Tell me about Thanskgiving week....

[got15]

Hello!! Thinking about celebrating in November (Thanksgiving week)- family of 4 (2ds 6&3). We have gone early May and mid- Nov and early September. I know the weather should be great ( well better than in DC). Concerns are crowds, ability for ADRs, waits for rides, mobility, etc. In my head I am picturing hoards and long waits for the people mover and no where to eat. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Drusilla99]

I was there the weekend before thanksgiving this past year. We arrived on Friday & crowds were pretty list for the weekend. Then Monday came...and so did the crowds! It took us 30 mins just to get through the front gates of mk, at 11 am. We ate lunch, used our fp's & left to spend the rest of the day at Disney springs watching a movie.

 

[Danman]

We always go over Thanksgiving week. Most of the Christmas decorations are up, park hours are extend, and love the atmosphere. And yes it does get busier as the week progress but to be honest the crowds don't really bother me that much. We have always gone during busy times so we don't know any different as far as crowds go. We been there enough times that it doesn't matter if we don't get a certain ride or attraction.

ADR's you have to plan ahead and be flexible and backups for the ones you don't get. Lines for quick service can be long as well, but I know last time we were there they had cast members enforcing people to not saving tables while other family members were in line for food ordering and assisted in finding table for those who actually have food. I really appreciated that they are doing that as it beats eating from atop a garbage can.

Yes it is busy but if you know that going in you'll be fine. We love Thanksgiving week.

 

[asbyrneva]

We go every year at thanksgiving and if you plan, use extra magic hours am (onsite guests) and take advantage of earlier hours it's totally doable. We hit rope drops (even if its a 7am opening for EMH) use fast passes around 2 -2 1/2 hours after rope drop. Have lunch and jump out around 2-3 depending on how we are feeling. We book table service for almost every meal cause I cant stand trying to fight crowds for burger.

Thanksgiving day 8 am open in the first 75 minutes (not worried about back tracking and wasting time just going to the rides we felt like doing) we did Peter pan, BTMRR, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, and Little Mermaid without using a single fast pass. I have picture at 8:35 am of a deserted liberty square.

It's totally doable but when the crowds get unbearable , that's when we leave.

 

[CynBeth]

We have been twice that week including this past one and it wasn't bad. We hit some of the early openings and late closings and got to do just about everything. The CP and Holidays Around the World (the storytellers) don't begin at EPCOT until the day after Thanksgiving. There is no MVMCP that week so if it is important and you are able to you would need to arrive the Friday before.

 

[ols386]

I went this past Thanksgiving and thought it was a great time to go. Weather was perfect and crowds weren't insane.

 

[nooneshome]

we have been that week at least four times and the week before the last two years. it is great. the decorations are up and the weather is nice. also free dining. i am glad we went last year so we could see the osborne lights one last time.

 

[vtiffany]

Did anyone have a traditional Thanksgiving meal on property? Was one offered at any of the hotels? Just thinking ahead and this seems to be important to us. Thanks!

 

[anniemae]

I can't help you because I have never been at this time, but every year I always wish we went during this week. Yes, it is busy, but man it seems like a fun way to celebrate the holiday.

 

[got15]

Did anyone have a traditional Thanksgiving meal on property? Was one offered at any of the hotels? Just thinking ahead and this seems to be important to us. Thanks!

I think Liberty Tree Tavern has it for dinner.

 

[wdw4rfam]

We are usually September people, and we went thanksgiving this year. We were there 19-28th, so we had time before the crowds, but still it wasn't nearly as bad as we had expected. It was crowded, but do-able. We got all our ADRs at 180, and all the fast passes we wanted at 60. The only day we were bothered by the crowds was at Epcot. Since you can only pick TT or soarin, it put the standby for them around 3 hours. But I will tell you, the weather was so nice, we all said it was our favorite trip, and we have vowed never again September. We didn't realize that for us, weather is much more important than crowds. It was nice just walking around enjoying things that we missed because we were always diving for the closest air conditioning.