Thanksgiving strategy

[Princess Sleepy]

I am trying to form a plan and could use some help. I have three possible options for trips and would like to hear from people who have been to WDW or DLR during Thanksgiving to help me out.

Group will possibly include me, DH, DD8, DD5, DSIL, DBIL, DN7, DN5, DN1, DMIL, DAunt, DUncle, DCousin (adult), and her son 9. None of the in-laws will have been to any kind of Disney park before. The rest of us are veterans.

Option 1: WDW for some number of days from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after. Possibly only from the Wednesday until Sunday.

Option 2: DLR for the same time period.

Option 3: DLR of a long weekend in early November to celebrate DD's 8th birthday instead of celebrating Thanksgiving. (This option might only include my immediate family and my MIL.)

I have heard different stories on how busy DLR is over Thanksgiving and wonder how it might compare to WDW. I am the only one who has been to DLR, and that was 12 years ago.

Any advice would be welcome.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

We were at WDW this past year from Nov 21 - 30. I highly recommend using tourguidemike.com and utilizing his advice on which park to go to on which day. We had absolutely no problems with lines by doing this, and I would go again this time of year. The weather was glorious! (70's to low 80's)

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Are the parks decorated for Christmas during Thanksgiving week?

 

[radius]

I cant speak for WDW for thanksgiving but I can speak for DLR. Last time I was in DLR for thanksgiving was in 2007. I do remember seeing the big christmas tree on main street but I cant remember if DLR is fully decked out in christmas gear by then or not. I think at that time they are putting it all out. That was in 2007, so I am sure lots has changed. Crowds are light until the day before and day after thanksgiving. They got real heavy once kids were out of school, work, etc. Its a good time of year to be in DLR. I think we only had one overcast light rainy day, and we liked it because no one was at DLR. Have fun!

 

[radius]

Sorry, I forgot to mention we were there for 7 days. Thanksgiving landed in the middle of our trip so we got to see the crowd go from nothing to long lines then back to nothing before we left. DLR splash mountain line was maybe 5 minutes, if that, before thanksgiving. Pirates had the longest line (movie came out in 2007) due to the movie goers rush. Indiana jones and space mountain lines were maybe 10 - 15 minutes in the peak time of the day. No lines for food, etc. I would definitely go back during that time if we could!!!!

 

[Princess Sleepy]

Are there good places to eat Thanksgiving dinner at DLR?

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have been to WDW several times and it is actually my favorite time of the year to visit. The weather is great and the parks are decorated for Christmas. Crowds a very light the first part of the week - crowds are heavier on Wed-Thur-Fri of Thanksgiving week but still able to do most everything...just a long wait in line.

 

[luvsJack]

We have only been to wdw at Thanksgiving and over the past three trips (each 2 years apart) there has been a big jump in the size of the crowds.

We always arrive the Saturday before and leave the Saturday after. The best days are the Saturday before through the Tuesday before.

On the last trip we used Tourguide Mike and went to the parks on his recommended days. Between that and using fast pass, the crowds didn't bother us too much except on the buses.