Crowds in the days before Thanksgiving?

[biochemgirl]

We're doing a short trip the Saturday to Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We are actually flying home on Thanksgiving!

What kind of crowds should we plan for? Will the parks be open early and late in those days leading up to Thanksgiving? Should I grab reservations for places like Blue Bayou, breakfast at Plaza Inn, or WOC dessert party early?

Thank you!

 

[chickapin parterre]

reservations should be made when Disneyland allows you.
It will be crowded, 8/9, but not a 10 because gates will not be closed
What has happened is that schools now close the entire week of Thanksgiving because of students being pulled out of schools to travel nation wide and as a result, federal funding is at stake, so massive school holiday closing has now made Thanksgiving very crowded.

When my son was in elementary school we went every year, pulling him out of school and visited an empty park. But our last Thanksgiving week visit was not fun (spoiled by the previous visits) and we now visit the first week in December. last year I was encouraging folks to visit the week after Thanksgiving because that week has returned to the calendar and will be there till 2018. Well, that was not good advice as that week after Thanksgiving was just as crowded at Thanksgiving week.

So, in my experience and reading the travel sites, the first two weeks of Dec are now the least crowded of the Christmas holiday

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

The week leading up to Thanksgiving can be very crowded. We have found the actual day of and weekend after quite tolerable several times in the last 5 years. Yes, you should have some long hours all week and a full entertainment schedule. I would make reservations for meals as soon as the system lets you.