Kinda early but...Thanksgiving??

[slk537]

Hi all!

We just made the decision (and reservations - yayyyy!!!) to move our November vacation back from the 26th to the 23rd so we are going to have our very first Disney World Thanksgiving! I am beyond excited, and although it is 186 days from now (not that I am counting...honest) of course I have to start making plans immediately!

So...for those of you who have spent Thanksgiving - or even Christmas day - at WDW, what do you do? Do you stay in for breakfast or make PS or do counter service? What are your favorite restaurants for the Thanksgiving meal? What parks do you go to? Do you go to parks? Or something else? And do you have to get a frontal lobotomy before going to DTD on Friday (aka - Biggest Shopping Day of the Year)...or is it tolerable?

We're currently thinking about Liberty Tree Tavern or Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner - we're staying at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge so it depends on whether or not we want to leave the cocoon of "home"...but what restaurants do you all love for the special day?

I am really curious to hear everything and anything from those who have experienced this. I know the crowd levels will be WAY different than we're used to (we never show up at WDW until at least the Friday evening after Thanksgiving) but we're happy to go with the flow. I mean come on! We'll be back at WDW and who needs anything else?

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, we had a fabulous Thanksgiving at WDW in 2004. It was our first holiday at WDW and we loved it. We stayed at the GF, RPC so we had bfast taken care of and planned to enjoy the resort. We are usually nuts that stay in the parks all day - hotel only to sleep. We made a PS for Whispering Canyon about 1:00 on Tday. In the morning, we rented one of those larger boats and our family took a 2 hour cruise. It was a blast. After that, we went to the WL, looked around, had lunch, rented a surrey bike, rode over to the petting zoo and back, dinked around some more, had a horse drawn carriage ride. It was just so much fun and we didn't need the parks!! That evening it got cold (50s) we had a PS at the Plaza at 7:30 in the MK. After that dinner, we headed over to Adventureland and everything was a walk - on. Don't know if it was the time or the cold weather. It was just one of our best WDW days ever. After Thanksgiving day, we did venture into the parks more often. The MK was open until 12 am and after Wishes it was empty. If you can stand the late hours, that is the best time to go. Epcot was busy, so was MGM. We didn't do AK. The weather was great during the day 70-80s, but at night be prepared for cold. Have a great time. Just make sure to make those PSs as soon as you can. I actually made all of our plans in October!! I lucked out with cancellations!!! Take advantage of activites that aren't in the parks. We also did the princess tea party, rented water sprites, swam.....it was a change from our norm, but it was a lot of fun.

Happy planning!! Also - the Xmas decorations are up - it is fun to check out the different resorts and the Xmas souveniers!! I was disappointed in MVMCP, but I know others love it. I wouldn't do that one again. It was more crowded at that party (the first one) that the parks were during the normal operating hours.

Lives4Disney

 

[goofy4tink]

We arrived on Thanksgiving Day last year. Ate at Chef Mickeys and loved it. That is our traditional first meal of our stay so it worked out quite nicely for us. As far as the parks go...I have never seen such crowds before. We were at BWV so while we waited for our room to be ready we walked down to MGM...that was a mistake. After an hour we left, having done nothing at all...lines were incredible and FPs all gone. It was about 2:00 at that time. We tried Epcot but it was also crawling with people. So, we just hung out and waited for our room. When we finally got to Chef Mickey's at 5:30...all we heard were people complaining about the 2 hr. long lines at MK!!! We ate, and then just went back to our villa and watched the IllumiNations fireworks from our balcony and went to bed!!! The parks stayed pretty crowded until about Sunday, but then it got quite nice. I'll be going back this year on Nov 30 and I can't wait to be getting there at about the same time I was leaving last year!!!

As far as where to eat...be sure to decide where you want to eat so that you can make those all important PS(or whatever they're being called now) at the 90 day mark. A lot of people love LTT for T-Day dinner.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I don't have any advice, but I just wanted to say I really share your excitement. We're going to WDW for Thanksgiving this year-our first Thanksgiving at the World. It's been a dream of mine for years to spend Thanksgiving there. DH wants to go to Artist Point for Thanksgiving, but it's more expensive than most other places so I'm wondering if it's worth the added cost. I do think we'd be better with a non-park Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe AKL? Like you, I love thinking about it and planning.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We have only done Thanksgiving Day at WDW once... it was in 2003. Our entire family came down, so we rented a banquet room at the GF for a big family dinner. We were worried about the food, sometimes convention center type food isn't too good, but it was pretty good after all. And of course having our own private event made it even more fun. Our particular banquet room had doors that opened up onto a large patio area. So the kids could run around outside and stuff.

 

[slk537]

Thank you all!!!

It seems silly - sitting here on the deck in the 70's, thinking about Thanksgiving (traditionally COLD up here in Wisconsin!) but I am just so excited reading all your ideas...I just love the idea of a carriage ride and renting a boat...we could do Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner and never leave VWL!!! Although doing MK at night sounds wonderful. It has always surprised me how cold it can get down in WDW at that time of the year - our lily white "haven't seen sun for months" legs in our shorts scream where we're from to the CM's all decked out in their mittens and hats

Thank you all again! I have August 26th marked on my calendar for those all important 90 day calls!

 

[GeorgiaTiggerGirl]

I also share your excitement! My son and I will spend Thanksgiving week at WDW, staying at VWL, too! I'm almost positive that we'll be finished with the parks and spend Thanksgiving Day relaxing--unless I decide I want to eat at the Liberty Tree Tavern...still have a little time to decide about our Thanksgiving meal.
Before that trip, we're leaving in the morning for Sanibel Island and then a detour by WDW. Will arrive at BCV Wednesday, just relax, and only go to MGM Friday for Star Wars Days.
Can't wait!

 

[JenniferW]

We've been over Tday before and are a bit confused about what it will be like also. Last year 2004 was swamped in my opinion. We just spent the day at Universal/ IOA and had a late lunch/early dinner at Mythos. Then we rode some rides and lines were busy, but not awful. When we moved over to Wilderness Lodge, all the parks at Disney seemed crazy, but we were used to off season. Still enjoyable and lots of magic anyway, Christmas decorations,etc. I heard that since many people's fall trip were rescheduled last year due to hurricanes that Nov was busier than usual.

In 2003 we went to AK for T day and it was busy, but not anything like 2004. Can't remeber where we ate.

I would get PS as early as possible and spend more time planning than usual to make use of your time. Sometimes when it is busy they add extra hours, especially the early or late ones if you are on site.

We are going again also this year and not sure how it will be crowd wise. Am staying off site it looks like unless any great deals come along...

Jenn

 

[pixieprincessmom]

We were there last year. We did Thankgiving at the Fort for Dinner. It was similar to MBYB. Our kids loved it, but they are picky eaters and left hungry. If you do need any PS's make them early, they fill up quickly that week. BTW MK was packed the Friday after. I don't know about DTD.