Thanksgiving Week-end???

[JANIE G.]

Can anyone tell me how crowded the parks are for Thanksgiving and for the week-end following? Please let me know any of your experiences, as we're contemplating going but are a little hesitant.

Thanks,
Janie

 

[tjmouse]

Crowded. MK will probably reach capacity on Thanksgiving day. The following weekend is usually just as busy with most people checking out Sunday night or Monday.

 

[ktglads]

I have done the parks the past 2 years that weekend. Friday - did MGM, went to 2nd Fantasmic, was about 3/4 full. Park wasn't too bad, but didn't get there until dinner time
Saturday - Epcot - 75 min waits at Test Track; everything else was 15 or less. I would hedge to guess Soarin would have long lines as well. This is a busy day, but Epcot can hold more people than MK so it was never overwhelming.

Sunday - MK - about as busy as mid-May. Most people start leaving this day. By Monday, the parks are not too busy, although it was busier last year than the year before, but I'm not sure if those were displaced hurricane travelers or additions to that time of year

 

[smjj]

We did it about 2 yrs. ago and they are busy with most folks starting to go home that Sunday after. From Monday on it was pretty quiet. We plan on doing this same senerio this year but this time fly in on the Monday after..smjj

 

[goofy4tink]

We checked in on Thanksgiving Day '04. Walked over to MGM from BWV...it was pretty crowded...70 minute stand-by for StarTours. We went back and checked out Epcot...that was pretty full too!!! Went to Chef Mickey's for T-day dinner....from the looks of it, MK was full to overflowing by late afternoon. The parks were crowded from then on...on Sunday, people started leaving. But there was still a good amount of people in the parks on Monday! On Tuesday it got really nice and by Weds...our departure day...it looked wonderful!!! I'm arriving on Nov 30 this year and hoping the parks are okay until the week-end...I would think the crowds will pick up then.

 

[KevinM]

We are arriving mid-afternoon on the Sat. after Thanksgiving and don't plan to go near the parks that day. I was hoping Sunday would be less busy - Touringplans.com gave the day a 4 on a scale of 1-10 (4 is now the lowest all year).

Oh well, we'll be there for 8 days. Plently of time to enjoy the parks!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

We stayed for 7 days over Thanksgiving 2 years ago and had a great time! I don't remember it being all that crowded, though. One suggestion I could make is to make your Thanksgiving Day lunch/dinner reservations as soon as possible. The best restaurants get booked within days of availablility! We didn't make any, deciding to wing it, and ended up eating at Portabello Yacht Club. Great food, but not our first choice, for sure!

 

[JANIE G.]

Thanks so much for all of our input.

 

[addicted2disney]

For someone ( me ) who is used to the extremely low crowds we see on our annual January trip, I still dont think our Thanksgiving trips are all that bad. I found MGM to be quite uncrowded on Thanksgiving day. We made a PS for dinner that was a Fantasmic dinner package, and 30 minutes before the show, there were still seats!! We didnt even need the package. I do know to avoid MK at all costs on Turkey day, but MGM wasnt bad. We were in EPcot the time before that on Thanksgiving evening, and when we walked thru Epcots gates at 5:30 pm, there wasnt a single person in line for SPace ship earth. With so many special holiday things going on starting that weekend, we basically try to do those during the busiest days. You can see the different Christmas storytellers in all of the countries at Epcot, watch the parades in the parks and see their holiday touches, see the Osbourne Lights at MGM, resort hop and check out the huge gingerbread house at GF, and the other beautiful things at the other resorts. Of course there is MVMCP, and we even did that TWICE last year. One night we did rides, the other we did shows. The Christmas parade at the party is AWESOME and they make it snow on Main Street. I love the Christmas decorations everywhere, and listening to the christmas music piped in throughout the parks. Its a great time to go. By the time Monday rolls around, the crowds are significantly less and you can get more done. BUt we really try to enjoy the atmosphere of the holiday rather that try to ride every ride. I was surprised at the not too bad waits,and we use fast pass when we need to. We are making our 3rd THanksgiving trip this year. I cant wait!!!!!!!

 

[Disneyfrek]

We went the week of Thanksgiving and the week after 2 years ago. I thought the crowds were worse the week after. Also, there were 7 of us and no one wanted to make special dinner reservations for Thanksgiving, until, of course that day. We were able to have dinner at the Living Seas with about 3 hours notice. They even had turkey. We are going again the same time this year, but I am making reservations just in case.