Strategy for Thanksgiving?

[babydovesx2]

Due to my husand's work schedule (military) and school for kids we are going to be at Disney the week of Thanksgiving. We will be arriving Thurs before Thanksgiving and staying thru the following week (leaving Sun after Thanksgiving). My strategy is to do DW and Epcot early in our stay (Fri-Mon, 2 days in each park), then do the other parks as it gets closer to Thanksgiving day and the holiday weekend. We thought about doing DTD and DQ on Thanksgiving day. Then spending Fri and Sat after Thanksgiving to go back and do anything we want to do over agian at any of the parks. I know since we will be there during a holiday the parks will be more crowded then at other times. However, is this a good strategy in order to avoid crowds as much as possible?

 

[lynr]

I was wondering this myself. We are arriving on Thanksgiving day and staying until the 7th of Dec.

In the past we have arrived the either Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving and it has been too bad, but I am scared about dining on Thanksgiving. I will be setting a reminder to book all my dining 180 days out.

Lyn

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

My strategy would be to stay at home. Just kidding. We went Turkey Day week once, and it was a disaster. Way too crowded.

 

[DisTeach1]

My strategy would be to stay at home. Just kidding. We went Turkey Day week once, and it was a disaster. Way too crowded.

Wow!! That post was really helpful!! Especially for those of us who really can't go any other time.

Anyways, we are planning on arriving a week before Thanksgiving and hope to get the big stuff out of the way early. Our other strategies are:

1) Make sure we have at least one ADR per day, so we are guaranteed a comfortable place to sit and have a meal.

2)Eat counter service early (11 a.m.) or so to avoid crowds.

3) Get to the parks early each day...It's amazing how much you can get done the first two hours.

 

[frodgeslovedisney]

We have also been to WDW over Thanksgiving. My suggestion is to try to make an early or late ADR for your Thanksgiving meal. That way you can be out in the park while others are eating at a traditional eating time. We also went to MGM last year on Thanksgiving day (ADR at the Brown Derby) and it wasn't as crowded as the year we went to MK!

 

[Dis31]

We've done Thanksgiving two years in a row now we love it because all the holiday decorations are up its so nice! Yes it can be crowded but Disney is always crowded we've been all times of the year its def. manageable. Make sure to get to the parks at opening hit a few rides right away do EM mornings at MK if you can there great, then grab some fast passes and hit philharmagic while you wait. Eat at off times so you can hit the rides while everyone else is eating lunch/Dinner! Makes an early morning Breakfast and get into the park before it opens eat and get going right when the park opens. I would avoid extra magic evenings unless you can stay at the MK until 1 am it’s usually kind of crowded in the beginings hit another park! It’s all about planning. If you have any questions let me know!

 

[bigbabyblues]

We're going for Thanksgiving this year because it's our only chance to see the Christmas decorations with DS' school schedule.

We're arriving the Thursday before and staying until the Saturday after. I plan to get as much done as we can by the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, and enjoy being there the rest of the time.

Definitely get park hoppers. If one park gets insane, we'll got to a different one.

I'll make ADRs, at least one per day, some days we'll have two; I've started thinking about them, and I'll make them at the 180-day mark. I'm using TGM for the least crowded charts and touring plans. It worked great for us Memorial Day week and I'm hoping for the same at Thanksgiving.

 

[tammydel]

I've done Thanksgiving twice and am doing it this year also. We do Tuesday through Sunday of T-Day week. I'm a teacher so can only go during breaks. Each of these times we have brought extended family and been a party of 10. It is possible to enjoy. Your plan sounds good OP.
Some things we did - MGM Osbourne lights on arrival- puts you in the holiday spirit, AK early part of the day on Thanksgiving - not too crowded then nice relaxing dinner at the resort no need to rush anywhere and no dishes to do! Then we did Candlelight Processional on Friday Night - TDay over so it was time for Christmas. Another great idea is to take advntage of the great photo spots and take your holiday photo!
Enjoy - we will!
Tammy

 

[disneymom71]

Another teacher getting to be there from Sat 11/22 to 11/27 we are spending Thanksgiving with family in Tampa....but I am also curious about how crowded it would be before Thanksgiving Weekend....

I remember my first Thanksgiving Weekend at WDW and we decided to go on Thanksgiving Day to MK is was so crowded plus the cheerleaders...etc....so we decided to arrive at least the Sat before and spend with our family who lives in Tampa the Thanksgiving Weekend....

I hope it goes ok for everyone... Please maintain this post up so we can have more ideas....

 

[rosegirl]

We went the weekend prior to Thanksg through the Sat after and it was totally manageable. We maxed out our time on the days before Thanksgiving, and on Th. day we only went to one park, to ride RNRC and then we headed back to the hotel to do the pool. It started raining so we relaxed in our room, caught up on laundry, and by the time it cleared up, we were on our way to our 5:30 ADR at Artist Point, which we had made at exactly the 180 day point. We did have to wait about 30 minutes for our table, but it was fine.

We used TGM to plan out our trip. Worked like a charm. Go and enjoy!! Just stay out of DTD stores if you can.

 

[ssmerdel]

we did Candlelight Processional on Friday Night

Tammy, I have a couple questions:

1. Do you have to buy separate tickets for the Candlelight Processional?
2. If so, when do they go on sale?

We will be at WDW the Friday after Thanksgiving and would like to attend. Thanks for the information.