For those who visited over Thanksgiving

[MouseEars4us]

Any hints or tips from those who visited over Thanksgiving? There will be 4 adults and 5 kids, ages 16-4 in our party in November. I am planning to arrive Mon and our last day will be Fri (5 days). Looking for ideas on where to have Thanksgiving Dinner?
Also, as far as crowds, we are planning on Epcot and AK Thurs and Fri, MGM and MK Mon Tues and Wed, sound OK?
My niece wants to know...When do Christmas decorations go up?

This is our 4th visit, and we are bringing family along for this trip. We have always come in off season, but never Thanksgiving week...

So much planning so little time!

Thanks a Bunch!
Jenn

 

[cfbarker]

My family went this past Thanksgiving. We have a 5 yr. old and a 1 yr. old. We ate at Chef Mickey's Thanksgiving night - 7:00 pm. If you want to see characters, it's a great place. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale visited our table. Donald and Daisy posed for pictures but didn't go the the tables. The food was okay - nothing spectacular.

Christine

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We had character breakfast at Donald's in AK on Thanksgiving morning and dinner at 50's Primetime.
Getting to the parks at opening made ALL the difference. We did what we wanted before it got VERY crowded about 11 and got out before or after lunch(only went to MGM T'giving afternoon-no other parks after lunch other days). We go a lot and wanted to spend time at the resort too. We did MK Fri at 9am and did everything we wanted by 11-no lines until 10 and unreal lines by 11! We planned well.
Christmas decorations were up before T'giving in the parks and at AKL where we stayed. Not sure when they went up in the parks.
Weather was great-we swam at AKL. It was a wonderful visit.

 

[Maridw]

We went to Garden Grill in Epcot this year for Thanksgiving and had a VERY nice dinner. The meal is served Family style, so they bring it to the table.

First, was a nice salad. Then, the main course had: turkey, flank steak, veggies and mashed potatoes. For dessert was apple crisp with ice cream. This was the first time we had done a character meal and even with a 16 yo, the characters stopped by a couple times. We didn't have a camera, so we didn't get pics.

But the meal was excellent. I would definitely go again.

 

[WhispyPixie]

You will love it....

The decorations go up Thanksgiving Week and they just continue to add some each day, but by Thanksgiving Day they are ALL up. Chef Mickeys is great for Thanksgiving Dinner as is Ohana's at the Poly! I highly recommend getting reservations ASAP, they book up quickly!

Stay away from MK on Thanksgiving Day, but Epcot is great that day! MGM was fairly packed well, but not unbearable!

Good Luck!

Pixie

 

[MouseEars4us]

It's good to know I'm on the right track, planning to stay away from MGM and MK Thurs and Fri. But, also good to know that if we need a little dose of MK we can sneak it in early in the morning! There is something about the MK ...it calls to us...

I thought the decorations started a little earlier in the week, but I wasn't sure. One of our trips began the weekend after Thanksgiving and the decorations were lovely! (Something we are really looking forward to seeing again.)

I've heard a lot of good things about Ohana's and Chef Mickeys, (we are doing 50's Prime Time a different day, and did the Garden Grill on a previous trip). My DH would like to go back to 1900 Park Fair, DD's suggested Liberty Tree Tav. where we did MNSSHP. I tend to try something new, they like returning to something familiar...

It's a little nerve wracking trying to plan for guests besides my family. My nephew (there's only 3 years between us) his wife and 2 kids are joining us and I want them to enjoy WDW as much as we do! He has started calling me "Tour Guide Barbie"

Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[js]

Also VERY interested in Thanksgiving week since my mom may be taking my family (husband and 2 kids-10 & 6).
We would be arriving at WDW the Fri/Sat before Thanksgiving and departing WDW the Sat/Sun after Thanksgiving.
Is is very crowded the Sun-Wed prior to Thanksgiving? We have been to WDW the last week of Aug. and usually go in Oct. but never in Nov. and never at Thanksgiving.
We are also thinking of staying at WL. ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks