Thanksgiving or New Years - which is better? Less crazy?

[tentaguasu]

I have limited dates when I can travel and it looks like the only possibilities are right around Thanksgiving or right around new years.

Would you pick:

Black Friday and the following Sunday?
or
Dec. 30 and Jan. 1?
or
Jan. 2 and Jan. 4?

My thinking is that both the Sunday after Thanksgiving and Jan. 1 might be slightly lighter as people are (1) travelling home after Thanksgiving or (2) partied out from NYE.

Here's some more data:

1. I probably won't want to do any special activities or shows on either of those visits (e.g. no MVMCP or New Years Eve) (though I *might* be convinced on new years...)

2. Planning to stay off site.

3. Short trip - two days with a rest day sandwiched in the middle, most likely.

I know none of this is ideal, but all things being equal, what would you pick?

 

[CarolynFH]

I’d go January 2 & 4, but I have no data to back it up, just a feeling. I’d definitely avoid December 30 - many people like to visit MK for fireworks that night so they can see the Epcot fireworks on the 31st.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Thanksgiving is nowhere near the crowd levels of New Years...

so in terms of crowds go Thanksgiving weekend.

Also since you're staying offsite Thanksgiving is the better option because around New Years you may find the parks at capacity and offsite and/or single day ticket guests are likely to be the first denied entry.

On the other hand I loved the overall vibe of New Years even with its absolute insanity.

FYI January 2-4 is basically still New Years since many schools don't go back until the Monday after New Years.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Looking at Touring Plans, crowds are anticipated to be slightly lower at Thanksgiving but all of the dates you are considering are anticipated to be 7's or 8's (out of a possible 10 as highest crowds) so truly I would choose what dates you want to go.

 

[SnowWhitee]

I vote Thanksgiving. It's likely many people will come for the entire week Dec 30-Jan 4. Anything right around New Year's is likely to be nuts.

Typically the weekend after Thanksgiving the crowds start to get better, but Black Friday is when the International Festival of the Holidays starts at Epcot. I don't think dates are out yet, but typically that Sunday night is a MVMCP at MK, which means it would close early. Just plan accordingly. If you're visiting MK, maybe do that Friday.

 

[jtopp]

Thanksgiving time will be the least crowded of your available dates.

 

[princesswahooey]

Another vote for Thanksgiving. It's busy, but New years is crazy busy!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Although I've never tackled New Year's Eve, I have been in the parks on Thanksgiving, the days after Thanksgiving, and January 1-5 (Although I avoided the parks until the 2nd). Thanksgiving was OK, surprisingly, as was January 2-5. I can still remember, though, some incredible stories CMs were willing to tell about New Year's Eve, which made me sure I'd avoid that date! Also, it got a little chilly the year I went the beginning of January.

 

[mgc]

I was there last Thanksgiving weekend, Arrived on Friday but did the parks on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and I found it surprisingly better than expected. We usually go in February during the week of Presidents Day and I found the Thanksgiving weekend to be much better crowd wise. Also, if you have interest in MVMCP, you can do that during Thanksgiving but not New Years.

 

[Rimmit]

I don't think I've ever seen phased closures for Thanksgiving. I've definitely been involved in phased closures on New Years Eve, including turn of the millennium. I'd go Thanksgiving. It's been pretty busy, but I never felt it was as suffocating as the Christmas break season. Thanksgiving is a big "family" holiday, and more people travel to see family on it than Christmas.

 

[clm10308]

Either Thanksgiving or Jan 2/4. With the way Christmas falls this year many school districts will be out until the 6th or 7th, so Jan 2/4 could still be pretty busy. I once did a trip that first week in Jan, but more recent reports make it would like that is not the lower attendance time that it used to be.