School system changed 11/05 "days off". Need help with Thanksgiving week crowds!

[Spoisal]

UGH! I could just scream! We have ressies right now for Nov 12th-20th - terrific week to go to WDW from what I understand!! (Keep in mind, our biggest concern is crowd level.) This was a good time to go for us because our DD's would only miss 3 days of school.....well, wouldn't you know it, the school system has changed its calendar. In order to maintain only 3 missed days of school (instead of 5), we have to change our ressies. I am considering Nov 16th (Wed)-24th (Thanksgiving Thursday). I think we will be ok with crowds from the 16th-18th, but I need some guidance with Sat 19th-Wed 23rd. Who has gone Thanksgiving week? What are the crowds like in the days leading up to Thanksgiving?

 

[LovePug]

bump

 

[Blueberry]

The week leading up to Thanksgiving Day is definitely NOT off season. It was manageable, but the crowds increased daily the closer you get to Turkey DAy. Of course as always the Magic Kingdom is the most crowded. We however had a terrific time, used Fast Pass when necessary and saw and rode all we wanted to do that week. Though it is not a low crowd week, it turned out great for us and though I would not pick it as a touring week, if that is the only week you can visit it is very do-able...

 

[GoofyDisney]

We went Thanksgiving week last year. The weekend before and M, T, and even W are okay. Thanksgiving and afterwards were CROWDED. But what we did, we did everything we really wanted to do the weekend before and at the begining of the week. Then by Thanksgiving, we FP whatever we wanted to ride and basically walked around the rest of the time. We stayed away from the long lines and just took it easy. We went on a tour of the resorts to check out the Christmas decorations. It was great!

I think it is a good week to go, crowds and all!

 

[Spoisal]

now - how not to offend (or make angry) my family in Maryland by missing Turkey Day? I guess that is another post entirely!

 

[GoofyDisney]

It is truly worth upsetting the family balance to spend Turkey day in WDW!

 

[Lives4Disney]

We did Thanksgiving this year. It was our first time at WDW for a holiday. We arrived Tuesday night and left the following Monday.

It was actually one of our best trips ever. The MK (my favorite) was open until midnight!! It was EMPTY after 9:30/10pm. We walked on almost everything. The weather was just fabulous - upper 70s low 80s, blue skies, nice breeze.....

During the day we did some other things. The girls did the princess tea party, they boys rented water mice. On Thanksgiving Day, we started out by renting a larger boat for our family. After that we had late lunch ressies at Wilderness Lodge. We spend time over there looking around, rented a surrey bike, rode to FW petting zoo.....sat on the beach.....then we went for a horse drawn carriage ride. It was just so relaxing and fun, too. We had dinner PSs in MK that night, so we ate about 8pm and by the time we were done and walked over to Adventure Land - everything was a walk on again!!! It was just fabulous. I would do it every year if I could.

Don't worry about the crowds. Have some ideas for fun during the day to keep you busy and enjoy the parks in the evenings (which were chilly!)

Have a great time!!

Lives4Disney

 

[sanibelover]

Your original dates are probably your best bet. We were there the last full week before Thanksgiving in 2004, and it was great. (The MK was still busy.)

We went home on the Friday before Thanksgiving when POFQ was at 50% capacity - the next night it was at 85% and going up from there. I don't think you could pay me to go during Thanksgiving week.

Jersey week is in Nov., and I think it's a little later this year. Not sure about the dates. If crowds are your major concern, don't go during Jersey week - I met lots of NICE people from Jersey in 2002, but the parks were crowded.

Also, keep in mind EPCOT Food and Wine, Super Soap Weekend at MGM (dates not out yet), Festival of the Masters at DTD - I'm sure there are other things, but these are probably the biggies. In 2004, everything ended the weekend we arrived and the crowds cleared out. The closer you get to Thanksgiving, the more crowded everything becomes. A lot of people take the whole week off.