Help from anyone who has been the Sat/Sun before Thanksgiving

[lvdis]

We are trying to find a time when we can go to DLR with our college student. We wanted to go sometime during the first or second week of June 2012, but I'm not sure that's going to work out now. Especially since we want to see Cars Land and nobody knows when it will open for sure.

I'm tossing around the idea going to CA Thanksgiving week (we want to see other things too, so we'll be in CA a week). If we do that, we would be at DLR the Sat/Sun and maybe Monday before Thanksgiving (11/17 - 11/19/2012). So I have a question for those who have been there during that time... is it super busy or is it manageable? Our first and only trip to DLR was during the last week of July 2010. I didn't think it was too bad crowdwise, but my husband thought it was too busy. Would the weekend before Thanksgiving be as busy as late July?

If we don't go then, we will probably have to wait until the following June 2013 to go. I'm not sure I want to wait that long!!! Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We are trying to find a time when we can go to DLR with our college student. We wanted to go sometime during the first or second week of June 2012, but I'm not sure that's going to work out now. Especially since we want to see Cars Land and nobody knows when it will open for sure.

I'm tossing around the idea going to CA Thanksgiving week (we want to see other things too, so we'll be in CA a week). If we do that, we would be at DLR the Sat/Sun and maybe Monday before Thanksgiving (11/17 - 11/19/2012). So I have a question for those who have been there during that time... is it super busy or is it manageable? Our first and only trip to DLR was during the last week of July 2010. I didn't think it was too bad crowdwise, but my husband thought it was too busy. Would the weekend before Thanksgiving be as busy as late July?

If we don't go then, we will probably have to wait until the following June 2013 to go. I'm not sure I want to wait that long!!! Thanks for any help you can provide!

In my personal experience and perceptions, I would say the November dates have the potential to be busier than July. The week between Christmas and New Year's is the worst. As far as I'm concerned, the Thanksgiving week and the two weeks around Easter are the other most intensely crowded times over a sustained period. We have been that November weekend you are talking about each of the last four years. We have been in July only once, a Saturday - Tuesday trip also in 2010. July crowds were better.

Crowd perception is real subjective. You'll probably get a mix of answers.

 

[skiingfast]

Our first and only trip to DLR was during the last week of July 2010. I didn't think it was too bad crowdwise, but my husband thought it was too busy. Would the weekend before Thanksgiving be as busy as late July?

It would probably be busier in Thanksgiving week. Thoug this may be more perception wise than in reality. They may be very similiar.


I have little doubt Carsland will be open in June. I think all of the DCA construction will be done by then. Though I think crowds could be crazy. If you choose that time look at the 6th-8th or 13th-15th when a lot of APs are blocked out.

 

[stitchy626]

We went to DL the Sun-Thanksgiving day and loved it. The parks were very manageable and decorated for Christmas. It was the best of both worlds. We did notice that as the week drew closer to Thanksgiving there was a noticible increase in crowds but nothing that bothered us. We chose not to go into the parks on Thanksgiving day and had brunch at Goofy's kitchen instead before driving home.

I have been in the in both the middle of summer, a dead January and a crazy December and this by far for my family was the best time to go.

 

[DharmaLou]

We are going the week before Thanksgiving (11/16-21) knowing full well that it will likely be very crowded, but this is the best time for us to go (DD off of preschool that week, DH and I have 2 days off for Thanksgiving already).

One of the biggest draws for us to go this week is that it will be decorated for the holidays, and I just love holidays at Disney.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We went the Fri-Tues before Thanksgiving two years ago. I found the Fri-Sun very nice, but by Monday is was really busy. We always go first thing in the morning & take naps in the afternoon (or park hop to CA Adventure), so we miss the busiest time in DL.

 

[tiggerjay]

While typically that weekend will be a bit busier, but it isn't completely holiday crowds. However, if your main objective is cars land, I would expect that section of the park to be packed. So it might be a challenge, but on the other hand, Cars Land might help draw people around for DL so their might be lower crowed over there compared to normal. I would consider going during the off season if at all possible if Cars is your main interest -- even during say this time of year when a lot is typically down for refurbishment, there should be no need for Cars to be down and it should be going full tilt.

 

[lvdis]

Thanks for all the input! I'm starting to like the idea of the weekend in November even more because of the chance to see DLR with Christmas decorations and overlays! Although I'm still worried about crowds. It looks like Saturday 11/17 and Sunday 11/18 are blocked to some passholders, so that might help some. Decisions, decisions...

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Thanks for all the input! I'm starting to like the idea of the weekend in November even more because of the chance to see DLR with Christmas decorations and overlays! Although I'm still worried about crowds. It looks like Saturday 11/17 and Sunday 11/18 are blocked to some passholders, so that might help some. Decisions, decisions...

We love that time of year because of the holiday decorations and shows, the overlays, the different food offerings, the festive feelings, and the usually good weather. If you have the opportunity to experience Disneyland at the holidays, I say go for it. We always go at the crowded times and manage just fine. All I was trying to convey with my first response is that I wouldn't expect the crowds to be better than July. Not crazy, impossible, but quite busy and you need to go with that expectation.

 

[lvdis]

I have little doubt Carsland will be open in June. I think all of the DCA construction will be done by then. Though I think crowds could be crazy. If you choose that time look at the 6th-8th or 13th-15th when a lot of APs are blocked out.

Do you think those dates could have the potential for being crazy busy even though a lot of the AP's are blocked? I know it's hard to predict! I'm just trying to convince a reluctant husband who thinks we should just wait a year for things to calm down. Of course, now I'm getting excited about possibly seeing DLR decorated for Christmas (as in the weekend before T-day), which could be even busier. Yikes!!! It doesn't matter as much to me. I'm the Disney addict and would go anytime!!!