ORLANDO, Fla. – Planning to visit the theme parks Thanksgiving weekend? Be sure to expect crowds.

  • Thanksgiving week likely to be busy at the theme parks
  • Some restaurants will serve Thanksgiving meals
  • Be sure to check park hours

Generally, the week of Thanksgiving (and the holiday weekend) is a busy one at the parks, especially Disney World. And although the crowds are not as bad as Christmas or New Year's Eve, you should still expect lines.

To make your visit manageable, arrive early, take advantage of the single-rider line and check park hours. Although most of the parks won't have any special hour during the holiday week, it's still a good idea to know when they open and close.

Although the theme parks will be decked out in Christmas decorations, there are still ways to celebrate Thanksgiving.

If you're in the mood for a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal, some restaurants at the parks will be serving up turkey and stuffing. For example, you can get turkey, stuffing, roasted potatoes and apple pie at the Classic Monsters Café in Universal Studios Florida or at the Thunder Falls Terrace in Islands of Adventure. And several restaurants around Disney World will offer Thanksgiving eats on November 28, including Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and The Edison and The Boathouse at Disney Springs.

On Black Friday, many stores at Disney Springs will be offering discounts and other deals. So it's likely to be busy on that day as well.

For a look at the park hours for the Thanksgiving weekend, click on the links below:

DISNEY WORLD

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO

SEAWORLD ORLANDO

LEGOLAND FLORIDA

BUSCH GARDENS

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