Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World

[mickimousemama]

I would love to hear about other families experiences of touring WDW over Thanksgiving. We will be there for Thanksgiving 2010 which is also my middle child's 8th Birthday.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

It was crazy busy last year

 

[HLDisney]

We love going at Thanksgiving time. Sure, it's a bit on the crowded side but it's certainly manageable. In 2006 and 2007, we went to Magic Kingdom on Thanksgiving Day and because we went for the morning EMH and got Fastpasses for the more popular rides, we were able to go on all the rides in Fantasyland and Toontown by 11am. Then we went back to our resort for lunch and a swim and then headed back out to the parks in the afternoon. I can't remember what park we did last year on Thanksgiving Day but whichever it was, it wasn't that bad, either.

Unfortunately, we can't go back at Thanksgiving time this year but I'm hoping for Thanksgiving 2010!!

Helen

 

[princessmom29]

We did thanksgiving last year for our first ever trip and found it to be very plesant. We ogt there wed night late, and did AK thurs. The only time crowds were really an issue for us was the first day in AK after lunch. We left about 3 b/c we were tired and it was getting really crowded. We did DHS that friday, and rope drop rush to TSM was hectic, but after that we never really had crowd problems and were able to see and do most everything on our list with minimal waits. We waited not more than 15 min for anything by using fastpasses. We had a fantasmic package and i am glad we did as that line started 2 hours before the 1st show! Saturday was EPCOT and again, rope drop was hectic, but very little problem after that. We did not do mission space as dd was too short, but rode sorin twice using fastpasses, and walked onto everthing else within 5 min. We did a candlelight package and this was our only source of stress that day. Coral reef was running and hour behind so we barely made it, and the dining package line was insane when we got there. Sunday we did MK and MVMCP. We had an 8:05 BB so we were the first people in fantasyland. We did everything in 45 min and moved on. Crowds were really light, and we got lots done. We did CRT for lunch and got a nap before the party. ITrained for the party, but it was still great. Our last day was Mon. in the MK. We did great here and our longest wait was 20 min for haunted mansion. We rode BTMRR 3 times.

 

[littlbugmom]

We did Thanksgiving at WDW last year and enjoyed it very much.

We arrived the Thursday before Thanksgiving. The parks were great until Tuesday.....then they got pretty crowded. We do rope drop and leave when it gets really busy in the afternoon, then return at night. The crowds weren't awful but it was obvious that people were showing up for the holiday!

Wednesday before Thanksgiving was crazy busy in MK! We planned for it to be crowded though. It was our 3rd day going to MK, so we weren't concerned about getting to a specific ride or seeing anything in particular. We took it easy, visited our favorite attractions, had a long character dinner and stayed for the fireworks.

We didn't go to a park Thanksgiving Day. My sister was visiting, so we stayed at the resort and cooked Thanksgiving dinner in our room. (we always get a full kitchen) A Honeybaked ham, some sides and pie!


In 2010, we're going to try Nov 11th through the 20th to see how the crowds are the full week before Thanksgiving.

 

[Stitchnut]

Put simply, my family loves WDW at Thanksgiving and would love to make it a tradition. It is crowded so just know that up front. But with good planning and getting the details out of the way, you can have a super time. Plan and make reservations as soon as you can- they do fill up fast. Enjoy!

 

[solar]

my family loves WDW at Thanksgiving and would love to make it a tradition

this has become my tradition with my son...

Love the weather this time of year, and the days before Thanksgiving are nice and quiet...busy after Thanksgiving it gets busy, but we work around it without a problem

 

[Jellyman]

This will be our 5th Thanksgiving trip in 6 years. Needless to say we love being there this time of year. The weather is usually perfect(rarely rains, not too hot or cold and you can still swim) and most everything is already decorated for Christmas.

We usually go from Saturday to Saturday so the kids only miss 2 days at school. We get the majority of our touring done the first 5 days so that we can enjoy the holiday festivities that start on Thursday and Friday.

 

[mothermouse]

Me and my DH went for thanksgiving one year and we had a great time, nice weather(still can swim), and the christmas decorations really put you in that festive mood. We ate dinner that day at the cheesecake factory in DisneyQuest(we played everything by ear, no plans) worked out well for us(no kids at that time) We will most likely go again during thanksgiving

 

[mickimousemama]

Thanks everyone, we will be going the Saturday before until the Sunday after, so I'm hoping that crowds will be less in the early part of our trip, but I'm anticipating the parks to be pretty crowded.

How do you normally pack? We are from Minnesota so November means winter coats and long johns around here I'm guessing layering will be our best option, should I even bother packing shorts? I had read one trip report that said it was hitting 80 durring the day time but they still needed sweatshirts because it just didn't feel warm to them....

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We go to Disney every other Thanksgiving, even years so we will be there with you! We love it, it is just beautiful weather wise and though as the years go on we have found it is busier, it isn't crazy busy. It is our family tradition to go to Beaches and Cream for a Kitchen Sink for lunch and then Chef Mickey's for dinner. After dinner we ride the monerail over to see the gingerbread house at the GF. I love all the decorations and it really puts us in the Christmas Spirit!

 

[mickimousemama]

We go to Disney every other Thanksgiving, even years so we will be there with you! We love it, it is just beautiful weather wise and though as the years go on we have found it is busier, it isn't crazy busy. It is our family tradition to go to Beaches and Cream for a Kitchen Sink for lunch and then Chef Mickey's for dinner. After dinner we ride the monerail over to see the gingerbread house at the GF. I love all the decorations and it really puts us in the Christmas Spirit!

How Funny I already have on my list of to-do's ON thanksgiving for DS's Bday to surprise my family with the Kitchen Sink since they know nothing about it, and Dinner at Chef Mickey's to celebrate his birthday!!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We would leave for rope rope and need a hoodie, but still would be in shorts. As the day went on it is warm to hot, but not uncomfortably so. We still swam, in fact the kids would be the only ones in the pool often staying until the pools closed at midnight. We are from Upstate NY and feel weather-wise it is perfect, but we hate when it's really hot.

I always bring a light-weight pair of leggings for everyone in black so they match everything and we have them the nights we need them. Sometimes we did and sometimes we didn't but it was nice to have them when we needed them.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

How Funny I already have on my list of to-do's ON thanksgiving for DS's Bday to surprise my family with the Kitchen Sink since they know nothing about it, and Dinner at Chef Mickey's to celebrate his birthday!!

Well we will cross paths twice! You will love it. My oldest DD will be 15 in a couple weeks and even she thinks we have the best Thanksgiving traditonal lunch and dinner (ever other year of course!)

 

[brajfamily]

Does Chef Mickey's offer anything special for Thanksgiving dinner?

 

[Ldynred812]

We were there this past Thanksgiving week...4 families of 4.

My advice: HAVE A PLAN!!!! We had our parks picked out for everyday and a plan of attack for each park. We were flexible, and such, but we had to have a plan.

It was busy VERY busy at times. Couldn't imagine showing up with everyone and just standing there going "where do we go? What do we do first?"

Dining plan was the BEST!! Have all your ressies made as soon as you can.

Have fun!!!! We are planning on a trip in 2013....might have 3 kids instead of 2 by then.

 

[littlbugmom]

We went last year, arriving the Friday before Thanksgiving and staying until the day after. We went to the parks at rope drop and had a plan. The crowd levels were great for the first 5 days. Tuesday started getting uncomfortably crowded after 11am. Wednesday was a zoo. SO many people!

We didn't go to a park Thanksgiving day. We made a big ham dinner with my sister who drove down to join us and we enjoyed the resort.

I'm told it was unseasonably cold last year. We needed hoodies in the mornings and at night but the days were perfect park weather, imo. We wore capris and shorts every day. We only used the pool twice, though and we skipped the water park.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We normally go to Gatlinburg every year the week leading up to Christmas and DH will not budge from that tradition so I am thinking about going to Disney for Thanksgiving. This thread has been very helpful and I'm wondering if someone could tell me what would be better to do. A.) Go to Disney the weekend before Thanksgiving thru the following weekend after or B.) go to Disney the day after Thanksgiving thru the following week? For crowds & everything, which would be better?

 

[MBKELmom]

We are going at the same time (beginning Saturday before - Friday after) I'm expecting crowds but plan to be prepared with a daily itinerary. It's my dd's birthday that week too

 

[blessedby3]

We are going the week of Thanksgiving this year
We always go in the off times, but since our oldest is in college we have to go on her breaks- and I refuse to go during summer.
I am a bit nervous about the crowds, but plan on going to the parks at rope drop and hope to get big rides done early.
Im just excited to be going