Strange Comment from CM, Thanksgiving and week after

[blessedby3]

I was speaking with a friend of mine last night who is going to Disney over Thanksgiving week. We are going the week after Thanksgiving. I was telling her (they have never been before) that it would be a busy week during Thanksgiving as it is one of their busiest times there. She said that the CM told them when they booked it that it would not be busy, but that the week after Thanksgiving would be busy because people want to see the Christmas decorations. Am I crazy or what? I always heard that the week after was much less crowded and that is why we booked our trip then. Does anyone have an thoughts on why a CM would tell them it wont be busy during that time? I am haveing second thoughts now. What is the experience of you disers that have gone during both of these weeks? THanks for the help.

 

[Mermaid02]

You're not crazy- supposedly between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the BEST times to go, low crowds. I hope it's still true- my husband won't be happy if it's wall to wall!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

We were there in late Nov/early Dec of 2001. The parks were practically empty and I don't think we waited longer than 15 minutes for anything. In fact, MVMCP was the most crowded we'd seem any of the parks the entire time that we were there.

OTOH, Thanksgiving week is one of the most highly attended weeks of the year. I can only imagine that the CM told your friend otherwise so as not to worry her or spoil the anticipation of her trip.

PS-The holiday decorations are already up by Thanksgiving. There would be no need to wait for afterwards.

 

[rcraw45425]

but had an unforseen tragedy, the death of my father the day before we were to leave. Sue Ellen with Dreams was wonderful, managed to get everything cancelled for us. We went ahead and had her reschedule for the week before Thanksgiving week, arriving on Wed, departing on Sunday. I am hopeful that we will encounter light crowds and moderate temps. It's been ages since we have been in November, will we be disappointed? My kids aren't doing too well right now emotionally, rescheduling the trip has helped, but if we face huge crowds It will be a disaster. TIA

 

[goofydad621]

about 10 yrs ago, arrived the Thursady before and stayed until Sun. after. Starting about the tuesday before turkey day the crowds picked up daily.
We had a early Thanksgiving dinner at Crystal Palace I think 11:45 or so. When we came out oh the humanity wall to wall people, we could literaly hardly move (maybe it was because we overstuffed at dinner)

No really the place was packed, So much so that we stayed in the park for maybe another hour then went back to the resort. I have been there thw week after Thanksgiving and it was the best touring ever, warm days nice nights and no crowds.

Hope this helps

 

[miste76]

Last year, I was there for one week before Thanksgiving (we left the day before Thanksgiving) and the parks were empty for the first few days. On Saturday before Thanksgiving, the crowds started to build and by Wednesday, the parks were crowded - very crowded. So, don't worry, the week before and the week after are good times to go. It's the week of Thanksgiving that is very busy (kids are out of school.)

 

[domestic goddess]

I know that more people are going now the first week of December to try to beat the crowds, so it may be a little more crowded than it use to be(the secret got out about low crowds). We have been at that time several times and it is great! The weather can be questionable, but the crowds are usually lower. The weekend after Thanksgiving is crazy but it usually thins out by Tuesday. Don't go to MK on that Monday, it was like Christmas time!

You will have a great trip! Afterall, you will be at Disney!!!

 

[GoN2WDW]

We were there Thanksgiving week one year and it wasn't too bad. We were in MGM on Thanksgiving day and news crews were set up filming families from their local area etc., but we were able to walk around without a problem. Of course, I don't know what MK was like! I'm sure it probably got more crowded during Thanksgiving weekend, but the prior Saturday to Thanksgiving Day was fine!

NOTE: This was November of 2001....could have had something to do with 9/11 that year.....

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We were there Nov 20th-Dec 2nd of 2003 and the ONLY day that was busy during that time was Thanksgiving day. That weekend of Thanksgiving was a "little" busier -but a little busier than totally empty parks the rest of the week really isn't all that "busy/crowded"- yanno?

So I guess I'd have to say, that atleast in 2003, both the week of Thanksgiving and the week after weren't busy. LOL

 

[dwbelle]

I would not worry at all. Last year we arrived the Monday before Thanksgiving and stayed through the first week of December. I will say that the crowds the day before Thanksgiving until Monday were very heavy. After that the crowds thinned considerably. We were able to go on most rides with no waits and rarely had to use fastpasses for anything except MK which always seems to have heavier crowds than the other parks anyways. As a matter of fact we went to Universal the Thursday after Thanksgiving and I swear for the first two hours we had the entire park to ourselves!!(okay maybe we shared it with about twenty other people ). I'm sure everything will be perfect, after all you will be at Disney !!

 

[SB in KY]

We have been twice the week after Thanksgiving....we usually arrived Tuesday after Thanksgiving and stayed for a week....very low crowds and all the Xmas stuff up. Although crowds are up significantly this year I can just about guarentee you that there will not be but about 1/2 as many people in the parks the week after Thanksgiving as will be there the week of Thanksgiving (and Thanksgiving weekend especially)

We have also been twice the week before Thanksgiving week....which IMHO is the ideal time to go for us. The crowds really picked up on Sat before Thanksgiving and Sunday before Thanksgiving was pretty wild, but up until then the place was almost empty. Xmas decorations were up almost everywhere too which was nice. We also got to do the AP holders preview night for the Osbourne lights...which was really fun too.

This year we had to go in early November because of everyone's school/work schedules and I am kind of sorry....I LOVE going either the week before or after Thanksgiving....I think both of you have selected ideal times!!

 

[philaround]

Could the CM have said something like this

"Before Thanksgiving Day it should not be very busy but as you get closer to the day itself and right after Thanksgiving [Fri, Sat, & Sun] it will be much busier."

That kind of statement would make a lot of sense to me, but after that weekend is over things should quiet down until at least a few days before Christmas.

 

[dcgrumpy]

We were there Nov 20th-Dec 2nd of 2003 and the ONLY day that was busy during that time was Thanksgiving day. That weekend of Thanksgiving was a "little" busier -but a little busier than totally empty parks the rest of the week really isn't all that "busy/crowded"- yanno?

So I guess I'd have to say, that atleast in 2003, both the week of Thanksgiving and the week after weren't busy. LOL

That's funny we were there the same year, we arrived Monday the week before Thanksgiving and left Monday Thanksgiving week. We found it to be empty up until the Saturday before Thanksgiving and then it was a madhouse compared to just a fewd days before. I guess it depends on which parks you go to and what you're used to . We usually go when it is really slow. This year we arrive on Thanksgiving Day fun, fun, fun. LOL

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks for all the posts. I guess I am feeling better about things. I was planning on going into the MK on Monday after Thanksgiving but maybe should rethink that. Our first park day is Sunday after Thanksgiving and we were going to go to Animal Kingdom. We are goint to the MVMCP on Tuesday evening. What to do, what to do. The kids really want to go to MK first, but I thought Sunday would be too crazy. Guess we will figure it out.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I can't help but wonder where that CM works. It's possible that he works in a place that gets more crowded the week after Thanksgiving, maybe the Osborne lights area?

 

[blessedby3]

This CM would be the one they talked to in reservations when they booked the trip. I guess maybe the CM was very NEW? Who knows.

 

[kyirish25]

This will be our 3rd year going the week after Thanksgiving. First year we hit MK on Monday at it was very heavy, last year we hit MK on Sunday and it wasn't bad at all. I also think that due to MVMCP people avoid MK on those days until 4pm so they don't have to use up a park day on their passes. So I would recommend Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday as good MK days.

 

[mousierthanyou]

We are also going the week of 11/27. The crowds should deminish after Sunday 11/27. We find this time of year to be the best. You're going to enjoy yourself so don't worry so much.