Disney World Announces Thanksgiving Offerings; New Dishes at ESPN Club; and More

Just want to say what a wonderful weekend trip to Walt Disney World it was and those few days off from work and the blog were quite relaxing. The highlight of course was getting to spend time with my family and celebrate my nephew's 13th birthday. I'll be working on my trip report this week so be on the look out for that. Let's get some Disney news out:

Disney World Announces Thanksgiving Offerings:

Welcome to the Holiday Season at Disney World. Considering I just left the World just a few short hours ago, I can tell you that Christmas is in full force around the resort and in the parks. Before we get on to Christmas though we do have the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving to celebrate at the parks. Disney World has announced its Thanksgiving Day offerings on November 26. 

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway will offer a special holiday menu with roasted turkey breast and all the trimmings plus traditional Norwegian meatballs, and pan-seared salmon. At Sanaa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offerings will include poppy seed lavash, house-made naan, and apple cranberry achar. 

Special Holiday menus at Disney's Hollywood Studios include: 50's Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, and Hollywood Brown Derby. The Tusker House will have a special Holiday menu at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Here is a complete list of restaurants with special menu's around the Walt Disney World Resort:

• Artist Point and Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Port Orleans Resort Riverside
• California Grill, Chef Mickey’s and The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Cape May Café at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Captain’s Grille and Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Citricos, Grand Floridian Café, Narcoossee’s and Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Flying Fish Café and Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
• Mickey’s Backyard Thanksgiving Feast and Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
• Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas-Disney’s Kidani Village
• Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Sanaa at Disney’s Kidani Village Resort
• Shutters at Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• The Turf Club Bar and Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

New Menu Items Featured at Disney BoardWalk Inn's ESPN Club:

The ESPN Club at Disney's Boardwalk Inn is featuring new starters and entrees on its menu along with the old staples that will remain on the menu. Here is a list:

New Starters:

• Bar Flats (the ESPN version of a flatbread with caramelized onion, bacon and beer-cheese fondue; tuna tartare; traditional margarita (mozzarella, tomato and basil); Mediterranean, and the seasonal flat. (pictured above)
• Club Fries – chunky steak fries topped with ESPN chili, Cheddar and ale fondue, crumbled blue cheese, marinated tomatoes, crispy pancetta and green onion. Plenty to share. 
• Pan-fried potato and cheese pierogi topped with herb-infused sour cream and caramelized onions. (pictured above)
• Crispy fried Florida pink shrimp with Cajun remoulade, Sherry aioli and grilled lemon.
• ESPN House Chili with diced onions, shredded Cheddar, smoked bacon, pico de gallo and griddle cornbread. 
• Clam chowder with chopped bacon, herb oil and seasoned oyster crackers.

• Turkey Carver sandwich with roasted turkey breast, smoke Gouda, maple aioli, tomato and bitter greens.
• Seafood mac & cheese made with seasonal seafood and citrus gremolata.
• Sustainable catch with market vegetables.
• Hand-breaded chicken breast sandwich with pepper jack cheese, tomato and lettuce on a toasted bun.
• Petite top sirloin and grilled langostinos with house-made mac & cheese, Cabernet butter and market vegetables.
• Craft beer battered fish and chips with Cajun tartar sauce and fries or cucumber salad. 
• Coffee-brined BBQ-spiced pork chop with fried potato hash and pickled vegetables.
• Grilled Black Tiger Shrimp and andouille sausage “gumbo style” risotto, braised kale and grilled cornbread. 
• Bourbon-ale braised beef short rib with potato and roasted garlic gratin, watercress, pan gravy and market vegetables. (pictured above) 
• Pan-roasted chicken breast with Parmesan risotto, lemony chicken jus and market vegetables. 
• Sausage 3 Way: bratwurst, peppers and onions on pretzel roll; kielbasa and smoked bacon cabbage on a club roll; and Andouille with pickled vegetables on a poppy seed roll. 
• Vegetarian “Unplugged” with seasonal selections

Various Christmas Offerings Begin at Disney World:

While at Disney World this weekend it was apparent that Christmas will soon be in full force around the parks and this was even on Halloween with many stores having their Christmas sections out. Christmas music has begun as well although it is sporadically between regular Disney music.

Yesterday, Santa Goofy began meeting guests at the entrance to the old Studio Backlot Tour taking the place of Sorcerer Mickey. Sorcerer Mickey is now meeting guests in the old Jack Sparrow attraction area.

Also at Disney's Hollywood Studios, although not officially beginning until on Friday, the final and 20th Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights began lighting up for all guests. 

Also check out the shirts, the Disney released for the final year of the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney's Magic Kingdom begins this Sunday, November 8. Other Christmas offerings around the parks will begin in the coming days and weeks.