Friday after Thanksgiving+Epcot=how crowded?

[andrabell]

Happy September Everyone!

DH and I have planned our drive to WDW on the Friday after Thanksgiving for an 8 night stay. I was tooling around with the idea of perhaps travelling on Thanksgiving Day, making a PS for a nice meal that night and then visiting Epcot the next day. It would be great to get a head start and have an extra day! How crowded do you think Epcot will be on that day? I don't want to overwhelm DH with elbow to elbow crowds on his very first Disney Holiday.

Thanks to all.

Andra
Any excuse to leave earlier!

 

[Planogirl]

We were at WDW during Thanksgiving week of 2000. Epcot wasn't too bad the whole time we were there. MK was almost intolerable that weekend but Epcot was doable. The biggest crowds in Epcot were around the American Theater at night because they had started the Candlelight Processional show already that Friday. Be sure and get PS for dinner and I think you'll be OK.

 

[andrabell]

Thanks PG

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

---Andra
Calgon, Take me away!

 

[AimeeM]

andrabell
We did an almost identical thing last year. We flew in on Thanksgiving Day and booked dinner at Epcot for 8:00 pm ( last seating) We arrived to Epcot at about 5:30 and there wasnt a single person in line for Spaceship Earth. Epcot never seemed crowded over the Thanksgiving Weeked ( except for Test Track, but thats always crowded). We went back over to Epcot the next day, Friday, and it was fine. I really enjoyed going that time of year. It was our first trip over thanksgiving and I liked it so much Im going back at the same time next year. ( wanted to try the halloween party this year). On that Saturday, we went to AK, then we headed over to MK JUST to see Spectromagic. I knew it was going to be crowded but it was the only time during our trip that it was showing. In fact, I believe we arrived right at the end of the first light parade. We didnt try to ride, we just walked around and enjoyed the sites. The Christmas decorations were up, and it was just awesome. We didnt go back to MK until Monday!! We knew to stay away Saturday ( except for Spectro) and Sunday was Early Entry for MK. So we stayed away that day too. My Monday, it was clearing out and the rest of our week was pretty much dead. Oh, and one thing about the Thanksgiving dinner.. we purposely chose the last seating time so we could make sure we were there on time. We checked in at 15 minutes till our PS, and the place was mobbed. There was a 90 minute wait!!!!! There were people everywhere.. It seems like they were letting walk ins come in, and since Garden Grill is a Character Dinner, nobody was leaving. Our PS was for 8, the place was suppposed to close at 9, and we finally got seated at about 9:15. The waiter just looked beat, and I felt bad that he was there overtime!! The food was ok, but we were starved. Garden Grill is over in Future World and everything closes there at 6. There was NO counter service open in FW, and only China had available seating out of all the restaurants in Epcot ( a CM tried finding another place to eat for the lady in front of me) By the time I finally checked in ( we waited in line at the podium forever) and was handed a beeper and told "90 minutes", it was really to late to head out and find counter service anywhere since the parks still closed at 9 that night. SOOOO my advice would be DO NOT get the last seating on Thanksgiving Day!! Otherwise, it was an awesome time to be at WDW!!!

 

[snowgooseltd]

We were at WDW during the week of Thanksgiving, last year. It was very crowded and hard to get around. We were also there the following week and it was heaven on earth!! The crowds thinned out and we practically walked on rides. So this year we're starting our vacation the day AFTER thanksgiving through December 13th. The Christmas decorations will be up when we arrive and who could ask for more??

 

[Twigs]

We were there last year a week before Thanksgiving and left that Saturday after. Thanksgiving Day was extremely crowded in the MK. After our dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern (which was at 11:45am) we spent the rest of the day visiting the resorts decorations and playing mini golf. Epcot on the day after Thanksgiving was fine. More crowded than earlier that week but still very doable. Since you still have a week after Thanksgiving, I would say go park hopping and if a park is too crowded for you, do just a few things you are interested in and move on. The parks will clear out after the weekend. I wouldn't wait too long to make PS for dinner.

 

[andrabell]

Thanks to everyone for posting!

Epcot sounds doable, but Disney dining on Thanksgiving sounds a bit SCARY! We wouldn't be eating in the parks as we have 4 day hopper passes and tickets to MVMCP for Sunday. I had 3 park days planned for the next week with rest days in between. I thought the Friday for Epcot would be a good way to use that extra day. My husband is a first timer and only agreed if he could have some rest on his holiday. I don't mind at all, as I have a heel spur and my commando days are over!

Now, where to eat....See you at the Restaurant Boards!

---Andra
MMMMM...Turkey and Trimmings!