Tell me about Thanksgiving week please - HELP!

[hookedup]

We have some free airline tickets available and my dh's school district has made the entire week of Thanksgiving a holiday period. We are quickly looking into vacations to take during that time.
We have only been to WDW during the summer months (being a teacher greatly limits when we can take time off and that only means holidays and summer) we were thinking about going from the Saturday BEFORE Thanksgiving and then leaving to come home on Thanksgiving or the Friday after.

What are crowds like during that period (Sat to Thanksgiving Thurs) and weather? I looked on Deb Willis' site and it mentions that Thanksgiving holiday is busy (as all holidays are) but from my experiences in going to Disneyland (we have AP's there) the really bad days are Thursday, Fri & Thanksgiving weekend. Since my only comparison is July or early August - how do the crowds compare to summertime crowds?

We have never been during a time when it wasn't 90 degrees + like in Aug and July and have always wanted to go during a cooler time.
Also, I know the park hours are officially posted yet but are they a lot shorter then than during the summer?
Thanks!!!!!!

 

[tink85]

My family loves going around the oct/nov time slots, we even had Thanksgiving dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern four years ago. In our experience, it's busier the week before Thanksgiving and then week after the parks empty out. So, it fairly crowed and busy at the time you're looking at but the crowds are doable. The weather at this time of year is usually beautiful! Not to hot anymore, and it can get chilly in the evenings but still fairly warm and we still do Blizzard Beach at this time if I recall correctly. The park times are a lot shorter. Usually MK loses around 7 I think but it was never a big problem as long as we planned to hit all the attractions we wanted. Early mornings are a must! Hope this helps!

 

[Twigs]

Last year we were at WDW the Thur. before Thanksgiving until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We found that the parks were not crowded at all. We never had more than a 25 min. wait on anything. Thanksgiving Day we went and had dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern at the MK and it was extremely crowded then. Friday was also crowded in the parks, but I would definately go before Thanksgiving again. When we were there the weather was cool. Warm enough for shorts during the day and the kids went swimming, but there were a few nights that were really cold. Friday after Thanksgiving we went to the Candlelight Processional and it was 43 degrees that night, another evening we were comfortable with shorts and sweatshirts, so I guess it could go wither way.

 

[soccer mom]

You will see the crowds slowly grow that week as you approach Thanksgiving, but they should be manageable. The general concensus is to stay away from MK on Thanksgiving Day. If you've survived the summer heat and crowds, you should be fine! Go and have a great time!

 

[Mouseteacher]

I posted on dreamflight's S/D thread for you.

 

[Jeanny]

We went last year and didn't find it too crowded. We flew in the morning before Thanksgiving (left here in a snowstorm) and arrived to temps in the 80's... wow, what a difference. We stayed at the Polynesian and had a great room, just what I had requested. All the parks were open later because of the holiday, until 9-10 & 11 most nights, I think they started closing at 6pm the day we were leaving.

We went to the Princess Breakfast at Epcot on Thanksgiving morning... all you can eat, but try to get the waiters attention for refills, or for even first's on the french toast sticks. a little overprices -$50 for two of us... Spent T-Day at Epcot, & MGM. Then we had Thanksgiving dinner at the California Grill, great place, but again not worth the money, we're not big eaters, but seemed like they jacked up the price for the Holiday. My daughter wanted to go there, I wanted to do a buffet at Hoop Dee Doo or something like that, but I didn't want to disappoint her. We had a great view of the Castle changing colors. I am glad we went for the experience of the restaurant. We went back to the Polynesian and changed clothes and hopped the monorail back to the MK for the fireworks and a few rides.

Friday, we went to MGM and saw the Osbourne Lights, & back to MK... Saturday, we did the 3 parks again, the lines weren't that back considering it was a big holiday weekend. The only time I heard children crying was at MK, and that I blame the parents for not taking a break for the poor kids.

We had to wait in line for a few rides, but not an exceptionaly long time, no worse than any other time of year... we were able to get in the front car of Splash Mountain.

Sunday, we were leaving in the afternoon, but not before going to MGM & MK one more time. Rock n roller coaster had a very short wait... TOT had a 5 minute wait, compared to 13 minutes on Saturday, compared to 45 minutes on Friday... We actually went on twice Sunday.. than back to MK just before the Parade started.... and you could still walk down the sidewalks and get a spot on the curb.

The transportation was quick all weekend... the only time we waited for a bus was going to MGM on Sunday morning and that was maybe 15 minutes.. We visited DTD a few times and it wasn't crowded at all, we went to House of Blues for dinner and had no wait.

I'd go again at Thanksgiving anytime, the weather was great..we wore shorts the whole time, although there was one night it was in the 50's and I should have worn the one pair of long pants I had worn down on the plane, but ---being in Florida, I wasn't going to give in!!!