Thanksgiving at WDW - the good, the bad, and the ugly

[Mrs~Incredible]

Thank you everyone so much for your replies- has anyone been to food and wine on a Saturday night (@SaintsManiac @lahobbs4 @disneygolfer1985 @AngiTN ??) Is thanksgiving like that or less? We went then and it was so crowded we could barely walk, fiesta ride line was all the way out to the showcase plaza. It was pretty crowded this past Veterans Day weekend- we could deal with that or even a little more.

Thanks again!!

 

[SaintsManiac]

Thank you everyone so much for your replies- has anyone been to food and wine on a Saturday night (@SaintsManiac @lahobbs4 @disneygolfer1985 @AngiTN ??) Is thanksgiving like that or less? We went then and it was so crowded we could barely walk, fiesta ride line was all the way out to the showcase plaza. It was pretty crowded this past Veterans Day weekend- we could deal with that or even a little more.

Thanks again!!

I avoid World Showcase on Saturday since that Thanksgiving trip. We were there during F&W last year and went on Thursday instead.

 

[gharter]

F&W on a Friday night and Saturday are terribly crowded.
We got to our resort on a Saturday afternoon. About 6 we walked over to WS to look around and get a drink before dinner. You could barely walk through WS by France to Italy. Wall to wall people. We've been to F&W many years and had never seen so many drunk people staggering around WS. We left. Now if we go to EPCOT on a Saturday afternoon after we arrive, we go to Future world where there is very little crowd.

 

[AngiTN]

I agree. Saturday is awful at F&W. Just say no

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Thanks everyone. I was ::hoping:: that thanksgiving is less than food and wine on a Saturday. That probably would have been a dealbreaker.

 

[fairestoneofall]

Can't speak for GE if it's even open, but the parks don't close to capacity.

We were there in 2017 and it was very manageable. The busiest park we experienced was AK on Wednesday. We still had no trouble navigating around.

We did Epcot on Thanksgiving Day and it was perfect. We'll be there again this year.

I'm not even beginning to plan anything except our Thanksgiving Day meal. Without knowing when GE opens or what special events there will be I can't commit to anything. We'll be at Universal before moving over to WDW on that Sunday.

AK on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2017 was an experience I hope I NEVER repeat. It was the worst park experience (as far as crowds are concerned) that we have ever had.

We also vowed to never again go at Thanksgiving, if we can help it. We'd been there for Thanksgiving multiple times in the past. That whole week was the worst crowding. I don't know if we just had bad luck in choosing which parks for which day. But it was bad. The day after Thanksgiving was probably the least crowded of our trip, and that day was rainy and overcast.

 

[SaintsManiac]

AK on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2017 was an experience I hope I NEVER repeat. It was the worst park experience (as far as crowds are concerned) that we have ever had.

We got there in the afternoon and did our FPs and explored Pandora and then left. There was a point where we were standing near the Safaris entrance and the walkways were jammed with people. When we got into Pandora it was just starting to get dark and there were lots of empty spots to sit and enjoy the area. It was mainly those dang walkways that looked nuts to me.

And it was HOT!

 

[rchampagne]

We were debating between Thanksgiving week this year, or April vacation '20. I was all set to wait til 2020, as I read about Thanksgiving week being one of the busiest of the year. But now I'm seeing these posts, and I'm leaning towards going in November. We've visited in mid to late August the past few years so I'm used to 6 or 7 crowd levels, but I think we could handle the higher crowd levels that week now that I'm seeing some of your experiences.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The only thing we all need to remember is that IF Galaxy's Edge opens in November that would change things.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

We were debating between Thanksgiving week this year, or April vacation '20. I was all set to wait til 2020, as I read about Thanksgiving week being one of the busiest of the year. But now I'm seeing these posts, and I'm leaning towards going in November. We've visited in mid to late August the past few years so I'm used to 6 or 7 crowd levels, but I think we could handle the higher crowd levels that week now that I'm seeing some of your experiences.

Honestly, the crowds aren't that bad mostly because most of the country does not get the entire week off for Thanksgiving like down in the south. Also, you get to experience all of the holiday decorations and festivities. I used to love going over Christmas, but the more I go over Thanksgiving, the more I think it is the best time to go. The only thing I hated about going over Thanksgiving before was when Holidays Around the World didn't start until Black Friday. That made Epcot awful on Friday, but now they start the storytellers the Sunday before now, so everyone isn't running to Epcot on Black Friday.

 

[Funfire240]

We were there in 2017. We went to MK on Thanksgiving as I had BOG booked and I didn't think it was too bad at all. We were only in the park from about 12-6 as a result of other reasons but we stayed mainly in Fantasyland with no problems. Friday after we went to EPCOT and didn't find it bad at all. We arrived right around opening and walked on to Soarin then stayed throughout the day catching some of the storytellers and left by 7.

 

[heath92681]

We have gone the past three years at Thanksgiving. Each year was busier than the last. This was the worst experience we've had in all our years at Disney. Thanksgiving Day at MK was not enjoyable. Though we love the weather and decorations in November, we are not going back for Thanksgiving again this year. The thought of SWGE adding to an already very busy time is not appealing.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful. If we do this, thinking we should avoid AK on Wed and MK on Thurs based on some of your experiences.

Just pondering this makes me want to go back!! Bad!!

 

[crazylady]

We went for Thanksgiving 2018. It was crowded but honestly the crowds were less than I anticipated. We did EP on Monday and extra FP were readily available. On Tues we were at HS. We were able to pick up an extra FP for TOT and Aliens but couldn't get an extra for RNR or TSM. The biggest shock there was that at BNB we had to sit in extra bleachers way in the back. I've never seen that many people at BNB. Wed we went to MK and crowds were high but doable. We got alot done by 1 and then took a really long break before coming back for EMH. I will think the park was open until 2. Thurs was our AK day and it was fine as far as crowds. We did wait over an hour for NRJ (suckers!) but our FOP fp was for late in the day so we didn't have a chance to try for extra FP. (I forgot to do FP on time).

Overall, we tried to have a relaxing trip and we're back at the hotel early in the evenings.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I've done WDW twice the week of Thanksgiving, arriving the SAT before and leaving the Sat or Sun after.
My #1 advice is twofold.

Do NOT plan a park day on T-day. Spend it at the pool, shopping at DSprings, see a movie, or go bowling.
and get an ADR at a Deluxe Resort Restaurant.