Thanksgiving week crowds?

[teammom]

We will be be going to IOA on the friday after thanksgiving and I'm wondering about the crowds and should I get that extra Express pass I'm reading about. Has anyone been there during that time? We are staying at WDW.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

It will be very crowded on that day, and an express pass would be a good idea. I would book one early if I was you.

 

[JenniferW]

It will be busy unless it happens to rain in the morning. If it rains, but looks like it will clear up later I'd go since the crowds would be so light.

I would buy the express if you can, makes life much more pleasant.

Jenn

 

[Disney Dee]

The monday after thanksgiving will be much less crowded if you can go then, I would.

 

[phamton]

Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are very crowded. Either stay onsite or buy an express pass plus.

 

[DebBrown01]

What about the Wednesday before Thanksgiving? I suspect it won't be as crowded as the Friday and Saturday but IIRC it can still be busy.

We bought the Express Plus tickets online for IOA but now I'm disappointed to see that they are only good for one time on each ride. Any chance I can get a refund if they are not needed or if no express lines are open?

Deb

 

[phamton]

It won't be too busy the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. If you do Universal Studios in the morning without the express, then in the afternoon go over to IoA and use your express where it will be busier in the afternoon.

The express passes are non-refundable that's why I advise waiting to buy them after you are already in the parks to see if you need them first. The express lines will be open for express pass plus and for hotel guests.

 

[DebBrown01]

Thanks for the quick response, phamton. I suppose I am naive but because the website stated that only a certain number of Express Plus tickets are available per day, I was afraid they would be sold out when we arrived.

We only bought one day passes for the IOA park so maybe we just wait in lines in the morning and save the passes for the afternoon when it is more crowded.

Do you know if the restaurants are open past closing time? I was interested in making a dinner reservation at Mythos. The park closes at 7 but could we eat dinner at 6 and then leave?

Any other advice?

Deb

 

[phamton]

Most of the restaurants close before park closing. Mythos often closes at 3:00 PM. I'd call and make a reservation if I were you so you would know the closing time when you go. I think you have a great plan with saving the express for when it gets busy. If the wait time is short for a ride, then don't use it then. You will like Express pass plus though because with express pass plus you can pick the time you want to go on the ride rather than waiting for a window to ride like Disney fast passes. Plus you can use them on all the rides and shows except for PTFlyers.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Phamton,
Do you still get to ride MIB every once in a while? We were there the end of October and MIB was a mess. There were several technical difficulties. I let the attendants know and all they did was offer faster re-rides. I told them that it wasn't any fun to ride when the absent opposing car had a higher average or when we definitely smoke the other car and Will tells us different or times when there was no Will screen at all.
We will be there Saturday. Want to ride?

 

[phamton]

I rode yesterday for the first time in 3 months. Lots of technical glitches when I rode, mostly with the car averages, etc. I didn't have any problem with the guns or any of the targets, just the car averages and the endings were really off. I'm working Saturday so I'll have to take a raincheck.