Crowds week after Thanksgiving

[wendow]

We are planning a trip this year arriving at WDW the Saturday after Thanksgiving and making Sunday (Nov 30th) our first park day. We plan to stay most of the next week. What are the thoughts on that week for low crowds? Josh doesn't have this time period up yet. TP has crowds predicted to be low. What do you guys think? Seems predictions aren't as reliable anymore Appreciate any thoughts!!

 

[WildReekies]

Is like to know too! That's when we're going : )

 

[wendow]

Is like to know too! That's when we're going : )

Hopefully...there are not too many of us going that same time LOL!

 

[Minniekins]

Us, too - that's exactly the day and week we are going, lol! Hmmm, could get crowded there, lol!

 

[chrismb22]

See you there on Sunday!! Woo hoo!!!

 

[jimandami]

We arrived that exact day last year and stayed until Dec 12. I would say crowds were light to moderate. Walkways and common areas seemed VERY crowded but wait times weren't horrible. The weather was perfect and the holiday festivities are great!! The World Showcase did get a bit crazy when Gary Sinise or NPH was doing the CP, and you might want to avoid MK on parade taping days, but otherwise, it was a great time to visit!

 

[WendyWuWu]

We go that week after Thanksgiving almost every year, and will be arriving the Friday after Thanksgiving this year, and staying until the next Saturday. When I first started going that week years ago, the crowds were verrrrrry light. Each year has become more crowded it seems, probably because there's usually free dining that week, and the last visit I made during that week in 2012, I would call the crowds light to moderate, with the more moderate days being around the weekends. See you there!

 

[mrsap]

We are planning a trip this year arriving at WDW the Saturday after Thanksgiving and making Sunday (Nov 30th) our first park day. We plan to stay most of the next week. What are the thoughts on that week for low crowds? Josh doesn't have this time period up yet. TP has crowds predicted to be low. What do you guys think? Seems predictions aren't as reliable anymore Appreciate any thoughts!!

I replied to your post on another thread, so I will copy and paste my response here too!

We go for two weeks - starting Thanksgiving week and through the week after. The week after is a lot better than Thanksgiving week, as far as crowd. However, I felt it was pretty crowded last year compared to some of the past years! The decorations will all be up by that time, however, the past few years that week has been excluded from Free Dining. I believe the same for room only discount... I'm almost positive we paid full price for SS last year. Someone might have more accurate info. as far as the discounts go, but i know for sure there was no free dining the past two. We will be there this year again, maybe we'll see you there! Enjoy!

 

[italian alps]

Haha....we're another family coming down the Sunday after thanksgiving! I'm learning a lot on these boards about our best plan of action! Want to make the best of this new system. I spend way too much time on these boards. It's an addiction my husband doesn't even know about. Perhaps I need a new hobby?

 

[totallytigger]

We did the same schedule this past Thanksgiving and loved it. The crowds were a little larger than we expected, but we were told that it was d/t Thanksgiving being so late in the month. We spent the whole day at MK on Friday (parade taping day) and it was fine--as long as we avoided Main St. It was my DGDs birthday so we did BBB and CRT that day. . We went to the CP to see Gary Senise and that area of Epcot was crazy crowded--but worth it. We are going back again this year--same time frame--the xmas atmosphere is worth any amount of crowdedness(? word). . As far as discounts go--we were able to get the military room only discount starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

 

[schriverl]

We did the week after Thanksgiving 2 years in a row. That week in 2012 had very low crowds. 2013 was crazy busy! The only difference between the 2 was 2013 the week after Thanksgiving was also the first week of December whereas 2012 there was an extra week in between the 2.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We are planning a trip this year arriving at WDW the Saturday after Thanksgiving and making Sunday (Nov 30th) our first park day. We plan to stay most of the next week. What are the thoughts on that week for low crowds? Josh doesn't have this time period up yet. TP has crowds predicted to be low. What do you guys think? Seems predictions aren't as reliable anymore Appreciate any thoughts!!

We arrived the Sat after Thanksgiving - Nov 30th, and we will never travel on that weekend again. The Magical Express area at MCO on Saturday was a nightmare. It took us almost an hour to even get on a bus. Then when we got to the WL, check in was fine, but our luggage didn't arrive in our room until well after five hours.

The crowds at MK the Monday after Thanksgiving were really bad. We stayed for the electric light parade at MK and it was a huge mob scene.

It started clearing out by Tuesday or Wednesday. If we were going to go again in December, it would plan to avoid the few days after Thanksgiving.

 

[wendow]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience! We have only been in early-mid Sept. so we are used to very light crowds. I think this is going to 'stretch' us a bit...

Couple of questions about things you guys mentioned...how do we figure out which days are parade taping days? And what is the CP stuff in WS with Gary Senise and NPH?

Were the days at MK lighter if there was a Christmas party planned that evening? We have always noticed that when we go in Sept. We go to MK on the MNSSHP days and the crowds are so much better. Just wondering if we can plan the same this time?

Thanks!

 

[siskaren]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience! We have only been in early-mid Sept. so we are used to very light crowds. I think this is going to 'stretch' us a bit...

1. Couple of questions about things you guys mentioned...how do we figure out which days are parade taping days?

2. And what is the CP stuff in WS with Gary Senise and NPH?

3. Were the days at MK lighter if there was a Christmas party planned that evening? We have always noticed that when we go in Sept. We go to MK on the MNSSHP days and the crowds are so much better. Just wondering if we can plan the same this time?

Thanks!

1. Parade taping is the first Saturday in December.

2. The CP is the Candlelight Processional which is a presentation of the Christmas story in readings by a celebrity narrator and music by a Mass choir and 50-piece orchestra. Gary Sinise and Neil Patrick Harris are almost always among the celebrities who narrate and NPH in particular is very popular.

3. Yep. Most people aren't going to want to go to the MK on a day when it's only open to 7:00 and there's no nighttime entertainment.

The crowds at MK the Monday after Thanksgiving were really bad. We stayed for the electric light parade at MK and it was a huge mob scene.

On easywdw.com, MK is almost always not recommended on Mondays (and wasn't for the Monday after Thanksgiving last year) because most people like to start their vacations on Sunday and visit the MK on their first full day. On top of that, because of the Christmas party, there are fewer opportunities to see the MSEP and Wishes, and since that day was one of the few days when you could, you probably hit the jackpot of bad timing for visiting MK.

 

[wendow]

1. Parade taping is the first Saturday in December.

2. The CP is the Candlelight Processional which is a presentation of the Christmas story in readings by a celebrity narrator and music by a Mass choir and 50-piece orchestra. Gary Sinise and Neil Patrick Harris are almost always among the celebrities who narrate and NPH in particular is very popular.

3. Yep. Most people aren't going to want to go to the MK on a day when it's only open to 7:00 and there's no nighttime entertainment.



On easywdw.com, MK is almost always not recommended on Mondays (and wasn't for the Monday after Thanksgiving last year) because most people like to start their vacations on Sunday and visit the MK on their first full day. On top of that, because of the Christmas party, there are fewer opportunities to see the MSEP and Wishes, and since that day was one of the few days when you could, you probably hit the jackpot of bad timing for visiting MK.

Thanks for your response! We have had to go on Mondays to MK in the past due to that being one of the only times we can catch the MSEP. And yep, it's a marked difference in crowds even in September

 

[ariane37]

I only have one experience to judge by, 2012. We flew in Thanksgiving day eve & stayed for 10 days, so the whole week after. Definitely saw decrease in crowds starting Sun. after Thanksgiving & more of a decrease by Tues. As PP's have said, no real crowds other than WS when we saw NPH do the CP (fantastic!) and the crowds were only really around the theater. We really enjoyed this week; normally we go Oct. or earlier in Nov.

 

[wendow]

I only have one experience to judge by, 2012. We flew in Thanksgiving day eve & stayed for 10 days, so the whole week after. Definitely saw decrease in crowds starting Sun. after Thanksgiving & more of a decrease by Tues. As PP's have said, no real crowds other than WS when we saw NPH do the CP (fantastic!) and the crowds were only really around the theater. We really enjoyed this week; normally we go Oct. or earlier in Nov.

So you are used to the lighter crowds like we are. I wonder what caused 2013 to be so nuts? that is my concern. That 2013 will repeat itself and it'll be really busy.

 

[ariane37]

So you are used to the lighter crowds like we are. I wonder what caused 2013 to be so nuts? that is my concern. That 2013 will repeat itself and it'll be really busy.

I have no idea, except all of 2013 seemed to be more crowded than the year before according to reports here. I remember posts from Jan. 2013 saying "we come this time every year, and I've NEVER seen crowds like this!" and those posts seemed to continue all year lol! However, we just returned from our first Feb. trip, 10 days, which included President's weekend. I was nervous about crowds - afraid if they were too bad DH would refuse to return anytime soon! But surprisingly they weren't as bad as I had imagined. Heavier than our usual trips yes, and I think even heavier than our Nov. 2012 trip (with the exception of those first couple days right after Thanksgiving). But for people who are used to lighter crowds we did fine and still enjoyed ourselves, got tons done and didn't feel rushed or smooshed So, if you just go in knowing it will probably be more crowded than you're used to I'm sure you'll be fine - and probably pleasantly surprised. Good luck and enjoy! Can't beat all the Christmas décor

 

[mousiemom]

just our experiences: we've been this same week the last 3 years and it is wonderful! we also start our 1st park day on that sunday and stay till the next sat, low crowds, great weather and the Christmas décor, it is our favorite week to go!!

 

[wendow]

So, if you just go in knowing it will probably be more crowded than you're used to I'm sure you'll be fine - and probably pleasantly surprised. Good luck and enjoy! Can't beat all the Christmas décor

Thank you. This is exactly how I am approaching it. I'm so, so excited to see the World decorated for Christmas!!