Thanksgiving Day & Weekend

[WDW2002]

I know the parks are usually crowded during the Thanksgiving Weekend but I am curious about Thanksgiving DAY. Are the parks crowded on the holiday or just the days surrounding it?? Also do people generally leave for home on the Sunday after Thanksgiving??
I guess I am looking for a Thanksgivng Crowd pattern, any help would be appreciated. We have never gone during this time. In fact the only Holiday I have been is Fathers Day and the DL was empty.

[ErinC]

I really am interested in this info also. We will be in Anaheim Thanksgiving Day thru the following Wed. morning. I was going to purchase three day hopper tickets. When you purchase them online you get an extra day free. So I'm trying to decide which four days to go. We probably won't go four full days, we have two small children, but I wanted to be able to come and go at good times. Any suggestions.

[Disney-Kim]

we will be there over Thanksgiving too........we are expecting big
crowds.....;)

[WDW2002]

Okay everyone seems to know that this is a Thanksgiving Week & Weekend are a busy time of year. I am expected this and preparing for this. But what I was asking (and am still waiting for an answer to) is what the crowd PATTERN is for this weekend.

Is Thanksgiving Day crowded or is it slow because people are at home or relatives/friends giving thanks?

Do people leave on Sunday, leaving the park(s) less crowded then the rest of that week?

[Mary Jo]

<font color=navy>The absolute worst day is Friday, then Saturday, then I think Thursday, then Sunday. I think the whole weekend will be extremely busy. Plan on being there first thing in the morning - take advantage of early entry, if you can - take a break in the afternoons, or at least, spend the afternoons people watching instead of staying in long lines, and you should be okay.

I was there the day after Thanksgiving, and it was literally wall to wall people. I just shopped and watched the parades and all the entertainment. I stayed away from the attractions. You might take these days slowly, and use fastpass/single rider lines.

[ErinC]

Thanks MaryJo, I think we may choose Sun, Mon, Tues, and then maybe an Evening Thurs, Fri, or Sat, just to see the night time parades and fireworks, even though the parks will be crowded.