November: Better before T-giving or after?

[got15]

Starting to lock down dates for our November trip. We went the week before Thanksgiving last year and it was quite crowded, but manageable.. wondering how is the week after? Am i getting similar crowds- or lighter/heavier? Thanks in advance!

 

[disneykelly]

Looking at a variety of crowd charts, it looks like it starts to drop off the Monday after Thanksgiving and stays mellow until a couple weeks before Christmas.

 

[Disneymom1126]

We've gone twice on trips that started the week of Thanksgiving (the Tuesday before and on Thanksgiving day) then extended into the following week...it was noticeably less crowded starting the Monday after...even the Sunday after was great at MK because it was a party night, so people who weren't attending the party likely went elsewhere for longer hours that day.

 

[JFox]

I went Thanksgiving week 2011. I had low expectations and expected massive crowds since it was a holiday week. Wasn't that bad. I'm taking my kidlet entourage this year for Thanksgiving.

 

[Karabear15]

If we could compare...what are the crowd levels like for Thanksgiving week vs the crowd levels of new years week...We did NYs this past year and I just cannot ever see myself going again that week...please tell me they are more manageable during Thanksgiving week.

 

[Spork3127]

We went in 2011 the week after Thanksgiving and LOVED it. By Disney standards, the crowds were non existent. With the exception of a few things like Soarin, TSMM, and a couple of other big attractions, everything else....literally....was 5-10 minute wait times if not walk up. We went to each park based on EMH's and on the days without EMH, we did Universal and Sea World. We easily could have done both universal parks in 1 day but opted to take our time and split them up. We were done by 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I don't think we waited longer than 5 minutes for anything there. Sea World was disappointing, but the same as far as crowds went. It's definitely our #1 time of year to go. Now, that's not to say that's how it will be this year.

 

[jenlw]

My favorite week is the week prior to Thanksgiving week. For 2016, that would be the week of Monday 11/17-Friday 11/21. The holiday decorations have just gone up and they are breathtaking! The weather is so nice and comfortable. Very low crowds. We could just walk up to some rides with no lines. My kids have the entire week of Thanksgiving off. What we would do is leave on the Tuesday evening of that week prior to Thanksgiving. My kids would miss Wed-Fri of school. We would enjoy the parks Wed, Thurs, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then we would leave for home on Monday just as all of the Thanksgiving crowds were arriving. We could see a noticeable rise in crowd levels by Saturday. Then we would get home and have that week off to recover and enjoy Thanksgiving. It's a great week to enjoy Disney! Plus they usually have free dining that week which is amazing!!!

 

[CynBeth]

I'd go after so you can experience all of the holiday stuff.

 

[MommaBerd]

We also LOVE the week before Thanksgiving week! But, according to this site, the week after Thanksgiving is THE best week to go. (The week before is the 4th best).

 

[momimouse27]

Week before. Done it twice, both times the crowds were low/weather great.

We were also there last year the week before Thanksgiving, I thought the crowds were awesome. Its funny how crowds can seem from a different perspective

 

[lroger01]

The week before has most of the decorations up including at the resorts, but possibly not everything. The extra Christmas events like the Epcot Storytellers aren't there until after Thanksgiving though. Also, the Christmas deco and music is much more appropriate and easier to enjoy after the holiday.