Thanksgiving Stays at WDW?

[yandbfan]

Has anyone stayed at WDW during the Thanksgiving holiday? Any comments on crowds? We have already started checking on availability and it is obviously very limited. Anything special at the parks? We were thinking of flying out the Tuesday before and then leaving Friday morning. Good plan?

 

[CraftyMouse]

Are you looking for something for this year? If so, I think you're going to have a rough time of it this close to Thanksgiving. Most people who travel during the holiday seasons book right at the 11/7 month windows. We're now less than 3 months out so finding availability is going to be difficult.

If you're looking for next year the booking windows have not yet opened. Plan to book your home resort at the 11-month window and then, if you want to stay elsewhere, try to change it at the 7-month window (but be prepared to waitlist).

As for your questions, crowds are usually very heavy during Thanksgiving week. It's not quite as bad as Christmas or Spring Break but it's crowded, nonetheless. Plan to be at the parks at opening, take a midday break and then go back in the evening to avoid the worst of it.

 

[carol1231]

We spent last Thanksgiving at OKW last year. Crowds were heavy, but we just took our time and spent a lot of time at the pool (which is what we like the best anyways).

 

[Starr W.]

This will be our 3rd Thanksgiving at WDW. We come in the weekend before and leave on Black Friday. The crowds really pick up on Wednesday, as you really notice the jump in the number of people at bus stop on Wednesday am.

We usually stop going to the parks on Wed about noon.

Besides it being late getting a room, it will be tough to get ADR's if you want to do character meals, park restaurants or places like CG. I found out how tough it is to book ADR's our first year when I called in Sept. And it just wasn't Thanksgiving day either.

 

[MinnieGi]

This will be our second Thanksgiving week at WDW. It is very crowded, like summer season just without the humidity. We had a great time and holiday though and can't wait to go again.

 

[DMKEDM]

We go "every" T-giving (this upcoming one will be our 6th)...it's the most crowded of all the times we go (including this year's first-ever March spring break trip)...we booked at 11 months (day-by-day...probably wasn't needed, as we booked at SSR...but the year we bought DVC (in June), we had to W/L to get our SSR studio)...

As a previous poster suggested, parks and rides, using fast pass strategies, aren't bad at all from opening til 11 or so...by noon, it's packed...late afternoons & evenings are more crowded than mornings, but not as bad as early to mid afternoon...Monday & Tuesday are noticeably less crowded than Wed-Thurs-Fri & Sat...crowds lighten up again by Sunday...

Downtown Disney at night is wall-to-wall...we try to do it at lunch time instead...

But the atmosphere is phenomenal...the holiday decorations are breathtaking in the parks and at the resorts...we absolutely love it and by now it just wouldn't be T-giving for us if we didn't go to Disney!

Of course, now that we have DVC we go to WDW a lot...so we have no "need" to commando or do any particular ride...last T-giving I rode only one ride in an entire week...not that I "couldn't"--just preferred to stroll and look and absorb the atmosphere...it was one of our best trips ever!

 

[chorlick]

We've been on a waitlist for anything for that time period and there is nothing so far. I've been waiting since May. I wouldn't hold my breath!