How Bad Are Crowds the Week of Thanksgiving?

[Katems]

I'm a WDW vet, and I know enough to stay FAR AWAY from the World that week. But what is the Land like that week?? It seems Land has a different type of crowd and touring tendencies than the World. Does Land mostly attract residents whom maybe just want to do traditional Thanksgiving things at home that week, or do they come out in droves because they have time off from work??

Is Thanksgiving DAY a more or less crowded day than the others that week?

My thoughts were to arrive (from NY) on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and do the parks from Sunday right through Thursday (the day of Thanksgiving).

Help! Advice needed! Thanks so much!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Crowds are pretty bad. They've gotten increasingly worse over the past few years, and they can be particularly insane when passes aren't blocked.

I can't speak for Thanksgiving itself because I've never been that actual day (I'm the one who cooks!). We've been several other days during that week over the past few years. You can still have a good time if you're prepared for the crowds and plan accordingly, but it will be a busy week.

 

[Astylla]

We arrived the night before ( the 23rd around 2am due to traffic) and had Thanksgiving dinner at the DLH and crowds were amazingly low to normal. I'm talking less than an hour before curb side seats available in front of the train station for the holiday parade crowd levels and we never felt crowded at all.

Really we stayed until Sunday night and plan to again this year since our extended families all spend time at different locations and plan to enjoy it all. It's a locals park way more than WDW so you do have far more people celebrating at home gatherings or doing black friday shopping , etc. It was no worse than a normal weekend maybe even better and it was the 60th in full swing.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

We're going to be there Thanksgiving week this year. It's not Christmas crowded, but it is crowded. I've only ever gone on day-trips during Thanksgiving week before, but we never found it impossible. Hopefully that holds true for this year.

 

[gsrieff]

I'm not sure how it works nationwide, but in Oregon we have the entire week off of school. I went to disney that week in 2012 and it was busy enough that they closed the gates and stopped allowing people in. It was packed. You couldn't walk through New Orleans. With that in mind...we hadn't been in years and I was unaware that an hour long wait for pirates was not the normal. Luckily we had 5 day PHs so we weren't stressed, and we still had an amazing time, while occasionally being overwhelmed. It just made my next trip feel even better because the lines and crowds I was expecting weren't there! BUT I'm not one to complain about ANY time spent in the parks...

 

[Darkbeer1]

A lot more schools are expanding from just the Thursday (Thanksgiving) and Friday (day after) to a full week.

The main issue has to do with how schools are funded. If a student has an un-excused absence, the school loses money (paid by a per pupil in school per day formula).

So since school districts saw that a decent percentage of parents decided to just take their kid(s) out of school for an extended vacation, everyone got one.

Here in the Southland, there is serious debate for moving back to a Labor Day start from most K-12 schools instead of the current mid-August. Should be interesting, the decision is expected in a month or so.

 

[lilsassymom]

What about the week AFTER thanksgiving? Check in on Sunday and out on Saturday?

 

[Darkbeer1]

That is usually fairly light, though you will run into a few minor to maybe medium issues. The first one is the setting up for the Candlelight Processional on Main Street the first weekend of December.

Also, you might find some filming going on in regards to the special Christmas Day Disney Show that ABC broadcasts. Word is usually leaked (on purpose) to bring in the locals and have the crowds as "extras". It used to have a bigger impact, but they have cut back on in park filing, especially big events.

But the Christmas events will be held every night (Fireworks and/or snow effect based on weather conditions), so I would pick the week after in a heartbeat to the craziness of Thanksgiving week.

 

[Katems]

I'm afraid I would HAVE to go the week OF Thanksgiving, and not before or after. :-(

Land is still allowing you to get as many FPs as you want, all day long, right?? They haven't gone the evil way of World??

 

[rentayenta]

The week after Thanksgiving is great; still crowded but nothing like the few days following Thanksgiving.

No, you cannot have as many FPs as you like anymore. Return times are strictly enforced.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

Week of can be extremely crowded, however, crowds start to wane the later you get into that week. Thanksgiving day can actually be ok, lots of people stay home or go out for the big meal. The Friday and weekend after is blocked for most passes, so the last few times we went (2010, 2012, 2014-GO GIANTS!) felt like normal weekend crowds.

 

[DharmaLou]

We've been there twice on Thanksgiving week - 2012 and 2014. Honestly, compared to the crowds this past summer they were lighter. I never thought they were bad to begin with, though, but we are also people who go to the park first thing in the morning and get things done and relax around the parks more later in the day. But on Thanksgiving day itself we were able to ride rides in DCA consecutively without getting off in between, and even at night etc didn't run into major issues. I'd definitely go back again on Thanksgiving week without hesitation.

 

[gsrieff]

We've been there twice on Thanksgiving week - 2012 and 2014. Honestly, compared to the crowds this past summer they were lighter.

So weird we were there the same time in 2012 and had completely different views on it! Not saying you are wrong at all, its just interesting. We were there from Saturday through the Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. I checked back at the dates on touring plans and they said it was 10 out of 10 for crowd levels that week. Everything then was at least 45 minute wait for us. I went this month and we walked on to haunted mansion 3 separate times...that was even in the couple days before it went down for the holiday refurb. It was listed as a 5 out of 10 that day this month, and I felt the difference even in the walkways.

All that said, I would STILL go at that time again...because Disney at anytime is better than no Disney at all.

 

[Imdboss]

We went that entire week in 2014 (Mon-Fri). We were prepared for really big crowds, I'd read about potential max capacity on Thanksgiving. We were pleasantly surprised. It was busy but certainly not like we expected and the morning of Thanksgiving the park was pretty empty. It got busier later in the day but nothing near max capacity.

 

[crystal1313]

We went the Sunday before TG last year and were surprised how manageable the crowds were. We only went to DL and got everything done that we wanted, which was Hyperspace Mtn 3 times, see Santa, and meet Darth Vader. Plus a ton of other things too.

This year we are attempting the Sunday and Monday before TG. We haven't been since last year (which is a LONG time for us not to go), and I am just happy we can be there for 2 days when it is decorated for Christmas. It's our favorite time to go! And we really missed DCA last time, so it will be nice to be there again as well. We are expecting large crowds........so if they aren't as bad, great for us. If it's crowded, that is what we are expecting.

 

[Gretchen1973]

I am interested in this question too. Our ODD is getting to an age where we just can't take her out of school for a week, too hard and stressful for her to stay caught up. This is one of those weeks where she would only miss two days of school. We have been numerous times the week after TG and it's a great time to go!

 

[chickapin parterre]

It won't be as bad as Aug 21, 2017 on the oregon coast....you see it all about the calendar....2016 is the start of the return of the extra week of holidays between thanksgiving and new year, a retailer dream. Those extra days after thanksgiving have been missing for awhile, but their back and will lighten up the crowds for thanksgiving week and the weeks after, 2016 will be the best holiday visit at Disneyland for a long time to come, though not eclipsing any light holiday thanksgiving visits in the past.

 

[calilou]

It's going to be crowded, but I think it's a really amazing time to go, especially considering you'll have multiple days there. It's a great way to kick off the holidays as all of the Christmastime decorations will be up and festivities in full force. We went Sunday and Monday before TG last year, and it was less crowded than I anticipated actually. We did the special Christmas tour, and I highly recommend it. Totally worth the expense IMO - front of the line for three specially Christmas themed rides, special treats, interesting guided tour and front row seats (actual SEATS!) to the Christmas parade while enjoying hot cocoa and a cookie. Like most busy times, plan to get in the parks early, take a midday break and return for more evening/nighttime fun. The weather can still be quite nice in so cal then so swimming is a possibility too. I say go for it!

 

[WonkaKid]

I've never been to DL on any holiday (except for the DL birthday -- June 17 (twice)). I was at the park a few days around Thanksgiving 2015 (but not on the actual day) and I don't recall them being horrible. In short, they seemed OK. Obviously, if you get there early, you can get more done.

One thing to be aware of: Candy Palace (the candy store on Main Street) makes handmade candy canes select days starting around Tgiving and lasting till Christmas. A wristband is required and people rush to get in line to get one the moment the park opens. They make a relatively small number (something like 120 last year?) so if you want one, it's even more competitive than PP ;-).