How bad are the crowds thanksgiving week??

[casey49781]

We are driving down this time from upper michigan it will take 24 hours. we will leave on nov 17 and drive half way the finish the rest nov 18,,so first day at park will be nov 19 and staying at disney value resort for 6days then moving to universal for 24 and 25,, so what will the crowd be like up til thanksgiving day?? anyone have any ideas,,,

 

[wilderness01]

A few years ago, the crowds were light until Wednesday. By Thursday, Thanksgiving, the crowds were heavy, at least in the MK. Have fun.

 

[Kirby]

We were there Thanksgiving week 2002. Arrived on Sunday and left on Saturday. We found the crowds to be very manageable with a little planning. We did MK early on in the week and saved Epcot for Thanksgiving Day and Friday. It did seem to be more crowded on Friday though. Thanksgiving Day we did Epcot in the morning, had our dinner at Boatwrights that afternoon and finished off the day playing putt putt. It was a nice day!

We threw in MGM and AK inbetween and did not have to wait for much of anything. The only real crowded spot was the Osbourne Lights and we should have picked a different time for them.

The weather is great, sometimes a little cool for swimming but all in all, a good time of year to go.

 

[JimVL]

I was there this last Thanksgiving. This was the "slowest" week I've ever spent there; I'd previously been to WDW for 4 Christmases and 2 Fourth of Julys. Sunday through Tuesday were very nice. The Magic kingdom was very busy on Tuesday, but easily the emptiest of any day I was ever there before. Wednesday it got crowded. I didn't go in a park on Thanksgiving day. Friday the crowds were more of what I was used to.

 

[MamaLema]

I don't know the answer to your question, but it shouldn't take you 24 hours driving. We did less than that driving from Canada and you're about 6-8 hours closer.

 

[janette]

We were there last Thanksgiving and in 2003. It was more crowded in 2005 for then entire week than in 2003, in 2003 it was slower the first part of the week and only heavy crowds starting about Wednesday. The only reasonable crowd day last year was MGM the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Just plan for crowds and you should be fine. The weather was very nice and that helps.

 

[casey49781]

according to map quest it is 1431.96 miles and the est time should take 24.13 hrs,,iwas there dec 21-29 in 2004 and it was a nightmare so this time was hoping it wasnt going to be that crowded,,,thanks for all your info

 

[JimVL]

iwas there dec 21-29 in 2004 and it was a nightmare so this time was hoping it wasnt going to be that crowded,,,thanks for all your info

It's still one of the busiest weeks, but there is a very noticible difference compared to Christmas. The good part is you get almost all of the Christmas activities and decorations.