Honest Opinions...Thanksgiving Week

[dprincessmom]

So today at lunch DH and I were discussing Thanksgiving plans (due to some health issues, we haven't been planning like I normally would). DH suggests Disney. Now I love Disney with all my heart and so does our DD. That being said, I have always said I would not go Thanksgiving week or the week between Christmas and New Years. (Typically we travel when school is out, so used to crowds but not major crowds)

So I just checked and I could get tickets for much cheaper than I thought and if we stayed off property (not a fan, but could suck it up) we could do the trip for about 1200 with 4 day park hoppers.

So let me have your good, bad and ugly stories of traveling to the World Thanksgiving week? Especially interested in those that have gone this week since FP+ and staying off site.

 

[Klayfish]

You want my honest opinion? I was hoping I could lie to you.

We were there last year. We got there on Tuesday before and stayed until Sunday. It's certainly busier than your average summer day, no question about it. If you're a WDW veteran, you'll want to use that knowledge to help you get on the rides you want to be on (FP+, early arrival/rope drop, end of day, during fireworks, etc...).

Having said that, I don't think it was that bad and frankly can't wait to do it again...we're already planning to be there for Thanksgiving 2017. Thanksgiving Day in Magic Kingdom was nuts, but I'm glad we did it. We got there right around opening. Used FP+ to our advantage and did standby for less crowded rides. If I remember (and I could be wrong), after we used our first 3 FP+, we were still able to get another one for 1pm (I think it was for Buzz). Honestly, the crowd wasn't all that bad very early on, but around 11am it really became noticeable. We left around 2pm, as I recall, and at that point it was a mob scene. But we got 5 or 6 good hours in and were tickled pink about it. Now I can say I've done MK on Thanksgiving Day. We went back to our rental house and had a wonderful family dinner.

The rest of the parks on the other days weren't horrible at all. As long as you have the right mindset that it's going to be busy, it's all good. Have a little extra patience, as I said before, use FP+ to your advantage and just enjoy the atmosphere. That in itself was wonderful. Since it's the "unofficial" kick off to the holiday season, lots of Christmas spirit was all around. I loved it. We were in no special hurry and kept in mind that everything was going to be more crowded than usual. It was, but we never found it an issue.

I say you should absolutely do it if you can. It's one of the best trips we had.

 

[notrub98]

I will go to Disney anytime the opportunity presents itself . You are late to the FP party but so what? Get there for RD, and lounge by the pools when it gets crazy. Do it .

 

[Accident]

So let me have your good, bad and ugly stories of traveling to the World Thanksgiving week? Especially interested in those that have gone this week since FP+ and staying off site.

The 4 days that make up thanksgiving weekend I would personally call the second most crowded time of year except for christmas week until the weekend after new years which is worse. With that said, you have to go when you can and if it's affordable for you then it's the right time to go. I think going in knowing is going to be crowded and your expectations ready for that, you'll have a really nice trip because you'll accomplish more than you normally would. now for the most part this whole year has been crowded but not like previous years and it might be a surprise. we can only guess until it's happening..

Another quick thought, what about a disneyland trip instead? I can't speak for thanksgiving week crowds over there but it might be a nice change of pace to see another property. you mentioned health concerns happening so maybe the smaller park with more attractions than wdw would hit the spot?

 

[Babs1975]

Honestly, you've got to decide what you are willing to handle when it comes to WDW crazy busy days. My family comes in on Thanksgiving, but we don't get near a Disney park until at least Sunday. We do other things on those more busy days, Seaworld, Discovery Cove. I know that I don't care for those kinds of crowds so we do other things on those days. I find the week after is doable for my family. But that is only my opinion and preference. Others go on Thanksgiving and love it! If you don't like crowds and lots of lines, I wouldn't go on a 9 or 10 park crowd day. But if you don't mind it, and have a plan, then go for it!

 

[anniemae]

I would do it. No question. I have always wanted to spend a holiday at Disney. You would just have to have the right mindset. Use FP, expect crowds, go early, leave in the afternoon, back at night etc. Staying off property you could also do other stuff like the Orlando eye, character warehouse etc.

 

[trouttigger]

Just sharing my plan: I, too, try to avoid crowds. Our last few trips were before Christmas. We have a 1 day park hopper ticket and have decided to use it on T'giving Day. My logic: We are driving 9 hours to Orlando to use this ticket and do a few things other than Disney. Other things will be closed on T'giving Day. I'm coming up with a strategic plan for the day that will go from rope drop until closing at MK & Epcot. This will help to maximize our time.

 

[prisjoyce]

We have visited during Thanksgiving week several times and we love it. We usually arrive the Fri before and leave early the Sat after. Crowds grow as the week goes on, really becoming heavy Wed. We generally avoid MK on Thanksgiving; we've had good days at the other 3 parks and we have eaten at various restaurants at resorts, in Epcot, and even on I-Drive. While popular restaurants and FP's will be booked, there are reservations to be had.

We also try to hit park opening as much as possible, take a midday break, then go back for nighttime entertainment. Things like parades bother me the most, with the crowds and pushing, so I skip them when my family allows.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[WhoDatDisney]

We have visited during Thanksgiving week several times and we love it. We usually arrive the Fri before and leave early the Sat after. Crowds grow as the week goes on, really becoming heavy Wed. We generally avoid MK on Thanksgiving; we've had good days at the other 3 parks and we have eaten at various restaurants at resorts, in Epcot, and even on I-Drive. While popular restaurants and FP's will be booked, there are reservations to be had.

We also try to hit park opening as much as possible, take a midday break, then go back for nighttime entertainment. Things like parades bother me the most, with the crowds and pushing, so I skip them when my family allows.

Enjoy your trip!!

We employ the same technique, get everything done early in the morning then take it easy in the afternoon. Christmas decorations and theme is truly magical.

Agree with crowds picking up on Wednesday, we hit HS on turkey day and avoid MK at all costs. It's pretty packed the next day but doable

 

[Order66]

I've always wanted to see WDW during the Christmas season, so last year when my mother suggested taking my sons to Disney for their 16th birthday gift, I came up with the idea of doing it over Thanksgiving break. They were born in Dec (the week of Christmas) and it's too crowded and too expensive for me to want to travel that week. They are in high school and taking them out a week in earlier Dec isn't really and option either. Too hard to miss a week of school at their ages. Thanksgiving gives us a 3 day vacation plus the weekend and I pulled them from school only 2 additional days. We booked and evening flight on Tues and left right after school, coming back the Tuesday after. We didn't even think of this trip until later in the summer, well after ADR's could be made. It took some work and hunting on a regular basis, but I got all the ADR's we wanted including a CP Package for lunch at Via Napoli.

We had the best time. The weather was perfect. The park hours are longer. They holiday decorations are up. and YMMV.....but I didn't find the crowds any worse than our typical summer time trips. DHS felt pretty crowded on Wednesday and we spent Thursday at Epcot which we focused more on rides knowing we were coming back another day for the CP show and other holiday stuff. We had no problems doing pretty much everything we wanted using FP+ and some flexibility with waiting in other lines. That Sunday and Monday IMHO the place really cleared out. Monday we did 3 different parks! We all agreed it was one of our favorite trips. The only reason we are not doing it again this year is we went in the summer to accompany my friend and her children on their first visit and well my bank account needs some relief from the mouse. LOL But I did already book for Thanksgiving week 2017!

I can only say that I didn't see anything that resembled the photos of Christmas week crowds that I've seen. A few CM's i spoke with commented about the previous week/weekend being super crazy. But if you have already dealt with visits during school breaks, I don't think you'll notice all that much difference. I didn't.

regards

 

[RoyalJay]

I too have been thinking of going at that time last minute. I looked at resort availability and it seems like there's a lot of options. And even restaurant availability isn't that bad. I was actually wondering if projected attendance was down. We went this time two years ago and there was basically no restaurants available on thanksgiving day at this time out.

 

[ols386]

I would go to Disney World again at Thanksgiving in a heartbeat. I didn't think it was too bad.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are going next year and cannot wait. We will get there the week before and head home on Black Friday. Not worried about crowds! Just can't wait to spend our favorite holiday in our favorite place

 

[buteraa]

We have been over Christmas Week and Thanksgiving Week and love them both. In fact we are headed back again this Christmas. I say go and book the must do rides and must see shows and have a great time!

 

[jessigirldiy]

We are actually going the week after thanksgiving this year but if Thanksgiving was the only chance I had to go because an opportunity presented itself, i would still go then as well.

 

[lucas]

We're going for Thanksgiving this year as we have for the last couple of years. We love that the Christmas decorations are up. But, as always, for our trips (we are Florida residents and go a lot), I will only stay on property. If I could not stay on property, I probably would not go. If resorts or FP+ looks booked, keep checking as things always open up.

 

[ariane37]

We went Thanksgiving week last year and are going again this year We normally go during lower-crowd times ( well, what USED to be lower crowd times) and were nervous last year that we wouldn't enjoy the trip, but crowds were nothing like we'd imagined. That's not to say it isn't crowded but it's completely doable and NOTHING like what you hear about/see for the week between Xmas/ New Years. We did find RD is a huge plus; I say go!

 

[Klayfish]

I would do it. No question. I have always wanted to spend a holiday at Disney. You would just have to have the right mindset. Use FP, expect crowds, go early, leave in the afternoon, back at night etc. Staying off property you could also do other stuff like the Orlando eye, character warehouse etc.

This was one of the reasons why we bought an AP last year. Prior to last year, I had been to WDW probably 9 or 10 times in my life. All but one of those trips were in May-July, and the only exception was in mid-October. It was a long time dream to see WDW at the holidays, so buying the AP gave us that excuse. Now I can see I've seen it at both Thanksgiving and Christmas and was in MK for both of them. I'm so glad we did, and it made us want to do it even more. Holidays will be at home this year, but next year they'll all be back in WDW and we're pumped!

 

[mmouse1239]

As former DVC owners, we almost always traveled over Thanksgiving when our kids were in junior high/high school. It was just too hard for them to miss so much school, and I'm a teacher as well so those personal days are few and far between. I would usually go Tuesday - Tuesday or Wednesday - Wednesday. Our schools are closed the Monday after Thanksgiving for deer hunting I remember once my principal asked us to complete a survey asking whether or not we went hunting, thinking they might take that day away. I politely answered yes, because if I was going to be in Disney, I was hunting some ride to ride. If not, I was shopping, hunting for bargains
Now, back to your question. I love Thanksgiving at Disney. This year we are arriving the day after for a week. I am retiring this year and I have five personal days to use. Driving from PA to Charleston for two nights with family, then driving on to Orlando. Doing the same on the return trip. The weather is perfect, and the decorations are wonderful. I have found the crowds to be okay, with the exception of black Friday in the MK. That was horrendous. Once we did Sea World on Thanksgiving Day, and it was empty. I have traveled in the summer and between Christmas and New Years. I would compare it to summer. Nothing compares to Christmas - New Years. That being said, I would still go if that was the only time that worked for me.
Have a great trip and maybe we will see you there.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. However, not since FP+ came out. That said, I look at FP+ as an advantage over when I was there and didn't know what I would get on.

It's definitely busy. Christmas is worse. However, I would not hesitate to do it again. I love the parks on the holidays - so inviting, even with the crowds. Be prepared for the crowds, and just relax and enjoy. Not a good time for a first visit, but a great time for a veteran.