Epcot for Thanksgiving

[ibela]

Hello, it's our first time being at the parks on a major holiday so not exactly sure what to expect. On Thanksgiving we're planning to be in Epcot. Are the QS typically very busy/crowded for dinner or am I better off with a TS? Thanks!

 

[magicaldisney]

Everything is busy on Thanksgiving day. If you are interested in a Table Service, you better get on it ASAP. Especially because today they released the list of restaurants that will be having Thanksgiving dinner and if they haven't already filled up they most likely will be very soon. The parks are busy, with MK being extremely, extremely busy. Epcot is the best park to be in to not feel the crowds as bad as you do elsewhere.

 

[CynBeth]

You might want to do EPCOT the next day. That is when Holidays Around the World (the storytellers) and Candlelight Processional begins unless you do not mind being there 2 days in a row. I would recommend the dining package to ensure a seat. The price is a flat fee and is determined by the restaurant and if it is lunch or dinner. We were in Disney 4 years ago and spent Thanksgiving Day at AK and the crowds were not bad. We noticed Flame Tree BBQ offered a special meal and it looked really good. I regretted not getting it. I was afraid it would be too much and wanted to save myself for dinner. We are going again this year and decided to do our Thanksgiving dinner at Boma which I understand has regular Thanksgiving food plus the African specialties.

 

[ibela]

You might want to do EPCOT the next day. That is when Holidays Around the World (the storytellers) and Candlelight Processional begins unless you do not mind being there 2 days in a row. I would recommend the dining package to ensure a seat. The price is a flat fee and is determined by the restaurant and if it is lunch or dinner. We were in Disney 4 years ago and spent Thanksgiving Day at AK and the crowds were not bad. We noticed Flame Tree BBQ offered a special meal and it looked really good. I regretted not getting it. I was afraid it would be too much and wanted to save myself for dinner. We are going again this year and decided to do our Thanksgiving dinner at Boma which I understand has regular Thanksgiving food plus the African specialties.

Thanks, but that's why we're going thanksgiving! Night emh (we fly in that day) and I figured more people will go the following day for the processional. It's a short trip (4 nights) and my kids are fairly impatient. I would also like the option of a traditional thanksgiving dinner but I also want a good view of Illuminations and Rose & Crown is booked. I'll keep trying. I'm sure all the processional packages are fully booked too, but I'll keep an eye out. Thanks!

 

[ibela]

Everything is busy on Thanksgiving day. If you are interested in a Table Service, you better get on it ASAP. Especially because today they released the list of restaurants that will be having Thanksgiving dinner and if they haven't already filled up they most likely will be very soon. The parks are busy, with MK being extremely, extremely busy. Epcot is the best park to be in to not feel the crowds as bad as you do elsewhere.

I have an ADR, just not sure if I want to keep it. Initially I was thinking we could snack around the world, then sit at Spice Road for dessert and fireworks. And that's when I started thinking maybe all the qs and snack kiosks will have long waits so maybe we're better off with a sit down dinner, in which case I need something else bc I don't think the kids would enjoy spice road as a meal....having never been during Thanksgiving I'm not sure what's feasible re: qs lines!

 

[Oomiak]

I will be at Epcot for thanksgiving also. This is my first major holiday in the parks so I'm unsure what to expect. Several family members and myself have lunch reservations at the Biergarten on thanksgiving day. We managed to get the same time frame for 22 people that day! When I was making reservations I couldn't find anything else available. The ADR's for that week are pretty much gone. Stay on it though, I managed to snag a 8:05 am at Be Our Guest during that week after checking with MDE often.

 

[ibela]

I actually have the ADRs that I wanted (well, close - still hunt for 1 on MDE). But I'd like to do some QS instead am an nervous about the crowds!! Good luck to us both!

 

[scjo68]

We were in Epcot Thanksgiving night 2013. It was the least crowded I have ever seen Epcot during Illuminations. We were able to easily grab counter service. Holiday activities didn't start at Epcot until the next day. When we returned to Epcot for CP and holiday storytellers that Saturday, it was packed.

 

[disnut8]

Hello, it's our first time being at the parks on a major holiday so not exactly sure what to expect. On Thanksgiving we're planning to be in Epcot. Are the QS typically very busy/crowded for dinner or am I better off with a TS? Thanks!

We do Epcot on Thanksgiving and find the table service places very well booked so stick to counter service. And we have walked up each time. We have really enjoyed sitting at the Lotus Blossom Cafe, eating their food with the friendly service, taking the food outside and watching people flocking all about while we are enjoying a nice break. We aren't with our families but we give thanks to doing what we want to do.

 

[epcotty]

I and some relatives were thinking of going to Epcot on Thanksgiving weekend but then decided it'd be busy then so moved it to the following weekend

 

[drewsmomslp]

We did this last year for the first time and I was so nervous for the crowd, but it turned out great. We flew in Thanksgiving day, stayed at the Swan so we were able to walk over as soon as we arrived. We let the kids choose where they wanted to eat, and beaches and cream won out (I was surprised how hard it was to get an ADR there). So, after ice cream for dinner (how's that for tradition?), we were in Epcot by 6ish. Crowds were really not bad at all. We rode the 3 fast pass rides, explored a few countries and watched the fireworks. Then the crowd really thinned out for EMH. It was such a great experience that we are doing it exactly the same way this year! We found the Friday to be heavy but after that the rest of the week the crowds were pretty good. Fingers crossed that its similar this time around.

 

[luvallprincesses]

We did this last year for the first time and I was so nervous for the crowd, but it turned out great. We flew in Thanksgiving day, stayed at the Swan so we were able to walk over as soon as we arrived. We let the kids choose where they wanted to eat, and beaches and cream won out (I was surprised how hard it was to get an ADR there). So, after ice cream for dinner (how's that for tradition?), we were in Epcot by 6ish. Crowds were really not bad at all. We rode the 3 fast pass rides, explored a few countries and watched the fireworks. Then the crowd really thinned out for EMH. It was such a great experience that we are doing it exactly the same way this year! We found the Friday to be heavy but after that the rest of the week the crowds were pretty good. Fingers crossed that its similar this time around.

Thank you for making me feel better about our Epcot day on Thanksgiving!

 

[disnut8]

Thank you for making me feel better about our Epcot day on Thanksgiving!

Epcot on Thanksgiving is my enjoyment of the pre holiday madness. You get enough of the holidays but nothing like the other parks and a walk around World Showcase with other countries is just wonderful. I'm not a religious person but just seeing countries in one setting and seeing people enjoying each other is what makes Thanksgiving for me.

 

[Mickey1105]

I was at Epcot for Thanksgiving the last two years and even though the crowd trackers say the crowd level was a 9 or 10, it never felt crowded to me. In 2013 we actually had a nice traditional Thanksgiving meal at the counter-service restaurant Sunshine Seasons. There were plenty of tables and it felt very laid back.

 

[ibela]

Thanks, you guys are making me feel much better. I'm hoping it's the same this year!