How soon after Thanksgiving do crowds drop back off?

[ead79]

Due to DH's school schedule this year, we are planning to go to WDW Nov. 28 - Dec. 4. I typically go a bit later in December (between the 3rd and 20th usually), and I have found crowds to be very light. I am expecting big crowds on our first day (Nov. 28), but I thought they would probably drop back off right after the weekend. Am I right?

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Yes, you are probably correct.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[beattyfamily]

Yes, after that Sunday, it should be much better!

In 2003, we went to WDW the Sunday after Thanksgiving thru that following Saturday.

We always like to to MK first so we did MK on that Sunday after Thanksgiving and it was very busy. Probably almost as busy as a Saturday off season. We always go off season and this was the busiest Sunday at MK we've ever encountered.

The rest of the week was GREAT though!

 

[Carrieberry]

We are going exactly the same dates!! We went the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2002 and it was great. We never do the parks on our travel days so we didn't see any crowds on Sunday. Monday we just avoided MK and then the crowds really were hardly noticeable. We always to AK the first whole day (fairly empty since Mondays are EE there) and we do Epcot at night (since the parks close early and World Showcase is open until 9:30) and this was a great plan. We would do one park in the morning/afternoon, go back to the hotel and relax and change and then head to Epcot for the evenings. MK ended up being crowded all week long, and for some reason our last night there(we added on a night on Friday at AKL after our 5 nights at BCV) it got packed. Check in at AKL was insane! I have no idea why this is so, maybe people wanted a quick weekend getaway before the holidays? Anyway, It was crowded when we first got there, but was fantastic the rest of the week. On Wednesday we even went over to Universal IOA and that place was really empty. The only line was for Hulk at 30 minutes, everything else was walk on! This is a great week to go which is why we are doing it again this year. The one drawback is flying on Thankgiving weekend. See you there!

 

[ktglads]

We went last year from the day after Thanksgiving through the next week. Friday we went to the MGM late, and it was relatively busy. They had 2 showings of Fantasmic and the second had 2 full empty sections. I would say that it was less busy than a day in the summer. The next day we went to Epcot and it really did not seem busy in the WS. TT and M:S had about 60-75 min lines. On Sunday, we went to MK. It was not busy at all and the MVMCP was quite manageable. After that, the crowds died out completely and it was very nice and not busy. Went to Universal and IoA for 3 days as well and everything there was a complete walkon!

 

[CarolMN]

We've been at that time for the last 3 or 4 years. The crowds start disappearing Sunday afternoon. The rest of the week is delightfully uncrowded - well except for Spectro and some of the special Holiday events, that is, LOL!

FWIW, I doubt you'll be able to tell the difference between that week and the weeks you already have experienced.

 

[zakatak]

We will be going Friday the 26th to Dec 4th. I have an AP but will be buying 5 day hoppers for the family (dh & 3 kids). Friday will be a non-park day (arrival day). This will "kill" me, but oh well... it usually is too much for the kids anyways, getting up at 4:30am and travelling... so we will enjoy the AKL activities, hopefully pooltime, maybe DTD... and BOMA, of course!

Saturday we will probably hit Animal Kingdom and Epcot in the evening. Sunday will be questionable, depends on the weather and if MVMCP is running. Otherwise we have two other days for non-park activities. I am so used to APs and visiting a park everyday, but hopefully this will be more relaxing for the DH and his parents than my usual COMMANDO touring schedule.

I am going to wait and pick the best weather day for MVMCP, either Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday. Then hope they let us into MK around 5ish on our MVMCP ticket only (so that will save a hopper day). We will probably use the day after MVMCP as a non-park day so we can sleep in without guilt.

That is my plan and I am already stressing. Will 5 day hoppers be enough? What if it rains? We have to see Wishes, Illuminations and Fantasmic. That is three hopper days right there, unless we use the MVMCP Wishes. Then... see how I am stressing?

APs are so much easier.

Oh well... so, yeah, the crowds will decrease on Sunday afternoon. Then it is pretty quiet all week.

Karen