By Kate Cohen
Thanksgiving is traditionally a day of gratitude, good food, and loved ones. For some people, it’s also the best time to travel and make brand new traditions with the ones you love.
If you happen to find yourself in Orlando for the holiday, you’ll be happy to know there is plenty to do on Thanksgiving Day to make special new memories.
Here are a few of our favorite things to do on Thanksgiving in Orlando this year.
Hit the Pavement with a Turkey Trot
Get moving before you feast with a good ol’ fashioned Turkey Trot fun run.
The Seniors First Turkey Trot in downtown Orlando is an annual tradition celebrating its 35th year in 2024. Join over 4,000 other runners, joggers, and walkers for a 5k that circles the beautiful Lake Eola.
All participants receive a finisher medal and an official event t-shirt, as well as bragging rights for being up and at ‘em first thing in the morning. Be sure to dress in your best Thanksgiving-themed costumes to compete in the costume contest and practice your gobbling for a chance to win Best Turkey Call.
After the 5k is over, kids can enjoy a free Tot Trot to stretch their legs and burn off some energy.
Give thanks while you give back to the Orlando community. Proceeds from the Seniors First Turkey Trot 5k go directly to Seniors First, an organization dedicated to helping low-income older adults struggling to keep their independence at home. Your registration costs help support local organizations like Meals on Wheels, In-Home Care, Neighborhood Lunch with Transportation, and Stepping Stone Medical Equipment Bank.
Let Someone Else Prepare the Feast
Thanksgiving is about gratitude, family, and of course, food.
Whether you’re a guest of Rosen Plaza or an Orlando-area local looking for a little extra relaxation, our annual Thanksgiving buffet is the perfect way to celebrate. We offer a true smorgasbord of classic holiday dishes and delicious new interpretations of traditional flavors of the season.
At the buffet table, you’ll find juicy slices of hand-carved turkey topped with rich gravy. Pile your plate high with classic autumn delights and a cornucopia of innovative new flavors prepared by our talented chefs.
Save room for dessert; there will be plenty of pies, cobblers, and cakes waiting to satisfy your sweet tooth at the end of the meal. (Or the beginning. We’re not here to judge.)
Head to the Theme Parks
The Most Magical Place on Earth is open 365 days a year, Thanksgiving included.
In fact, Thanksgiving Day is one of the most popular days to visit the theme parks, so if you’re thinking about going, be sure to plan ahead.
By Thanksgiving Day, almost every theme park is already decked out with their holiday decorations, making it the perfect place to kick off the holiday season. You can buy holiday merch, try specialty menu items designed for the festivities, and enjoy character meet-and-greets you can only find this time of year.
Whether you’re planning on spending the day at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or SeaWorld, you’ll make some wonderful Thanksgiving memories in a totally unique environment. Who knows – maybe a theme park Thanksgiving will be your new family tradition!
Prep for Black Friday
Orlando is quite the shopping destination. Since Thanksgiving unofficially kicks off the holiday shopping season, it makes sense to try and cross some things off your list and take advantage of crazy Black Friday markdowns.
These days, all the shopping malls and outlets in Central Florida are closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, at the crack of dawn on Friday (if not earlier), most stores open their doors and offer some of the notoriously best sales of the year.
At Rosen Plaza, you’re a short drive away from the popular Orlando Premium Outlets where you can shop at your favorites stores and save on luxury brands from around the world.
If you haven’t made your holiday shopping list yet, now’s a great time!.
See Orlando from a New Perspective
Located in ICON Park on International Drive, the Orlando Eye is an epic observation wheel that can’t be missed.
Topping out at 400 feet, the Orlando Eye offers sprawling views of Central Florida. On beautiful, clear days, you can see everything from the nearby theme parks to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.
If you time your visit just right, you may even see some theme park fireworks in the distance!.
You’ll spend the duration of the 20-minute ride in comfortable, air-conditioned, and stability-controlled capsules with room for you to stand, sit, and move around to get the best views.
A ride on the Orlando Eye is the perfect way to spend your Thanksgiving evening. (Yes, they’re open!)
Take It Easy
If you’re on vacation at Rosen Plaza this Thanksgiving, embrace it!. November’s average high temp is 78, making it the perfect weather for pulling up a lounge chair by the pool and enjoying the sunshine.
You can also curl up in your comfortable room to enjoy our free Wi-Fi, watch a movie on one of our premium channels, or get your rest before a full day of Black Friday shopping.
Rosen Plaza is happy to be your home away from home for the holidays. We’ll make sure you’re well-fed, well-rested, and well-entertained during your stay. Of all the things we’re grateful for this year, your choice to stay at Rosen Plaza is what we appreciate most of all.
