Thanksgiving Week 2012- HELP

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Hi everyone,

Just booked my kids' first trip to Disneyland! We arrive on Saturday, November 17 around dinner time and depart on Saturday, November 24 on the red-eye (leaves around 11pm).

I need some help in choosing which days to go to Disneyland to avoid the crowds.

In reading the different threads, it appears that spending the days of Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the best because of the annual pass blockout dates--- is that still an accurate assessment?

My plan is to go for four days: Sunday the 18th, Thursday the 22nd, Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th. Good plan?

LOVE YOU GUYS!

 

[Eeee-va]

In reading the different threads, it appears that spending the days of Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the best because of the annual pass blockout dates--- is that still an accurate assessment?

My plan is to go for four days: Sunday the 18th, Thursday the 22nd, Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th. Good plan?

LOVE YOU GUYS!

It seems to have been accurate this year. It was definitely busy Friday night after Thanksgiving (when I came in) and on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, but not terrible, IMO. The parks are open late hours every day that week, so you do not need to start on Sunday to get an extra day of shows/etc.

If I were already out of town think I'd consider going on Thanksgiving just because that'd be an interesting day to go (and I think early morning crowds would be low, too!) but if you have Thanksgiving plans then that's fine.

I don't know what your other plans are or how big your party is, but adding a 5th day doesn't cost very much more per person, so if you wanted to just do a long morning or an evening in the parks, you could look into that as well. With the crowds, it can be a bit of a challenge to do everything you want to.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Definitely going to a park on Thanksgving- and getting there as the park opens.

Which park would you do on Thanksgiving----- Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure?

 

[sonnyjane]

Definitely going to a park on Thanksgving- and getting there as the park opens.

Which park would you do on Thanksgiving----- Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure?

I would definitely not limit yourself to one park per day. Hopping is so easy with the parks being just steps from each other that I always recommend hopping. I suggest starting off in Disneyland (it opens earlier), collect FP's and hit some popular rides while the lines are short, then head over to DCA to collect FP's and ride things or catch a show like Aladdin, then go back to Disneyland to use the FP's and maybe watch fireworks, then you could even head back to DCA to catch World of Color. In other words, just look at the whole Disneyland/California Adventure resort as one big theme park, not two separate ones.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I would definitely not limit yourself to one park per day. Hopping is so easy with the parks being just steps from each other that I always recommend hopping. I suggest starting off in Disneyland (it opens earlier), collect FP's and hit some popular rides while the lines are short, then head over to DCA to collect FP's and ride things or catch a show like Aladdin, then go back to Disneyland to use the FP's and maybe watch fireworks, then you could even head back to DCA to catch World of Color. In other words, just look at the whole Disneyland/California Adventure resort as one big theme park, not two separate ones.

I too would always recommend hopping and can't imagine going myself without that option. However, if, for whatever reason, you choose to go with non-hopping passes, I feel DCA is less busy than Disneyland on Thanksgiving day, especially in the evening. Of course, next year the construction will be done, and who knows what the crowd patterns will be like then?

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

I am definitely not a park hopper. I was thinking DCA would be better and then we can head to Storyteller's Cafe for their "special" thanksgiving dinner.

I am getting the PH ticket just in case.

 

[sonnyjane]

I am definitely not a park hopper.

That's an okay strategy at Walt Disney World where it can be a time-consuming hassle to shuttle between parks, but it takes about 90 seconds to walk from Disneyland to Califonia Adventure. Not hopping would be a huge shame.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I am definitely not a park hopper. I was thinking DCA would be better and then we can head to Storyteller's Cafe for their "special" thanksgiving dinner.

I am getting the PH ticket just in case.

We enjoy the Storyteller's Thanksgiving dinner. You will definitely want to make a priority seating for that. You can only do that starting 60 days out though, so that's not something you need to worry about now obviously.

I, and probably most experienced Disneylanders on this board, agree with sonnyjane about the ease of parkhopping. I'm glad you're getting the PH tickets. Once you have them in hand and see how close everything is too each other, you won't be able to keep yourself from hopping.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Hi everyone.

Thanks for your input. Here's my plan and I would love to know what you think:

Saturday, Nov. 17: arrive
Sunday, Nov. 18: morning at DL and evening at DCA (dinner at Ariel's, then WOC)
Monday, Nov. 19: L.A./ Hollywood Tour
Tuesday, Nov. 20: Warner Bros. Studios Tour
Wednesday, Nov. 21: morning at DCA and evening at DL for fireworks
Thursday, THANKSGIVING: Magic Morning at DL, afternoon at DCA and dinner at Storyteller's Cafe
Friday, Nov. 23 depends on what we have not seen yet
Saturday, Nov. 24: depart

Staying at the Park Vue Inn- I need a two room suite (my mom snores. ) and I have read very good reviews.