Are We Safe Going Right After Thanksgiving?

[Madi100]

I want to visit during the MVMCP, but due to DH's job, he is very busy at Christmastime. The earlier we go, the better. If we arrived the Sunday after Thanksgiving are we going to be part of a huge crowd or has the Thanksgiving crowd left by then? We'd arrive on the 27th.

 

[annej]

I have been wondering the same thing. We had to cancel this this past Dec's trip and I am looking at this year now. Help anyone?

 

[Autumngirl]

If you can wait until the week of the 4th I would go then.

We went the Friday after Thanksgiving in 2003 for a week and it was mobbed!

I've even been there in July and it wasn't as crowded as it was that week in Dec.

We are thinking about a Dec trip too, but this time, we are waiting until the 10th to get there.

 

[lorileer]

REALLY??? You think it will be less crowded after the 10th than the week after Thanksgiving? I thought it would just get more and more crowded week by week as it gets closer to Christmas. Anyone else have an opinion or knowledge of the crowd history? I'd be interested to know. Maybe I should re-think my plans.

 

[DisneyFan0304]

We went around Thanksgiving in 2001 and by the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the crowds were gone. I think it was more crowded this year, but that might have been because of cancelled trips being rescheduled due to the hurricaines and special discounts Disney was offering to rescue workers.

I'd like to go this year for the holidays, and if I do go I would most likely arrive on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

 

[dolphindan1]

We alsways go early Dec 1st or 2nd week and have not noticed any difference....I think starting that Monday after thanksgiving till the weekens before christams will be good anytime you can fit it in...If you encounter a crowd hop to another park or just use fast pass wisely and avoid weekends at the parks if you can...even if you find a crowd it will be much less than a holiday or summer week....

 

[goofy4tink]

We arrived on Thanksgiving Day this year and left on 12/1 (Wednesday following). The crowds were still pretty heavy on Sunday after T-day. But the crowds died down a little more each day thereafter. By the time we left on Wed., I was beginning to think we should stay another 4-5 days!!! You should be fine that week.

We have also been in mid-Dec and found it to be only a little crowded. The first two weeks in Dec should be pretty good. Some things to keep in mind about early Dec. tho....MouseFest is right around that time and that brings a huge amount of folks into the resorts. Then, the Pop Warner and cheerleader kids hit town. That's the second week if I remember correctly. that was the time we went in Dec and we hit the tail end of the football/cheerleaders. We found them to be fine to be around..just a little excitable!!!

 

[dolphindan1]

I wouldnt plan my vacation around either group...Mousefest are some of the best and most considerate people and are grat to be in the parks with...as a matter of fact you will not even notice them as they tend to spen certain times at certain parks or resorts...As for Pop Warner which is usually the 2nd full week....they are not a major issue either...we have been the last 2 years same as pop warner and not had any major propblem....couple slight bumps....one small group of disrespectful pre teens at MGM and once in a while a groupf of young girls break into squeals....pre teens being pre teens....but usually you dont notice them...its not gonna add a major crowd to any one park there attendance is random I believe and they spend alot of time practicing and playing there games at the sport complex....I would avoid MGM the friday of Pop Warner week that is the only day to plan around they have a special event for POP that night and close the park a littl early but a lot of the people got a head start and by 2 pm it was packed

 

[kyirish25]

We arrived on Saturday after Thanksgiving this year. With each passing day the crowds got thinner and thinner until Friday and Saturday the following week when it was crowded.

Remember that the filming of the Christmas parade happens the 1st weekend in December and this brings in a large local crowd.

And if wanting to do MVMCP any night other than Friday is very pleasant. I think every Friday sold-out this year.

 

[goofy4tink]

I wouldnt plan my vacation around either group...Mousefest are some of the best and most considerate people and are grat to be in the parks with...as a matter of fact you will not even notice them as they tend to spen certain times at certain parks or resorts...As for Pop Warner which is usually the 2nd full week....they are not a major issue either...we have been the last 2 years same as pop warner and not had any major propblem....couple slight bumps....one small group of disrespectful pre teens at MGM and once in a while a groupf of young girls break into squeals....pre teens being pre teens....but usually you dont notice them...its not gonna add a major crowd to any one park there attendance is random I believe and they spend alot of time practicing and playing there games at the sport complex....I would avoid MGM the friday of Pop Warner week that is the only day to plan around they have a special event for POP that night and close the park a littl early but a lot of the people got a head start and by 2 pm it was packed

Yep, I totally agree. Sure wasn't trying to say any of those groups, especially the MouseFest folk, should be avoided. It's just sometimes harder to book a resort at that time and the POP kids are usually at the values. Some people want to know when the kids are going to be there. They're being there wouldn't stop me from visiting at the same time.

 

[Madi100]

I just realized that I didn't read all of the replies to this post. Thanks for the replies. It really helps with our decision. We are going to arrive on the Monday after Thanksgiving and stay until the following Monday.

 

[dvcgirl]

You're better off waiting until that Monday after TG weekend. It was still fairly busy in the parks until say...the Wednesday after, and you'll notice the crowds dropping a bit with each successive day....

 

[Madi100]

Well, we won't start going to the parks until Tuesday. That is really our only option if I want to go to the Christmas Party. DH runs a grocery store, and he can't be gone close to CHristmas.

 

[miksad]

Hi!

We went down on December 1, the week after Thanksgiving. We just about had the parks to ourselves (except for the night of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party); the time from the Sunday after Thanksgiving until the week before Christmas is one of the least crowded times of the year - AND -the parks and resorts are all decorated beautifully and there are extras like the Candlelight Processional at Epcot and much more. We will definitely go there at that time of year again. PS: going down for our 33rd trip in 13 days! Whoopee! :jumping4:

 

[kathyseb]

We arrive at WDW on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. As everyone is leaving the state, we are entering it!!
The problem we found was driving down. The first year we left Indiana on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We ran into heavy traffic in every major city we hit.
After that, we started leaving on the Friday after Thanksgiving and take three days to drive down. So we still arrive at WDW on Sunday, but much eariler. It made all the difference in the world.
We have never thought the parks were crowded that week. Even on Sunday.

Now it is one our normal three visits we make.

 

[Draglon]

Just found this link on another thread:

www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

Has estimated crowds for the entire year.

Hope it helps.

 

[OK!]

Since 2001, I've been to WDW 3 times during the time period in question--in '01, it was deserted (for the obvious travel-industry-decline reasons); in '02, we got down there on Dec. 3 and didn't have any problems with crowds at all, and in '04, we arrived on 11/30 and again didn't experience any larger-than-normal crowds. This has now become my absolute favorite time of year to go.

 

[Madi100]

Just found this link on another thread:

www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm

Has estimated crowds for the entire year.

Hope it helps.

Great website. Thanks. We've usually gone in January and February. The only 1s on that whole list are during the time we will be there. Thanks!!!

 

[brermomof2]

The first couple weeks in December really are our favorite time. We were skeptical the first time we went that it would really have that holiday feeling being in Florida. Well, it definitely will put you in the spirit. I also highly recommend the Candlelight Processional.

 

[Madi100]

For the week that we have chosen they will have the Christmas Party, correct?