Disneyland Over Thanksgiving

[JBHinkle55]

I'm looking to plan a trip to Disneyland over Thanksgiving, being in the Park on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I had a couple questions though:

1.) How are crowds? I've done the first weekend in December several times. How does Thanksgiving weekend compare?

2.) When does Disneyland "fully" switch over to Christmas mode? I know the decor is a gradual shift throughout November, but like when is everything fully in Christmas mode? Like, when does the music on Mainstreet convert from the normal stuff to the Holiday songs?

Also, is there anything else I should know?

Thank you!

 

[Malcon10t]

I'm looking to plan a trip to Disneyland over Thanksgiving, being in the Park on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I had a couple questions though:

1.) How are crowds? I've done the first weekend in December several times. How does Thanksgiving weekend compare?

Night and day. Friday will be the worst. But with the new reservation system, it may not be "as bad".

2.) When does Disneyland "fully" switch over to Christmas mode? I know the decor is a gradual shift throughout November, but like when is everything fully in Christmas mode? Like, when does the music on Mainstreet convert from the normal stuff to the Holiday songs?

Also, is there anything else I should know?

Thank you!

Most of what you are asking will be completed by Veteran's Day weekend. The "final" parts (usually hotel decor) are pulled together by Monday prior to Thanksgiving.

 

[robododo]

We go every year (well... not last year) at Thanksgiving: Wed -> Sunday. Wednesday before seems like a typical crowd, and Thanksgiving day gets busier but not so bad, (especially early in the day). The Friday after Thanksgiving is far and away the worst. The Saturday after is fairly busy, and it gets fairly quiet again by Sunday.

We are avid MaxPass users, which helps a lot. I'm really hoping it's back this year by November (or something to replace it). If it's not, then I think the best strategy is patience

 

[beachdreamr1229]

1. Crowds get progressively worse over the week. It's not horrible early on, but by the day after Thanksgiving, it's wall to wall people.

2 has already been very clearly answered, so I'll skip it.

Overall, just be prepared for crowds. And if you have reservations for lunch or dinner at at restaurant in one of the parks, be patient. We go most Thanksgiving weeks and the wait for a table on Thanksgiving day can be really long. They're also usually under-staffed I think because a lot of people take the time off for family, so try to be extra courteous to those who are working.

As someone else said, if Maxpass is available, get it. Lines will be long. If it doesn't come back in some form by then, go on the rides with long waits early.