Choosing between the week before or after Thanksgiving?

[pookiepie777]

We are traveling to Florida for a family event the weekend before Thanksgiving and would like to add on several days to WDW while we are there, but can't decide whether to do it before or after.
We have an eight year old and two year old twins. I haven't been to the parks for many years and it will be the first visit for the kids.
I'm trying to figure out the advantages and disadvantages of each week. When will there be less crowds? I know the week of Thanksgiving is horrible but what about before and after?
When do the Christmas events and lights start?

TIA

 

[siskaren]

All Christmas events will be taking place after Thanksgiving. I would definitely wait until after Thanksgiving.

 

[Accident]

Week after tends to only have FLA resident discounts. It's also a very quiet week (but the weekends before and after aren't). I did it last year, everything holiday wise was going, usually epcots holiday things start this week, filming of the christmas parade on main street, etc.. It's a fun week.

 

[Barbydoll8]

The week of is VERY busy including the weekend. The week after is much more quiet but still busy. All holiday will be in full swing after T-giving.

 

[siskaren]

Week after tends to only have FLA resident discounts. It's also a very quiet week (but the weekends before and after aren't). I did it last year, everything holiday wise was going, usually epcots holiday things start this week, filming of the christmas parade on main street, etc.. It's a fun week.

Epcot Christmas events have always started the day after Thanksgiving. The Christmas parade normally films the first weekend of December, but it hasn't been announced yet for this year.

 

[jcole817]

We're doing the week after Thanksgiving. We'll be arriving the day after Tgiving (fewest FF miles used), but we're going through the 5th so we won't be hitting it too hard the first couple of days.