Parks will be packed. I would spend that day around the pool! but you may also find that weekend period to be busy as some American families will use the holiday to gather together and enjoy a short break in Orlando.

You may find a lack of restuarants open on Thanksgiving day. A few family style chain restaurants will be open (like Denny's). Hotel restaurants will remain open.

Many petrol stations will also be closed so fill up the day before.

Some of the best shopping will found as the sales start the day after Thanksgiving Day (Black Friday)

On the positive side the sales start early (anything from 4am) on the Friday morning. So, perhaps Thanksgiving by the pool would be a good way of preparing!

Thanks for the info. SALES SALES doest this mean I will have to carrry extra plastic with me?

We were in Boston for Thanksgiving in 2004 and a lot of restaurants were closed all day (Cheesecake Factory/Applebees), some were open on shorter hours and closed at say 8pm, and some were open all the time (TGI's for example).

We honestly believed we would be eating in the hotel when we booked the trip, but walking around during the day it became clearer that some restaurants would be open and that we would have a choice after all.

Of course Boston isn't Orlando. I would think it would be pretty similar though as Thanksgiving is such a huge occasion in the US.

As for theme parks, avoid at all costs.

As sales go the Friday after Thanksgiving is one of the best days of the year for bargains but you have to be early.....very early ....to get the best bargains. Also known as "Black Friday".

We went to Seaworld on Thanksgiving, it was very busy but not overcrowded. We went to the Lone Star steakhouse just off exit 68 I4 (just down the road from premium outlets), only waited about 30 mins for a table (there were seats at the bar), normal prices were charged and staff were great as usual. I can also vouch for Logans on the 192.