Anyone been Thanksgiving week??

[nanceliz]

We are thinking about going Thanksgiving week. My kids are out of school the whole week before thanksgiving. How are the crowds? I know Thanksgiving day and the weekend after will be crowded. How about the weekend before and days leading up to thanksgiving?
also, when do the decorations/lights go up?

Thanks for the help!

 

[poeticdiabetic]

subscribing... thinking the same thing.

 

[Del]

would love to hear an answer as well

Del

 

[Derek&Ashley]

We have been a couple times during Thanksgiving. A few years ago, this week wasn't too bad. There were crowds but they were managable if you know what you are doing. But the crowds have gotten much bigger. We were there this past Thanksgiving and I would compare it to the middle of the summer.

As for Christmas Decorations, you will notice more and more as the week goes on. Not all of the decorations will be up at the end of the trip but most should be.

 

[nanceliz]

Thank you for your reply. We have gone in June the last several times and we were able to work with the crowds. We are hoping it will be close to the same crowds wise. The cooler temps are a big plus!

 

[macnodos]

We were there Thanksgiving 2006 and apparently Central Florida had a cold spell during most of that week. We were not prepared for the weather and had to purchase sweatshirts etc.. Crowds were very manageable and I understand the weather is usually very moderate that time of year. We typically go every year at Easter and encounter larger crowds and a more expensive season.

 

[minnierocks]

We have been for Thanksgiving 2005 and 2007...and have a trip planned for this Thanksgiving! I absolutely LOVE this time of the year! We have had beautiful weather both times-70's and sunny during the day. The decorations are beautiful, although we are a little disappointed that the Osbourne Lights don't start until the day after Thanksgiving this year. I admit that the crowds were heavier this past year, but definitely manageable. We had made ADR's, we arrived at the parks early, and used fastpass...we also went with a mindset that we were going to enjoy the day at a slower pace. We didn't go the MK for Thanksgiving, instead we went to DHS. If you arrive the weekend before, the crowds will be lighter and increase the closer you get to the holiday. I would highly recommend Thanksgiving for those who have no option but to travel when the kids are out of school!

 

[boakl1968]

We went for Thanksgiving of 2005 and are going again this year. In 05 we found that the crowds early in the week were not bad at all. I don't think we waited more than 20 minutes for anything. On the day before Thanksgiving it was noticably more crowded and the day after was VERY busy. However, by getting to the park (MK) for rope drop and using Fast Passes, we were able to have a very non-frustrating day.

This trip we will arrive in Orlando on Saturday, 11/22 and do the Disney parks on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday and Universal on Friday as we have heard that the park is much less busy than the Disney parks on that day.

 

[mdoc]

We were there Thanksgiving week last year. I can't tell you how the beginning of the week crowds were, as we went to Universal on Sunday and Monday. But Tuesday and Wednesday weren't bad, and Hollywood Studios was OK on Thursday. We went to Epcot on Friday, knowing it would be packed, because we wanted to see the Christmas stuff and it was our only opportunity, and it was miserably crowded. We're going again Thanksgiving week this year, but I will not be anywhere near Epcot on Friday!! We left Saturday afternoon, but the parks weren't bad first thing in the morning.

 

[TerrytownGrl]

We'll be at WDW for Thanksgiving week and I'm hoping the crowds won't be so bad. I was encouraged when UG lowered their crowd levels for Thanksgiving week a while back. If the crowds are typical of a summer-time crowd, we'll be fine. And I agree that the milder temperatures will be a big perk .

 

[rie'smom]

We go every year at this time. The crowds build towards Thanksgiving day. The weekend before isn't bad. Wednesday gets crowded. We usually switch to Universal on Wednesday because of the FOTL. That way we don't worry about lines. If you stay at WDW, what boakl 1968 is the thing to do-arrive before rope drop and utilize FP. Note too on your FP when you can get the next one. Sometimes you can get another FP quite a bit earlier than the return time for the original.
Be sure to check the 10-15 day weather forecast on weather.com or accuweather. 2 years ago there were snow flurries. Last year it was warm.

 

[MPS4124]

This will be our third Thanksgiving at Disney! In 2006 it was a little cool and the crowds were low the beginning of the week. We went over to Universal the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and did both parks in one day! It was pretty empty! Last year the weather was in the 80's during the days and just a little cooler at night. Once again crowds picked up as the week went on. On Thanksgiving we usually eat around 4:00 and then head to spend the rest of the evening at the Magic Kingdom. The past two years it closed at midnight and we were still there. As the night gets later the crowds die down.

MPS4124

 

[Moonpie]

Lots of families go during Thanksgiving week. No matter what crowd levels were in previous years, be prepared anyway...simply for the fact that this is a school vacation. "Hope for the best, and expect the worst."
As for Christmas decorations...we saw a lot of them up before Thanksgiving. We even saw our resort "transform" into Christmas literally over night.

 

[JennCa]

We've also been a few times during that week and love it. The pattern seemed to be less busy the Sat before Tday and then it gradually gets busier and busier until Wed which is pretty crazy. Thurs (Tday) , Friday are very crazy. Sat starts to get a bit better, Sunday better and by Monday Tuesday afterwards crowds are very pleasant.

Weather has been good most of the time, good time to swim, etc. Love the Xmas decorations. Like the late hours, shows, etc. It's nice not to sweat in the lines : )

Have fun!

Jenn

 

[nanceliz]

anyone else been during this time.
I have changed our plans to go during this time instead of christmas week. My brother's family is going with us and he doesn't want to do christmas again because of the crowds.
thanks for all the input!

 

[goofy4tink]

Won't find me going to WDW around Thanksgiving any time soon. We did it a few years ago. We actually arrived on Thanksgiving Day, around noon. The parks were crazy!! Now, we ate our T-day dinner at Chef Mickeys and then went back to the resort because we were pooped. People did tell me that the parks weren't too bad that night. But, I'll tell you what...on Friday and Sat, it was wall to wall people. It was even a zoo in the World Showcase...people that were shoulder to shoulder and that was something I had never seen before. The crowds did lessen on Monday and by Tuesday night, it was heavenly in there.
And from what I understand the weekend before T-day isn't too bad and the crowds start to pick up each day thereafter.
If I had a choice, I would go the week after Thanksgiving but most don't have that option.

 

[jfap]

anyone else been during this time.
I have changed our plans to go during this time instead of christmas week. My brother's family is going with us and he doesn't want to do christmas again because of the crowds.
thanks for all the input!

If your brother doesn't like the crowds at Christmas then I'm afraid he's not going to like Thanksgiving either. He will not be happy.

 

[nanceliz]

wow, bummer. We are planning on going starting the Saturday before t-giving and staying until the Saturday after.
I was hoping the weekend before up though Wed would be ok. Just avoid MK on Thur-Fri.
has anyone tried this?

 

[rie'smom]

The crowds are fine until the day before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and the weekend after are very crowded.
However, get to the parks early-before rope drop.
On the busy days, do NOT use EMH.
Go to a park that has had EMH the day or night before.
We go at least 2x/year and I hate lines but I love going the few days right before Thanksgiving.
We stay at WDW until Wednesday and then we go to Universal for a few nights because of the Front of the Line access available to onsite guests.

 

[nanceliz]

thanks! We will probably save our day at Islands of Adventure for Thursday or Friday when disney gets really busy and do all the major attractions the previous Sat through tue or wed.
Hopefully, it won't be any worse than when we went in June.