Thanksgiving Week Crowd Levels and How Best to Plan Around Them

[persimmondeb]

This question is really for my sister, who is planning a trip with her DS (9) and her husband. I may or may not be accompanying them, since I will cheerfully trade babysitting for Disney!

Her current plan is fly in to Orlando the Friday before Thanksgiving, and do at least one day at WWOHP, several days at Disney, one day at Sea World, and one day at Gatorland, probably flying back out to Her Philadelphia on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Obviously, it's going to be crowded. Her husband would like to do Galaxy's Edge but we're not sure it's feasible, except possibly by rope dropping on Monday. He would be willing to pay for an "After Hours" event if one is on offer for his dates. She would also like to do MVMCP, but since the dates aren't released yet, it's hard to plan for it. Our assumption is that the weekend will be very busy, the beginning of the week a little less so, and then increasingly until Armageddon is achieved by Black Friday. For this reason, it will probably be Sea World on Thanksgiving and Gatorland on Friday, but we're a little stumped by how to arrange the beginning of the trip.

IF MVMCP was offered for Sunday, it might make sense to do that, with Epcot on Saturday, AK on Monday, some combination of parks on Tuesday (or possibly a Universal day), WWOHP on Wednesday, and then Sea World and Gatorland. We will rope drop, have hoppers, and probably be on property for at least some of the trip.

Suggestions? Best strategies?

Thanks!

 

[Wild4Walt]

That's a lot to fit in, especially with the dates being over a holiday week. Not that it's not do-able but it will definitely take some planning.

I'd consider staying at UO for the HP and Seaworld days - you get some perks if staying onsite depending on which UO resort you choose that can make the split stay worth it during that time of the year.

Other than that, I'd make a short list of Must-Do's and another short list of If We Have Times. It's impossible to do it all even during the best times. ADRs for dining will be critical too.

 

[SaintsManiac]

There will not be MVMCP that week. They will probably have one on Friday that she arrives, so they would have to do it then.

It’s really not that bad. We’ve done it before and will be there the same dates this year.

Plan the FPs and your dining and pack your patience. It’s a great time to be at WDW.

 

[CynBeth]

I would suggest they do Epcot on Black Friday because of the Candlelight Processional if they are interested. I would do SW the day after they arrive as last year the special holiday evening shows began that day and aren’t held on weekdays until closer to Christmas I believe.

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

Agreed Friday when they arrive would likely be the only MVMCP that week. We often go that week and it’s quite manageable with a good plan. Especially Saturday and Sunday won’t be too bad so she should jump right in when she arrives!

 

[soniam]

I know this sounds crazy, but it seemed more crowded last week than when we went the week of Thanksgiving, including the weekend after, last November. I don't know why, but wait times seemed much worse in the afternoons. Mornings weren't bad on either trip. Rope drop is extremely important.