Conflicting information on touring type websites about crowds?

[japanese maple]

This is just informational for me as we've already booked.
We chose the week after Thanksgiving for 2024, starting on Tuesday 12/3. Thanksgiving is late next year.

Reading different sites this morning, some say the week after is a good choice, but some are saying it's very crowded. Do you have experiences you can share? We are going this week no matter what, but perhaps would like to do different planning if we are going to expect large crowds.

Thanks.

 

[scrappinginontario]

While waiting, I would recommend you read through posts around those dates from years past in the 'Here Now and Just Back' thread. I will say the 2022 posts will probably be the most informative as 2020 and 2021 were not 'normal' years.

 

[Tom_E_D]

This is just informational for me as we've already booked.
We chose the week after Thanksgiving for 2024, starting on Tuesday 12/3. Thanksgiving is late next year.

Reading different sites this morning, some say the week after is a good choice, but some are saying it's very crowded. Do you have experiences you can share? We are going this week no matter what, but perhaps would like to do different planning if we are going to expect large crowds.

Thanks.

I went that week back in 2017, expecting light crowds based on the crowd calendars, and felt they were more moderate than light. One problem with predicted light crowds is that people see the predictions, plan to go then, and that increases the crowds. The crowd calendars point out that not enough people see theirs to influence crowd sizes. But if they all agree crowds will be light, that will influence a good number of people. The one exception is September. People stay away then even if all the calendars predict light crowds. So, the fact that the crowd calendars do not agree now may increase the possibility that crowds will be light when you go.

If you want to see how the numbers looked in the past, I would start with this webpage: https://wdwpassport.com/past-crowds (click on the month and year to see daily).

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

It will be moderately crowded - not as bad as Christmas Day but not as light as a Tuesday in early September. Christmas parties will effect MK hours and crowd disbursement, and possibly HS as well.

Not sure when your last visit was, but I think you have to be a very very seasoned guest to tell the difference between shades of moderate crowds. Assume some walkways will be congested and lines will average 35 minutes.

We just got back. I thought crowds were manageable, based on my experiences as someone who visits a time or two a year. My mother in law hadn’t been to Disney in 46 years and heard reports of low crowds. I’m pretty sure she was shocked at how packed it was.

I know that’s not really helpful, but I think it’s more about understanding what normal Disney crowds are like than thinking that a 4 vs a 6 on a crowd calendar is a visible difference.

 

[japanese maple]

It will be moderately crowded - not as bad as Christmas Day but not as light as a Tuesday in early September. Christmas parties will effect MK hours and crowd disbursement, and possibly HS as well.

Not sure when your last visit was, but I think you have to be a very very seasoned guest to tell the difference between shades of moderate crowds. Assume some walkways will be congested and lines will average 35 minutes.

We just got back. I thought crowds were manageable, based on my experiences as someone who visits a time or two a year. My mother in law hadn’t been to Disney in 46 years and heard reports of low crowds. I’m pretty sure she was shocked at how packed it was.

I know that’s not really helpful, but I think it’s more about understanding what normal Disney crowds are like than thinking that a 4 vs a 6 on a crowd calendar is a visible difference.

We are used to at least moderate crowds. Have been many times in October and April.

This is our first holiday trip so will be happy with the less chaotic crowds of Christmas week.

 

[daae3]

I’ve gone that particular week many times (my bday is that week) it is not holiday crowded…but it’s not light. I agree moderate crowds are the best description