How busy Thanksgiving weekend?

[Golf4food]

We had planned on tacking on two days at US/IOA to our WDW trip in December and be at US/IOA on Dec 3rd and 4th. However, the hotel for which we have a two night pass (Crowne Plaza Universal a couple of miles down the street) is booked solid those days for a convention. They have availability the weekend before, which is Thanksgiving weekend, so we could just do the two US/IOA days before our Disney stay... but that obviously puts us into a major holiday weekend. How bad is US/IOA on Black Friday and that Saturday?

Our other option is to save the certificate (good until April 2011) and use it at a later date and find somewhere else to stay for US/IOA for the original weekend of Dec 3-4 (possibly the Doubletree, since it is so much cheaper than staying on site, especially if crowds are low enough we won't care about FOL - we don't ride big coasters anyway).

Thoughts?

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We were there in 2009 from Wed. - Sun. Thursday was a breeze, Friday was a bit more crowded, and Saturday was crazy busy. We were extremely happy we were onsite and could use the Express lines. Of course, we didn't arrive when the parks opened since we knew we had the Express privilege. I think if you arrived early and had a touring plan (and hopefully the rides you want will be open when they fall in your plan) you'd be fine. Everything is decorated for Christmas, so that's really fun, especially in the Seussville area of IOA.

Maria

 

[Metro West]

Thanksgiving weekend will be terribly busy starting Black Friday. LONG lines everywhere!

 

[Golf4food]

That's what I figured.

We are rope drop people and don't ride coasters, so we wouldn't be waiting in line for Hulk, etc. anyway, but still - just walking around a uber-crowded park like that gets annoying, much less waiting in lines.

Perhaps we'll just stick with the 3-4 weekend after and use our certificate next spring instead.

Thanks, y'all.

 

[leslie@dvcstore]

Be careful in April that is also considered spring break and spring break down here is pretty crazy as well, were as thanksgiving might be a little busy but you also get to see the parks all decorated. just some thoughts.

 

[Golf4food]

Be careful in April that is also considered spring break and spring break down here is pretty crazy as well, were as thanksgiving might be a little busy but you also get to see the parks all decorated. just some thoughts.

Our hotel certificate is good until sometime in April 2011, we would not likely go in April 2011. We are well aware of Spring Break problems. Thanks, though.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

That's what I figured.

We are rope drop people and don't ride coasters, so we wouldn't be waiting in line for Hulk, etc. anyway, but still - just walking around a uber-crowded park like that gets annoying, much less waiting in lines.

Perhaps we'll just stick with the 3-4 weekend after and use our certificate next spring instead.

Thanks, y'all.

That's your best bet, imo. Save your certificate for a Mardi Gras weekend that has a concert you want to see.

 

[Golf4food]

That's your best bet, imo. Save your certificate for a Mardi Gras weekend that has a concert you want to see.

That might be fun. We aren't big party people, don't drink much, can't dance... but a good concert might be fun. What type of groups or soloists usually perform for those? We've never paid attention much to US in the past and have both only really been once - over a decade ago.

 

[xApril]

That might be fun. We aren't big party people, don't drink much, can't dance... but a good concert might be fun. What type of groups or soloists usually perform for those? We've never paid attention much to US in the past and have both only really been once - over a decade ago.

They tend to mix 'recent/current' performers with old ones.

For example, this year's lineup was:
KC and the Sunshine Band
Heart
Kool & the Gang
Blondie
Dierks Bentley
Akon
Aretha Franklin
Miranda Lambert
3 Doors Down
Beach Boys
Sheryl Crow
Flo Rida
Chicago

They also have a parade where they toss out beads and stuff. It's all fun!

I was at the parks every Saturday during Mardi Gras this year. At least 80% of the days weren't busy during the day. I'd imagine they got a bit bigger when it got closer to parade/concert time. I stayed for one concert and I enjoyed myself.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

That might be fun. We aren't big party people, don't drink much, can't dance... but a good concert might be fun. What type of groups or soloists usually perform for those? We've never paid attention much to US in the past and have both only really been once - over a decade ago.

It's a mixed bag. Rap/hip-hop one weekend, classic rock another, disco another, pop the next, country, etc. I saw MC Hammer in 2009; Huey Lewis & the News in 2007. The last 3-4 shows are usually the most crowded/biggest names. The 2011 lineup will probably released in Dec/Jan.

 

[kangaroodle]

We were just there this past Thanksgiving. We went the Sunday after Thanksgiving and US was DEAD! Walked on everything except RRR, but that's because it was closed when the park opened and didn't open till around 1pm (park only open till 6pm). I think a lot of people from IoA came over when it started up, too. Even with that, the wait was only 60 minutes. Everthing else was under 5 minutes. The place looked like a ghost town most of the day. Great day to go.....most people are heading home!