Quick trip ... Sat Nov 19 til Tues Nov 22...

[Zane21]

We arrIve Sat Nov 19th by 2pm, have all day Sun and all day Monday, leave early Tues morning. We have been to DL 5 times as a family, last time was July of 2012. We are celebrating my oldest son's 18th bday. Its what he wanted.
I realize this could be a busy time as it the days before Turkey Day.
How bad will it be? What is the best ride wait time app for our iPhones?

 

[figment_jii]

In terms of wait time apps, I like the official Disneyland app the best. It has current wait times (there is a slight lag between when the time changes on the signs outside of the attraction and when the time is updated on app) and fast pass return times. Other apps I have used in the past include DL Waits and MouseWait, but both of those rely on guests inside the park providing updated information (so they're only as good as the number of people using them on any given day).

 

[Angrose]

It will be extremely busy, like a 9 or a 10. Monday will be the worst. And, it can potentially be very hot. The past few years it has been in the mid-90s that weekend. I know, crazy! I'm sure you will still have a great time if you get there early and use FPs to your advantage.

 

[crystal1313]

We are doing the exact same thing on the exact same dates! We did this trip last year, except we only did one park day on Sunday ($ was tight) before TG. We braced ourselves for crazy crowds...but it was better than we imagined. We got a lot done in once day...so hoping this year is similar. I think as long as you go into it knowing there will be crowds and expect that and have back up plans in place, you will still have a wonderful time! Attitude is everything =)

Edited to add: We get there before rope drop and that really helps.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

It will be extremely busy, like a 9 or a 10. Monday will be the worst. And, it can potentially be very hot. The past few years it has been in the mid-90s that weekend. I know, crazy! I'm sure you will still have a great time if you get there early and use FPs to your advantage.

We've gone down the Sat before Thanksgiving for the last 4 years and while it was warm, it was never in the 90s. Was this earlier in the month?

As for crowds, it will be crowded, but we haven't found them to be terrible, especially if you get an early start to your day.

 

[Angrose]

We've gone down the Sat before Thanksgiving for the last 4 years and while it was warm, it was never in the 90s. Was this earlier in the month?

As for crowds, it will be crowded, but we haven't found them to be terrible, especially if you get an early start to your day.

I was there last year the Sat and Sun before T-day and it WAS in the 90's. I was in shorts and a t-shirt the whole time. My friends were there the same weekend in 2014 and it was in the 90's that year as well. Here's last year's weather from weather.com:

 

[hilarys]

We've gone down the Sat before Thanksgiving for the last 4 years and while it was warm, it was never in the 90s. Was this earlier in the month?

As for crowds, it will be crowded, but we haven't found them to be terrible, especially if you get an early start to your day.

Yes, an early start makes all the difference at DL even more so than at WDW in my opinion. There are so many locals and people staying off property that the first few hours (not just early entrance hour) will be noticeably lighter. The crowds this past Saturday and Sunday were pretty unbearable to me in the afternoon, but the first two to three hours of the day we were able to get so much done. My kids love to sleep in so it is a challenge, but well worth it.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Different websites show different highs. This shows a high of 90 that Sat and 88 on Sunday. I agreed it was hot, but I still don't think mid 90s is accurate, but we can agree to disagree on it . I think it's fair to say the weather can be anything since we've had years it's been really cold too!

ETA: I will stand corrected though since it did technically hit 90 that Sat.

 

[kirstie101]

We're going this weekend also and did last year as well. In park days are Saturday and Sunday. It was crowded but still very enjoyable. We did our must do rides early in the day and then used fastpasses and went with the flow during the afternoon/evenings. And I don't remember the exact weather but we were in shorts and t shirts! I'm crossing my fingers its the same this year!

 

[Zane21]

In terms of wait time apps, I like the official Disneyland app the best. It has current wait times (there is a slight lag between when the time changes on the signs outside of the attraction and when the time is updated on app) and fast pass return times. Other apps I have used in the past include DL Waits and MouseWait, but both of those rely on guests inside the park providing updated information (so they're only as good as the number of people using them on any given day).

Thanks all for the info. We are MORE than prepared for crowds.... we have no issue being there 30-45 mins before the rope drops...we made a list of top 5 rides we want to do.....
and I really hope its not in the 90s. LOL. The official DL app sounds good . Frankly I just cant wait to have a Monte Cristo and a mint julep

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... Frankly I just cant wait to have a Monte Cristo and a mint julep

If you haven't already made a reservation for either BB or CO, now would be a good time. That will be a busy weekend and walk up seating may be hard to come by at convenient times. A reservation will ensure that you get your Monte Cristo!

 

[Zane21]

If you haven't already made a reservation for either BB or CO, now would be a good time. That will be a busy weekend and walk up seating may be hard to come by at convenient times. A reservation will ensure that you get your Monte Cristo!

I have considered this ... but our time is so short I am hesistant to lock in a dining reservation... esp now that they make you give a credit card to guarantee ( this is new since we last went). Can't I order one to go from CO?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Can't I order one to go from CO?

No, you cannot.

 

[Happyjenz]

I second making a reservation...I've seen plenty of walk-ups be turned away

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... esp now that they make you give a credit card to guarantee ( this is new since we last went)...

The credit card is only to hold the reservation. You will not be charged unless you don't show up. You can always cancel your reservation up to the day before (24 hours notice) without penalty if you decide that you really don't want a fixed time to eat.

 

[SMD]

You'll waste more time waiting for a table as a walk-up than planning to claim your ADR at a certain time.