Attendance, EMH, and Thanksgiving ???'s

[jkmmah]

Is Birnbaum's guide pretty "on the mark" when it lists which parks have highest attendance on which days? I ask because I've read that generally the park that has the EMH will be most crowded later in the day so many guests start out at the EMH park and then hop to another park later in the day. But the EMH schedule "theory" doesn't jive with Birnbaum's historical attendance "theory."

Let me explain:

Birnbaum says MGM will be busiest on Sunday and Wed. However, MGM's EMH days are Tues and Sat which would make those days the busiest if the EMH is the predictor for busiest park days.

Anyone help me out with what to use as a guide for which park will be busiest on which days?

Finally, which day of the Thanksgiving weekend will we see the crowds begin to thin as people head home from their holiday? We're planning to be there on Sat evening, with our first park day on Sunday. Will the crowds still be thick on Sunday, even into Mon and Tues, or will most people be on the road home Sunday?

Thanks for all your help!!

 

[m&m's mom]

I can answer the 2nd half of your question.
The crowds start to thin out on Sunday. If this year is similar to the last several, it should thin out drastically.
We have always had our 1st day at WDW the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving but this year we are going on Thanksgiving day. We are expecting it to be very busy until Sunday.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

We are planning a Thanksgiving trip for next year and I'm wondering if there is an alternate park idea?

I mean - will Magic Kingdom in particular have heavy crowds? And, if so, should we stick to another park or will the crowd be widespread throughout?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Last year was our first time going Thanksgiving week. I had heard that the crowds were reasonable the weekend before, getting heavier up to Thanksgiving day, which I was advised to stay away form any of the parks Thanksgiving Day, we did, and after what I heard MK was like, I am glad we did.

My experience, the crowds were very heavy even on Sunday.(before Turkey Day) We did take advantage of EMH and found that was the WRONG thing to do. The parks were very crowded on their early open days. So this year, we are staying away from the parks that have EMH. The day before Thanksgiving, we were in MK, and I have to say, I have never seen the park so crowded. It was my 8th trip. There was an actual gridlock of people as we tried to exit Mickey's Philaharmonic.

We left the day after Thanksgiving, so I do not have actual experience with the crowds, but a friend of mine stayed for the weekend, and when she came home, she said it was the worst she has ever seen the crowds. Unpleasant, and she used words she usually doesn't.

I would guess that MK is the most crowded regardless of the day. MGM was heavy while we were there last year, but again, we went for EMH. Those are the two parks I remember being the most crowded. I know that whatever park has EMH, we are heading in another direction this year.

Good luck!

 

[jkmmah]

Bumping this up for more to see and (hopefully) advise.

 

[JABEAR]

I agree with the above post in that the crowds will thin out the Sun. after TGiv.

I would go to the EMH park first thing in the morning and then leave by noon and go to another park. You will not find a park less crowded than they will be for the first part of their respective EMH. On the other side, the park with the EMH will have its highest attendance in the afternoon hours.

We were in MK on TGiv. one year and I have never seen it more crowded. It was virtually shoulder to shoulder in the area between PPan and SWorld. If I remember, the wait for PPan was something like 1hr 45min. It was nuts! Luckily, it was towards the end of our trip and we were able to take it easy and didn't have any major complaints. You just have to plan around the crowds that come during any major holiday.

 

[disneyjulie]

this is my 4th thanksgiving down there by sat people will start heading home. by sunday should be even less crowded. This year may be different with the hurricanes and people having to put off trips. I was there in august so i am sure this will be better than that. I agree to stay away for early entry on parks. Have Fun

 

[disneyjulie]

bump