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

[Mrs~Incredible]

Hi Dis friends! We've travelled to WDW in Nov the past 2 years and are thinking of going again this year, but this time extending our trip over Tgving - we may consider 10 day park hoppers and would do the majority of our touring before the holiday. We've been to WDW many times, so seeing everything is not necessary. I'm doing my research on whether we want to take a longer trip that would include the Tgiving holiday. Here are my questions:

1. I know it will be crazy crowded, sometimes with capacity closures. And of course if SWGE is open it will be completely nuts. In general, is there a recommendation on what park may be best on Thanksgiving Wed/Thurs/Fri? Should any specific park be avoided at all costs (like MK on actual Tgiving?)

2. Any tips/tricks you would like to share? We are seasoned WDW travelers but the most crowded we've experienced is food and wine on a saturday (holy smokes!) and veteran's day weekend, which seemed even more crowded last year than the year before. Should we expect the crowds of food and wine on a saturday? A little less? What is your advice for managing heavy crowds?

Any recommendations/advice would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thank you!

 

[SaintsManiac]

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.

 

[pens4821]

Interested in replies. We are thinking of going next year. We were there in MLK week in January, and crowds were high. Curious to see thoughts at a time like Thanksgiving where it'll be more crowded.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

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.

Thanks @SaintsManiac i know you are a seasoned vet and I’m glad to hear you thought it was manageable. Sorry about that blown call btw

 

[abs1978]

We went over Thanksgiving last year. It was busy but manageable. I felt like the crowds were worse the week after Thanksgiving because of Free Dining actually.

However, the hours were not great. MK never opened earlier than 9 am which I did not expect. We got stuff done that first hour but after about 10 am there were long waits for anything you didn't have a FP for. I don't know that we would do Thanksgiving week again.

 

[FallsChurchDad]

We went over Thanksgiving last year. It was busy but manageable. I felt like the crowds were worse the week after Thanksgiving because of Free Dining actually.

However, the hours were not great. MK never opened earlier than 9 am which I did not expect. We got stuff done that first hour but after about 10 am there were long waits for anything you didn't have a FP for. I don't know that we would do Thanksgiving week again.

We have had similar experiences, at both MK and Disneyland. The earlier opening times make all the difference on peak days. Recently, they have been cutting those early open times, and it means the crowds build faster, almost instantly. An 8 am EMH does not help, in our experience - it's the full 8 am open that is key.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Thanks @SaintsManiac i know you are a seasoned vet and I’m glad to hear you thought it was manageable. Sorry about that blown call btw

Ha thanks

I don’t know nearly as much as most people here, but I try to help!

 

[bpadair32]

I was there for Thanksgiving 2017. We did not go to a park on Thanksgiving day, but we were there before and after and while it was crowded I would not say it was crazy, and it was no where near capacity.


There were some long lines to be sure, but if you've been there before and you make judicious use of FPs, RD, etc., you will be just fine.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

We have been for Thanksgiving in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and will be going for Thanksgiving this year. The crowds are really not that bad honestly. Not nearly as bad as Christmas. Typically, what we have done in the past is go to AK on Thanksgiving and then go eat at a resort for dinner. We ate at Hoop Dee Doo in 2016 on Thanksgiving and it was great. I think we will do that again this year. I haven't been over Thanksgiving since Pandora opened or since they started the International Festival of the Holidays the Sunday before Thanksgiving now. Prior to 2017, I would have avoided Epcot on Black Friday as that was when the Holidays Around the World started, but I don't think the crowds would be too bad. From my experience Wednesday through Saturday will be crowded with the crowds diminishing on Saturday after Thanksgiving and it being very good crowds on Sunday and Monday after. The only downside to going on Thanksgiving is you will not be able to see any of the Christmas party as they will not have it during the week. However, the hours for MK will be normal and will have no early closings for MK.

 

[lahobbs4]

We have always gone the week before thanksgiving, but took a 7 night trip this past year over Thanksgiving week and it's been one of the best trip we have ever taken there!!

I was going to recommend making it as long a trip as possible. Not trying to fit everything in to 4 park days is key. We started out early at the parks and headed to our resort around 2-3:00 each day. We were at Beach Club so we would spend the evenings over at World Showcase. We spent one entire day at our resort, then headed to DS to watch Wreck it Ralph 2. We had Thanksgiving dinner reservations at Hoop Dee Doo and that was such a great way to spend that holiday! We rope-dropped MK on Thanksgiving and got in the last few rides/ characters on our list and headed back at lunch and it was definitely getting crowded. Our trip was the Friday before, to the Friday after (Black Friday).

We would go again over Thanksgiving in a heartbeat!

 

[jimim]

We have done thanksgiving prob 5 times now. All the week thanksgiving. Most recent this past holiday. Ya busy. But manageable. Thought it was better than this past June. Buses were worse in years though. That’s all. Everything else was fine.

 

[Klayfish]

We were there for Thanksgiving in 2015 and again in 2017. I'll echo the others comments. It's really not that big of a deal. The busiest days are Wed-Sat, but even then it's not as busy as Xmas-NYE week. Never a capacity closure. The biggest crowd is MK itself on Thanksgiving Day, that's pretty packed. Beyond that, no special tips. Just have a bit of patience, as it is more crowded than times likes summer or fall. Be in the holiday spirit. Use FP+ to your advantage...you can rope drop if you want, but don't need to, we never do. Most important, have fun!!

 

[jimim]

We went over Thanksgiving last year. It was busy but manageable. I felt like the crowds were worse the week after Thanksgiving because of Free Dining actually.

However, the hours were not great. MK never opened earlier than 9 am which I did not expect. We got stuff done that first hour but after about 10 am there were long waits for anything you didn't have a FP for. I don't know that we would do Thanksgiving week again.

We were there this year. There was deff an 8 am mk day.

 

[a742246]

We were there this Thanksgiving EPCOT crowds were busy but not extreme. We were at MK this past Christmas crowds were crazy!

 

[FSU Girl]

I loved going for Thanksgiving, I'm doing it again this year. I didn't find it crazy crowded, no park was anywhere near capacity. We stayed at the Swan where we at at the Garden Grove since the food gave us the traditional Thanksgiving buffet meal. I liked being able to walk to two parks and avoid traffic. If Star Wars opens before Thanksgiving, which it might, it will definitely be more crowded. I might cancel if it times out that way, haven't decided yet. But normal Thanksgiving trips it's a lot of fun.

 

[CynBeth]

We have been 3 times from the Fri before to the Sun after and really enjoy being there that time. We were there this past one and I thought there were early openings and some late closings at MK. As long as you make your ADRs and FPs you should be fine. Definitely make sure you see the storytellers at Epcot beginning the Sun before and Candlelight Processional which last year started on Thanksgiving Day. Our favorite Thanksgiving dinner is at Boma.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

We have been 3 times from the Fri before to the Sun after and really enjoy being there that time. We were there this past one and I thought there were early openings and some late closings at MK. As long as you make your ADRs and FPs you should be fine. Definitely make sure you see the storytellers at Epcot beginning the Sun before and Candlelight Processional which last year started on Thanksgiving Day. Our favorite Thanksgiving dinner is at Boma.

I didn’t realize that the storytellers and candlelight processional were 2 different things! Thanks!

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I didn’t realize that the storytellers and candlelight processional were 2 different things! Thanks!

They used to both start on Black Friday before 2017. Starting in 2017, the storytellers and food kitchens opened up the Sunday before and this year they started the processional on thanksgiving. Personally, I enjoy Epcot the most over the holidays with all the festivities.

 

[mrsap]

We have done Thanksgiving week and the week after since 2004 and we love it. Decorations are up, Christmas music playing everywhere, somewhat busy, but don’t mind it. Christmas is my favorite time of year, so I think that’s why it means more to me being there during that time. Good luck deciding!

 

[gharter]

We have gone several times over Thanksgiving and have been surprised as the parks were no where near as crowded as I expected. The last time was 3 years ago FWIW. we loved over the next 2 days after Thanksgiving, all tthe Christmas decorations are up. It was fun seeing some of the gingerbread houses in the resorts going up.
I doubt SWGE will be open by then. If it is, all bets are off.