Thanksgiving day/weekend planning help!

[stitch34]

Here's what we were thinking... MK on Thanksgiving Day - more like Thanksgiving evening from dinner time on...
then the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving want to do a day at MK, another day at HS.

Crowds? Parks ever reach capacity at this time? We don't mind it being a bit crowded, just more concerned about it closing to capacity - that wont happen, will it? It's usually busy, but not THAT busy, right?

Out of the Friday and Saturday - any thoughts on which day better for MK versus HS? We do want to do Fantasmic, so hoping that's scheduled for one of those nights... which then will try to figure HOW to fit Osbourne lights AND Fantasmic into one night, and still time to eat dinner!

[Missytara]

I always arrive the Saturday of Thanksgiving.

You will find MK to be the most crowded all week into Sunday. Not only are you contending with the resort guests (we were told one year 22,000 people were registered in the resorts T-giving week), but also the locals with AP's who have family visiting for the holidays specifically to go to WDW.

The next will be DHS for the Osborne Family of lights; especially since it is opening early this year. Normally it doesn't open until the Saturday after T-giving. Next will be Epcot, followed by AK.

You will need ADR's up until Sunday night for sure. Even the DTD restaurants will be packed.

[CarnotaurDad]

Osborne will be crowded but fun! Just know that the crowds will be heavy and all will be good.

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I can't help with crowd size but we are doing the same thing - MK after dinner on Thanksgiving. MK at rope drop the following morning.
We are then taking a lunch/swim break and heading over to Epcot hopefully for CP/dinner.

[princessmom29]

If there is any possibility of doing it any other time i would NOT try to do MK on thanksgiving day!!! It will be difficult to get anything at all done, and the crowds will be wall to wall. We are arriving the day before thanksgiving this year and leaving early the wed after. We are not doing MK until the sunday after thanksgiving b/c I just would rather not fight the crowds. If you are staying through the beginning of the next week that would be a much better time to go. We did the sunday after thanksgiving last year form rope drop through about 1:00 and the crowds were very low. We got a nap and went back for MVMCP.
If you absolutely have to do MK I would recommend the rope drop day after thanksgiving as the best day. Lots and lots of people will have been in the MK untill the late closing the day before, and will not get up for rope drop.

[MHSweb79]

I think you can expect MK on Thanksgiving Day to be a bit more crowded than "a bit crowded."
Arriving late in the day is not the greatest approach either, if you can help it. There is the risk of closure due to capacity and also you won't be able to get any FP's so late in the day, so wait times for most everything will be at least60-90 minutes. If you just want to wander around and soak up the atmosphere, remember it will be wall to wall people, as other PP's have said.
Thanksgiving is one of the peak crowds of the year, so plan accordingly.

[BayouMickey]

All I can tell you is good luck. I've seen the tg day crowd in MK first hand.
If you must, go with a "go with the flow" attitude, and a lot of patience.
Even in the restaurants you'll probly be waiting in lines or waiting period for your food.

[tinkbyday]

Oh boy is it crowded! We went there on Thanksgiving Day one year because we made ADR's at Liberty Tree Tavernn - we ate and then we walked through the crowds to get out! Crazy busy!

[eab]

How about the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving crowd wise. Do you think the majority of the people leave on Sunday. Trying to decide if we want to leave on Saturday or wait and leave early Sunday. We usually go a little later in the month. Thanks for your help

[iamtheclay]

We are flying to WDW on Thanksgiving Day and will be in the parks for six days starting the day after Thanksgiving. I am leaning toward Animal Kingdom on Friday, Epcot on Saturday and Sunday, Hollywood Studios on Monday, and Magic Kingdom on Tuesday and Wednesday. My wife and I have been to Disney but this will be the first time for our kids (age 9 and 5). It looks like crowds will be worse on Friday and Saturday, and I am most concerned about those two days. Anybody have any comments about my plan?

[BayouMickey]

Originally Posted by iamtheclay

We are flying to WDW on Thanksgiving Day and will be in the parks for six days starting the day after Thanksgiving. I am leaning toward Animal Kingdom on Friday, Epcot on Saturday and Sunday, Hollywood Studios on Monday, and Magic Kingdom on Tuesday and Wednesday. My wife and I have been to Disney but this will be the first time for our kids (age 9 and 5). It looks like crowds will be worse on Friday and Saturday, and I am most concerned about those two days. Anybody have any comments about my plan?

You actually have a real good plan. The only day you may be crowded is saturday. And that's a big maybe.

[Jutori]

Which park (least crowded) would you guys recommend for thanksgiving day?
we're arriving Wed and leaving Mon, so I guess we'll try to save MK for sun, do the other parks the other days... I don't think I can deal with the crowds but these were the only days we could co-ordinate with inlaws...