Thanksgiving vs last week of February

[SwanVT2]

Teacher here trying to reschedule a cancelled trip. I found out I get full week of Thanksgiving off. We only have tickets for two park days, MK and AK and a day for discovery cove then want to shop and eat out at DS for off days. Wondering if we go week of Thanksgiving and do MK on Thanksgiving day if that might work in terms of lower crowds? Fly down Sunday, Monday DS, Tuesday AK, Wednesday DC, Thursday MK, Friday DS then fly home Saturday? Home is VT. But crowded airports and poor weather around Thanksgiving could be issue? February runs risk of bad weather when traveling and being sick during winter breaks, which tends to happen. wWYD? Thanks!

 

[Marthasor]

It depends on if you prefer better weather or lower crowds. Crowds during Thanksgiving week will be epic along with flight/hotel prices and other travel costs. February will most likely have lower crowds, but temps can be low. I wouldn't count on going to Discovery Cove in Feb. If I had to choose, I would do Feb. I have found November, in general, to be quite crowded at WDW.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Do MK Monday or Tuesday if going Thanksgiving week.
Many schools only have Wed-Sun.
So Thurs/Fri/Sat are the most crowded of that week for any of the area attractions.
Been many times in Mid/Late November and rarely have I had a weather issue.

February can be a bigger weather concern for flights.
And yes more likely that someone may end up with the flu etc.
But as longas you're going the week AFTER President's Day week the crowds would be lower.

 

[Beachmom0317]

I would do Thanksgiving week but NOT do parks in the end of the week. I would do your parks Monday and Tuesday. Thanksgiving is very crowded, but it hasnt stopped us from enjoying resorts and Disney Springs- just get to Disney springs early in the day as it'll be very crowded in PM.

I live in MA and yes ugh flu season! There's that and wild weather in February. Even if VT airports are prepped to handle snowstorms (I use Logan and they are always great) delays can happen if a snowstorm hits another part of the country and it can trickle down to other areas. Also Christmas decor will be up by Thanksgiving! DS Christmas tree stroll, MK will be decorated and the resorts.

 

[DeeBee3]

Also vote for Thanksgiving week and parks in early part of week. Most kids are not getting the whole week off (NY) so it should be less crowded. Any time I go to Disney in winter months, it ends up being freezing so there would be no water time for us.

 

[SwanVT2]

I would do Thanksgiving week but NOT do parks in the end of the week. I would do your parks Monday and Tuesday. Thanksgiving is very crowded, but it hasnt stopped us from enjoying resorts and Disney Springs- just get to Disney springs early in the day as it'll be very crowded in PM.

I live in MA and yes ugh flu season! There's that and wild weather in February. Even if VT airports are prepped to handle snowstorms (I use Logan and they are always great) delays can happen if a snowstorm hits another part of the country and it can trickle down to other areas. Also Christmas decor will be up by Thanksgiving! DS Christmas tree stroll, MK will be decorated and the resorts.

We usually go last week of February as our break falls after the week of Presidents. For us the weather in Orlando in February is a nice reprieve but it is always a roll of the dice with snowstorms and flying!

 

[CarolynFH]

Back in the day before New Fantasyland increased MK capacity, it was not unusual for phased closures to occur at MK on Thanksgiving Day. And it's still extremely busy that day. Also, keep in mind that the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when "everyone" has to get home for work and school on Monday, is THE heaviest travel day of the year. When Thanksgiving was our usual week to visit, we'd leave on Saturday to avoid those crowds at the airports. So I agree with recommendations above to do the parks early in the week - again, when Thanksgiving was our usual week, the parks became noticeably more crowded on Wednesday than they had been on Monday or Tuesday. Given the choice of dates you have, we'd pick the end of February, but we wouldn't be trying to visit Discovery Cove. November would be better for that.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The weather is so variable though. The year we did mid-Feb, 2018, weather was better than any Halloween - early Nov weeks we've done since. And we had perfectly nice weather for Discovery Cove in early Dec, albeit chillier than Feb was.

 

[SwanVT2]

Back in the day before New Fantasyland increased MK capacity, it was not unusual for phased closures to occur at MK on Thanksgiving Day. And it's still extremely busy that day. Also, keep in mind that the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when "everyone" has to get home for work and school on Monday, is THE heaviest travel day of the year. When Thanksgiving was our usual week to visit, we'd leave on Saturday to avoid those crowds at the airports. So I agree with recommendations above to do the parks early in the week - again, when Thanksgiving was our usual week, the parks became noticeably more crowded on Wednesday than they had been on Monday or Tuesday. Given the choice of dates you have, we'd pick the end of February, but we wouldn't be trying to visit Discovery Cove. November would be better for that.

We have done DC in February and have found the wet suit they give keep us warm. Thank you for the info!

 

[ngl]

Teacher here trying to reschedule a cancelled trip. I found out I get full week of Thanksgiving off. We only have tickets for two park days, MK and AK and a day for discovery cove then want to shop and eat out at DS for off days. Wondering if we go week of Thanksgiving and do MK on Thanksgiving day if that might work in terms of lower crowds? Fly down Sunday, Monday DS, Tuesday AK, Wednesday DC, Thursday MK, Friday DS then fly home Saturday? Home is VT. But crowded airports and poor weather around Thanksgiving could be issue? February runs risk of bad weather when traveling and being sick during winter breaks, which tends to happen. wWYD? Thanks!

We live in FL 1.5 hrs from WDW and think we have been to the parks every week of the year. As others have said, Tgiving is fine until Wednesday and then very crowded through the weekend. Having said that, if you are contemplating President's Day week that is even more crowded. I think every one from up north with school aged kids comes down that week to escape the cold! Definitely more crowded. Weather in general is "better" at Tgiving. We rarely get cold spells that week. February is completely hit or miss. Could be 30 and could be 80.

 

[SwanVT2]

We live in FL 1.5 hrs from WDW and think we have been to the parks every week of the year. As others have said, Tgiving is fine until Wednesday and then very crowded through the weekend. Having said that, if you are contemplating President's Day week that is even more crowded. I think every one from up north with school aged kids comes down that week to escape the cold! Definitely more crowded. Weather in general is "better" at Tgiving. We rarely get cold spells that week. February is completely hit or miss. Could be 30 and could be 80.

Thanks! Our vacation is the week after president’s day

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The weather is so variable though. The year we did mid-Feb, 2018, weather was better than any Halloween - early Nov weeks we've done since. And we had perfectly nice weather for Discovery Cove in early Dec, albeit chillier than Feb was.

I went mid February 2018 as well. Shorts every day and no jacket. It was great.
Also been in November with winter coats.
And this is why I like August. You know what you're gonna get lol.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I was in MK on Thanksgiving day this year...it was busy! I got there for early entry and the morning was ok, I got a lot done and was able to get a few extra lightning lanes right away. But around 11am, it picked up and was BUSY! We had a lunch reservation at Diamond Horseshoe at 2. Didn't get seated until 3:30. We left the parks right after we finished eating because it was just too much at that point. I was there the whole week - arrived the Sunday before Thanksgiving and left the Saturday after. Do the parks earlier in the week - BUT watch for Christmas Parties. I went to MK on the Sunday before and there was a MVMCP that night so the park closed at 6. There was another party on Tuesday. So wait for the party dates to drop if you are only doing 1 day in the park.

BTW - I'll definitely be back for Thanksgiving week again. Maybe I'll see you around the parks.

 

[SwanVT2]

I was in MK on Thanksgiving day this year...it was busy! I got there for early entry and the morning was ok, I got a lot done and was able to get a few extra lightning lanes right away. But around 11am, it picked up and was BUSY! We had a lunch reservation at Diamond Horseshoe at 2. Didn't get seated until 3:30. We left the parks right after we finished eating because it was just too much at that point. I was there the whole week - arrived the Sunday before Thanksgiving and left the Saturday after. Do the parks earlier in the week - BUT watch for Christmas Parties. I went to MK on the Sunday before and there was a MVMCP that night so the park closed at 6. There was another party on Tuesday. So wait for the party dates to drop if you are only doing 1 day in the park.

BTW - I'll definitely be back for Thanksgiving week again. Maybe I'll see you around the parks.

I was just wondering about the Christmas party. DD does not like crowds, but having a full week off at Thanksgiving and getting to see the Christmas decorations at Disney is tempting. Thank you for the info!