Nov 21st to Nov 28 2020

[Rice is nice]

How busy are the parks the Saturday before thanksgiving to the Saturday after thanksgiving?

 

[skorpie]

I hope someone answers this as well since we’ll be at Disney during that timeframe.

 

[sharonabe]

How busy are the parks the Saturday before thanksgiving to the Saturday after thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving week is one of the top 5 for busiest weeks of the year. There won't be any parties at MK starting on Monday.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We just did our first Thanksgiving trip. We arrived on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and left the Sunday after, so I can't help you with the first few days you mentioned. I can tell you that when we were there the crowds were very bad at night. Epcot on Black Friday evening and MK on Saturday evening were a nightmare. AK on Thanksgiving night wasn't too bad though. Mornings were wonderful. I would say if you must travel during this time, ROPE DROP is your friend! We also usually travel right before Christmas, and I would pick that time over Thanksgiving if I had to choose.

 

[AussieFan8]

We just did our first Thanksgiving trip. We arrived on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and left the Sunday after, so I can't help you with the first few days you mentioned. I can tell you that when we were there the crowds were very bad at night. Epcot on Black Friday evening and MK on Saturday evening were a nightmare. AK on Thanksgiving night wasn't too bad though. Mornings were wonderful. I would say if you must travel during this time, ROPE DROP is your friend! We also usually travel right before Christmas, and I would pick that time over Thanksgiving if I had to choose.

Do you usually go the week leading up to Christmas Eve? We are trying to decide between Thanksgiving week and the week leading up to Christmas Eve (leaving to return home on Christmas Eve) and were wondering which week was busier.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Do you usually go the week leading up to Christmas Eve? We are trying to decide between Thanksgiving week and the week leading up to Christmas Eve (leaving to return home on Christmas Eve) and were wondering which week was busier.

I have taken a few trips leading up to Christmas. Last year we left on the 19th. In 2015, we left on the 23rd. Can't remember before that. Don't get me wrong, it was busy. But it was nowhere near as busy in the evenings as this past trip. My DH and I didn't even get to enjoy World Showcase because it was shoulder-to-shoulder the whole evening. I do wonder if SWGE brought in more people this Thanksgiving. I don't know, but based on my past experiences, I would pick the week before Christmas over Thanksgiving.

 

[BL82]

We are thinking about going Nov 20-25 so I’m interested in the crowd levels and touring strategy as well for that time frame.

 

[randumb0]

Expect very bad crowds. If you can, travel the week before

 

[BL82]

Unfortunately we are left to school breaks and summer and we want to see the Christmas decorations so we will try our best to deal with the crowds.

 

[cgattis]

We did Thanksgiving week two years ago. I’d highly recommend trying to travel on the Friday evening before. The crowds will increase every day from there until actual Thanksgiving. I agree with others to do rope drop, but we do that anyway. We left on Thanksgiving so I can’t comment on the days after. But the weather was fabulous and the parks and resorts all looked great. I can definitely see us going at that time again.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Unfortunately we are left to school breaks and summer and we want to see the Christmas decorations so we will try our best to deal with the crowds.

When does your school get out for Christmas?

 

[caroline5177]

We have been 3 times over Thanksgiving week, including this year. We arrived late Tuesday and left the following Monday on our last trip. Nov 26- Dec 2
I would say the crowds are still heavy the weekend after. When our children were younger we arrived the Thursday/Friday prior to Thanksgiving and enjoyed the lighter crowds for the first few days. Either way, it will be crowded.
We did our best advance planning (jump on the ADRs and other special event reservations you may like!) and had an amazing trip.
Between work responsibilities and the kids’ school schedules, Thanksgiving is a time that we can get away. We go with the flow and would definitely plan another trip during that timeframe.

 

[BL82]

When does your school get out for Christmas?

usually the Wednesday before the week of Christmas

 

[BL82]

We have been 3 times over Thanksgiving week, including this year. We arrived late Tuesday and left the following Monday on our last trip. Nov 26- Dec 2
I would say the crowds are still heavy the weekend after. When our children were younger we arrived the Thursday/Friday prior to Thanksgiving and enjoyed the lighter crowds for the first few days. Either way, it will be crowded.
We did our best advance planning (jump on the ADRs and other special event reservations you may like!) and had an amazing trip.
Between work responsibilities and the kids’ school schedules, Thanksgiving is a time that we can get away. We go with the flow and would definitely plan another trip during that timeframe.

Thank you my hopes are to do that exact thing and go the Thursday/Friday prior to Thanksgiving. We’d book ADR’s and try and go to a MVMCP and maybe a dessert party to help with the crowds.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

usually the Wednesday before the week of Christmas

Thank you my hopes are to do that exact thing and go the Thursday/Friday prior to Thanksgiving. We’d book ADR’s and try and go to a MVMCP and maybe a dessert party to help with the crowds.

If you decide not to do Thanksgiving next year, it looks like your school would be out December 16. That would be an amazing time to go!

 

[#1eeyoregirl]

We are going during the same time. We have been during Christmas before but this will be our first time during Thanksgiving.

 

[MrsBooch]

Are MVMCP typically running thanksgiving week??

 

[BL82]

Are MVMCP typically running thanksgiving week??

Pretty sure there is one the Saturday or Sunday before thanksgiving and none during thanksgiving week.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Did it in 2017 and this year. This year was far worse than any crowds I have experienced. Oddly enough, Wednesday (MK) and Thanksgiving Day (AK) were the most manageable.

Sunday at HS and Monday at MK were insane. We had to leave to the parks. We hopped over to Epcot on Monday evening and it was so much better.

Black Friday at Epcot was the biggest Disney mistake I have ever made. I knew it would be bad, but I was still shocked. Future World was fine in the morning, but World Showcase was unbearable. Yeah yeah I know everyone said it would be.

We did MK on Saturday after Thanksgiving in the morning before heading home. It was just fine until about noon when we had to leave anyway.

There were lots and lots of Disney rookies. Lots of people melting down. CMs were terrific, though!

Good luck! I thought I would be down for Thanksgiving as our time to go, but not anymore. Not for a long time, at least.

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

Hmm... we're planing on going during this time because of Destination D23, but it sounds like it'll be busy from PPs. Yikes! Oh well, we really want to go to this event.