thanksgiving 2004

[mbfree]

can anyone give me information on visiting disney world during the week of thanksgiving. Are the rates lower? Are the parks crowded? This will be the first visit for my 5 year old son. Its all he talks about. Thanks for your help!

 

[mgrebenc]

The parks are very crowded. If you are able to go the week before or the week after it will be much better.

I'm sure your 5yo is interested mainly in the Magic Kingdom. The Monday before Tgiving it was so crowded once we got there we turned around and left after 20 minutes. We had to wait in line to walk. They did not close the park though so it is still not as bad as Xmas or Easter.

That said we go every Thanksgiving and will continue to do so. The weather is beautiful and our kids are old enough to enjoy other things beside the MK.

Mary

 

[Doodlebug939]

We went to Disney this past November the week prior to Thanksgiving. We started on Tuesday and walked on each ride with little or no wait. As the week progressed the crowds got bigger and the lines longer. By the Saturday (right before Turkey Day) we were tired and cranky. (I know we were spoiled earlier in the week). If you could sneak in a few days earlier like on the Thursday or Friday prior, I would definately do it. I guess any way you look at it a trip to Disney is still a trip to Disney regardless of when it is.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

It's been 5 years since we've gone to WDW at Thanksgiving and are planning to be there this year at Thanksgiving. We did not find crowds to be a problem, other than Thursday at MK until dinner time. It seemed most crowded during the first nighttime parade when we tried to cross Main Street from Tomorrowland. Going through Fantasyland we might not have noticed how many people were there. After the parade and fireworks the crowds dissipated and we toured Frontierland & Adventureland with practically no one around - no wait for Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise or Splash Mountain

On-site rooms are cheaper during this week. It's Value Season, Value Resorts would be $77/night for instance.

 

[darlene walker]

We went for Thanksgiving this past year and had a great time. We arrived the Weds. a week before Thanksgiving and got to do all we wanted to. It started to get extremley crowded by the Monday before Thanksgiving but we made it to Mickeys night before Christmas and a country bears Christmas. If you can work it out I recommend arriving a week early to get to do things before the thousands of other people get there. We are also thinking of going back this year. Right now airfare is running around $200.00 non stop from MHT, NH. We got the $129.00 rate @ the dolphin w/ the nurse discount and around $77.00 @ ASMU. The Allstars were PACKED we were so glad to have the boat available from the dolphin to MGM/EPCOT and was a nice change moving to the Dolphin as Thanksgiving got near.
Darlene

 

[aunt kelly]

We went to Disney World Thanksgiving week 2000 and we went again this year during Thanksgiving week. It seemed much more crowded this year than it did in 2003. However, we had a great time. As long as you realize you are going during a busy time, and you are prepared to wait in long lines for the major attractions, you'll have a great time. The weather is very nice in November-its better to wait in a long line in beautiful November weather than in the heat of August!

 

[luvmy2sams]

We visited WDW from Thanksgiving to December 9th, 2002. Against our better judgment we toured the Magic Kingdom on Thanksgiving Day. We were amazed! We never encountered a wait of more than 10 minutes, and there was no one within 20 feet of us during the spectromagic parade. This pattern continued for us throughout the weekend. The following week, however, was much worse. We were expecting lower attendance, but actually encountered longer lines, etc. than during the holiday.

 

[funnyhunny]

We went for Thanksgiving 2003. We arrived the Friday prior, in the evening, and left the following friday. Expecting crowds, we booked a specialty cruise on the Saturday prior. That was great! We slept in, played in pool, etc. all day Sat., then went to a character dinner and the cruise that evening. Sunday we did universal, Monday Magic Kingdon. Then we spent most of the remainder of the week at Universal. We love WDW, but we'd been fairly recently and just decided the crowds were not worth fighting with the three y/o. The monday was fine, crowds were heavy, but not unbearable. We too, however, have been spoiled by going during slow times normally. Universal had plenty to offer, the decoratioons were cute, etc. But, it isn't disney. I would strongly recommend that you plan some things that are not strictly rides, that way at least part of the trip is calm (special character dinner, the specialty cruises). Hope this makes sense.....Good luck, it's always great, you just have to share with the masses during holidays!

 

[dpayne1969]

hello
This will be our first trip to Florida.We are from Ok.we are planning on going Thangsgiving as well this year.We are planning Universal/IOA on Thanksgiving and Friday.WDW on saturday.
I have an 11 and 8 year old.We are planning to do Magic Kingdom at Disney.My kids are sooo excited they come on the internet every day and look at rides lol.We are hoping for good weather and semi small crowds.Does magic kingdom have the fothl pass like universal?if so do you recommend it?Thanks for any help you can give us.
Payne's