Talk me out of going over Thanksgiving weekend

[Artygal90]

I’ve had an extremely rough year and someone suggested my family (me, DH, and our 3 year old) take a trip just the three of us over Thanksgiving to cheer me up and distract me from the holiday. They probably meant driving an hour to the beach or something…..of course the wheels started turning in my head and I immediately started thinking about how much fun WDW is during the holiday season and what a great distraction it would be.

I was thinking of just two or three park days and spending our arrival and departure days enjoying the resort and Disney Springs. Probably we would just do MK and Epcot since my son is too little for 90% of the rides at HS and I’m not sure there’s enough at AK to hold his interest for a full day. This would be his first WDW trip but definitely won’t be his last so this isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

But will the parks be unbearable the Thursday-Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend? Are there days in there that are better than others? Is it just not worth going for such a short period?

There are lots of reasons to hold off…I’ve always said I wanted to wait to bring my kids to WDW until they were much bigger, my husband is not excited about the idea, it’s expensive, our families will want to see us, I’ve been plenty in the last few years, it’s a hectic time of year to travel….but the idea of going to WDW again is giving me so much joy and I’ve really missed that feeling.

Anyway tldr: tell me if this is an awful idea and I should just delete my spreadsheet now, or save it for a later, less crowded time of year.

 

[hardcorestitch]

A rough year, huh? You guys need a Disney visit, stat.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You went to the main place on the internet for talking you into it… so I’ll do my part!

Sounds like you need some time away just you 3. I take it seeing the fam over T-Day is not going to be relaxing? (Be honest, it isn’t for many, it’s ok). You’ve been to WDW enough you know something about zigging as the crowd zags and it will be slow paced with lots of down time anyway as you have the little one. The key is your partner. Is he the kind who will get on board if you convince him or will he be grouchy about X, Y or Z? The trip won’t be even Disney-relaxing if you’re worried he thinks it’s too crowded, not worth it, etc.

And are you flying? I thought this government crap would be done by now and am instead staring down traveling into this mess myself. With current state of things I would not book a T-Day flight unless it was refundable/creditable. If you need to fly bail on Disney and book that drivable getaway.

 

[Disneylover99]

There are lots of reasons to hold off…I’ve always said I wanted to wait to bring my kids to WDW until they were much bigger, my husband is not excited about the idea, it’s expensive, our families will want to see us, I’ve been plenty in the last few years, it’s a hectic time of year to travel….but the idea of going to WDW again is giving me so much joy and I’ve really missed that feeling.

You have a lot of good reasons to hold off, so I’d take a pause, talk to your husband and plan a trip sometime in the near future.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Only you truly know how much you ‘need’ this.

For me, I choose not to go when it’s super crowded as I know how much more I enjoy it when crowds are lower. While the desire to go right now is high, it sounds like you have many reasons to hold off, plan a trip at a later date and enjoy time with your family this holiday.

 

[Artygal90]

You went to the main place on the internet for talking you into it… so I’ll do my part!

Sounds like you need some time away just you 3. I take it seeing the fam over T-Day is not going to be relaxing? (Be honest, it isn’t for many, it’s ok). You’ve been to WDW enough you know something about zigging as the crowd zags and it will be slow paced with lots of down time anyway as you have the little one. The key is your partner. Is he the kind who will get on board if you convince him or will he be grouchy about X, Y or Z? The trip won’t be even Disney-relaxing if you’re worried he thinks it’s too crowded, not worth it, etc.

And are you flying? I thought this government crap would be done by now and am instead staring down traveling into this mess myself. With current state of things I would not book a T-Day flight unless it was refundable/creditable. If you need to fly bail on Disney and book that drivable getaway.

Thanksgiving is very fraught this year for lots of reasons so while we don’t have an issue with our families exactly, we’d both rather just opt out altogether of the usual traditions this year. Grief is weird :/ The husband says he’s happy to go if I really want to but like you said I want him to actually enjoy it.

And yes, we would need to fly So unless it’s all resolved somehow in the next few days, this is all just a thought exercise and a moot point because I’m not risking $600 worth of non refundable airfare if the airport’s going to be shut down or nonfunctional!

I think we’ll sleep on it and see how we feel in the next couple days. Maybe a better idea will come to us, or maybe I’ll just enjoy the exercise of putting together a Disney plan even if I don’t execute on it

 

[Dave006]

But will the parks be unbearable the Thursday-Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend? Are there days in there that are better than others? Is it just not worth going for such a short period?

Normally Thursday - Saturday are the busiest park days. I am not sure what your 3 year old would really do at Epcot. When are our kids were that age they only were interested in MK, and AK. Yes AK is not a full day for almost anyone.

Would you be driving or flying, and did you check for resorts for you Turkey day visit?

Dave

 

[DL1WDW2]

I would not deal with airport over Thanksgiving Weekend
Also major construction in the middle of MK , train not making full circle tour !

 

[Jonnnyap]

@Artygal90 I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough year and hope you get a bit of a pick-me-up knowing your friends here on the Dis are in your corner. As previous posters have mentioned, the parks can be quite busy Thurs-Sun of Thanksgiving weeks, and flights can be hectic. Separate from the issue of flying and possible delays, I'm going to add an idea you might consider - a resort only visit to Disney.

While the parks are fun, especially this time of year with all the Christmas decorations, the resorts are also beautifully decorated and have many activities - especially the deluxe resorts. You might enjoy relaxing by the pool, taking in crafts, S'mores by campfire, watching a movie on the lawn (or in the lobby or room), walking paths (the Contemporary to MK to Grand Floridian to Poly is a lovely arc to get good exercise), relaxing while looking at animals on the Kidani/Jambo savannas, and talking with cast members. Our family has enjoyed doing the fireworks pontoon experience - which could be a lovely way to spend Thanksgiving itself. Many people hop to various resorts to enjoy food/drinks and take in the ambiance of the lobbies. AKL Jambo, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, etc. all have wonderful spaces you can visit as a guest. It's even fun to ride the Disney transportation from resort to resort (think Skyliner, buses, boats, etc.). And you can often view fireworks from a distance even outside the parks themselves. This might not be your initial idea of a Disney vacation, but I'm mentioning it because it might be a good balance of getting away, doing something different, and still experiencing Disney - all without fighting the crowds within the parks.

Lest someone on this thread think I'm suggesting you "crash" the resorts and use amenities, I'm not at all. I'm not an advocate for touring resorts unless you're a guest, since this adds to crowding, and I believe the resorts should be reserved for those paying to stay on Disney property. But if you're a guest, you can make great use of so many niceties provided outside the parks.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you and your husband and son have a great Thanksgiving and rest/relax/recharge. No matter what you're going through, I hope you know you're loved and you're worth it!

 

[loves to dive]

Sorry you have had a rough time and only you can really decide if it's worth it. I will say, I happen to be going that Saturday thru the next Thurs. so can't really say it's a bad idea. The only reason I booked that weekend is because it was the only time frame during early December I could get a resort reservation at a reasonable price. I do go often, at least 3 times a year, sometimes 4 times a year and have an AP so if one park is too crowded, I'll just move on. Since I will be arriving on Sat. and leaving on Thurs. I figure I really only have Sun. to deal with and my thinking is most people will be leaving on Sunday. I will go to the parks on Sat. afternoon after I arrive but I'm not really ride centric so if I only ride one thing that day, it's no big deal. If you are o.k. with crowds and maybe just soaking in the atmosphere and not riding a lot of rides, it should be o.k.

 

[Disneylover99]

Thanksgiving is very fraught this year for lots of reasons so while we don’t have an issue with our families exactly, we’d both rather just opt out altogether of the usual traditions this year. Grief is weird :/ The husband says he’s happy to go if I really want to but like you said I want him to actually enjoy it.

And yes, we would need to fly So unless it’s all resolved somehow in the next few days, this is all just a thought exercise and a moot point because I’m not risking $600 worth of non refundable airfare if the airport’s going to be shut down or nonfunctional!

I think we’ll sleep on it and see how we feel in the next couple days. Maybe a better idea will come to us, or maybe I’ll just enjoy the exercise of putting together a Disney plan even if I don’t execute on it

Maybe you should just do a getaway, closer to home, away from family.
Somewhere within a few hours of your home where you don’t need to worry about flying. Create your own traditions.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

First - hugs!! I'm so sorry you have had a tough year. The holidays don't help that in any way. Hang in there!!

I get the desire to go to Disney for a pick me up. I do it myself. And I'm going for the entire week of Thanksgiving (but only because it is the only time in the fall I can go - college schedules are not Disney friendly.) But, even in your desire to go, you sound hesitant. Listen to your gut. If I had to fly anywhere right now, I would not be going. In fact, I've already started to prepare my parents in case I can't get home at Christmas. The parks will be crowded. And it's going to be tough to find a reasonably priced resort at this point. If it were me, I would be looking for a staycation somewhere close to me. I don't know where you live, but is there a beach or a cabin or a resort somewhere within driving distance? Or, turn your home into a vacation - make a living room fort with your 3 year old. Have a floor picnic and then watch movies. Go explore something in your town (a zoo, a museum, etc). It sounds like you need to skip the family gathering for Thanksgiving and that's ok. It's perfectly acceptable (although hard to do) to say "This year, we are going to start some traditions with our 3 person family" and do that.

 

[fla4fun]

First for the bad times you have been going through. I hope things are better soon.

Here’s what I am seeing. Just the thought of a Disney trip is making you feel better. So why not plan a trip for a less expensive and less crowded time of year and enjoy the planning process? January and early February is typically much better in terms of hotel prices and crowd levels. The weather is usually very nice too. You won’t get the Christmas events, but if you go late January or early February the Festival of the Arts will be at Epcot and it’s my favorite festival. Another good time is after Easter through the middle of May. If you go at this time, the Flower and Garden Festival is going on (my second favorite festival). It will be busier than winter, but still much less than Thanksgiving.

I have visited on Thanksgiving weekend in the past and it was very busy. I think you would enjoy a trip more at a less crowded time. But start the planning now. Planning is a lot of fun, and it sounds like that’s what you need right now. See if your husband would be on board with a WDW trip that is less crowded and less expensive.

I won’t say don’t go at Thanksgiving. You know your family and your finances better than I do. I will say I think waiting for a less hectic and more economical time is a better idea. Whichever you choose, I hope you have a good time.

 

[juxtapose]

If it matters, generally the Thursday-Sunday in years past have had lower wait times than earlier in the week per thrilldata. We are going that week, so I can't tell you not to go, but we generally always travel over Thanksgiving and one reason is to avoid the holiday and family stuff that goes with it. I've been bringing my kids since they were 15 months old and honestly other than age 1, we've/they've had a really great time. Age 3 and 4 were really great for characters, resort time, and Magic Kingdom.

Southwest is saying if you have a flight that gets cancelled and they can't get you a flight or the new one doesn't work, they will refund you.

 

[LilyWDW]

Honestly, I would avoid Disney. I get the feeling. If I had the PTO I would be looking to book something between Thanksgiving and Christmas because this past year has been HARD. That said, no way would I even contemplate Thanksgiving weekend. The parks will be busy. The airports will be busy. Prices are more expensive. Who the heck knows how flying will be by then with the shut down. Just too many things to make that "must needed trip" into a nightmare.

 

[liamthompson]

OK - I'm going to be the bad influence here

When you say you need to fly...is the alternative driving 3 days? Are you tied to Thursday-Sunday or do you have wiggle room? Have you booked hotels yet? Is Amtrak a possibility?

If you need to drive more than 1 day and are tied to Thurs-Sun, then yes, I agree with the other comments. Stay home or do a local getaway. If your drive is 1 long day AND you can book a hotel...I would go for it. Do a park day + LL and see if the crowds drive you crazy. If not, go back for a 2nd day. Or just do 2 non-park days, monorail loop on day 1 and skyliner loop on day 2.

(I am biased because this is what we're doing, the only difference is that we're coming in the week after thanksgiving.)

We did our first family trip earlier this year - me and husband and our then-3yo. My husband was NOT excited about the idea...I had planned to hold off until my kid was older but all the planning pulled me through the worst of the winter funk that I decided we should go for it...we ended up canceling the trip 3x due to sickness...

The trip was a magical disaster. My kid stress ate through the parks...between not wanting to shell out for LL and underestimating the effort it takes to schlep around a 3yo, we managed TWO rides over the course of 8h...there were sooo many overstimulated zoomies.

But oh...it was fun. Disney through a 3yo's eyes is magic. So fun that it didn't take much to convince my disney-hating husband to come back again. When we went back in the summer, we did a resort-heavy stay and it was so much more relaxing.

I knew disney was "family friendly" but I didn't realize what that really meant until I was on property...it's the server at the food court asking me if I need the alfredo sauce separate from the pasta in the kid's meal...it's the ring of adults cheering on the baby doing her first crawl...it's all the nice families we met at the resort playgrounds and on buses and standing in line. At one point, my kid was bopping up and down in the stroller, having one of those hyper hangry meltdowns...and there were like 3 other kids around us also having hangry meltdowns (it was dinner time and we were in the food court)...and I thought: "ah, we're exactly where we should be!"

If the logistics work out for you, then go! It doesn't have to be perfect. You're spending time with your family (even if your park days turn out to be a magical disaster like mine!) and that's what matters.

 

[Artygal90]

Normally Thursday - Saturday are the busiest park days. I am not sure what your 3 year old would really do at Epcot. When are our kids were that age they only were interested in MK, and AK. Yes AK is not a full day for almost anyone.

Would you be driving or flying, and did you check for resorts for you Turkey day visit?

Dave

For Epcot, I was thinking he could do all the slow rides, do character meets, and just walk around and explore. He's pretty easygoing and is generally happy to do any ride we come across (I am enjoying this phase while I can!). We would be flying (this alone is making me lean towards a No) and there are All-Star rooms available for our proposed dates.

I would not deal with airport over Thanksgiving Weekend
Also major construction in the middle of MK , train not making full circle tour !

I've been so out of the loop on Disney news for months, I totally forgot about the construction on the new Cars area! That's a big negative.

@Artygal90 I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough year and hope you get a bit of a pick-me-up knowing your friends here on the Dis are in your corner. As previous posters have mentioned, the parks can be quite busy Thurs-Sun of Thanksgiving weeks, and flights can be hectic. Separate from the issue of flying and possible delays, I'm going to add an idea you might consider - a resort only visit to Disney.

While the parks are fun, especially this time of year with all the Christmas decorations, the resorts are also beautifully decorated and have many activities - especially the deluxe resorts. You might enjoy relaxing by the pool, taking in crafts, S'mores by campfire, watching a movie on the lawn (or in the lobby or room), walking paths (the Contemporary to MK to Grand Floridian to Poly is a lovely arc to get good exercise), relaxing while looking at animals on the Kidani/Jambo savannas, and talking with cast members. Our family has enjoyed doing the fireworks pontoon experience - which could be a lovely way to spend Thanksgiving itself. Many people hop to various resorts to enjoy food/drinks and take in the ambiance of the lobbies. AKL Jambo, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, etc. all have wonderful spaces you can visit as a guest. It's even fun to ride the Disney transportation from resort to resort (think Skyliner, buses, boats, etc.). And you can often view fireworks from a distance even outside the parks themselves. This might not be your initial idea of a Disney vacation, but I'm mentioning it because it might be a good balance of getting away, doing something different, and still experiencing Disney - all without fighting the crowds within the parks.

Lest someone on this thread think I'm suggesting you "crash" the resorts and use amenities, I'm not at all. I'm not an advocate for touring resorts unless you're a guest, since this adds to crowding, and I believe the resorts should be reserved for those paying to stay on Disney property. But if you're a guest, you can make great use of so many niceties provided outside the parks.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you and your husband and son have a great Thanksgiving and rest/relax/recharge. No matter what you're going through, I hope you know you're loved and you're worth it!

Oh that sounds so nice! Honestly the resorts are a big part of the draw this time of year. I have spent very little time outside of the parks at WDW. It's looking like this trip won't be happening BUT hopefully we'll be able to take a longer trip this time next year and enjoy some of the things you mentioned.

First - hugs!! I'm so sorry you have had a tough year. The holidays don't help that in any way. Hang in there!!

I get the desire to go to Disney for a pick me up. I do it myself. And I'm going for the entire week of Thanksgiving (but only because it is the only time in the fall I can go - college schedules are not Disney friendly.) But, even in your desire to go, you sound hesitant. Listen to your gut. If I had to fly anywhere right now, I would not be going. In fact, I've already started to prepare my parents in case I can't get home at Christmas. The parks will be crowded. And it's going to be tough to find a reasonably priced resort at this point. If it were me, I would be looking for a staycation somewhere close to me. I don't know where you live, but is there a beach or a cabin or a resort somewhere within driving distance? Or, turn your home into a vacation - make a living room fort with your 3 year old. Have a floor picnic and then watch movies. Go explore something in your town (a zoo, a museum, etc). It sounds like you need to skip the family gathering for Thanksgiving and that's ok. It's perfectly acceptable (although hard to do) to say "This year, we are going to start some traditions with our 3 person family" and do that.

So many great ideas! There is a beach town about an hour from me that is nice this time of year.

First for the bad times you have been going through. I hope things are better soon.

Here’s what I am seeing. Just the thought of a Disney trip is making you feel better. So why not plan a trip for a less expensive and less crowded time of year and enjoy the planning process? January and early February is typically much better in terms of hotel prices and crowd levels. The weather is usually very nice too. You won’t get the Christmas events, but if you go late January or early February the Festival of the Arts will be at Epcot and it’s my favorite festival. Another good time is after Easter through the middle of May. If you go at this time, the Flower and Garden Festival is going on (my second favorite festival). It will be busier than winter, but still much less than Thanksgiving.

I have visited on Thanksgiving weekend in the past and it was very busy. I think you would enjoy a trip more at a less crowded time. But start the planning now. Planning is a lot of fun, and it sounds like that’s what you need right now. See if your husband would be on board with a WDW trip that is less crowded and less expensive.

I won’t say don’t go at Thanksgiving. You know your family and your finances better than I do. I will say I think waiting for a less hectic and more economical time is a better idea. Whichever you choose, I hope you have a good time.

Ok now you've got me sitting next to my laptop looking at January and February school closure dates

Honestly, I would avoid Disney. I get the feeling. If I had the PTO I would be looking to book something between Thanksgiving and Christmas because this past year has been HARD. That said, no way would I even contemplate Thanksgiving weekend. The parks will be busy. The airports will be busy. Prices are more expensive. Who the heck knows how flying will be by then with the shut down. Just too many things to make that "must needed trip" into a nightmare.

So true. I was thinking today that with the short window we have to travel in, everything has to go perfectly right or we'll miss out on (expensive) time on the ground in Orlando. If our first flight is delayed we may not be able to actually get there until a day or two after, and then it will practically be time to come right back home again.

OK - I'm going to be the bad influence here

When you say you need to fly...is the alternative driving 3 days? Are you tied to Thursday-Sunday or do you have wiggle room? Have you booked hotels yet? Is Amtrak a possibility?

If you need to drive more than 1 day and are tied to Thurs-Sun, then yes, I agree with the other comments. Stay home or do a local getaway. If your drive is 1 long day AND you can book a hotel...I would go for it. Do a park day + LL and see if the crowds drive you crazy. If not, go back for a 2nd day. Or just do 2 non-park days, monorail loop on day 1 and skyliner loop on day 2.

(I am biased because this is what we're doing, the only difference is that we're coming in the week after thanksgiving.)

We did our first family trip earlier this year - me and husband and our then-3yo. My husband was NOT excited about the idea...I had planned to hold off until my kid was older but all the planning pulled me through the worst of the winter funk that I decided we should go for it...we ended up canceling the trip 3x due to sickness...

The trip was a magical disaster. My kid stress ate through the parks...between not wanting to shell out for LL and underestimating the effort it takes to schlep around a 3yo, we managed TWO rides over the course of 8h...there were sooo many overstimulated zoomies.

But oh...it was fun. Disney through a 3yo's eyes is magic. So fun that it didn't take much to convince my disney-hating husband to come back again. When we went back in the summer, we did a resort-heavy stay and it was so much more relaxing.

I knew disney was "family friendly" but I didn't realize what that really meant until I was on property...it's the server at the food court asking me if I need the alfredo sauce separate from the pasta in the kid's meal...it's the ring of adults cheering on the baby doing her first crawl...it's all the nice families we met at the resort playgrounds and on buses and standing in line. At one point, my kid was bopping up and down in the stroller, having one of those hyper hangry meltdowns...and there were like 3 other kids around us also having hangry meltdowns (it was dinner time and we were in the food court)...and I thought: "ah, we're exactly where we should be!"

If the logistics work out for you, then go! It doesn't have to be perfect. You're spending time with your family (even if your park days turn out to be a magical disaster like mine!) and that's what matters.

Haha, I love it! I appreciate you trying to find a way to make it work.

To answer your questions - if we drove, it's an eighteen-hour trip each way if you're accounting for bathroom, food, and gas breaks, but not stopping to sleep. So we'd make it to Orlando, be exhausted, have one day in the parks, and then drive back home and be exhausted on Monday for work We did a similar roadtrip my son's first Christmas and vowed NEVER again. No direct Amtrak routes, although that's a fun idea. For us, it's flying or bust. We could travel anytime starting Wednesday late evening and Sunday - I've run the numbers on doing Wednesday - Sunday but also Wednesday - Saturday, Thursday-Saturday, Thursday-Sunday etc. Unfortunately looking at the big picture logistics I just don't think it makes sense right now.

I do totally agree with you about Disney being a truly kid-friendly space. I will *always* remember the kind CMs who helped me juggle my kid, the stroller, and like 3 trays of food on our previous trips to Disneyland. It's so nice to be somewhere that has thoughtful little touches for our kiddos, and to be around all your fellow Disney fans on the buses and in the resorts. You have definitely eased my mind about bringing my son to World earlier than I planned!

 

[ShannyMcB]

I second @fla4fun do something close to home or tell them fam you are doing something close to home then order pizza and binge watch Charlie Brown while booking a package for next year. Depending on where you are located the change in climate in January or February might be more welcome than November.
Whatever you decide I hope it brings you joy

 

[Artygal90]

So fun thing I just learned...2-day tickets for the weekend I was looking at in February are actually slightly MORE expensive than the days following Thanksgiving ($183/day vs $179/day), and hotel room prices are only about $10 less/night, at least for the Value resorts. It's just interesting to see how demand stays strong enough even on a non-major holiday long weekend to keep prices on the high end.

 

[Dave006]

So fun thing I just learned...2-day tickets for the weekend I was looking at in February are actually slightly MORE expensive than the days following Thanksgiving ($183/day vs $179/day), and hotel room prices are only about $10 less/night, at least for the Value resorts.

Hmm what weekend in Feb? There is Valentine weekend / Presidents' Day weekend, and Mardi Gras 2026 on Tuesday Feb. 17.

Dave