RIP Thanksgiving .

[luvmy3]

How's this for sad? - I just tried to Google "list of stores CLOSED on Thanksgiving," and the whole first page of answers were articles about stores OPEN on Thanksgiving. I guess it really is "the new normal".

However, lots of things used to be "normal" - far bigger social ills than than extended shopping hours - and have been changed because people decided to draw the line in a new place. So if we really want to show retailers that we prefer them not to be open on Thanksgiving, lets find out who is closed, and shop there - and tell them why - during the rest of the Christmas season.

Just curious if you think that since WDW is open on all holidays we should show them we want them to be closed by not going during any holiday season? I think that would leave summer as the only time to go.
How about all those other non essential places that are open on Thanksgiving and other holidays? Or is it okay that they are open?
If so, why is it just stores?

 

[Handbag Lady]

CLEARLY, the almighty Disboards needs to compile a list since we know everything anyway.

Essential
__________

Football Games
Grocery / Markets (but limited hours)
Police/Fire/Nurses/Doctors, etc.
Gas Stations
Some restaurants (not all need to be closed)



Non-Essential
___________

WalMart (unless, like, you ARE the grocery for your area)
Target
Macy's
Any Mall store
Florists
Movie Theatres
Some restaurants (not all need to be open)


Please copy and add yours so we can solve this issue.

 

[doxdogy]

I may be working too. Do I work retail? No. In a hospital? No. But we are behind on our work, so we may be working. We will know next Thursday if we have the day off.

 

[DLgal]

This is really nothing new. Eons ago, I worked at Blockbuster video. We were open 365 days/year. I was there in my college years. I had to work Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, New Year's eve and day over the three years I was there. That is the retail life.

Maybe your son should work somewhere that actually closes on Holidays. I can't think of many places in the retail or restaurant industry. Costco is the only one I can come up with.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Just curious if you think that since WDW is open on all holidays we should show them we want them to be closed by not going during any holiday season? I think that would leave summer as the only time to go.
How about all those other non essential places that are open on Thanksgiving and other holidays? Or is it okay that they are open?
If so, why is it just stores?

No, I'm not trying to close Disney World, just find a comfortable place to draw the line before the holiday gets completely swallowed up.

I think the distinction for me isn't so much between essential and non-essential, but between the everyday and the not. So emergency services are of course open, and vacation destinations don't bother me, because they're far from everyday things too.

But I kind of feel like it would be nice if we all took a day off from something so mundane as shopping. (And for the record, I've always felt bad for people working in movie theaters and playing football, too.) The things that most people can do anytime are the things that I'm talking about, not Disney that has to be scheduled during its customers' time off.

I realize it may seem like an arbitrary line, but the line has to be somewhere, after all. I get that it wouldn't be possible to give emergency workers the day off, or practical to give the cast members at Disney the day off, but I don't think it would be too hard to give retail workers the day, so why not?

 

[denisenh]

i understand that your Thanksgiving won't be what your heart desires. it is such a basic want...to have family together for the day. it is very disappointing when you find out that one or more of your group has to work. i hope that you are able to make it special anyway!

 

[Praying Colonel]

No, I'm not trying to close Disney World, just find a comfortable place to draw the line before the holiday gets completely swallowed up.

I think the distinction for me isn't so much between essential and non-essential, but between the everyday and the not. So emergency services are of course open, and vacation destinations don't bother me, because they're far from everyday things too.

But I kind of feel like it would be nice if we all took a day off from something so mundane as shopping. (And for the record, I've always felt bad for people working in movie theaters and playing football, too.) The things that most people can do anytime are the things that I'm talking about, not Disney that has to be scheduled during its customers' time off.

I realize it may seem like an arbitrary line, but the line has to be somewhere, after all. I get that it wouldn't be possible to give emergency workers the day off, or practical to give the cast members at Disney the day off, but I don't think it would be too hard to give retail workers the day, so why not?

Why does the line have to be "somewhere after all"? Why draw a line anywhere? Why not let people, through their demand, decide what's open? Because we have a quaint (and by "quaint," I mean "arbitrary") idea of what people should do on certain days?

 

[joviroxx]

This thread is like deja vu.. Wash, rinse , repeat... every single year

 

[luvmy3]

No, I'm not trying to close Disney World, just find a comfortable place to draw the line before the holiday gets completely swallowed up.

I think the distinction for me isn't so much between essential and non-essential, but between the everyday and the not. So emergency services are of course open, and vacation destinations don't bother me, because they're far from everyday things too.

But I kind of feel like it would be nice if we all took a day off from something so mundane as shopping. (And for the record, I've always felt bad for people working in movie theaters and playing football, too.) The things that most people can do anytime are the things that I'm talking about, not Disney that has to be scheduled during its customers' time off.

I realize it may seem like an arbitrary line, but the line has to be somewhere, after all. I get that it wouldn't be possible to give emergency workers the day off, or practical to give the cast members at Disney the day off, but I don't think it would be too hard to give retail workers the day, so why not?

While I understand your POV, I don't agree at all. If its not practical to give CMs the day off, then its not practical to give retail workers the day off when there is a demand for their place of employment to be open, just like there is a demand for Disney to be open.
If you want to draw your own line and not shop on Thanksgiving, or boycott some stores during the season, that is fine, but for some Thanksgiving is just a another Thursday in November.

 

[bbak3030]

I agree that it's ridiculous. And it kinda ruins the day for the rest of us who plan to try to shop. There is NO way I'm going anywhere at 5:00 in turkey day. I don't mind midnight openings so much, but not 5:00. I don't understand the need for the earlier openings. The "good stuff" won't go on sale until midnight or even the next say.
I'm also an ER nurse so I miss holidays often. We re-plan when possible.

 

[design_mom]

I haven't read the whole thread. We also have family members who work in hospitals, etc. who do not get the day off. We work around it.

HOWEVER, I do think it's ridiculous that Black Friday has now crept into Thanksgiving Day (and substantially!) . I won't be shopping on Thanksgiving Day. That's not how I want to spend mine. Sadly, I suspect that a lot of people will though and next year the 6pm and 8pm openings will be moved back to 4pm and 6pm... and so on. It wasn't too many years ago that 5am Friday was the "standard" opening time, then it moved back to midnight, now this. Pretty soon Thanksgiving will be a shopping day first and a holiday second. Sigh.

(I do think it's at least kind of nice -- small consolation -- that Walmart is providing dinner, rather than just saying "it's a regular workday folks. Bring a sack lunch!")

 

[tvguy]

It's really very simple, if people didn't flock to the stores, retailers wouldn't be open on Thanksgiving. But judging for how packed the stores are people love the stores open on Thanksgiving.

I'm probably not the best person to ask though. I'm not in retail, but I will be at my desk at work for the 34th consecutive Thanksgiving. DW too, 38th consecutive for her. Sadly, the other career path I flirted with taking was law enforcement, no holiday there either.
And my mom was a nurse, no holiday in that career path either. Working holidays......ALL of them.... has always be a part of my life.

No loss of family time, as always, everyone, including friends who did have Thanksgiving off, will gather on the Saturday after thanksgiving for our feast.

 

[windycitymom]

Back in the 1970's, my mom (divorced) worked as a waitress and had to work every Thanksgiving serving other families their dinner. After working a full shift, she'd come home and cook us a full Thanksgiving dinner. We always ate later in the evening. One year, she forgot to turn the oven on! The turkey was in the oven, but she didn't realize it wasn't cooking (she must have been so tired By the time she realized it, we didn't eat until 1 am that year We still laugh about it and bring up the story every Thanksgiving. My mom did what she had to do to raise us without any child support (keep that in mind the next time you want to barely tip your waitress). We had no extended family close-by.

This year, our family will be at Disney for Thanksgiving week and we are bringing my mom! I'll make it a point to say "thank you for working" to all the CM's we see that day.

When at home, I don't shop on Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Who needs more stuff? Relaxing at home with family is perfect. I'd rather spend money on "experiences" than "things" anyway.

 

[tink20]

I will not be shopping on Thanksgiving (I will be at my parents, spending time with family) I will not be shopping on Black Friday (tried it once, and its not for me)

My DH will be at work on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day this year, he is a fireman, and every third year, his shift falls on the holidays. They will have a Thanksgiving dinner at the station and we are going out for breakfast on Wednesday with his family.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

For those interested here is the site I look on. Many of the ads are up and on the store sites as well. Now that is a change for sure. Usually they keep the ads under wraps longer.

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/

 

[scrapquitler]

How about all those other non essential places that are open on Thanksgiving and other holidays? Or is it okay that they are open?
If so, why is it just stores?

I have been asking this on every one of my Facebook Friends walls when they post the 'don't shop on Thanksgiving' logo. I'm asking them, are you going out to eat? Will you watch football? Why are those okay?

 

[carrie1626]

I'm leaving on T-day afternoon for my WDW vacation.
People will be working at the airport, the resorts and the parks.
It's life as we know it nowadays.
Personally, I don't shop on T-day or Midnight of or Black Friday. But here I am traveling on a holiday.
I have no regrets.

 

[scrapquitler]

I agree that it's ridiculous. And it kinda ruins the day for the rest of us who plan to try to shop. There is NO way I'm going anywhere at 5:00 in turkey day. I don't mind midnight openings so much, but not 5:00. I don't understand the need for the earlier openings. The "good stuff" won't go on sale until midnight or even the next say.
I'm also an ER nurse so I miss holidays often. We re-plan when possible.

Why not 5:00PM? We eat our Thanksgiving dinner at noon, and my relatives leave by 3:30 or 4:00. I'm ready to go find something to do by 5:00 if you want to stay home and not go anywhere, nobody is going to make you go shopping, but if my kids and DH and I want to go cruise the aisles of Target, and it's open, we're going!

 

[mhsjax]

I have been asking this on every one of my Facebook Friends walls when they post the 'don't shop on Thanksgiving' logo. I'm asking them, are you going out to eat? Will you watch football? Why are those okay?

Wow, so you are really picking fights with your friends on Facebook? I thought that is what the Dis is for.

 

[mefordis]

I don't shop on Thanksgiving. I'm at home cooking and watching football. I never shop at Walmart, holiday or no holiday.

Well instead of having a wonderful FAMILY day on Thanksgiving, my son will be having Thanksgiving dinner with his employer and his co-workers  Walmart!!!

Is it just me or is this the final nail in the coffin of family time? Really Walmart??? Providing a Thanksgiving dinner to its employees. How wonderful of you! After all, his family couldnt possibly provide a dinner for him to enjoy with his loved ones. Instead, he now gets to spend time with strangers and acquantinces.

Is it remotely possible for the American public to not shop for a day? Does family mean less than the almightly dollar? I really believe that this society needs to take a look at their priorities. And, if the polls are true, then 80% of this country does not support these businesses imposing on their holiday!!

Vent over. Thanks for listening - Ugh!!