Sunday after Thanksgiving - good day to check in?

[foxfire]

I know Thanksgiving is usually a very busy time as well as right around Christmas and a couple of weeks after. I'm trying to plan a trip to see all the Christmas decorations when it's not a super busy time. I'm looking at Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, but I'd like to hear from those that have checked in on the Sunday right after Thanksgiving. Do a lot of people check out that day? I was thinking with kids going back to school on Monday and many adults going back to work after the holiday, that Sunday would be an okay day to arrive...or will the resorts still be booked heavily until midweek or so? Can you help me figure out the best arrival day? I would love to hear what you suggest...thanks in advance!

 

[spiceycat]

Sunday check in was fine. but getting there a whole different story.

I drive so I had to wait on I10 and I 75 junction for 2 hours to go 2 miles....

I won't do that again.

the planes were just as busy - I don't remember what the delay was but I think it was an hour?????

 

[deejohn]

My next door neighbor always went the Monday after Thanksgiving to the following Sunday. They said the weather was always good, the decorations were out and the crowds light. Based on this, I booked Dec 3 - 10 this year to try it out. Beware---Dec 4-11 is Pop Warner Football Week, so book soon.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Also wanted to add that rooms at the Contemporary and Swan will be in short supply due to conferences that time frame. We will be at the one at the swan.

 

[bigbabyblues]

That's the day we're checking in.....but we'll be staying in Daytona the night before and leaving from there early, so hopefully we'll get there before the traffic......I hope?

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

I know Thanksgiving is usually a very busy time as well as right around Christmas and a couple of weeks after. I'm trying to plan a trip to see all the Christmas decorations when it's not a super busy time. I'm looking at Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, but I'd like to hear from those that have checked in on the Sunday right after Thanksgiving. Do a lot of people check out that day? I was thinking with kids going back to school on Monday and many adults going back to work after the holiday, that Sunday would be an okay day to arrive...or will the resorts still be booked heavily until midweek or so? Can you help me figure out the best arrival day? I would love to hear what you suggest...thanks in advance!

Our dates are 11/27 - 12/3...so I'm with ya on hoping for light crowds. Everything I have ever heard says this is one of the best times to go...we have gone later in December the past 2 years and the first part of our trip is usually great crowd wise...then filling up as Christmas approaches...hopefully this time of year will be extremely light.

 

[suzsummit]

2 different years we have checked in on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The Sunday seemed crowded in the parks so we spent the day at the hotel or the one time we were able to snag a illuminations cruise for that Sunday night. Also because of the high number of people checking out that day the front decks seemed a little overwhelmed. On that Monday the crowds thinned WAY out and we had a fabulous vacation. It was wonderful since all the holiday decorations were up.

I have to agree with another poster about the traffic. We drove up from Miami and I-95 was VERY crowded.

 

[tessqt]

I have gone at that time but have stayed off site, Sunday is busy but the crowds thin out during the week. We are going at that time this year, checking in Sunday too and I'm hoping everyone is checked out by the time we get there late Sunday afternoon!!

It is so neat with all the Christmas decorations and I remember Santa being in shorts!

 

[PatsGirl]

We're arriving T'Day but not doing parks until Monday so I'm hoping that check-in will go smoothly (who else is traveling on the actual day?) and that the resort, CSR, will not be too crowded during the day. I know eating might be a problem but we'll do PS's, CM on T'Day, PM on the next two lunches, a day at the pool and a day at either DTD or Boardwalk. Any suggestions?

 

[JulauDav]

I am also considering going after thanksgiving to try and get to in some of the Christmas festiviities. it looks like many of them start right after Thanksgiving or on Dec1.
Question: Is it better to arrive late on the day you scheck in and then start the parks the following day or get there early and do the parks and then fight with checkin. I am afraid that if we come early and do the park we will not get the kind of room or suite we wanted because someone else wanted it. I have heard things change. Just interested in when is the best time to check-in and then when to start the parks. SInce I will be coming from NC I would love to drive at night with the kids a sleep.

 

[Minerva]

.
Question: Is it better to arrive late on the day you scheck in and then start the parks the following day or get there early and do the parks and then fight with checkin. I am afraid that if we come early and do the park we will not get the kind of room or suite we wanted because someone else wanted it. I have heard things change. Just interested in when is the best time to check-in and then when to start the parks. SInce I will be coming from NC I would love to drive at night with the kids a sleep.

You can always check into your resort early, you more than likely won't get your room but that way if you have a special request you can make sure they know about it early, then go to the parks and when you come back you'll be able to get into your room. That's my plan. We arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving and will be spending that night at Sports, not doing parks, the next morning we're moving to WL and I intend to be there by 7:30 in case the lines of people checking out are long, then we'll hop on the bus to MGM and when we come back to WL for a rest before we go to the Christmas party our room should be ready.

 

[mrslur]

Our plan is to arrive at MCO around 10:30 am and take a town car to WDW. We probably won't be able to get into our room at the BWV but will check our bags and walk around the resort and maybe go into WS. We are planning on doing the Candlelight Processional that night. We've been down during this week once before and loved the decorations and low crowds.

 

[foxfire]

Thank you all for your replies! From what I've read, it seems like that Sunday will work okay to check in. I just didn't know if a lot of the rooms would stay booked until maybe Monday or Tuesday & I'd rather get there on a day when more rooms open up.

We are driving, so we won't have to worry about flight delays & we plan to arrive in Orlando Saturday night, stay off property, then get to our resort early Sunday morning for check in. Even though I'm sure the rooms won't be ready, we can check on our requests & maybe have a better chance at them that way. We aren't doing a park on arrival day but will probably go to DTD for a while & maybe check out the decorations at a couple of other resorts. Again, thanks for your help!

 

[bavaria]

In 2004 I checked in on the Sunday after US Thanksgiving for a 16 day stay, and was surprised at how quiet it was. I was a little leary, as I usually go the first week of December, but it was actually quieter those few days!

I did have the nightmare of trying to drive down I-5 on the West Coast around noon the day before Thanksgiving, and have certainly learned my lesson about holiday travel! (A normal 30 minute trip took about 3 hours....)