Crowds the week AFTER Thanksgiving?

[Pembo]

We just planned a trip for 11/28 - 12/4. Anyone know what crowds will be like???? Will we need to do some commando touring or will it be more relaxed???

Will we have to get to Fantasmic 2 hours early? or waltz in 30 mins prior like we did one September?

 

[purplebelle]

I have Birnbaum's 2003 Guide to Disney and it says, "The period between the end of Thanksgiving and the week before Xmas is one of the least crowded and most festive times of the year. It's a wonderful time to visit." (p. 8) Least crowded = awesome Disney experience!!!

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

I've gone four or five times during the week after Thanksgiving (and will be doing so this year as well, arriving on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and staying 7 nights).

Obviously, I keep coming back from more! Generally, you'll find that the crowds are fairly heavy, maybe even extremely so, the weekend after Thanksgiving. But by late-afternoon Sunday, most of the Thanksgiving week vacationers are jetting back to their lives, leaving the rest of the week for you to enjoy the parks with minimum crowds. This holds true for Universal/IOA as well (I generally go over and am able to hit all the major attractions at BOTH parks in one day!).

I don't know if discounts and the like will impact things this year, but based on past experience, I'm thinking you'll have a great time! (I should say "we'll have a great time" since I'll be there too!)

Richard

 

[Princess Michelle]

I've visited the week after Thanksgiving many times and never had a problem. The crowds are usually very manageable, the weather is beautiful and you get to see all the Holiday decor. I think it's just the most perfect time to be there! I'll be there this year too.

 

[nativetxn]

I was there during that time period last year and the year before and the crowds were maneageable.

I'm going to be there the week after Thanksgiving this year too

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

... are you following me? You are, aren't you! I say I'm going the week after Thanksgiving, and suddenly, YOU'RE going. Kidding, kidding. I'm hoping that we get a chance to meet while both enjoying the fact that like love, Disney is a Many Splendored Thing.

Richard

 

[Pembo]

How many more DIS'ers are going to be there??? Maybe it won't be so quiet after all.

 

[andrabell]

DH and I will be eating our Thanksgiving Dinner with The Mouse and are staying until 6th December!

---Andra
Can't Freakin' Wait

 

[wedindis'00]

myself and DW will be driving down 11/26 and driving home 12/6..only 20 hrs give or take....have the krispy kreme store locator printed out and ready to go!

our third time in four years at this time!!!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

I just had to chime in that we'll be down there the Saturday after Thanksgiving till December 7!!!

This will be our third week after Thanksgiving trip!! We love that time of year!

 

[ktglads]

I'm leaving early (not too bright at 6:30 AM) on the 28th and will be in the world until the 3rd and at Universal until the 5th. Hopefully that first MVMCP on the 30th won't be too busy and we will get some really good weather!

I've never been to the parks during the holidays and the decorations are our main reason for the trip. Well, that and to get our money's worth out of those APs that we bought

 

[Jay Since 72]

Planning to be there (at the Boardwalk, specifically) from Sat the 29th through Sat Dec 6th.

As for crowds, I was there the same week two years ago, and it was the only time I've ever been the one and only person in a Magic Kingdom restroom. If that's not a good indicator of low crowds, I don't know what is.

 

[B3LM]

Great time to go!!! Thanksgiving weekend is crowded, but by Monday, it really empties out!

 

[Dan Murphy]

This will be the fifth year, Pem, for me there at that time. It has always been low crowds, but crowds do seem to be up this year, with promotions and pent up demand to take previously postponed trips. I would think it more crowded than in past years, but still, relative to the week before Thanksgiving and the week of, and those closer to Christmas, it will be a lot less crowded. Hope to see you there.

 

[fklhou]

We have done WDW a couple times at this time of the year. It is one of our favorite times to visit. The parks are almost empty and all of the chirstmas decorations are up. Even though we are Jewish, the decorations are nice to look at.

Have fun.

 

[kristi]

We will be there at the same time as well! USO 11/26-11/29 and BCV 11/29 - 12/5!

 

[TNCarole]

DH and I are going down the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and will be there until 12-6. We went the same week last year and had an absolutely wonderful time.

We'll be looking for those lime green Mickey heads! Picked up a few at Home Depot the last time we were there.

 

[Poohs Pal]

We will be at the YC from 11/29-12/06. 3rd time going early december and love it. Susan

 

[soccer mom]

Don't forget that the 28th and 29th are still the week OF Thanksgiving. The parks will be crowded. We did AK the day after Thanksgiving last year. It was crowded but manageable. Saturday we did Epcot which was manageable. We chose to stay away from MK those first couple of days and I think that was a good choice. After that crowds really thinned out.

It must have been okay because we're going that week this year too!!!

 

[mommyflower]

We are going to MIL in Virginia Beach for thanksgiving then driving to WDW, arriving on Sunday 11/30 and staying till 12/7. This will be our first time during the holiday season. We usually go in the summer. We are really looking forward to all the different decorations. We will be doing MVMCP on 12/2. Less than a month to go! Is everyone excited? I am already trying to pack!