Parks reaching capacity on Thanksgiving Day

[Princess Jasmine]

I have never been to Walt Disney World for Thanksgiving weekend, but we are going this year. Do any of the parks actually reach capacity and close on Thanksgiving Day?

 

[jaysmom4285]

Touring plans has a list of all phases of closures in WDW parks the last five years. There haven't been all that many, and the vast majority were Christmas and some days the next week. There were a few around Easter and July 4. Thanksgiving day doesn't seem to be issue for capacity closing, although it will almost certainly be very crowded.

 

[colagirl]

I have been at Disney World on Thanksgiving Day - I didn't find it overwhelmingly crowded, just normal crowded. That was a few years ago, though.

 

[magicaldisney]

We travel to WDW every Thanksgiving. MK would be the only park that would chance reaching capacity. The PP states it is normal crowded....true in the other parks, but for MK I would agree to disagree. The crowds at MK can become very heavy, especially for parades and fireworks. Each year is different, but if you will be at MK expect crowds. My gut is telling me this year will be even worse because there are a lot of people making last minute trips because this is the last year (supposedly) for Osborne Lights.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

I know things can change in a day at the World....but in 2009 and 2011 we took 13 family members to WDW....BWV's.....we hit at rope drop Thanksgiving morning...in Epcot.....only paper fp then.....I was surprised it was not very crowded till about 1pm.......we had a Soarin fp for 5-6pm window....OH NO that's when we were all having dinner at Boma's...
CM said no worries just come back when you can..(lol back in the day)....11 went back for Soarin......just don't ever leave to drive back home north(Ill) the Sunday after Thanksgiving....it was bumper to bumper all the way to Atlanta....I kid you not...what a site ...

 

[cassie58]

We have been twice on Thanksgiving(2011,2013) and it has not been bad. We go early, and 1st trip had dinner at 1900 PF and came back in for fireworks - crowded, but not bad. Last trip we set up lunch at Liberty Tree so we could leave later and hop to HS for Osbourne lights if we wanted, but got MSEP FP so stayed. Black Friday was actually a lot worse there - we had PPO brft. at CP and took pics on fairly empty Main St., and when we came out, Main Street was mobbed with crowds coming in at opening - took a photo for the before and after comparison. That was he most crowded I had seen it right at opening in any of our trips. I think some people figure Thanksgiving will be crowded and opt for the day after. If you can go early and have it well planned you will be fine.

 

[vinotinto]

OP, since things have been getting a. Lot. More. Crowded in the last year, I would suggest you look at "just back" reports after thanksgiving 2015 (coming up!) before making any decisions. As someone who went in Oct 2009 and 2011 and 2012, I was shocked at how many people there in Oct 2015, especially at MK.