Nov. 23-26 trip

BARBARAL26

Earning My Ears
Joined
May 8, 2005
Messages
72
Is Thanksgiving weekend really that bad? Will be traveling with 4 adults.I hear some say its not to bad, to the other extreme. Take in mind I have never gone during Christmas, but I want to experience Christmas with my kids 19 and 21.
Thanks
 
This kind of question comes up all the time and it's really subjective. For instance, someone just commented that the first day of Halloweentime was crazy busy, but someone else said it seemed reasonable for what they would expect. That's the key. If you're going to go during Thanksgiving week, you have to be prepared for crowds, and then you're pleasantly surprised if it's not as bad as you think it is.

Our family only goes during "crowded" times since I don't like to pull the kids out of school. We have done the Thanksgiving week for the last three years. Of your dates, I would say the Wednesday has the potential to be the worst with regards to crowds. Thanksgiving itself isn't too bad since many people take time out for special meals. If you want to experience dining at one of the DLR restaurants on Thanksgiving Day, you will most definitely want to book ahead. Disney should start taking Thanksgiving bookings at the end of the month, probably the week of Sept. 26. Many people say the Friday after Thanksgiving isn't too bad. I still find it very crowded but not as bad as the days before Thanksgiving.

Four adults without mobility issues shouldn't have too much trouble navigating the parks. Make sure you arrive very early each day. Use your magic morning if you have one. Utilize fastpass. Go with a good attitude. You should be fine. It is really fun to be at Disneyland and experience all the holiday festivities.
 
This kind of question comes up all the time and it's really subjective. For instance, someone just commented that the first day of Halloweentime was crazy busy, but someone else said it seemed reasonable for what they would expect. That's the key. If you're going to go during Thanksgiving week, you have to be prepared for crowds, and then you're pleasantly surprised if it's not as bad as you think it is.

Our family only goes during "crowded" times since I don't like to pull the kids out of school. We have done the Thanksgiving week for the last three years. Of your dates, I would say the Wednesday has the potential to be the worst with regards to crowds. Thanksgiving itself isn't too bad since many people take time out for special meals. If you want to experience dining at one of the DLR restaurants on Thanksgiving Day, you will most definitely want to book ahead. Disney should start taking Thanksgiving bookings at the end of the month, probably the week of Sept. 26. Many people say the Friday after Thanksgiving isn't too bad. I still find it very crowded but not as bad as the days before Thanksgiving.

Four adults without mobility issues shouldn't have too much trouble navigating the parks. Make sure you arrive very early each day. Use your magic morning if you have one. Utilize fastpass. Go with a good attitude. You should be fine. It is really fun to be at Disneyland and experience all the holiday festivities.

Truer words were never spoken, longtimedisneylurker! You are absolutely right about that. I notice that all the time - it is very subjective!! What one person perceives as crowded, someone else will say was perfectly fine, and vice versa!!:rotfl2: I usually tend to be on the "Wow! It was soooo crowded!" side of things, so it surprised me that I was in the "It was not all that crazy" camp for yesterday's Halloween Time opening!:rotfl2: I mean, don't get me wrong - there were many more people there in the afternoon and early evening than in the morning, but still, I have seen it so much more uncomfortably crowded than that at DLR during other trips so I guess it didn't shock me. Whenever I can see pavement while walking down Main Street or through Adventureland and it's not elbow to elbow people, I consider that to be reasonable. Then again, crowds shift. move around and ebb and flow, so certain areas of the parks get hit with crowds at certain times of the day.

By the way - the line for TSMM yesterday, when we got in it? Ten minutes!!! California Adventure was blissfully, delightfully uncrowded in the first part of the day!! I don't think it will be that way one year from now, but it was wonderful yesterday!
 
I was there last year - Thanksgiving day, Fri & Sat - we had a fantastic time, crowds were low to moderate - Wed will be busy *AP blockouts don't start till Turkey day. We'll be there this year too - same days as last year :cool1:
 

It could go either way. I think it was last year on July 4th where the crowds were really low. People just assumed it would be too crowded. Hopefully it will be like that when you go. I went there over Christmas in 2004, and NEVER again! Years ago, DL was a ghost town over Superbowl weekend. Well, word spread fast and now that's not the case anymore. As I already said, crowds on Thanksgiving and throughout the year could go either way. I would just advise you never go over New Year's.
 
We were there the Friday after Thanksgiving and although it was crowded, it wasn't bad at all I thought. My nephew had the wait app on his phone and that really helped alot, so we were able to get in alot of rides. I spoke to a CM and she said Thanksgiving day was super empty compared to the friday. Good luck! I'm sure you'll have a super fab time!!
 
It could go either way. I think it was last year on July 4th where the crowds were really low.

I was there over the 4th last year as well - same experience low to moderate crowds *7/3-7/6 - AP blockouts have so much to do with this - I also think non locals assume it'll be way to crowded.... I'm sure this year over the 4th was the same as the last 2 years - the same APs were blocked...
 


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