Is right before Thanksgiving super crazy

[dis3family]

Hi. We've been to WDW several times but never during a holiday. We noticed we have no school the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday leading up to Thanksgiving. Is it going to be insanely crowded those days? We plan to leave on Thanksgiving day. Anyone have experience at this time? Or any words of caution?

Thanks!!

 

[Accident]

I've never done it but I've been told only xmas week is worse...

the monday after thanksgiving I have done ariving during thanksgiving weekend and I found it really packed until that monday when the place really empties out though for about a week, maybe 2.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

One change this year is that local schools (Orange County) has school on Monday and Tuesday - off W - F. Usually they are off all week, so that might reduce Monday and Tuesday slightly, but still, it is pretty insane. Wednesday will definitely be busier than the first two days.

 

[Klayfish]

Insanely crowded? No. More crowded than most other times of the year? Yes. We were there last Thanksgiving from Tuesday through Sunday. Thanksgiving Day at MK was pretty nuts, otherwise everything else was manageable. Use FP+ to your advantage, RD if you want, etc...and you'll be fine. It's a really fun time to be there.

 

[Boopuff]

We did the week of Thanksgiving a few years ago. The days leading up to the holiday were not bad, but once Wednesday hit so did the crowds. Thanksgiving day was crazy! With some prep it should go just fine!

 

[dis3family]

One change this year is that local schools (Orange County) has school on Monday and Tuesday - off W - F. Usually they are off all week, so that might reduce Monday and Tuesday slightly, but still, it is pretty insane. Wednesday will definitely be busier than the first two days.

Well that is great information! We're going to go for it so we don't have to wait until June...hoping the planning will be the key!

 

[Gillyrose779]

We were there last year. The Wed. before at MK was pretty crazy. My husband usually likes to walk fast and move around the slow walkers. You couldn't do that on Wed. - it was so busy you just need to go with the flow.

I really enjoyed Epcot during that time- never seemed that crowded compared to our early June trips.

 

[CynBeth]

Hi. We've been to WDW several times but never during a holiday. We noticed we have no school the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday leading up to Thanksgiving. Is it going to be insanely crowded those days? We plan to leave on Thanksgiving day. Anyone have experience at this time? Or any words of caution?

Thanks!!

If you can I would stay another day or 2 because the storytellers and CP don't start until the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[Dsnymouse]

This is our "go to" time to travel, although we try to sneak in the Friday or weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Over the years the crowds have picked up. We live in Texas and have the whole week of Thanksgiving off (kinda our fall break). With free dining mixed in the timeframe, I would expect it to be busy. It really is a great time to visit, great weather and the start of the Christmas season.

 

[nooneshome]

We have gone the Saturday before a few times and it was a blast. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are okay but it does get more crowded as you get closer to Thursday. If you get a lot done those first few days just kick back and enjoy the others. And with FP+ and RD you can get enough done the crowded days.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That's a great week IMO. The weather is nice, Christmas stuff is up. It does start getting crowded but it's totally doable.

 

[JoelD]

I'm with Dsnymouse... This is our go-to week as well. In fact we're going to "go-to" WDW that week this year. Our kids also have the whole week off from school, so we also always try to get down there the Friday/weekend before. Agree with others: Saturday-Tuesday before Thanksgiving are not too bad (with the crowds increasing each successive day), and then the crowds really come on Wednesday-Sunday.

But, for me, the great weather makes any Thanksgiving week crowd SO much more tolerable than equivalent (or even smaller) summer crowds. And the Christmas decorations and events make it a special way to kick off the holiday season.

RD is your friend!!

As are FP+ and EMH (if your willing to get up early and/or stay up late).

 

[ELSA711]

We are going for the first time this year as well, can anyone recommend the best park for Thanksgiving day?

 

[Dsnymouse]

I'm with Dsnymouse... This is our go-to week as well. In fact we're going to "go-to" WDW that week this year. Our kids also have the whole week off from school, so we also always try to get down there the Friday/weekend before. Agree with others: Saturday-Tuesday before Thanksgiving are not too bad (with the crowds increasing each successive day), and then the crowds really come on Wednesday-Sunday.

But, for me, the great weather makes any Thanksgiving week crowd SO much more tolerable than equivalent (or even smaller) summer crowds. And the Christmas decorations and events make it a special way to kick off the holiday season.

RD is your friend!!

JoelD - See you there!

We are going for the first time this year as well, can anyone recommend the best park for Thanksgiving day?

Crowd indexes are calling for 10/10 for Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios and a 9/10 at Animal Kingdom. Hope that helps.

 

[3boys4me]

We go for Thanksgiving almost every year. Like others have said, if you can get there the Friday before, that is great. My kids are out all week for Thanksgiving. We leave on Wednesday after school the week before Thanksgiving. That Thursday and Friday are wonderful! I find that after that the crowds grow daily. By Wednesday it is really crowded. Not so bad that it keeps us home . We usually do Thanksgiving day in Epcot. We don't do a reservation, we just eat all around the WS. It's our tradition now.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Best park for Thanksgiving day is AK. Not crowded at all. We love that time of year although weather can be freezing or very hot or a little of each.

 

[dlavender]

Anyone been on black Friday? This will be our first experience with that day.

 

[ariane37]

We did Thanksgiving for the first time last year, arrived the Friday before and left the Sat. after. Loved that week enough to do it again this year! Crowds were nothing like we expected; yes they're there, but definitely doable and pleasant all the way through. We did MK the day before Thanksgiving and really didn't find it overly or uncomfortably crowded at all. DH and older DS did AK on Thanksgiving and said there were people there lol, but they got on things they didn't have FP for with short waits. Black Friday we were in MK from RD until about 2 and it was wonderful until crowds started building around 1ish; spent the rest of the day/ night at Epcot.
I will say as JoelD said, both RD and good FP timing are your friend. Also try hard not to eat QS during "normal" meal hours!! For instance 11-1 for lunch and 5-7 dinner, no good. THOSE lines were crazy!!