November 27th - Black Friday, is that a thing?

[wehrengrizz]

Well, after SO much despair and desperation, we finally got everything wrapped up for an amazing holiday trip ! We're flying in late on Thanksgiving night, and so our first day will be "Black Friday", Nov 27th. Are there any fantastic sales or anything I don't know about? We're not doing a park day that day, just planning to check out some decorations and maybe swim or something, but I'm looking for any and all suggestions!
If this is supposed to be posted somewhere else, I do apologize!

Our crew: DH, me, DS(9), DS(6), DD(4), DS(2), DD(4mo!) and my mom, on her very first visit!
We're at Pop, and have 5 non-PH tickets, not planning for AK at all

THU26: arrive/sleep
FRI27: swim and decorations
SAT28: EP
SUN29: MK (close @7p, not getting MVMCP tix)
MON30: HS (RD/Star Wars) ***this is DS9's 10th bday, so we will RUN to get signed up for Jedi training!!
TUES01: ???
WED02: MK (All day, late night)
THU03: hang out/depart late afternoon


Thank you all SO much, I appreciate any help and magic you can send my way!

 

[revdon64]

Don't have an answer to your question, but we'll be at the same resort overlapping your stay. We arrive on the 30th and have ADR for Raglan Road that evening. MK and MVMCP on 12/1. HS on 12/2 and AK on 12/3. Always up for saying hi to a fellow Dis-er.

 

[disnut8]

Well, Black Friday now could start on Thanksgiving Day or at midnight on Friday so I wouldn't really concern myself with shopping that day at all. And, stores will be crowded all day so you might not want to spend your first full day of vacation being pushed around while not in a park. You said you have five day non hopper tickets but aren't doing Animal Kingdom although I wold suggest you fit that into your schedule. Maybe even doing that on Friday and then on Tuesday, where you have nothing scheduled, you could do the decorations and relax at the resort.

 

[Dug720]

In Disney-speak it is Magical Friday. I know the stores in the malls will have sales, but I don't know that those in the parks will. We were there many years ago over Thanksgiving, and I don't remember there being any sales in the stores beyond the normal deals they had.

Then again, if I am on vacation the last thing I want to do is deal with the hot mess that is shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[wehrengrizz]

Well, Black Friday now could start on Thanksgiving Day or at midnight on Friday so I wouldn't really concern myself with shopping that day at all. And, stores will be crowded all day so you might not want to spend your first full day of vacation being pushed around while not in a park. You said you have five day non hopper tickets but aren't doing Animal Kingdom although I wold suggest you fit that into your schedule. Maybe even doing that on Friday and then on Tuesday, where you have nothing scheduled, you could do the decorations and relax at the resort.

I should clarify, I absolutely HATE shopping! But, with Disney stuff, I'm sucked in to at least look (shocking haha). My DH really doesn't want to go to AK at all, and I'd love to ride Everest at least, but not sure I can convince him

 

[wehrengrizz]

In Disney-speak it is Magical Friday. I know the stores in the malls will have sales, but I don't know that those in the parks will. We were there many years ago over Thanksgiving, and I don't remember there being any sales in the stores beyond the normal deals they had.

Then again, if I am on vacation the last thing I want to do is deal with the hot mess that is shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

SOO with you! Just wondering if I should be keeping my eye out for some sweet deal...but like, from afar. I don't do Black Friday shopping at home but you know, at Disney, I can be persuaded. Maybe

 

[disnut8]

I should clarify, I absolutely HATE shopping! But, with Disney stuff, I'm sucked in to at least look (shocking haha). My DH really doesn't want to go to AK at all, and I'd love to ride Everest at least, but not sure I can convince him

I'd be interested on why he doesn't want to go to Animal Kingdom at all. To me, it's one of the most relaxing parks since there so much to do that doesn't require a FastPass.

 

[ruthies12]

I think your schedule looks good, maybe do a second day at epcot on that Tuesday so your kids can see more of the world showcase storytellers.

You and I arrive on the same day! And we will be at MK the same day that Sunday! I will be watching this thread to see if anyone knows anything about sales. I usually do the black Friday thing here at home with my mom and my aunts and I'm a little sad to be missing it with them this year but the chance for an extra day at Disney was worth it! We are staying in our RV at Fort Wilderness and after our long drive on thanksgiving day I plan to do a non-park day on Friday as well. We have brunch at chef mickeys and a golf cart rented so we can tour the campground and go to the campfire with chip and dale. I'm considering leaving my dh and kids that evening if there will be anything worth braving the bus ride to downtown Disney for.............

 

[ariane37]

We flew in on Thanksgiving night 2012 so our first real day was "Black Friday". We spent it at Epcot so I don't know about any off-Disney sales or DTD sales, nor do I recall any special sales at the stores in the park but I wasn't really shopping that day (but I DO go Black Friday shopping at home every year ). You could do a search on here and see if others have seen sales that day or done any shopping, otherwise maybe if you resort hop just glance in the shops when you're at the resorts.
Have your kids been to AK before? I know everyone has their favorite park and every park isn't for every family, but if you really want to go, you should! Any chance for hoppers? You could go there for a bit on Tues. and then hop to either MK or Epcot. And that way if HS didn't fill up your whole Monday you could also hop that day. Otherwise I agree with ruthies12 that a 2nd Epcot day on Tues. might be nice for the Storytellers. We did them for the first time in 2012 and the kids really enjoyed seeing them; our last day this year is Black Friday, which is the 1st day for the Storytellers, so we're spending the bulk of the day there just to get in as many as we can

 

[wehrengrizz]

I'd be interested on why he doesn't want to go to Animal Kingdom at all. To me, it's one of the most relaxing parks since there so much to do that doesn't require a FastPass.

I think he just wasn't finding it to be compatible with our plans this time around...last trip (Feb '14), we were at Shades of Green, park hoppers for four park days, and we all got a nasty stomach bug...EVERY. ONE. OF. US. So my DH took 2 of the unsick (at that point) kids to AK for the day, and was completely unsuccessful at riding much of anything (we had stuff planned but had to change everything, obviously)...he said it felt like a cool park but not anything he needs to do again w/ our kids so small.--I know, the Tree and Bug's Life and Dinosaurs...and things I think 3/5 WOULD love...but I don't know, I'm excited enough that we're going this year for another chance! (and with another baby...) If we did hoppers I bet we'd go for an AK morning, but at this point, I'm not seeing that in the cards.

 

[disnut8]

and things I think 3/5 WOULD love...but I don't know, I'm excited enough that we're going this year for another chance! (and with another baby...) If we did hoppers I bet we'd go for an AK morning, but at this point, I'm not seeing that in the cards.

All of the trails are non Fast Pass friendly. And with your kids' ages I'm going to suggest you watch a Flights of Wonder youtube video (and remember, kids can go up to the stage after and see the birds close up) and also look at Rifiki's Planet Watch with the train ride (all seats face outwards so not exactly a real train) plus the exhibit areas with live and, er, "gone beyond" creatures and then the petting area. You can have your kids pet fuzzy pigs. Oh - and goats and sheep and things like that.

 

[Micca]

Somebody here may have a different experience, but I seldom see any "sale" items anywhere on property. The stores at DTD may be crowded just because lotsa folks like to shop that day (I'm thinking locals.) I'd be very surprised if there were any sales on a large scale.

 

[Sunnywho]

black friday might keep some locals busy and away from the parks that morning

small business saturday is the next day -- if you register your am ex card, you can get statement credits when used at a small business -- last year it was 3 $10 statement credits, and with our 2 am ex cards, that was $60 -- we used it the previous year to get a few orders of mexican food at the quick service in Mexico in Epcot

 

[midnightlouise]

We were there on Black Friday in 2011 but nothing in the parks on sale, but I bet you can get some good deals if you want to brave the crowds lol. We spent the day at the pool instead. No regrets