Thanksgiving driving advice

[Xenuprime]

Hello everybody!

Im a long time lurker here, and I finally decided to join up and start posting.

Family of 5 here in Tallahassee, FL and we get to Disney about once a month.

We are going for Thanksgiving and need some advice on what day to arrive. Staying at the Rosen Plaza (love their Thanksgiving buffet!) and our choices are to arrive Wednesday night (driving from 6:30pm - 11:00pm) or driving Thursday morning.

I like the idea of checking in the night before and waking up there, but I also think traffic will be rough. Thursday morning traffic should be fine (we've don it before), but we wont be able to check in until the afternoon and might not have the time/energy for: park, hotel check in, dinner, movie.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Jimsig]

I'd say drive Wed night, even if it takes a little longer the normal, you wake up there instead of driving on the AM etc. like you mentioned. Not sure what traffic will be like in I-10 and I-75 at that time, but it might be heavy at the beginning and lighten up as you go.

 

[Xenuprime]

I am leaning that way (drive Wed night). I guess whats holding me back from that is not just the traffic, but also I don't like paying for a night at the hotel when we are just getting there at midnight.

I have read that I-10 and I-75 will be bad on Wed until at least 11pm.

Does anyone suggest going to any of the Disney parks on Thanksgiving or Friday after? I know they are busy, but is it busy to the point of not being worth it?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

the parks will be busy. Best to get there early because by 10:00 a.m. they reach capacity and will halt admission to the parks to folks who stay offsite. So if you want to see a park go very early.

 

[Xenuprime]

Wow, thanks for the heads up!

Is that just on Thanksgiving day? We are more than likely just doing Epson early Friday then HS Friday night (for the lights).

Now Im thinking we should just get there on Thursday. If we arent going to the park on Thursday we wont have anything to all day anyways (until dinner at 4).