page for booking |
Universal's dining reservations page did not list 2026 Thanksgiving menus when we checked.
Free and low-cost ways to spend the day
- Seniors First Turkey Trot at Lake Eola: the City of Orlando lists it on Thursday, November 26 at 7:00 am at 227 N. Eola Dr. (City of Orlando event page). The organizer lists costume judging at 7 am, the 5K at 8 am (the 5K has entry fees) and a free Tot Trot at 9:15 am, with kids' runs of 100 to 400 yards free for all children (Track Shack event page).
- Wekiwa Springs State Park: open 8 am to sunset, 365 days a year, with a $6 per vehicle fee listed (Florida State Parks).
- Disney Springs after dinner: open until 11 pm on Disney's calendar, with shops and restaurants keeping their own hours.
A Thanksgiving Day plan for toddlers and young kids
Treat this as advice, not a forecast. Park hours are fixed on paper, but a holiday can change a toddler's routine. Go early, break for lunch and a real nap at the rental, and keep the evening short. Animal Kingdom closes at 6 pm, so it suits a morning-only plan, while Magic Kingdom's 10 pm close leaves room for a late dinner at the rental after a nap. If you are cooking at the rental, thaw and prep the day before so Thursday is not a kitchen marathon. For crowd-level planning and school breaks, read our Thanksgiving week guide. For events across the whole week, see Thanksgiving in Orlando.
If you do not want to fly with a stroller, Honest Sherpa's stroller rentals include single, umbrella, jogging and double strollers, plus rain covers. If the rental refrigerator is too small and the stores are closed, you can arrange a rented refrigerator or freezer before the holiday.
What about Honest Sherpa on Thanksgiving?
Honest Sherpa's site says it operates seven days a week, every day of the year but Christmas. Delivery and pickup dates are chosen at checkout, with delivery set for your arrival day and pickup for your departure day. We do not know of any special Thanksgiving Day schedule, so we are not stating one.
FAQ
Are Disney World parks open on Thanksgiving Day? Yes. Disney's calendar lists Magic Kingdom 9 am to 10 pm, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios 9 am to 9 pm, and Animal Kingdom 8 am to 6 pm on November 26, 2026.
What time does Universal Orlando close on Thanksgiving? Universal lists Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe all closing at 8 pm, and Volcano Bay is closed for season.
Is Publix open on Thanksgiving? No. Publix says its stores are closed three days a year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving 2026? Walmart says its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving this year, in an announcement dated October 7, 2026.
Is Kennedy Space Center open on Thanksgiving? No. Its 2026 hours page lists Thanksgiving Day, November 26, as closed.
Is Thanksgiving a good time to visit Universal Orlando? Universal posts 10 am to 8 pm at Universal Studios Florida and 9 am to 8 pm at Islands of Adventure that day. We do not predict crowds, but our Thanksgiving week guide has the school calendars and official event dates.
What can I do on Thanksgiving Day in Orlando? Open options include the theme parks above, Gatorland, Disney Springs, the Lake Eola Turkey Trot and Wekiwa Springs State Park, plus a hotel buffet if you book ahead.
Are pharmacies open on Thanksgiving in Orlando? Walgreens and CVS did not have 2026 holiday hours on their official pages. Last year Walgreens said most stores were closed and 24-hour locations stayed open for essential pharmacy services. Check your nearest store in its locator.
Plan the day, pack less. Honest Sherpa delivers strollers, refrigerators and freezers and other gear to your vacation rental, free of charge, with delivery dates chosen at checkout. Enter your zip code or city on the site to see if your address is covered.
