Thanksgiving vs. Christmas

[VinceL]

We've book a 2br @ BWV for Thanksgiving week, arriving Sat before and leaving Sat after. In 2005 we arrived the day after Xmas and stayed threw the new year. Has anyone done both? Is Thanksgiving any where near as crowded as Christmas? When we went at Christmas it was just crazy! It took us a couple days to figure out how to handle the crowds. With the super long days, parks open until 2am, we would get to parks as they opened, stay a couple hours. Then we'd head back to the resort and relax, then go back to the parks late at night. I don't think we'd ever go back again that week, but the atmosphere was amazing! New years eve by far was the busiest day i've ever seen at any of the parks!!!

So back to my question, if anyone has experience both, what are we in store for Thanksgiving week? Obvisouly i'm expecting it to be very busy, but i'm surprised that the majority of the week excluding Thur/Fri/Sat are second to the bottom on the chart of busy times based off of DVC rental rates.

 

[byoung]

Sorry them weeks are too crowded for me.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

We went this year from the Thursday before Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving day. The first part of the trip was nice the crowds were very minimal! Then on Wednesday morning we went out to the bus stop and was like where did all these people come from ?? I swear they tripled overnight!

 

[Starr W.]

We went this year from the Thursday before Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving day. The first part of the trip was nice the crowds were very minimal! Then on Wednesday morning we went out to the bus stop and was like where did all these people come from ?? I swear they tripled overnight!

I would agree with you! We did AK on Thanksgiving day and you couldn't move through the Africa section due to the amount of strollers. It was nice earlier in the week. We did MGM on Wednesday morning and it wasn't bad until about 1pm.

To be honest I think the cool weather really helped thin MK & Epcot out in the evenings earlier in the week.

We're going back this year, Sat-Friday after Turkey day.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

To be honest I think the cool weather really helped thin MK & Epcot out in the evenings earlier in the week.

Yes, It was freezing Tuesday and Wednesday! The weather was really nice the rest of the time.

 

[bridgemanva]

We've done both and prefer Thanksgiving week. You have the lesser crowds earlier in the week which gives time to get to all the "have too's" and then once the crowds arrive there's less "stress". Also, you have the "magic" of the Christmas transformation in the parks and catch the first performance of the Candlelight Processional which has been the final touch on all of our Thanksgiving family trips.

Christmas/NewYears was okay but when we've gone I've not taken anyone who hasn't been to WDW before b/c with the crowds you have to be okay with the crowds and lines. However, One of our favorite memories was ringing in the New Year Cresting the falls on Splash Mountain as the Fireworks Exploded above us. My son had ridden and timed the ride with the support of the cast members running the ride got us all in the right log at the right time. We were the first picture of the year and the cast members even changed the picture backgound for the new year and gave it to us as a keepsake. Magical memory.

No matter what you chose advance planning will it make a great experience; get Priority Seating reservations at the opening reservation window. Keep in mind with the crowds if you do in park ressies you have to be in the park where the ressie is if the gates are closed due to capacity (by the Fire Marshall) you can't get in.

 

[BTDTGB]

However, One of our favorite memories was ringing in the New Year Cresting the falls on Splash Mountain as the Fireworks Exploded above us.

My favorite Disney memory is very similar. My DD, at the time 7, were on BTM while the fireworks exploded over head. She looked at me and said "I am going to remember this for ever." As will I.

 

[rie'smom]

We were there this past Thanksgiving-Sun to Sat. The crowds weren't bad. Of course, we weren't at the MK on Turkey Day.
This year at Thanksgiving we're going from Fri-Wed. My daughter wants to celebrate Thanksgiving at home.