Low crowds the week before Thanksgiving???

[eric8]

I've seen several sites that say the week before Thanksgiving has low crowds but I just went 'back in time' to read some trip reports from 2014 and 2013 of people who visited the week before Thanksgiving and most of them experienced large crowds.

I'm taking my wife, 3 year old and 2 year old. The reason I chose this week is because it's supposed to be pretty low crowds but now I'm not so sure.

Does anyone have any experiences with this week?

 

[atisikitabasket]

Hello!!! We were there in 2014 and will be there the week before Thanksgiving this year too!!! We follow the recommended parks from Josh the only time we had a issue was it rained for 2 days in a row last year then the 3rd day everyone went to MK because they had put it off because of the rain so that day MK was a little busier. We have gone the week before for a couple of years and one year we went 2 weeks before and it was a good time also but the week before was just a little less crowded especially at epcot since F&W had ended they have extended it a little but the weekends it tends to be busiest over there. You will have an awesome time but do pack for all kinds of weather one night they had freeze warnings and the next day they hit a all time high so it can fluctuate. We love going at that time you will have an awesome trip. Also remember that everyones perspective is different. We have been during busier times of the year like summer, 4th July , Fat Tuesday and Presidents day together, Christmas and Spring Break . So to me what is very managable may seem busy to others. But I think you will really enjoy it.

 

[vettegirl]

I went back in Nov 2010 around that same week and the crowds were very low, plus most of the Christmas decor is up!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Crowds usually start building the weekend before thanksgiving if that is any help.

 

[PantherPete]

I haven't been there that week, but have been many times the week before (Veterans Day week) and our experience is that the parks are not very crowded. I can't imagine that the parks would be more crowed the following week. Plus as another poster mentioned, most of the Christmas stuff will be up, including the Osbourne Family Lights at DHS, which is a not to be missed attraction, especially since it's days are probably numbered.

 

[DizBelle]

This year, I would expect the crowds to start building on Saturday, November 21 and increase to crazy levels the closer it gets to Thanksgiving.

 

[JeninTexas]

We were there the week before Thanksgiving last year and I was shocked at the crowds. MK was crazy crowded every single day even though many of the days were listed as having crowd levels of 2 or 3 and it was a recommended park. HS was also extremely crowded. We had one really nice day at Epcot where the it was easy to walk around and the wait times were not bad at all. AK was manageable the two days that we went there. Because your children are so young and you don't have to worry about them missing school, you might want to look at another week. We only went at this time because our school gives lots of time off for the Thanksgiving holiday. If it were not for school concerns, I would definitely pick a less crowded time.

 

[kelmcg]

We have been that week on multiple occasions. This past November we got there on Wednesday (the week before Thanksgiving) and stayed until Monday (of Thanksgiving week). Wed, Thurs, and Fri were pretty slow, lines weren't that long. Restaurants got booked up quickly because they offered Free Dining at that time (it has usually been offered at that time for the past few years) but the crowd levels within the parks wasn't bad. Now Sat, Sun and Monday were a different story........BIG crowds, long lines.......

 

[Micca]

"Low crowds" at WDW is a relative term. The week prior to Thanksgiving isn't a peak period, but that doesn't mean you won't encounter some crowds. Various promotions and special events have really grown the non-peak times. Still, if crowds are a concern, better non-peak than peak like holidays and Spring break.

 

[sharadoc]

We were thrre last year and loved it. Followed easywdw and had no problems. Got fastpssses that day for slmost everything.

 

[sharonabe]

OP you'll be fine. As others have said, "low crowds" is a very relative term. You have picked one of the slowest weeks of the year. Will it be empty? No. Will you feel like it is crowded at times? Yes. But it will be nowhere near as crowded as the week after or summer.

I think some people see low crowds and think, "YEA! no planning; I can go to any park," but in reality, the lower crowd times is the time to use the calendars and pick your days according to the recommended parks. That's how you'll find the "low crowd" feel.

 

[Flight]

We went the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before Thanksgiving once. Found the crowds to be quite manageable and at times to be on the light side. Another time went on Monday and Tuesday and it was mobbed.

 

[100acreHiker]

We went last year around the 14th, and there were three days of our trip that were surprisingly crowded and a couple that were totally pleasant crowd-wise (not walk-on, but manageable with mostly 20 min waits for non-FP rides). I have never visited in the crazy summer or spring months; I only had a post-Thanksgiving trip from 2012 to compare it to, and I tell you, every day of the 2012 trip was less crowded than the 2014 trip (even the two days that were pleasant and manageable). I really think it's just that overall attendance is up for every period AND it was a free dining week. I will not go during free dining again. That said, it will definitely be better than Easter break! You'll have fun high or low crowds.

 

[nkereina]

I agree that "low crowds" is a relative term. We've been the week before Thanksgiving the last two years, and I would call it moderate - not low. We've been in September, and I would call that low. Also keep an eye on the forecast - last year was downright cold, with one day only being a high of 58. Doesn't sound that bad, but the mornings and nights were low 50s and the outdoor rides made us freeze!

 

[jacksgirl]

Hoping for low-moderate crowds November 8-17!

 

[Davey Jones II]

What about early November, just after the last of the Halloween parties? How are the crowds at that time of year?