Thanksgiving or February break?

[Aj1129]

We are planning a trip either for November or February. The dates for the trip will have to fall within a school break since myself and my friend are both teachers. I've never been for Thanksgiving and it's been many years since my February trip. Which timeframe would you recommend for 4 adults and a 3 year old? I know both will be very busy, but looking for opinions on which month would be better for my toddler in terms of crowds and navigating a stroller. My DH and I are use to end of August trips.

 

[Micca]

I think if you're literally talking the week containing Thanksgiving that will be extremely busy. You'll hit crowds in February too but not to the level of Thanksgiving crowds. Weather will probably be comparable, there will be Christmas decorations at Thanksgiving if that's a concern. As concerns navigating the stroller, the less crowded the better in my opinion.

 

[sponica]

I don't have experience with either, but considering most of the country is off Thanksgiving, and a good chunk also take that wed/fri off. I'd lean towards february which will be more of a regional thing once you get beyond Presidents Day weekend. But depending on the part of the country from where you're traveling, you may be more prone to winter weather disruptions in February.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We have done Thanksgiving twice, but it has been awhile. My thought with February would be possible travel delays because of bad weather, depending on where you are coming from and how you are traveling.

 

[rileyz]

February. Thanksgiving 2017 was the worst I’ve ever experienced and I go 1-2 times per year.

 

[slpeters]

We were there the week before Thanksgiving (left that Tuesday) and it was wonderful. Never been in February so no way for me to compare...

 

[goofygal531]

February.

It will only be crowded Saturday to Monday due to President's Day weekend. The rest of the week the crowds will be moderate.

Thanksgiving is insanely crowded. The year we visited, MK closed to capacity.

You will have a more enjoyable vacation in February.

 

[kay1864]

We went for several years the week of Thanksgiving--arrived the Friday or Saturday before, leaving on TG day. Crowds were reasonable, and Christmas decorations were up. I'd read that TB weekend (Thu-Sun) was crazy, so by leaving on Thu, we seemed to avoid the worst of the crowds. About half the time the weather cooperated (temps near 80) and we went to Blizzard Beach.

ETA: Using RideMax (my favorite planner!), we easily saw all four parks in 5 days without rushing. 2 for MK, 1 for each of the others. As always, RD is the key.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

My mom and wife are teachers, so when we go it is either Thanksgiving or Christmas. Depending on where you live, if you have the whole week off for Thanksgiving I would suggest arriving Saturday or Sunday before and leaving on Saturday. Thursday-Saturday will be crowded, but Epcot may not be as bad on Black Friday as usual. We went in 2014 and 2016 and Black Friday is the day to avoid in Epcot since it was the start of Holidays Around the World, but they have started the storytellers the Sunday before now. If you do not get the whole week off, then I would suggest staying for the Monday or Tuesday after as once Sunday starts, then the crowds will really die down. Personally, I would pick Thanksgiving because of all the decorations. There will be plenty to do and even if it is crowded, there are events going on that can handle the crowds (like the International Festival of the Holidays). The weather is usually better over Thanksgiving than in February. The last few years it has been warm. The crowds are not as bad as say Christmas. The worst days over Thanksgiving are Thursday-Saturday. If you go, I would avoid MK on Thanksgiving Day as it will be packed.

 

[kay1864]

(delete - dupe)

 

[CynBeth]

I would say Thanksgiving if you could go the Fri or Sat before and leave the Sun after. The decorations are amazing! I would not avoid Epcot on Black Friday. We have been there on several of them and did not find it too bad. We already had an Epcot day earlier in the week so our priority was seeing the storytellers and CP which we did the dining package for.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

My mom and wife are teachers, so when we go it is either Thanksgiving or Christmas. Depending on where you live, if you have the whole week off for Thanksgiving I would suggest arriving Saturday or Sunday before and leaving on Saturday. Thursday-Saturday will be crowded, but Epcot may not be as bad on Black Friday as usual. We went in 2014 and 2016 and Black Friday is the day to avoid in Epcot since it was the start of Holidays Around the World, but they have started the storytellers the Sunday before now. If you do not get the whole week off, then I would suggest staying for the Monday or Tuesday after as once Sunday starts, then the crowds will really die down. Personally, I would pick Thanksgiving because of all the decorations. There will be plenty to do and even if it is crowded, there are events going on that can handle the crowds (like the International Festival of the Holidays). The weather is usually better over Thanksgiving than in February. The last few years it has been warm. The crowds are not as bad as say Christmas. The worst days over Thanksgiving are Thursday-Saturday. If you go, I would avoid MK on Thanksgiving Day as it will be packed.

I've never been at Thanksgiving. We are planning on going over Thanksgiving next year. It's interesting you say not to go to MK on Thanksgiving Day. According to Kenny the Pirate, that is the recommended park for Thanksgiving Day. I was hoping this would be a good day to go there because I really want to eat at LTT for Thanksgiving dinner.

OP, I have been to WDW in February. We had great weather, and the crowds were low. I would be worried to go during that time again though because of travel worries and it's usually the month that someone in the family is sick.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I've never been at Thanksgiving. We are planning on going over Thanksgiving next year. It's interesting you say not to go to MK on Thanksgiving Day. According to Kenny the Pirate, that is the recommended park for Thanksgiving Day. I was hoping this would be a good day to go there because I really want to eat at LTT for Thanksgiving dinner.

OP, I have been to WDW in February. We had great weather, and the crowds were low. I would be worried to go during that time again though because of travel worries and it's usually the month that someone in the family is sick.

We have been to MK on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day a few times before and the crowds are really bad later in the day. I remember one year on Christmas Day feeling like a can of sardines after the fireworks. We find that day better to visit a park earlier and then have dinner at a resort to take it easier. In 2016, we ate at Hoop Dee Doo Revue for Thanksgiving and it was great. This year for Christmas we ate at Artist Point. You can visit MK on Thanksgiving, I would just temper your expectations because it will be crowded. We have eaten at LTT for Christmas/Thanksgiving before. You may also want to consider 50s Prime Time for Thanksgiving dinner as well. The blue plate dinner is usually turkey dinner with stuffing.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We have been to MK on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day a few times before and the crowds are really bad later in the day. I remember one year on Christmas Day feeling like a can of sardines after the fireworks. We find that day better to visit a park earlier and then have dinner at a resort to take it easier. In 2016, we ate at Hoop Dee Doo Revue for Thanksgiving and it was great. This year for Christmas we ate at Artist Point. You can visit MK on Thanksgiving, I would just temper your expectations because it will be crowded. We have eaten at LTT for Christmas/Thanksgiving before. You may also want to consider 50s Prime Time for Thanksgiving dinner as well. The blue plate dinner is usually turkey dinner with stuffing.

I so wish we could take an evening to do a resort. That's my DH's and my way of doing things. But next year, we will have the whole family, and only three days to tour the parks. We will have park hoppers, so that will help. But we MUST do MK one evening for HEA, AK one evening for Pandora, and Epcot one evening for CP. These are things my kids haven't gotten to experience yet. Now, they HAVE experienced 50's Prime Time, and let me tell you, I won't be able to pay them $ to go back there. They were much younger, but all they remember is how mad they were that they were getting in trouble for not eating their vegetables. They vowed never again. I loved it though!

 

[kniquy]

Most certainly Thanksgiving will be busier than February. One thing to consider is the weather when you are traveling or where you are traveling from. I know here is MA we would have more of a chance encountering a snow storm which could affect our flights in Feb vs Nov. If you plan well then the crowds do not have to significantly impact your time there. You do parks in the morning and afternoon resort time. You might also have more of a chance at pool time in November vs Feb. If you want November you will have to book and plan soon because your 180d for dining will be coming up at the end of May. If you make your dining reservations, FP, hit parks for rope drop and book a special dessert party for fireworks then this can help combat the crowds.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I so wish we could take an evening to do a resort. That's my DH's and my way of doing things. But next year, we will have the whole family, and only three days to tour the parks. We will have park hoppers, so that will help. But we MUST do MK one evening for HEA, AK one evening for Pandora, and Epcot one evening for CP. These are things my kids haven't gotten to experience yet. Now, they HAVE experienced 50's Prime Time, and let me tell you, I won't be able to pay them $ to go back there. They were much younger, but all they remember is how mad they were that they were getting in trouble for not eating their vegetables. They vowed never again. I loved it though!

Depending on when you are going, Black Friday would be the only day you could see CP if you are there for a short trip. If it were me, I would probably not see the HEA at MK on Thanksgiving. It will be very crowded at that time. You could have Thanksgiving dinner at California Grill and see the fireworks while you are eating.

 

[Christinecinti]

I totally get only being able to travel at specific times due to work, also work at a school. So it's not even an option to let your kids miss a few days (when they are younger) to be able to go when it's less crowded...cause we just don't get time off work (3 personal days a year is it). Where I live we still have traditional "summers off" school yr, (unpaid, which many ppl don't realize that is not 'vacation' time for teachers) but it's the crowded and hottest times to travel

So we go at T-giving week, but if I worked somewhere where Feb was an option, for crowd sakes I'd def choose Feb. Now if you want to see the beautiful decorations, then T'giving time is great. We find the crowds manageable early in week but closer to T-giving it gets nuts. But we don't expect to "do everything" and still have a blast. It's just the only time we can go other than summer.

 

[Aj1129]

I totally get only being able to travel at specific times due to work, also work at a school. So it's not even an option to let your kids miss a few days (when they are younger) to be able to go when it's less crowded...cause we just don't get time off work (3 personal days a year is it). Where I live we still have traditional "summers off" school yr, (unpaid, which many ppl don't realize that is not 'vacation' time for teachers) but it's the crowded and hottest times to travel

So we go at T-giving week, but if I worked somewhere where Feb was an option, for crowd sakes I'd def choose Feb. Now if you want to see the beautiful decorations, then T'giving time is great. We find the crowds manageable early in week but closer to T-giving it gets nuts. But we don't expect to "do everything" and still have a blast. It's just the only time we can go other than summer.

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!!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Depending on when you are going, Black Friday would be the only day you could see CP if you are there for a short trip. If it were me, I would probably not see the HEA at MK on Thanksgiving. It will be very crowded at that time. You could have Thanksgiving dinner at California Grill and see the fireworks while you are eating.

Does CP not also show the Saturday night after Thanksgiving? As far as HEA, I am fine seeing them from afar. I've seen them once, and that was enough for me. Hated the projections with the fireworks, just too much! But my kids have never seen it, so we will be in the park for it, no matter how crowded.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Does CP not also show the Saturday night after Thanksgiving? As far as HEA, I am fine seeing them from afar. I've seen them once, and that was enough for me. Hated the projections with the fireworks, just too much! But my kids have never seen it, so we will be in the park for it, no matter how crowded.

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.