Thanksgiving Week 2016 Particularly 11/22 @ MK

[socababy]

We were at MK on the 22nd too and yes it was crowded but I felt we still got a ton done! We were there for rope drop despite the monorail not running! We walked onto jungle cruise, Pirates and splash mountain. Well my daughter did splash by herself because it was chilly for the rest of us! We then went on HM, small world, mickeys Philharmagic and Winnie the Pooh before our 10:45 BTMR FP. Had lunch at CP at 12:20. Then hit people mover, carousel of progress, laugh floor and then used our FP for space and mine train. FP fir Space was backed up and we waited 30 min. After those FP were used, I was able to grab another FP for dumbo and then another for the tea cups. We took a lot of photo pass pics and did some shopping and left about 6 for an ADR at Waves. I was happy with what we got done that day. We are returning Thanksgiving week next year too!

 

[sharadoc]

We checked in 11/18 and out 11/26. We are also rethinking this week as an option for the future, we've done it a few times in the past and were fine with the crowds. This year seemed totally out of control.

The one thing I wondered about was the number of foreign visitors, from all over the world. Were they aware that this week was an American holiday week? It seemed like there was at least 50% visitors from outside the US. Most of those folks were not staying on site and did not have fastpasses in advance, so there were 1/2 hour to 1 hour waits just for the kiosks. I felt really bad for them, especially for first time visitors. Not the greatest experience.

We thought the 19th would be good, but it was awful. My son with autism had a major meltdown because of the crowds, we had to work hard to calm him down and get him out of the park. We always have good luck from Wishes time on, so we did fine the evening of 11/20 and 11/22. So many things were 15 minutes or less wait. That's always my advice - sleep late and go to MK during Wishes. Used to be even better when there was a nighttime parade, then you could start the walk-ons during the first parade.

Overall, I'm not sure if Thanksgiving is worth it. All of the resort decorations were not up yet, we ate at Captain's Grille for brunch on Thanksgiving and the trains were not up, the host there told me probably in about a week. Epcot did not have as much, they seemed to focus on the food and drink booths. We regretted going there instead of DHS to see the new Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! fireworks on Friday 11/25.

 

[Lulubelle17]

We were there from Monday 11/21 to Friday 11/25. We had been in WDW for Thanksgiving in 2014 and didn't remember it being that crowded. It was busy! We enjoyed EPCOT on Monday afternoon and Tuesday, and went to MK on Wednesday. The lines were really long, so we weren't able to do 7DMT and other favorites, but we still enjoyed what we were able to do, had a Dole whip, and overall had fun. We ended up upgrading our tickets to AP so that we can come back when it's less crowded (and after this, I'm sure any other day will literally feel like a walk in the park!!!). We were in DHS on Thanksgiving day, we got there right at rope drop and got in line for Jedi training. I couldn't believe how many people were already in line at 8:30!!!! But my kids made it to the training and were super excited. We also met Moana and Doctor strange. We left DHS at 4:00 and went back to AKL for dinner at Boma, which was delicious.

We had fun. Yes, it was crowded, but we took it easy and enjoyed ourselves. I think our goal was not to do every single ride, but to enjoy the parks. And that's what we did. We'll go back for the rides in late January when crowds are lower. Can't wait to use our AP!!!

 

[Angie789]

We were there during Thanksgiving Week (MK on 11/20, 11/22 and 11/25; HS on 11/21, and AK on 11/24). Tuesday the 22nd was by far the most crowded day we experienced. We still had a fun day and used rope drop and Fast Passes to get stuff done, but if I had known how crowded it was going to be, I would have organized our park days differently.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I'm glad the day worked well for you. Sounds like you were able to get most things in before the madness of headliners breaking down and standby lines being shut down to clear the FP lines LOL! With 3 older kids, we don't rope drop. Actually never really have and it has been fine with the plan I set up and our FPs. We have also been lucky and have a hard time waiting really long for anything, so that also shapes my perception. I think being at the parks for rope is becoming mandatory for this week or, as Sharon said, going late.

We were at MK on the 22nd too and yes it was crowded but I felt we still got a ton done! We were there for rope drop despite the monorail not running! We walked onto jungle cruise, Pirates and splash mountain. Well my daughter did splash by herself because it was chilly for the rest of us! We then went on HM, small world, mickeys Philharmagic and Winnie the Pooh before our 10:45 BTMR FP. Had lunch at CP at 12:20. Then hit people mover, carousel of progress, laugh floor and then used our FP for space and mine train. FP fir Space was backed up and we waited 30 min. After those FP were used, I was able to grab another FP for dumbo and then another for the tea cups. We took a lot of photo pass pics and did some shopping and left about 6 for an ADR at Waves. I was happy with what we got done that day. We are returning Thanksgiving week next year too!

Sharon, I'm sorry your son had an issue. I can certainly understand that with those crowds. I saw a lot of visitors from other countries too. I remember thinking that there were many more than I had seen in the past. And yes, lots of confused faces. Many people were walking up to scan their bands for FP, and told they had a FP for a completely different ride. One family went nuts on a higher level CM (plaid vest) that was helping with crowd control at 7DMT saying that since they had one FP and the colored bands (grey) they should be able to use the bands for FP for all rides.

We checked in 11/18 and out 11/26. We are also rethinking this week as an option for the future, we've done it a few times in the past and were fine with the crowds. This year seemed totally out of control.

The one thing I wondered about was the number of foreign visitors, from all over the world. Were they aware that this week was an American holiday week? It seemed like there was at least 50% visitors from outside the US. Most of those folks were not staying on site and did not have fastpasses in advance, so there were 1/2 hour to 1 hour waits just for the kiosks. I felt really bad for them, especially for first time visitors. Not the greatest experience.

We thought the 19th would be good, but it was awful. My son with autism had a major meltdown because of the crowds, we had to work hard to calm him down and get him out of the park. We always have good luck from Wishes time on, so we did fine the evening of 11/20 and 11/22. So many things were 15 minutes or less wait. That's always my advice - sleep late and go to MK during Wishes. Used to be even better when there was a nighttime parade, then you could start the walk-ons during the first parade.

Overall, I'm not sure if Thanksgiving is worth it. All of the resort decorations were not up yet, we ate at Captain's Grille for brunch on Thanksgiving and the trains were not up, the host there told me probably in about a week. Epcot did not have as much, they seemed to focus on the food and drink booths. We regretted going there instead of DHS to see the new Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! fireworks on Friday 11/25.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

All things are better with a dole whip! Enjoy your APs!

We were there from Monday 11/21 to Friday 11/25. We had been in WDW for Thanksgiving in 2014 and didn't remember it being that crowded. It was busy! We enjoyed EPCOT on Monday afternoon and Tuesday, and went to MK on Wednesday. The lines were really long, so we weren't able to do 7DMT and other favorites, but we still enjoyed what we were able to do, had a Dole whip, and overall had fun. We ended up upgrading our tickets to AP so that we can come back when it's less crowded (and after this, I'm sure any other day will literally feel like a walk in the park!!!). We were in DHS on Thanksgiving day, we got there right at rope drop and got in line for Jedi training. I couldn't believe how many people were already in line at 8:30!!!! But my kids made it to the training and were super excited. We also met Moana and Doctor strange. We left DHS at 4:00 and went back to AKL for dinner at Boma, which was delicious.

We had fun. Yes, it was crowded, but we took it easy and enjoyed ourselves. I think our goal was not to do every single ride, but to enjoy the parks. And that's what we did. We'll go back for the rides in late January when crowds are lower. Can't wait to use our AP!!!

Not sure it would have mattered last week!

We were there during Thanksgiving Week (MK on 11/20, 11/22 and 11/25; HS on 11/21, and AK on 11/24). Tuesday the 22nd was by far the most crowded day we experienced. We still had a fun day and used rope drop and Fast Passes to get stuff done, but if I had known how crowded it was going to be, I would have organized our park days differently.

 

[dmanwi]

We did Universal on th 24th and 26th without the express pass and found it really not busy at all. We were done both days before 5pm with very little waiting except 40 min for Forbidden Journey. MVMCP on the 27th was crowded but not awful.

We did Animal Kingdom on Monday the 28th and found it to be crazy busy. A 60 min line for the Safari at 9:30am. Yes it was a EEM but still. Using FP+ for Everest and Dinosaur was great. Everything else was walk on basically. The paths were just jammed though.

 

[Angie789]

Not sure it would have mattered last week!

I didn't think last week was bad at all, save Tuesday (and even then we did a ton). It all comes down to expectation, I guess.

 

[Minniekins]

How bad is it from like Friday after thanksgiving to Monday after? We wanna try to do a small extra visit then to see the Xmas and do the party the Sunday they start up again after thanksgiving. I suppose it'll be real busy then.

 

[pens4821]

Did taking advantage of AM EMH work well? We did that in every park in February and it was awesome. Now I know it'd be much more crowded, but if anyone went to the EMH were you able to get quite a bit done by the time it started getting busy?

We will end up having to go thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter and thinking thanksgiving would be best. Just wondered if you could get a lot done in one park then make FP for the afternoon in another. Then have the evening to do the more low key stuff (or maybe luck into a low wait here or there).