Pre-Thanksgiving Crowds

[dnamertz]

I'm planning to go to Disneyland next November (2010) either the Sunday thru Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the Tuesday thru Friday the week before Thanksgiving.

I'd like to know what the crowds are like this year on those days, so if anyone is going to Disneyland this month between Nov 17th thru Nov 20th, or Nov 22nd thru 25th please give me a report about how crowded it is.

 

[ballarinamom]

We go every year from the Wednesday- Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Wed, Thurs and Friday are very managable crowds. Saturday it starts getting crowded later in the day. Sunday and Monday are very crowded. But if you do MM andrope drop, you can get alot done early in the morning. The Fireworks and Main Street is insane at night. I have heard from many that the closer you get to turkey day, they more crowded it gets. And Some Tgiving days are actually at park capacity.

 

[dnamertz]

We go every year from the Wednesday- Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Wed, Thurs and Friday are very managable crowds. Saturday it starts getting crowded later in the day. Sunday and Monday are very crowded. But if you do MM andrope drop, you can get alot done early in the morning.

We did that in our last visit in mid-June. Getting up at dawn and staying up til late at night were too much for our daughter...even with a mid-day nap. And we did get in many rides during the MM hour, but it was almost too much of a fast paced rush from one ride to the next that it took away from the enjoyment.

I would prefer our next trip to be slower paced (meaning, less crowds).

 

[dnamertz]

OK, anyone who was at Disneyland this past Tuesday thru Friday (Nov 17-Nov 20), can you give me a trip report regarding the crowds.

 

[Albort]

OK, anyone who was at Disneyland this past Tuesday thru Friday (Nov 17-Nov 20), can you give me a trip report regarding the crowds.

past 2 days, Park was slow. Nemo line was maybe 45-60min long...

 

[AMonir]

I'm heading there tomorrow -- does anyone know if the Monday before Thanksgiving is usually insane? My friend and I are used to summer crowds (we're locals) so if it's not worse than that, we can handle it. Also does the Monday before Thanksgiving ever hit capacity? Thanks!

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm heading there tomorrow -- does anyone know if the Monday before Thanksgiving is usually insane? My friend and I are used to summer crowds (we're locals) so if it's not worse than that, we can handle it. Also does the Monday before Thanksgiving ever hit capacity? Thanks!

I'm a little worried, since they are extending their hours all week, but I think I'm probably going to head up tomorrow anyway I only really care about seeing IASWH, the decorations, and eating some chocolate, so as long as the line for that Oreo Brownie at Pooh's that was mentioned in the food thread is less than an hour, I'll be okay

 

[The Orchid]

OK, anyone who was at Disneyland this past Tuesday thru Friday (Nov 17-Nov 20), can you give me a trip report regarding the crowds.

I was there from the 14th - 20th and the crowds were very low. We got right on all the rides, had no waits at the restaurants, and easily got good seats for the parades and fantasmic! The weather was great...not to hot but a little cool at night, just the way I love it. All the Christmas decorations were up. We are already talking about going next year at the same time, it was so perfect! This was my tenth time to DL and was by far my best trip!

 

[firefly87]

OK, anyone who was at Disneyland this past Tuesday thru Friday (Nov 17-Nov 20), can you give me a trip report regarding the crowds.

We got here Wed night 11/18 and spent Thurs, Friday, Sat and today (Sun) in the parks. Thursday was very low crowds and we got alot done. Trying to leave the park after the fireworks was a nightmare though. There was a private event going on after the park closed. So as the massive crowds are trying to leave the park, there were tons of people also coming in. DTD was PACKED!!!! Friday was slightly more busy but not bad at all.

Saturday and Sunday were both VERY busy. HUGE crowds both days. On Saturday, we went straight to Adventureland, New Orleans Square and Critter Country. It was relatively nice over there. The crowds managed to make their way over there though! We eventually ended up in DCA for the afternoon and evening. We did the same thing on Sunday (DL in the morning, DCA after lunch).

If I would suggest a time to go, it would be during the weekdays on the week before Thanksgiving. Very nice time to visit the park without all the crowds!

 

[tholczer]

We've gone the day before Thanksgiving every year for the last six years. We only had one year where it was busy. Every other year there have been manageable crowds, 20-30 minute wait times. But I hear things are more busy than usual with more AP holders this year. So we'll see.

Tracy

 

[Lostgirlz]

First hand report from a CM working inside Disneyland as we speak the word was it's going to be a REALLY BUSY day. I was told right after rope drop all rides had full lines. I am really praying it slows down when I go, but as of today it's packed, and that was at opening on a monday morning. I would say just get prepared for it, and hope it's not.

 

[ElvisStitch]

We've visited Disneyland during the last week before Thanksgiving three of the last four years, including this past November 19, 20, and 21. The crowds on Thursday were minimal, and things were only marginally busier on Friday and Saturday in the morning. Friday evening in Disneyland was pretty busy, as I think a lot of locals came into the park. We were able to do every ride in Fantasyland between 8 and 9 am on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon and evening was also busy, but not unmanagible. The longest wait that I saw was for Indy on Saturday afternoon, 45 minutes. The longest that we actually waited for a ride was at DCA for TSMM, 40 minutes. The longest that we waited in line at Disneyland was about 30 minutes for Autopia and the Matterhorn Bobsleds when it broke down for about 15 minutes.

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

First hand report from a CM working inside Disneyland as we speak the word was it's going to be a REALLY BUSY day. I was told right after rope drop all rides had full lines. I am really praying it slows down when I go, but as of today it's packed, and that was at opening on a monday morning.

Here's another look at the crowds today, courtesy of MousePlanet via Twitter.

Noon, & the lines for DL and DCA overlap in the Esplanade

And we actually mean overlap...

Of course, it being an absolutely gorgeous day didn't help matters any.

 

[Lostgirlz]

Littlewoodenhead thanks for the pic link. Yeah I had a firsthand heads up from a CM friend this morning at open. I figured how bad it was when I got the message. I am praying like crazy it's NOT like that in a couple of weeks. Hopefully everyone will be settling down for a bit till christmas break. From the word inside waiting in line for a ride will take most of your time by the crowds.

 

[sonnyjane]

Here's another look at the crowds today, courtesy of MousePlanet via Twitter.

Noon, & the lines for DL and DCA overlap in the Esplanade

And we actually mean overlap...

Of course, it being an absolutely gorgeous day didn't help matters any.

Whew, looks like I dodged a bullet! I was thinking of driving up today but was not feeling up to leaving so early, since they opened at 8 today. I think I'll push it off until next week or the week after!

 

[jennilouwho]

We are here right now (Monday) and it's a zoo! We're actually at Hojo's right now taking a little break and hoping we can get back in for the parade and fireworks in a little bit. It was very very busy though. Tiana's boat show makes it almost unbearable to walk through NOS if needed....

 

[pearlieq]

My experience on Thursday and Friday of this past week was that the parks were super quiet. I didn't see a standby wait higher than 30 minutes anywhere during the days, and most of the rides were under 10 minutes.

Saturday was much much more crowded, though still doable if you got there early and moved efficiently.

 

[dnamertz]

It's sounding like the week before Thanksgiving week is the time to go.

 

[Karlzmom]

Just back from DL. Yesterday was probably the busiest I've seen the place. 40 and 55 minute waits all over the place. It doesn't help that PoC and IASW have the mondo-queues that have large stretches of walkways roped off. It was actually difficut to get to the Blue Bayou for our lunch as my Dad was in a scooter and they had all the flat path/ramp area roped off...we came from Frontierland, and they had all the flat path/ramp access to NOS roped off..we ended up squeezing past a popcorn cart and looping all the way around the back end by the train station.

Needless to say, we didn't get much done, but the atmosphere was lovely and the lights on IASW were amazing [we were right there when they turned on]....then we happened to be right in front of the Castle when it was lit and we got to see the snow So we left on a happy, if tired note.

 

[todzwife]

how bad was it today?

Last year wasn't bad at all. Is this the first year that schools had the whole week off?

We are seriously rethinking our plans for next thanksgiving. I don't want to spend so much money if it's that crowded.