Thanksgiving 2006-Good or Bad??

[JMCDisneyBound]

We are currently planning a trip for Nov. 23 Through Dec. 3( Thursday-Sun. 10 nights) Are we crazy to arrive on Thanksgiving Day? Will the parks be open? We had heard that this was a good week to go because the parks are not crowded after the Thanksgiving weekend. Anyone who has gone during this week please let us know how it worked out and if you would do it again. Thanks

 

[Bob P]

Hi and welcome to the DIS!

The parks are open every day of the year.

They will be VERY crowded from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday the 26th, then crowds will become quite manageable the rest of your trip.


Bob

 

[Lucy2005]

Been 2x for Thanksgiving.The day after was the most crowded-like the shopping mall that day. Sit by the pool! Make sure you make Thanksgiving reservations for dinner before you gne time we didn't and then really regretted it and the next time we made sure to make them before we left.

 

[calie_j]

Those are the exact dates we went this year but we spent time with my sister our 1st few days with our first park day on Sat at MGM. I didn't think the crowds were bad at all even on the Sat after Thanksgiving and the 1st MVMCP on Sunday. Out of all the parks I thought Epcot seemed the most crowded on the 3 different days we were there, not the lines so much as just people on all the walkways.

Definately make your ADR's as soon as the window opens up, maybe a character dinner on Thanksgiving. If you're worried about crowds for the first few days you could do some non-park activities like mini-golf or DTD. Of course with the price of adding on extra days to a ticket it might be worth the couple $$ to brave some crowds to see the nighttime fireworks/shows and a few hours right at open before the crowds get bad. As much fun as we had at my sister's place and the ocean it would have been nice to have those extra days at the parks especially Epcot where 2 1/2 days wasn't enough time to see all the santa's and WS entertainment.

Have a great time this is a fabulous time to go to WDW.

Calie

 

[amwhitaker]

THANKSGIVING????!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!


Is that enough warning?

 

[ktglads]

Have you looked into doing Universal on this trip? We flew in the day after T-day and did the parks there until Sunday and then switched over to Disney. Friday and Saturday were very busy, while Sunday was not very crowded. It was a vast difference between the two days. Staying at the Universal resorts gives you front of the line (FOTL) to all the rides, so even if though it was super busy, we never waited longer than 20 minutes (for Mummy). Plus, they allow for pool hopping so you could even spend the busier parts of the days (also the warmest) at the very cool pools that they have there.

 

[blessedby3]

We arrived the day of Thanksgiving this year and it was a GREAT trip. We arrived Friday, the 25th, and didnt go to the parks until Sunday the 27th. We went to DTD and visited other resorts to see Christmas decorations the first two days. That was fun and something different. The times we spent in the parks were wonderful. No lines anywhere. We walked on to most everything and sometimes we didnt have to exit a ride (BTMM, SM) because no one was waiting to board. The only problem we ran into was Friday December 2nd at Epcot. That place was a madhouse, but I think it had something to do with Pop Warner starting. Lots of groups of kids. I would recommend going that time of year no problems. I think it was the best time of year we have gone so far. We have been in Feb., March, April, July-NEVER AGAIN-September, October and November. We also did MVMCP and had NO crowd problems there either. We did this on Tues. night. Have a great time whatever you decide. We are planning our next trip for Dec. 17-23, 2006. This one will be more crowded, but its the only time my DH's mom and family can go.

 

[JMCDisneyBound]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. So far, with the exception of one, the feedback for Thanksgiving sounds pretty positive. I'm sure we'll have to do some major planning for the Thanksgiving weekend, but after that it sounds like clear sailing. I kind of figured that weekend might be a little crazy but I think I can take those few crazy days for a wonderful not so crowded week after. Well, got to go to start making reservations.