Any advice or thoughts on 2020 Thanksgiving week?

[ml sumner]

We are currently scheduled for our first Thanksgiving week ever. This is from us having to move our original May week to July and now we're trying for Thanksgiving. We chose Thanksgiving week since school should be out and the weather should be cooler for mask wearing. We're also hoping for limited capacity and to be able to enjoy the Christmas decorations. We are staying at Pop century for eight nights and doing two days in each park. We live in South Georgia so we only have a 4-hour drive.

 

[Beachmom0317]

We are currently booked the week before thanksgiving and I’m not feeling so great about it. With the push back of some resorts not opening until November (And many resorts not even listed as opening) and the cancelling of the run Disney event in November it seems like they’re planning on proceeding with limited offerings still? We’re booked using our DVC points at Jambo and right now there is no quick service besides kidani pool and store. All jambo food offerings are closed and the store. I am having such a hard time wrapping my head around paying for this vacation if things are limited! My kids are 4 and 6 and adore character M&G’s and character meals. And we live in Mass and would prob have to quarantine after and idk if hubby can do that with his job

 

[NashvilleMama]

We rebooked our April trip to Thanksgiving week because of school (which is now online all of fall anyways), but I'm mostly worried about flying by then...not being at the parks. As each week passes, it gets harder and harder to imagine feeling safe in airports/planes in 2020 or taking that kind of risk. We may push back to March for spring break next year instead but I think that will be madhouse - even more than in "normal" years.

 

[MrsBooch]

I can only speak for myself - we have a trip (planned since last year) to go for thanksgiving week.
We realize the experience isn't going to be what it was in 2019 - we are ok with that. We are staying in a one bedroom in Copper Creek/Wilderness Lodge so we can go back to the room and recharge if we need to or if we get tired of masking. We also do have park tickets. I don't think it's going to be high crowds so I think that's a plus. I'm the only one in the family who ever wants to stay for parades, shows, or fireworks. Everyone else just wants to ride everything over and over again and eat as many snacks as possible and swim in the pool and sleep. So for the majority of us - the experience is actually going to be better this year.

 

[maryj11]

We rebooked our April trip to Thanksgiving week because of school (which is now online all of fall anyways), but I'm mostly worried about flying by then...not being at the parks. As each week passes, it gets harder and harder to imagine feeling safe in airports/planes in 2020 or taking that kind of risk. We may push back to March for spring break next year instead but I think that will be madhouse - even more than in "normal" years.

We will be flying also and I feel the same about the airports and plane.

 

[Skywalker3]

We often go week of THanksgiving. Went last year, and because our APs were extended, we're planning to go this year. I'm expecting the same restrictions and limited offerings that we're seeing now. In the past, crowds have been varied. Way back when (like over 10 years ago,) the first few days of the week were not too bad for crowds, and then they'd swell on the Wed. Last couple years (2018 at Universal, 2019 Disney,) I found it to be VERY crowded. DVC availability for Thanksgiving this year is a whole lot sparser than other weeks, so I think a lot of people rescheduled their cancelled spring/summer trips for Thanksgiving. We're still very much looking forward to it. Hope The Christmas decorations will be out (they were last year,) . Do hope that they'll ease up on resort hopping, so we can go look at the different resorts. We're not much into shows, fireworks, or character meets any more, so won't miss that. I just hope we can get RotR boarding group. That seems like such a stressful thing, and we haven't ridden it yet, and REALLY want to. We're also going in Oct, and have 2 days scheduled at HS, so hopefully will get on it then. Weather last year was wonderful that week!

 

[Bete]

I think it looks better for Thanksgiving week based on current levels. It just doesn't seem anyone too much is in a rush to get back to Disney World.

There are extremely excellent ticket deals for locals which tells me Disney expected more people to be coming by now. Also, Disney is holding back on resort reopenings; so, you know the crowd level is way down. I don't expect this to change by November.

 

[Tormania]

We are going for Thanksgiving with friends for a trip that we have had planned since late last year, well before COVID was a thing. We are doing USO W/Th/F then switching to WDW for a full Sat-Sat the week after Thanksgiving. Sadly not expecting any real improvements over what is going on now. All of my predictions have failed miserably so far this year as I have failed to take into account the level of over-reaction (my opinion) on everything so now I am planning on the same hysteria to be in place 4 months from now just like it is today with the same restrictions in place. Fingers crossed that some of the in-park restaurants begin to open in the coming months but not holding my breath unfortunately. Just having to roll with all of the limited access as they continue. There are a handful of things that are currently not open that we (collectively as a group) wanted to do, but whether they will be operating in 4 months just not sure. But we're still going, the only silver lining in that crowds should be MUCH lower than normal.

 

[swellman]

We rebooked our April trip to Thanksgiving week because of school (which is now online all of fall anyways), but I'm mostly worried about flying by then...not being at the parks. As each week passes, it gets harder and harder to imagine feeling safe in airports/planes in 2020 or taking that kind of risk. We may push back to March for spring break next year instead but I think that will be madhouse - even more than in "normal" years.

DW and I feel the same way - it’s not WDW that scares us, it’s the getting there. Airports and planes never bothered me, until now. I even considered driving the 1100 miles from the Northeast to FL but that’s a huge time/money sink. And I don’t love long distance driving the way I did in my younger days. Quite the opposite.

We have DVC reservations for a week starting the day after Thanksgiving. Really hoping to enjoy the once in a lifetime low crowds but we don’t want to be stupid about it. Just hoping things get better in the intervening 4 months!

 

[Beachmom0317]

DW and I feel the same way - it’s not WDW that scares us, it’s the getting there. Airports and planes never bothered me, until now. I even considered driving the 1100 miles from the Northeast to FL but that’s a huge time/money sink. And I don’t love long distance driving the way I did in my younger days. Quite the opposite.

We have DVC reservations for a week starting the day after Thanksgiving. Really hoping to enjoy the once in a lifetime low crowds but we don’t want to be stupid about it. Just hoping things get better in the intervening 4 months!

We live in Massachusetts and considered driving too! Ugh! Hubby looked at me like I’m crazy. He’s driven to NC from MA a bunch when he was in military and I used to go on family road trips to Florida when I was a kid. We have a 4 and 6 year old though so idk! Flying stresses me

 

[Bearval]

We rebooked our April trip to Thanksgiving week because of school (which is now online all of fall anyways), but I'm mostly worried about flying by then...not being at the parks. As each week passes, it gets harder and harder to imagine feeling safe in airports/planes in 2020 or taking that kind of risk. We may push back to March for spring break next year instead but I think that will be madhouse - even more than in "normal" years.

You also have to worry about the airlines canceling your flight and you not getting there I ntil much later than you expected and maybe not until the next day.

 

[NashvilleMama]

I keep telling myself I just need to go ahead and cancel this trip because I *know* things will still be a mess by then, but I can't make myself do it. I need to be able to daydream about it, I guess.

 

[maryj11]

I keep telling myself I just need to go ahead and cancel this trip because I *know* things will still be a mess by then, but I can't make myself do it. I need to be able to daydream about it, I guess.

Don’t cancel! Keep that dream going. I know Disney is keeping things pretty safe. We are going to get non stop flights that are a 2 hour flight from here. We are flying Delta and they have mask requirements, cleaning before each flight and leaving middle seats empty.
The only thing I worry about most is getting to and from Disney
Maybe we should get really early or late flights that won’t be crowded.

 

[swellman]

I keep telling myself I just need to go ahead and cancel this trip because I *know* things will still be a mess by then, but I can't make myself do it. I need to be able to daydream about it, I guess.

Keep telling yourself the vaccine is coming! That’s what we do. Maybe it’s overly wishful thinking but all things are possible with a little pixie dust!

It seems once you get inside the Disney bubble things are not so bad. It’s getting there that’s the tricky part. At least to us.

 

[zapple]

We are currently booked the week before thanksgiving and I’m not feeling so great about it. With the push back of some resorts not opening until November (And many resorts not even listed as opening) and the cancelling of the run Disney event in November it seems like they’re planning on proceeding with limited offerings still? We’re booked using our DVC points at Jambo and right now there is no quick service besides kidani pool and store. All jambo food offerings are closed and the store. I am having such a hard time wrapping my head around paying for this vacation if things are limited! My kids are 4 and 6 and adore character M&G’s and character meals. And we live in Mass and would prob have to quarantine after and idk if hubby can do that with his job

If you decide to go, I think you should stay somewhere other than Jambo. We just stayed there and the lack of food and stores is really inconvenient. We also stayed at BW and BLT and they were so much better. I know DVC availability is tight for that week (we’re going that week too) but keep stalking the site and you’ll get something, so many people are canceling.

 

[cgattis]

Don’t cancel! Keep that dream going. I know Disney is keeping things pretty safe. We are going to get non stop flights that are a 2 hour flight from here. We are flying Delta and they have mask requirements, cleaning before each flight and leaving middle seats empty.
The only thing I worry about most is getting to and from Disney
Maybe we should get really early or late flights that won’t be crowded.

I’d go early rather than late. If they cancel flights because the routes aren’t full, those are usually the first to go.

 

[maryj11]

I’d go early rather than late. If they cancel flights because the routes aren’t full, those are usually the first to go.

True.

 

[mrhat]

I'm from NY as well and planing on going in mid-Nov just before TG..... our schools have announced they are going virtual already and *may* transition to a 2 day a week thing at most (have my doubts we'll get / stay there) - so no real worry about the kids "missing" school....given the limited park hours we'll keep up online after hours. Nothing like HW at WDW!

Looks like the next big time stamp for travel will be in Sept when the travel restriction is scheduled to expire (Sept 5th I believe). If they extend again, (thus far they've been extending in 60 day windows - March --> May, May -- July, July --> Sept) it'll creep very close to the Nov time when we'd be going. If it does that, I'll probably reschedule than take the risk that everything will be fine..... I'd be stunned with schools going on full steam all over and moving into flu/cold season in Nov any restrictions would suddenly "lift" that late in the year. So that's my advice there - anyone traveling from one of the "restricted" states between Oct --> Dec - I'd wait till Sept and make your call.

Also re: Masks -- For the Disney ones I think too many people just said "sure, I'm an average adult I'll get a medium" or "my kids are young, they take a small" rather than paying close attention to the instructions they gave for measuring. Ignore the generalization of size - go take the measurements and order based on that. We ordered masks for about a dozen family members and they all fit fine because we followed the instructions and didn't go by what we typically ordered.

 

[maryj11]

I'm from NY as well and planing on going in mid-Nov just before TG..... our schools have announced they are going virtual already and *may* transition to a 2 day a week thing at most (have my doubts we'll get / stay there) - so no real worry about the kids "missing" school....given the limited park hours we'll keep up online after hours. Nothing like HW at WDW!

Looks like the next big time stamp for travel will be in Sept when the travel restriction is scheduled to expire (Sept 5th I believe). If they extend again, (thus far they've been extending in 60 day windows - March --> May, May -- July, July --> Sept) it'll creep very close to the Nov time when we'd be going. If it does that, I'll probably reschedule than take the risk that everything will be fine..... I'd be stunned with schools going on full steam all over and moving into flu/cold season in Nov any restrictions would suddenly "lift" that late in the year. So that's my advice there - anyone traveling from one of the "restricted" states between Oct --> Dec - I'd wait till Sept and make your call.

Also re: Masks -- For the Disney ones I think too many people just said "sure, I'm an average adult I'll get a medium" or "my kids are young, they take a small" rather than paying close attention to the instructions they gave for measuring. Ignore the generalization of size - go take the measurements and order based on that. We ordered masks for about a dozen family members and they all fit fine because we followed the instructions and didn't go by what we typically ordered.

I did measure and they were still small. Maybe they changed the sizing measurements when everyone started wanting to return because they didn’t fit.

 

[mrhat]

Huh...nope ours were pre-ordered back when they first came out so thats what we followed. Maybe they changed it later *shrug*. Ex: I'm typically a medium, but by all the numbers for Disney got the large...fits perfect....so in that regard they are smaller... just listening to a bunch of folks seems like they went with the "well I'm a ..." when placing orders. Disney is always wonky on sizing (I have a Disney XL shirt that fits like all the other mediums I have) tho so not surprised they had a lot of issues with it.