Thanksgiving 2020 vs 2022

[condorthb]

We last went Thanksgiving 2020 and are going again this Thanksgiving.

I know that 2020 was an anomaly, the crowds were crazy low.

Do you think it will be super packed like a mosh pit, or tolerable with UEP. (We're staying at RPR).

 

[Skywalker3]

We've been 3 times to US for Thanksgiving, and often are at disney that week. It's very busy, especially from Wed through the weekend. In the past, we used to be able to have a the Sun-Tues as good days, but in 2018, found those busy too. Not THE busiest time of the year, but very busy. Just prepare for crowds, rope drop, express pass will be SO great, or whatever strategy works best.
Weather is usually wonderful though! Love to go at that time of the year.

 

[ExcessiveIdling]

What about the week before thanksgiving aka nov 15-19th? We went in February and lucked out with the weather and overall was a great time...not too crowded and still fun. We're staying at portofino so we'll have express pass and that friday before our departure late on saturday we'll be doing the orlando informer......just curious how the tues through thursday will be crowd wise?

 

[cfoxga]

Thanksgiving 2020 was our favorite trip. EPs lines were almost empty even at popular rides like Gringotts. We jokingly complained if we had to wait more than 3 minutes.

Thanksgiving 2021 was more like the "regular" Thanksgivings. The weekend before were not too bad, but the crowds quickly built up. In the afternoons some EP lines were too long for us (45+ minutes), so we'd go back to the resorts. It is still our favorite time of year to go, so we dealt with the crowds.

I would expect 2022 to be at least as busy as last year...

 

[cfoxga]

What about the week before thanksgiving aka nov 15-19th? We went in February and lucked out with the weather and overall was a great time...not too crowded and still fun. We're staying at portofino so we'll have express pass and that friday before our departure late on saturday we'll be doing the orlando informer......just curious how the tues through thursday will be crowd wise?

We've never been that week, but I would expect it to be pretty quiet with kids still in school. I would think you are good even without EPs, so staying at Portifino should give you a very relaxing trip...

 

[ExcessiveIdling]

We're used to Cedar Point lines (aka at least 45 mins if not multiple hours) so anything 45min or below is a cake walk. Youtube TV for the win while in queue lines! lol

 

[cfoxga]

EPs will definitely spoil you if you are used to longer lines. On a slower week, I'm not sure you'll be in line long (except for Hagrids and maybe Velocicoaster) enough to start watching a show If you didn't get an APH rate at Portofino, they are available with what looks like a 33% discount...

 

[ExcessiveIdling]

Last I checked the deal I have with the 2 extra days is actually cheaper than the AP rates. I'll have to give them a call again and see what's up perhaps

 

[SquashBanana]

If summer crowds are any indication, Thanksgiving will be super busy. I agree that Thanksgiving 2020 was a great trip. We wore the Hagrid's virtual queue out and the socially distanced queues were honestly quite nice. A few months ago, we got stuck in the "egg room" in the Hagrid's queue during a delay and we felt like we were going to suffocate.

 

[Monykalyn]

Thanksgiving 2020 was our favorite trip. EPs lines were almost empty even at popular rides like Gringotts. We jokingly complained if we had to wait more than 3 minutes.

Ours too! We had a week at our timeshare then moved over to RPR for the weekend (ended up adding a couple days as flights were cheaper to leave on a Tuesday and kid was still have virtual anyway). Lowest rates I’ve ever seen for RPR holiday.
Going that week again this year, but hoping to sneak down a few days early to meet up with former neighbors we love! It’s their first time so hoping the Friday-Sunday is slow enough we don’t need EP (they are also staying offsite) Also trying to convince hubs he needs to upgrade his AP to top level (I have premier) and get son same so we can have the after 4 express. We had those in 2018 and did Christmas week stayed offsite that year. I expect this year is going to be super busy as well judging by resort prices.