Thanksgiving Crowd Level Notes - Others??

[costpenn]

I also noticed for the first time other people besides us actually using the UG touring plans - On first day at Epcot two other families standing around us at the entrance gates were reviewing their plans.
It's kind of nice to know we weren't the the Lone Rangers in our observation of crowd levels on Thursday/Friday. (A couple of drinks back at Tambu in the Poly helped relieve the stress - try a "Sunken Treasure") It sounds like it didn't slow up on Saturday or Sunday.

 

[rlovew]

We were there from 11/22 through 11/26

On Wednesday 11/22 we arrived and headed straight to EPCOT. We got FP for Soarin' - this was at 10 am and they were for 1:25-2:25. We looked at the wait for Mission Space but decided that 40 minutes wasn't worth it. We played in Innoventions which was crowded. Didn't bother with the longest line I have seen at Character Connections and headed to Coral Reef for lunch. After lunch we did Soarin before hopping to AK for EMH that evening. We arrived at 2:45 and headed for Flights of Wonder, then watched the parade, we headed over to Camp Minnie Mickey and waited about 15-20 minutes for each character. We had dinner at Flame Tree- 5:30- almost no wait and then headed to Pooh character signings (25 minute wait- they took a break while we were waiting just ahead of us). I got in the single rider line for EE and waited about 25 minutes. We headed out and arrived back at Corando Springs about 8pm.

Thursday we arrived at the MK at just after 8. We rode Buzz, Pooh and then headed for the regular enterance to Pirates. The Pirates line took 30 minutes at opening and we just barely made our 10am reservations at Kona. We left property to visit with relatives.

Friday we arrived at MGM just after opening (9:05). DH weas able to get my FP for ToT quickly but it was for 10:35, I waited over 20 minutes for a FP to RnR which by 9:20 had a standby wait of over 60 minutes. We headed to Star Tours where we had a 5 minute wait and then walked onto Journey to Narnia as it opened at 10. We then went to the Annimation Area and saw the incredibles with no wait at all before doing character drawings. I rode using the FP and we headed out of the park for the day. The place was getting more packed as we left. Downtown Disney that we headed to was crowded but not unmanagably so. That evening we headed to Pleasure Island and didn't find it too crowded.

Saturday we headed to EPCOT center just after the park opened. While I waited for DH to do some shopping (15 minutes) I watched TT move from a 45 minute wait to a 90 minute wait during that time and FP were for late in the afternoon. We headed to MS which wasn't bad and then into the World Showcase for some shopping. After lunch we hung around the WS and watched the holiday presentations. MGM for the Lights was packed about 6pm. We enjoyed Illuminations from a cruise but you could see WS was completely packed.

Sunday AK was still pretty packed although ITTBAG was a walk on. We only did this and the Nemo show. We waited 40 minutes in line and the line was backed up to Dinoland by 30 minutes before the show when they started letting people in.

I have never seen Disney so packed even at Christmas when I went as a child or when EPCOT first opened.

 

[PamNC]

We were there during the same time you were - 11/18 -11/26. We were at AK 11/23 and 11/24. ZOO is a good way to describe it. What a madhouse. We couldn't get on EE. Wasn't worth it to go through the agony of the crowds. We saw the 11:15 new Nemo show (which we LOVED) and when we got out there were no fast passes left. On Friday a.m. we got there at opening. I mean before the rope drop. headed straight for EE and the line was hideous. The line for fastpass was 20-30 minutes just to GET a fastpass. So we decided we would catch it the next time. I mean, this place was INSANE.

I think these were the heaviest Thanksgiving holiday crowds I've ever seen.

PamNC

 

[ellyn2000]

I posted earlier that we didn't have much trouble thanks to FP and avoiding MK later in the week. Of course, it was still packed on 11/20. Only about 20 min. standby time on some attractions at other parks. Didn't have to wait long at all for any ADR's and service was quick even if the food wasn't good in one instance. We will still be going Thanksgiving week.

 

[WMILLER86]

Could someone post here what the park hours were last week? I am planning for next Thanksgiving week. I have to because of the kids school. It would help to know the hours of operation and EMH times.

THANKS!

 

[vacation dreamer]

All things considered, we will NEVER go back at Thanksgiving.

~Steven

I will never ever go again during any holiday. We had a fun time being with our family but the crowds made it hard to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

 

[marciemi]

Could someone post here what the park hours were last week? I am planning for next Thanksgiving week. I have to because of the kids school. It would help to know the hours of operation and EMH times.

THANKS!

If you go to the main website for these boards, www.wdwinfo.com, and then click on the Disney Park Hours link on the left, you can still click on November Hours and see the hours for last week.

 

[pixiedancer]

if you thought that thanksgiving was bad i heard christmas would be worse. people that didnt make reservations to eat should have known going on a holiday it would be next to impossible to get to eat at a sit down. it is always crowded on holidays. if you dont like crowds don't go on holidays

 

[MICKEEP]

if you thought that thanksgiving was bad i heard christmas would be worse. people that didnt make reservations to eat should have known going on a holiday it would be next to impossible to get to eat at a sit down. it is always crowded on holidays. if you dont like crowds don't go on holidays

This is what scares me. We are going the week before christmas because we went at that time last year and found the parks relatively empty. I am worried the parks will be overcrowded the week before too.

I think Disney is doing too good a job marketing. Maybe they should lower their park fees and room rates

 

[Bliss22]

This is what scares me. We are going the week before christmas because we went at that time last year and found the parks relatively empty. I am worried the parks will be overcrowded the week before too.

I think Disney is doing too good a job marketing. Maybe they should lower their park fees and room rates

I would just get in the mindset that the parks will be packed. I f you gry there anf they are not then thats a bonus. Sometimes if you plan for the worse it can make it more bearable. As for lower prices...........now thats funny.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I guess that just goes to show that what different people interpret as "crowded". We we so happy (Thurs and Fri aside) that the parks were SO empty! Especially compared to May! (not spring break week either)

 

[costpenn]

Hope I didn't scare (I'm the OP on this thread) anyone off from going the whole Thanksgiving week - it's just Thursday and Friday that were a problem. My advice if you're going to try it next year is to hit the parks Saturday through Wend and then spend some relaxing time back at the hotel with maybe a foray into the parks for ADR's and parade watching on Thursday/Friday.

 

[GOOFY D]

We were there as well from 11/18-11/25. We have been to WDW at least 4 times during Thanksgiving week and it seems it gets worse each time. Sat - Mon was not unbearable, but Tuesday- Friday was terrible. Wed and Thur were ridiculously crowded. Although we do a good job planning and using the FPs such that we get to experience all that we want, it is not the same when the crowds make it such a hectic trip. I am questioning whether we will go during Thanksgiving week again (although memory fades with time, so who knows?).