Thanksgiving at the parks?

[valeriekc]

So we did it...booked a trip over Thanksgiving!
Any info on:
1. Where to eat on Thanksgiving Day (EVERYPLACE seems to be booked!)

2. What the weather is like? should I pack swimsuits or jackets?

3. How are the crowds during this time?

4. Is MVMCP that much fun?

5. The price posted on this site for MVMCP is : Adult $36.95....Child (3-9) $26.95 yet Disney charged me $41.49 yesterday? Any idea why?

Thanks...I can't wait to hear your advice!

 

[DISNEY4FUN]

I was able to get reservation at Fultons in DTD last week for Thanksgiving dinner. You could try there. Their Tday menu is listed on allearsnet.com.

We are doing MVCP on 11/27. We tried it last year for the first time and liked it enough to spend the money again this year. I like the party atmosphere. The parade and fireworks are great.

 

[Frantasmic]

Try Trail's End for Thanksgiving.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[tmfranlk]

I wanted to chage my plans a couple of weeks ago and had to check about 12 places before finding something. As of then, Hollywood and Vine had plenty of choices for non-Fantasmic dinner package meals. Try things out of the MK and not at a monorail resort.

I am really looking forward to MVMCP. We tried to go in 2002 but it was a complete washout (literally...there were small rivers on Main Street from all the rain). The price you were charged is correct if you are going on Sunday. The lower prices you mentioned are similar to the AP discount tickets available on some nights (Tuesday is one of them) so maybe that is what you are remembering.

As for crowds, I am expecting it to be very busy Thursday-Saturday and improve steadily from Sunday on.

 

[PatriciaH]

There was a 4 top (3PPL-5PPL) at Whispering Canyon on Thanksgiving 6:20pm a little while ago!

 

[dcgrumpy]

1. Where to eat on Thanksgiving Day (EVERYPLACE seems to be booked!). Anyplace you can find availibilty. LOL. We're eating at Yacht Club Galley

2. What the weather is like? should I pack swimsuits or jackets? both

3. How are the crowds during this time? crowded over the weekend, they start to thin out on Sunday

4. Is MVMCP that much fun? we went in 2001 and really enjoyed it, we are going again this year

5. The price posted on this site for MVMCP is : Adult $36.95....Child (3-9) $26.95 yet Disney charged me $41.49 yesterday? Any idea why? where did you see that price? $41.49 is correct, it's $35.10 for AP holders on certain nights

ETA
I see that the MVMCP thread says $36.95, it's actually $38.95 plus tax

 

[Simba's Mom]

We're eating at Artist Point on Thanksgiving. We're avoiding the parks, since they'll probably be pretty crowded. A couple other non-park places that I've heard good things about are Yacht Club Galley and Boma's.

 

[Tiffany]

So we did it...booked a trip over Thanksgiving!
Any info on:
1. Where to eat on Thanksgiving Day (EVERYPLACE seems to be booked!)

2. What the weather is like? should I pack swimsuits or jackets?

3. How are the crowds during this time?

4. Is MVMCP that much fun?

5. The price posted on this site for MVMCP is : Adult $36.95....Child (3-9) $26.95 yet Disney charged me $41.49 yesterday? Any idea why?

Thanks...I can't wait to hear your advice!

Hi,
We will be there from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We have ADRs for the 50's Prime Time Cafe for our Thanksgiving Day Meal. As far as what to pack. The pools are heated to 80 degrees but the air temp has an average high in the low to mid 70s and an average low in the mid 50s. We plan on keeping an eye on the 10 day forcast on weather.com and then just pack accordingly. I cannot speak to the MVMCP as we have never attended.

 

[ellyn2000]

We go often for Thanksgiving and I've found the park least crowded on that day is Epcot. We had dinner @Garden Grill last year, but didn't really care for it. I, too, recommend looking outside of the parks for a nice restaurant.

 

[valeriekc]

thanks for all the suggestions....anyone else with good ideas?

 

[GeorgiaTiggerGirl]

Can't share ideas since this year will be my first Thanksgiving at WDW, too! Just have a great time! We're eating Thanksgiving dinner at Whispering Canyon, visiting other resorts, and possibly going to a park (just to say we've done it).

 

[ADisneygirl]

This will be our first Thanksgiving at the World too. We have an ADR for Thanksgiving day at Boma's in the AKL resort. We plan on walking off our meal as we resort hop, looking at the Christmas decorations that we think might be up by then.

 

[ehaley]

We were there Thanksgiving 2000 and had made reservations at the Garden Grill (Epcot) for myself and DD. Then (surprise) found out 3 of my cousins and their families would be there when we were. So we changed ressies to Boathouse at PO for all of us. Thanksgiving day we were at MK (would not do that again, much too crowded) and didn't want to leave the park (worried would not get back in) go back/forth with small kids etc., so we hopped on the monorail to the Poly and walked right in at Kona (no waiting) and had the BEST dinner. My DD (then14) LOVES Thanksgiving and was not a happy camper all day being away from grandparents, etc. But at dinner she claimed that to the be Best Thanksgiving Ever. It didn't really matter where we ended up because it was great just being at DW and with family I hadn't seen in about 7 years.

 

[VLee]

Since our schools are always out the entire week of Thanksgiving, I am thinking of making a trip with two, 4 and 6, but am planning to visiting the parks from the Saturday to the Wednesday BEFORE Thanksgiving.

I know I have read about the crowds from Thanksgiving Thursday on throughout the weekend, but what about the crowds PRE-THANKSGIVING, up to a day or two before that Thanksgiving Thursday.

Any input would be appreciated...

Thanks.

 

[Maridw]

We have ressies for Crysal Palace for T-Day. We went to Garden Grill a couple years ago, but that was before they did the renovations and from what I read about the menu after renovations, I was not too enthused about going back there.

We are doing MVMCP on the 27th and CP on the 25th. Actually we are going to be extremely busy this trip. We are also doing breakfast at AK on Sunday morning, with the Yuletide Fantasy Tour on Monday morning. We have also planned a sleigh ride at WL Saturday night, then over to MGM to see the lights.

 

[speakupjc]

We recommend the Yachtsman Steakhouse (they are going to have Turkey to if you want a traditional meal)

 

[Pooh Pal]

My DW and grandparents were there last year over Thanksgiving and had a swell time. We ate at Palio (it's either in Swan or Dolphin) and it was great. The desserts were outstanding and plentiful. We ate their Thanksgiving special but you could also order off the menu.

 

[michellex2]

My total experience with Disney is a 3 day trip last Thanksgiving with my elderly mother where we stayed at a non-disney hotel in Downtown Disney -- we flew in on Thanksgiving day 2004 and left the following Monday morning. We had a rental car and drove to the parks. However, I'd be happy to share my limited experience:

WHERE TO EAT
We ate at Pepper Market in Coronado Springs Resort. They had a Thanksgiving Dinner that was excellent and huge portions -- Turkey, Mashed potatos, gravy, stuffing, veggies, etc. It was the special of the day. I shared with my Mom and it was more than enough for both of us. We went relatively late -- 7:30 pm or so and there were no lines and it was fairly peaceful. Also, if you are on the dining plan, this is considered a counter-service meal, which is a very good value as I think the whole meal (dinner, drink, gratuity and desert was over $30 for 1 person.

WEATHER
It was both warm and cold at different times. Some days were t-shirts and shorts (high seventies), while one day required warm jackets and gloves (it was in the high forties at night and high fifties during the day.) I'd pack for both possibilites, as well as good rain gear (if it's chilly and raining, you don't want to be wet.)

CROWDS
We had no problem with crowds, BUT since I was with my 84 year old Mom, we didn't do the big ticket rides, such as Splash Mountain, and the only time we were in MK was at MVMCP. I didn't use Fast Pass as I didn't know what it was or even that it existed for that matter. We did go early to AKL and went directly on the Safari ride which worked well, and also timed a few of the Future World rides for early in the day. We spent alot of time at Epcot and Future World as my Mom loved those places.

MVMCP
We went on Sunday night after Thanksgiving and had a GREAT time. My Mom loved it to my surprise. It was cold but dry. The parade and fireworks were wonderful fun. We did pictures and hot cocoa. We didn't really wait for any rides, except maybe 5 minutes, but again didn't do the Big Ticket rides, although we did all of the non-rollercoaster type rides, riding several of them twice. The difference in price is probably for a Friday night ticket. I've read that Fridays are more crowded usually, but no personal knowledge of that. We arrived at 5:30 pm and didn't leave until midnight. We ate counter-service food at Pecos Bill's (I think that was the name) and it was quite good.

We had a wonderful trip and I'm taking my Mom back for 7 days the second week of December this year. Hope this helps!

 

[valeriekc]

Thanks again for all the great replies!
We are still struggling to get a good reservation for Thanksgiving day.
Wish us luck.

 

[speakupjc]

I would highly recommend the Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Here is their menu for Thanksgiving Day.

Yachtsman Steak House
Dinner: 4:00pm-9:30pm
No A la Carte menu items will be offered
Adults 10 and up $45.00; Children 3-9 $14.99
Beverage listed on menu included, Tax and Gratuity NOT included
Starters - Served Family Style
Choice of of Soup or Salad
Entrees - Choice of: Steakhouse Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey dinner, 12 oz. New York strip, Yachtsman Filet Mignon, Seafood Selection and Vegetarian offering
Desserts Choice of: Holiday Deserts, Tea or Coffee included
Children's menu - Entrees Choice of: Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey dinner,Top Sirloin 6oz Steak, Grilled Hot Dog, Mickey Pasta with your choice of Marinara sauce or Cheese Sauce, Breaded Chicken Strips.
Desserts Choice of: Holiday Desserts