Any advice or thoughts on 2020 Thanksgiving week?

[MrsBooch]

For sure - they could increase capacity.
But - as of right now - they haven't increased the hours, they aren't offering much in the way of discounts for people who aren't driving distance or residents.
They still aren't selling AP's.
Many states still require a 14 day quarantine when returning from FL (we will be quarantining after our trip unless FL is removed from our state's list)
And A LOT of the resorts are not even open nor do they have solid opening dates.
The restaurants aren't fully open yet, no dining plans, and international travelers are still unable to come here so they're likely not making plans and buying rooms and tickets.
So yeah - Disney can increase capacity - and it might be slightly more busy than it has been but....it won't be like last year.
And even though we won't have FP or shows to eat up some wait time - it will still be less crowded than it has ever been.

I'm not talking less lines - I'm talking less people.

The lines will definitely be there but even WITH the lines we will still be able to barrel through a decent amount of rides. Some of the longest line's I've seen have taken at most 40 minutes. For a brand new ride - that's not bad.

 

[soniam]

I'm actually scheduled the week after Thanksgiving at GDT. I vacillate betokening canceling and going every day it seems. Already decided I will drive from TX rather than fly. But now am wondering if CSR will actually open if the numbers are low and then where would I be moved to. Already moved once from ASMu. I really want to go - I need a break. Work has been extremely stressful this year. I plan to make a final decision early Nov I guess. Will all depend on how things progress. If I dont go, I may drive to AZ for Xmas

We drove from Texas in July. We did it over 2 days, because 16 hours straight is a little rough. It wreaked havoc on my colon issues after sitting in a car for 8 hours and not drinking enough water. Don't push yourself, so that you can enjoy the parks once you arrive.

 

[dachsie]

We drove from Texas in July. We did it over 2 days, because 16 hours straight is a little rough. It wreaked havoc on my colon issues after sitting in a car for 8 hours and not drinking enough water. Don't push yourself, so that you can enjoy the parks once you arrive.

I will actually be in Louisiana for Thanksgiving so will leave there Fri morn and go to Lake City, FL for the nite. On the way back am trying to decide if I will stay at my Uncle's house in Mobile or try to go further because I will head back to College Station and its further from Mobile than Disney is. But I did take the next day off work to recuperate.

 

[Pats Dragon]

We are going in November and dismayed that there will be lines with no fast passes. That is very disappointing. It is almost a deal breaker for us

 

[MrsBooch]

We are going in November and dismayed that there will be lines with no fast passes. That is very disappointing. It is almost a deal breaker for us

have you looked into actual wait times though? because from a lot of reports - the lines appear longer and posted wait times are longer than they actually are to go through and ride.

 

[Nick6300]

have you looked into actual wait times though? because from a lot of reports - the lines appear longer and posted wait times are longer than they actually are to go through and ride.

Agree with MrsBooch. Actual wait times were usually less than posted, more so than in the past. But still longer than what you'd expect for the speculated 25% capacity. I mean, it was 90 min. posted for Runaway this past Sat, after the holiday was over... one of the historically low weeks of the yr., and 75 for Slinky. Part of that of course is that there are only about 7 total attractions at HS, without the shows going (only about 6 for AK). For us the prior week, Runaway was posted about 75 at the peak, and still 60 at even close to park close, and we waited about 45 min (or less) 3x, not including at park open when we were among the first in line. Still pretty good for a new attraction. Felt that wait times were at about 2/3 "normal" wait times for the time of yr.

We had a good trip, had some firsts (RotR and Smugglers for wife, Regal Eagle, Beauty Sing a long, new Canada film, orchestra at HS)... we'd go again in a few months if we had the vacation. Especially with the new discounts for the end of the yr (i.e. up to $500 off packages). But I'd still prefer last yr's experience with the full selection of dining, attractions, fireworks, parades, full hrs. Not that there's a choice though.

 

[smelton521]

I know a lot of people go to Disney World the week of Thanksgiving. Is Sunday immediately after Thanksgiving usually really crowded, or less so because a lot of those people are traveling home that day? Which parks do you think would be least crowded that Sunday this year? We arrive that day, Nov 29, 2020. We are probably driving to Orlando rather than flying so we may get to the park around noon, or it could be later that afternoon. We will be there for 7 days and I’m trying to decide which park to do that day. Kids will be 6, 11 and 12.

 

[Tormania]

I know that we'll be at MK on that day. We are doing USO Wed-Fri beforehand, then switching over to AKL and then doing AK on Sat. Our two previous trips in Dec took place a week or two after Thanksgiving but we still maintained the same park schedule of arriving on Sat and doing AK that day and MK on Sunday, based on historical crowd calendars hinting that folks travel on Sundays (either going home) and usually start their trips at MK on Mondays (if they arrived at WDW on that Sunday).

But that's just us, and this year will be different no matter how you want to measure it.

 

[maryj11]

Sunday’s are not as crowded as Saturday’s. My guess would be that HS would be the most crowded on Sunday.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

MK is always the most crowded. If it's a max crowd day at WDW, avoid the MK. That's a rule of thumb, and can be subject to change if something special is going on in one of the other three parks.

 

[soniam]

Sundays after holidays are usually pretty light compared to the rest of the day’s around the holiday. Most people have to head home and don’t want to buy a park day for just a few hours. DHS will be the busiest though. It always seems to be now.

 

[Jason2015]

In 2020 is there anyway to make any type of crowd level prediction? It would seem that since Thanksgiving is a US Holiday it might remain busier (as Christmas is a global holiday and their is still a chance international travel will be way down). Yet, it is 2020 so Florida could be experiencing a blizzard during Thanksgiving. The long and short-is if you want to go, make plans, expect it to be busyish, and have a blast.

 

[mrsap]

I’ve always noticed a big drop off in attendance on Sunday after TG (resorts and parks)... I’ve been so often during that time, and to multiple parks on that day, and MK is typically the most crowded park. However, it seems to me (from reading other boards), HS might be the ‘busy’ park this year. I guess we’ll know soon enough! But honestly, pick where you want to be!! It’s so hard right now to really predict how the crowds will be. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[dachsie]

I originally booked AK for that day. Then switched it to EP. Then I realized the Festival of the Holidays starts on the 27th so that will be the first weekend and thought that might be crowded. So I moved EP to my off day and will go to DS in the morn and resort hop in the afternoon

 

[Pats Dragon]

I am thinking even larger capacity for the holidays but shorter hours and no shows to distribute people. If they add people for holidays they really need to add fps

 

[Eeyore daily]

I have MK booked for that Sunday. My thought process is the same as yours.

 

[Nick6300]

I am thinking even larger capacity for the holidays but shorter hours and no shows to distribute people. If they add people for holidays they really need to add fps

Would be nice to get FPs back, but believe that FPs are gone for a while (for instance, need the extra queue area from FP and single rider lines for spacing lines for social distancing), and when they come back, speculation is that they will be paid FPs. COVID is becoming an excuse for a lot of reduced experiences, some make more sense, and others make more cents (for Disney).

I'd just be happy if they would bring back the EP storytelling. Which I'm assuming is a no because of the potential gathering, but not directly addressed anywhere that I've seen. Any article only states no Candelight Processional, gingerbread houses (don't really get that one if they're still doing the big Christmas trees), castle Frozen displays, no party nights with parades/fireworks.

 

[maryj11]

I have MK booked for that Sunday. My thought process is the same as yours.

My guess is HS will be most crowded and MK coming in 2nd with crowds. MK has always been crowded to me no matter what day we have gone. Except Saturday seemed even more busy. I would avoid Saturday’s for sure.