Tell Me About Thanksgiving

[DisSurfer878]

If we have to reachedule our 4th of July week trip this is the week we'll go. Redeye the Friday before Thanksgiving, leave the day after Thanksgiving.

Tell me about the weather, what goes on during that time of year, events. I know its like MVMCP will be on Sunday. Anything else I should consider?

 

[mrsap]

Check out this board...
https://www.disboards.com/threads/official-thanksgiving-2020-thread.3793962/#post-61705807

 

[Jadyreen1282]

You may want to book that now. Our trip is in September and we are going to book later too because this is not going to be a quick quarantine. If there is a discount later you may still be able to apply it.

 

[CynBeth]

It is possible the storytellers and Candlelight Processional at Epcot might not begin until Black Friday so if you can I would wait to leave until the Saturday after.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I see quite a few people switching to that week. It will be extremely busy, but it's gorgeous weather and the atmosphere can't be beat! Did it 2017 and 2019. No regrets except going to Epcot on Black Friday. NEVER AGAIN.

 

[DisSurfer878]

You may want to book that now. Our trip is in September and we are going to book later too because this is not going to be a quick quarantine. If there is a discount later you may still be able to apply it.

Right now we can't change our flights. Delta is only rebooking through the end of May. We're hoping if this continues into next month (it will) Delta will rebook June flights as well. It took them two weeks to add May. So we're waiting to see first.

 

[DisSurfer878]

It is possible the storytellers and Candlelight Processional at Epcot might not begin until Black Friday so if you can I would wait to leave until the Saturday after.

It is gonna come down to flights. But thanks for the tip!

 

[Sydnerella]

I see quite a few people switching to that week. It will be extremely busy, but it's gorgeous weather and the atmosphere can't be beat! Did it 2017 and 2019. No regrets except going to Epcot on Black Friday. NEVER AGAIN.

We have rebooked our March trip for this time and are hoping for the Candlelight Processional (with a package) on Black Friday. Why do you say never again, and what would you recommend instead that day beforehand? We have park hoppers.

 

[CynBeth]

For the 2-3 visits we had around this time usually our second Epcot day has been on Black Friday and was just fine.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We have rebooked our March trip for this time and are hoping for the Candlelight Processional (with a package) on Black Friday. Why do you say never again, and what would you recommend instead that day beforehand? We have park hoppers.

You can run a search here for it and see the dire warnings that I ignored. It was wall to wall people when World Showcase officially opened. We bailed at about 3, because we couldn’t deal with it anymore, but it was also very hot that day.
The morning was great.
Just FYI the line for Candlelight was very long hours before they started seating people. Definitely book the package and get there early to line up.

 

[Ariel 1715]

Favorite time to go. In our experience, the crowds don't really get overwhelming until the day before Thanksgiving. You get all the Christmas decorations and Mickeys Very Merry Christmas. I agree that the Story tellers in Epcot don't usually start until the Friday after so if you can stay until Saturday I would

 

[ariane37]

We have rebooked our March trip for this time and are hoping for the Candlelight Processional (with a package) on Black Friday. Why do you say never again, and what would you recommend instead that day beforehand? We have park hoppers.

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite time to go! We've done Epcot on Black Friday (starting at MK for a few hours in the morning) for 4 visits and yes it's crowded but not crazy and we love it. Wonderful festive atmosphere that day!

 

[Flamingeaux]

We have that period a few times and it is fine. The weather is usually okay and all the Christmas decorations are up. You might get FD. The only downside is that there are usually a lot of the MK parties and it is hard to schedule a good MK day. The closer you get to Thanksgiving day the more crowded it gets. enjoy

 

[SaintsManiac]

We have that period a few times and it is fine. The weather is usually okay and all the Christmas decorations are up. You might get FD. The only downside is that there are usually a lot of the MK parties and it is hard to schedule a good MK day. The closer you get to Thanksgiving day the more crowded it gets. enjoy

They don't have the party Thanksgiving week. They have one the Sunday before Thanksgiving and none during the week.

 

[mrsap]

Just for comparison:

MVMCP 2017 Dates:
Thanksgiving was 11/23

• November 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 28
• December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22

MVMCP 2018 Dates:
Thanksgiving was 11/22

November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30

• December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21

MVMCP 2019 Dates:
Thanksgiving was 11/28

• November: 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24
• December: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22

 

[MiketheGrate]

You may want to book that now. Our trip is in September and we are going to book later too because this is not going to be a quick quarantine. If there is a discount later you may still be able to apply it.

I rebooked for Thanksgiving and then called customer service re: applying my old discount to the new trip. They couldn't do that (which I expected), but they said that discounts for the fall would be released at the beginning of June and could be retroactively applied.

 

[wilbret]

Ditto on the above, it is going to be crazy busy this year. That being said, I really like being there at Thanksgiving. We used to have great experiences arriving the Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving, but that's hard to do if you have school-age kids. Darn school.

Last time, we took an empty suitcase and used it to bring back Christmas gifts... the kids saw the suitcase come out, and it went back in when we loaded up. LOL.

 

[mrsap]

Ditto on the above, it is going to be crazy busy this year. That being said, I really like being there at Thanksgiving. We used to have great experiences arriving the Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving, but that's hard to do if you have school-age kids. Darn school.

Last time, we took an empty suitcase and used it to bring back Christmas gifts... the kids saw the suitcase come out, and it went back in when we loaded up. LOL.

It’s still a great time to go, just not as empty as it used to be. We literally used to walk onto each ride repeatedly with little to no wait. The downfall, like you mentioned, is the kids missing school.

 

[DisSurfer878]

Ditto on the above, it is going to be crazy busy this year. That being said, I really like being there at Thanksgiving. We used to have great experiences arriving the Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving, but that's hard to do if you have school-age kids. Darn school.

Last time, we took an empty suitcase and used it to bring back Christmas gifts... the kids saw the suitcase come out, and it went back in when we loaded up. LOL.

Unfortunately I'm a teacher and my school doesn't give vacation days or PTO, and we aren't allowed to use more than 1 consecutive sick days without a doctor's note. So I'm not able to travel outside of school holidays.

 

[Jennifer Underwood]

If we have to reachedule our 4th of July week trip this is the week we'll go. Redeye the Friday before Thanksgiving, leave the day after Thanksgiving.

Tell me about the weather, what goes on during that time of year, events. I know its like MVMCP will be on Sunday. Anything else I should consider?

Love this time of year! We had already booked Thanksgiving before the virus hit but it sounds like many are now rebooking that week. It already said it would be busy but guessing that’s increasing by the day so be prepared. One nice thing is they do have extended hours especially at MK to accommodate for the crowds.

The weather is beautiful usually, perfect in my opinion. Much less sweltering than July...70s/low 80s during the day and low 60s/high 50s at night. We just bring a sweatshirt for at night and keep shorts on if there all day but I guess that depends on where your from. We’re from WI so that’s not cold to us especially that time of year.

Planning on doing a tour of the monorail hotels to see Gingerbread house at Grand Floridian and other decor this year before the MVMCP (highly recommend—super fun event and if you stay all night you can fly on rides between 10-midnight)

Avoid MK on Thanksgiving Day...try a less crowded one like Animal Kingdom. Have a Disney Springs Day to rest...lots of fun restaurants, shops and things to do—just avoid on Black Friday! Hope you have a great trip!