Crowds the week BEFORE Thanksgiving?

[Family of Five]

Are the parks and DVC resorts quiet the week before Thanksgiving, Nov 14-20th? I'm guessing the weekend of the 20th is crowded with families rolling in for the holiday, but didn't know if that week was fairly quiet...?
Thanks for any advice you can give me!
Lori

 

[ttepsich]

We generally go the Tues or Wed before Thanksgiving and stay until the next Tues or Wed. We have found the crowds to be their lowest the Sunday, Mon and Tues AFTER the holiday. The highest being Thurs, Fri, Sat. Can't offer any insight concerning the full week before.
Tina

 

[OKWMom]

We've done that week before (2008) and are going that same week again this year. We thought it was pretty quiet in the parks during that week and the weather was nice. Hopefully it will be that way again this year.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We've done that week before (2008) and are going that same week again this year. We thought it was pretty quiet in the parks during that week and the weather was nice. Hopefully it will be that way again this year.

Sounds like something to look forward to. Christmas Decorations and Osbourne lights will be up?

 

[OKWMom]

Sounds like something to look forward to. Christmas Decorations and Osbourne lights will be up?

They were in 2008. I believe they have the decorations up by the time they do the first Christmas party in the MK. The gingerbread house was not completed I think (curse my failing memory), but the Osbourne lights were up.

I don't know about the other resort decorations. We were staying at OKW and they don't go all out like some of the other resorts. However, we didn't feel like we had missed out on any of the Christmas flavor by going in November.

 

[Nonsuch]

Are the parks and DVC resorts quiet the week before Thanksgiving, Nov 14-20th? I'm guessing the weekend of the 20th is crowded with families rolling in for the holiday, but didn't know if that week was fairly quiet...?

The free birthday promotion last year allowed may Southern California residents to cheaply upgrade to an Annual Passport. This made the days immediately before Thanksgiving busier than the blackout days immediately after

Most of the discounted passports from last year have expired, but the crowds will be smaller on days Southern California Annual Passports are blocked out.

 

[walkdmc]

We went during TG week last year and found Wed. evening all the way through Sat. too crowded for our liking. I was just at WDW and the crowds during that Nov. period seemed worse to me than the June crowd. (I know the touring guide says otherwise but whatever).

I talked to someone who went the week before Thanksgiving and said it was wonderful, good weather, low crowds, Christmas stuff up etc. So, we're also planing a Nov. 13-20 trip this year. See you there!

 

[DenLo]

The Unofficial Guide to WDW, ranks Thanksgiving weekend with Christmas and New Years Eve for the most busy days at WDW.

The least busy time is the week after Thanksgiving weekend until the week before Christmas. The next slowest are the second full week of November through the weekend before Thanksgiving, September (after Labor Day) and October, January 4 through the first week of February (except for MLK weekend), and the week after East through early June.

They note though crowds have grown during September and October due to promotional events these months continue to be good for weekday touring at the parks. They also point out that the downside to it not being busy means that the parks often open later and close earlier. So you have less touring hours.

So it sounds like that until Thanksgiving day you'll have lighter crowds.

 

[ChrisMouse]

I was thinking crowds would be lower, too. We're going Nov 12-23. Now that they've extended free dining, I think it might be pretty crowded with people who want to see Christmas without actually GOING at Christmas.

 

[Snurk71]

We went mid Nov in 2008 and the parks were great. The weather can be a little unpredictable though. It was in the 80s our first day, then dipped to highs in the low 60s (mornings were pretty cold) - I bought a sweatshirt that I put to use that year.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We went for Thanksgiving a couple years ago, and the days before Thanksgiving were okay, but by Wednesday it got crowded, and we pretty much toured only in the mornings through the Saturday after Thanksgiving. By Sunday it was very light again, and the transition into that first week of December was wonderful in the parks. We also found the decorations became more prevalent as the week went on.

 

[nolanboys]

We went 2 years ago at this time. We got there the Wednesday before Thanksgiving week and left the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Crowds were light until the Monday of Thanksgiving week. The weather was unseasonable cold, especially at night. But we had a great time and loved seeing the Christmas decorations - plus it got me out of hosting Thanksgiving dinner that year!

 

[CarolMN]

Are the parks and DVC resorts quiet the week before Thanksgiving, Nov 14-20th? I'm guessing the weekend of the 20th is crowded with families rolling in for the holiday, but didn't know if that week was fairly quiet...?
Thanks for any advice you can give me!
Lori

IMO, the week you chose will be November's slowest week. You've managed to avoid all the November events that bring in the crowds .

This year, the week of Thanksgiving is 11/21- 11/27, Jersey week is 10/31 - 11/7 and the Food & Wine Festival ends 11/14/2010.

If you are looking for shorter lines and wait times in the parks, you have picked a very good time to go! Have fun!

 

[Family of Five]

Thank you so much for the replies, I feel much better about that week and can't wait to go!!! Maybe this will turn into an annual tradition for us!

 

[DVCAmy]

We went the week before Thanksgiving last year and there were no crowds. Lots of Christmas decorations up, Osbourne Light show on and no people. We rode Toy Story over and over again all day with less than 15 min wait! My favorite week ever! Enjoy it!

Amy

 

[ppony]

Also will be there the 13th-21st. We were habitual December goers because we LOVE the holiday flavor at WDW. No way in bleep will I ever go during Christmas week proper and Dec. is getting busier each time we go. Like several of you, I'm also hoping people really aren't going to be in holiday mode. I really don't think too many people really go to WDW in Nov. for the Holidays until the first one actually happens. I know we generally aren't in holiday mode until Thanksgiving and that's why we would go early to mid Dec. Fingers cross w/ my fellow pre-turkey week goers.