Thanksgiving or February break?

[DisneyStarWisher]

The CP starts on Black Friday through December 30th. I didn't know when you were arriving. AK would be less crowded on Thanksgiving. That is usually our go to park on Thanksgiving/Christmas Day the last few trips. This past year, we went to Epcot on Christmas and it was not that crowded. Honestly, I would think Friday would be less crowded at MK than Thanksgiving and be the better day to see HEA.

Thanks. With this information, the best plan might be MK in the morning (with a LTT lunch) and AK in the evening on Thanksgiving. Then on Friday do DHS in the morning and MK (and HEA) that night. Finally on Saturday DHS in the morning and Epcot (and CP) that night. But it's weird that Kenny the Pirate suggests MK as a Best Park on Thanksgiving and gives it a Worst Park rating on Friday (due to the EMH that morning). And AK is the Best Park on Friday.

OP, sorry to highjack your thread. I totally understand where you're coming from having to book trips around the school schedule. This year I used my personal days to go on on extended weekend trip with DH, but with the new pension reform that was just passed in KY, I need to save all my sick/personal days next year because they are capping them at the end of the year and not allowing them to count toward my retirement. That means definitely a Thanksgiving trip next year. We get no days off in February except President's Day, but it's usually used as a make-up snow day. Our only choices are Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, or Spring Break. The only time I can pretty much guarantee my whole family will be off together is Thanksgiving Break, so I guess that's what it will be. Good luck making your decision!

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Thanks. With this information, the best plan might be MK in the morning (with a LTT lunch) and AK in the evening on Thanksgiving. Then on Friday do DHS in the morning and MK (and HEA) that night. Finally on Saturday DHS in the morning and Epcot (and CP) that night. But it's weird that Kenny the Pirate suggests MK as a Best Park on Thanksgiving and gives it a Worst Park rating on Friday (due to the EMH that morning). And AK is the Best Park on Friday.

OP, sorry to highjack your thread. I totally understand where you're coming from having to book trips around the school schedule. This year I used my personal days to go on on extended weekend trip with DH, but with the new pension reform that was just passed in KY, I need to save all my sick/personal days next year because they are capping them at the end of the year and not allowing them to count toward my retirement. That means definitely a Thanksgiving trip next year. We get no days off in February except President's Day, but it's usually used as a make-up snow day. Our only choices are Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, or Spring Break. The only time I can pretty much guarantee my whole family will be off together is Thanksgiving Break, so I guess that's what it will be. Good luck making your decision!

Honestly, I have never really looked at any of the websites on what park day would be better, but I know from experience that MK is usually the most attended park on Thanksgiving or Christmas. I think most people want to be in MK for those two days to make it feel more magical. In the past before Pandora opened, when we were leaving AK around 2pm on Thanksgiving or Christmas, they had already started diverting crowds to AK because it was the least crowded. I hope the info has helped.

 

[Christinecinti]

I'm torn between seeing the Christmas decorations for Thanksgiving or escaping the cold weather of New York in February. I was leaning towards February, but getting concerned about possible snow storms and flight delays. I only get Wed-Sun off for Thanksgiving so that's in the middle of the Thanksgiving crowds. If only I could plan an early November trip, but teaching comes first!!

Escaping the February cold would be VERY tempting LOL! We don't get any February time off except for the 1 day for President's day. I also only get Wed-Sun for T-giving... but my daughters' school has always gotten the whole week off (conference days backed up against T-giving) so I take my personal days up against the T-giving break so we're able to have a long trip! Definitely works well for us. We do alot of rope drops and ride-ride-ride early in the trip, and by the last 1/2 of trip with higher crowds we do our fast passes and what we can/ soak up atmosphere, etc.

 

[Monykalyn]

Did thanksgiving last year (Saturday -Saturday). T-Day we did MK in morning (RD) and it wasn't bad at all!! Had FP for late morning and we left a little after noon. Still lots and lots of FP available for afternoon. We didn't find Epcot too crowded on Black Friday either but we weren't spending full days in parks that week, so we had a very relaxed touring style. Now New Years week was packed!!!

If you only get wed-sun off thanksgiving- personally I'd look at February, but be mindful of marathons and when Mardi Gras is. Those weeks can be just as busy as thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[mrsp1030]

We always go at Thanksgiving and have never felt the parks were crazy crowded. We typically do AK or Epcot on Thanksgiving day. This year we may change that up now that our kids are older and park hopping is such a great option for us. We also typically do MK on Black Friday and leave about 1pm and it has never felt crowded to us. We are RD people though so we get a lot accomplished in a short period of time.