Nov 2005? Thanksgiving- who has done it

[SnowWitch]

We're buying AP's this year, the first time in years that we decided to make multiple trips within 12 months. This year our first trip will beDec 10-19-this happens to be my kids last week of school before Christmas break so its going to be tricky getting all the testing done prior to leaving. So this is my question, I really don't want to cut it so close next year so we were thinking of going either Thanksgiving Week or coming in the Friday following Thanksgiving and staying a week.

How are crowds Thanksgiving week? Is the week following the holiday slow like the rest of Dec?

I'm really leaning towards coming in the Friday after the holiday where we can still enjoy the Christmas events-MVMCP, CP, and the Osbourne Lights. It appears these things start the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

Any thoughts from those who have went during these times.

 

[zacandbradysmom]

Last year we went the day after T'giving and it was very crowded--I think people decided to stay after the T'giving festivities. The year before we went Dec. 7-12 and it was much less crowded but it kinda sprinkled rain a couple of the days. BUT the lines were not nearly as long as last year. We don't mind a little rain if it means shorter lines! But in general, the Dec. trip did seem to be less crowded (now, Mickey's very merry Christmas party was another story!!! LOTS of folks!)
Hope that helps

 

[SnowWitch]

Did the crowds start thinning pretty fast following that friday? We generally don't sart touring until at least Sunday when we come in on a Friday.

 

[ScottJoy]

We were there for Thanksgiving last year. The Monday before at the Magic Kingdom was awfully busy, but the rest of the week seemed much better. We spent a good chunk of Thanksgiving Day at the Animal Kingdom, which wasn't bad at all.

 

[zacandbradysmom]

We got there an Fri. night and started on Sat.--way too crowded!
Really, it was Tuesday before the lines/crowd was any better. We did MGM on Sat., Epcot on Sun., AK on Mon., and MK on Tues. then had to go back to MGM on Wed. because we really didn't get to do much the first time.
I was VERY surprised at how crowded AK was on that Mon. I figured most would have left Sun. night. But it wasn't unbearable--I was just amazed at the difference from the year before (when we went early Dec.)
i think if you started on Mon. you would be fine for the rest of the week. I would stay away from MK though--we had friends with us who went Mon. to MK and they hardly got to rride anything that didn't have a fast pass. (it was probably due to MVMCP though) We heard Wed. is a good "off"day for MK and we tried that and had good luck.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

It's been five years, but we went to WDW over Thanksgiving in 1999. We arrive Saturday before and checked out the Saturday after. We didn't mind the crowds, except Thanksgiving Day at MK.

We actually slept in (until 9am) and went back over to AK to finish where we had left off Sunday. AK was not crowded at all. It rained so we went to DTD to see Toy Story 2. After the movie we decided to go back to MK to see the MSEP again.

We arrived around dinner time (after 4pm) and the park was packed. We rode Space Mountain after waiting in standby and did the same with Buzz Lightyear. By this time the MSEP was heading up Main Street towards the castle. I never considered the crowd there and should have navigated through Fantasyland to make our way over to Adventureland. Luckily it was the end of the parade and the crowd quickly dispersed. After the fireworks the park emptied - even though MK was open until 11pm. Adventureland was nearly a ghost town. There was no wait for POTC or Jungle Cruise.

The holiday decorations were installed throughout the parks all week long. Osbourne Lights was open for our nighttime visit Friday evening at the Studios. It was our final night in WDW and remains one of the most memorable nights of our trip, having seen Fantasmic and the Osbourne Lights. It left me with a warm feeling of wanting to get back home and prepare for the Christmas season.

Other than that, crowds were nothing more than I would expect anywhere around here on a weekend. Just go expecting to wait an hour in standby, take advantage of fast pass and don't expect to see and do everything WDW has to offer. HAVE FUN and ENJOY the Holidays.

 

[Eeyore485]

I've been to WDW twice during Thanksgiving week and am going down this Thanksgiving. It's my favorite time to go!

The first half of Thanksgiving week tends to be moderately crowded - it's certainly not empty, but it's not packed either. The crowds really weren't too bad for us eariler in the week (Sunday through Tuesday) but the crowds start to intensify the day before Thanksgiving and last until the day after. Thanksgiving day is one of WDW's busiest days of the year, so I usually do something like shopping at Downtown Disney, going to water parks, or something that isn't likely to be that crowded on that day.

If you do go Thanksgiving week, I highly reccomend visiting the MK earlier in the week when the crowds will be lower.

Good luck in your planning!

 

[Eeyore485]

Oh, and be sure to check out this website, too:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/attend.htm

It lists the days and times of year that tend to be most crowded. Hope it helps!