Thanksgiving Crowds 2016

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

We are planning a road trip to DL for Thanksgiving week and the week after. We will have a 5 day PH and want to spend time doing other LA/Anaheim attractions as well. My question: how bad are the crowds actually on Turkey day? I was thinking of doing DL on Thanksgiving, then all the other stuff Fri-Sun, then going back to DL Mon-Thu. We are non-peak time people, and I know it will be crowded and I can handle long wait times. I can't handle feeling like pack sardines while walking around the park. If that makes sense.

Other options I thought of was Knotts or Aquarium of the Pacific on Turkey day, then doing DL Sun-Thu. I just like the idea of being somewhere familiar on Thanksgiving, and we have never been to either of those places.

Any advice is much appreciated!

 

[davolarcini]

I am totally going the same time, we are taking the family arriving on Thanksgiving and starting the parks on Black Friday....I hope it's a good time and would love some feedback, let us both know. We also have 5 day PH. We are staying until Dec 4th and will spread the days out and throw in 2 days at US Harry Potter here we come....So what should be look for people!

 

[mich311e]

I've been to Knott's on Thanksgiving day, I think 2011. It was crowded at opening but the crowds died down in the afternoon.

I've been to Disneyland on Thanksgiving day 2015. It was normal, not too bad not too crowded.

I've also been on black Friday and the following weekend and the crowds definitely pick up on those days. In 2011 on black Friday it was so crowded I swore never again. Well, I did end up going back on black Friday and it wasn't as bad. But yeah, it's definitely a crowded feeling after Thanksgiving.

I've been to the parks twice since Thanksgiving (January and March) and it's important to note the impact of the Disneyland Railroad closure on the park. It is extremely difficult to navigate in the crowds, especially on main street during any time when there will be a parade and fireworks. And without the train to get around the park I feel it's even more difficult. Just keep that in mind. Your plan on going M-Th after Thanksgiving should help. I've been during that time and it's better but most of the APs become "unblocked" after the Thanksgiving Holiday so it's not as light as you may imagine.

I loved Disneyland on Thanksgiving day! I was so happy to be there with my little family. We ate Thanksgiving dinner at Blue Bayou. I hope to do it again this year!