Thanksgiving week information needed!

[mickeystoontown]

We have been to WDW twelve times over the last ten years so we are very knowledgable about getting around, fastpasses, etc. We normally go in May and June and once, in 2000, we went Thanksgiving week.

We had to cancel our June, 2008 trip and are thinking about rescheduling for Thanksgiving, 2008. We would be leaving our house on the Friday before Thanksgiving and would arrive the Saturday before Thanksgiving around 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. We would be staying through the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving, 2000, our weather started out so nice. We wore jeans and/or lightweight pants and t-shirts during the day and carried a light jacket for the evening. That is until we woke up on our third day and the windchill was 30 degrees. The weather stayed very cool the rest of the trip. Needless to say, we came home with WDW long sleeve t-shirts and sweatshirts.

Back then, the Christmas decorations didn't go up until the day after Thanksgiving. From what I understand, the decorations go up before Thanksgiving now.

I also dont' remember the crowds being really bad either. But, then again, we are used to the June crowds so that may be why it didn't seem crowded during Thanksgiving.

So, can anybody who has been during the Thanksgiving holiday, give me any information relative to the weather, crowds, etc.

I want to know EVERYTHING!

Thanks in advance.

 

[mickeystoontown]

bumping 'cause I know there's somebody out there that can give me info.

 

[DISNEY1975]

We have been to WDW twelve times over the last ten years so we are very knowledgable about getting around, fastpasses, etc. We normally go in May and June and once, in 2000, we went Thanksgiving week.

So, can anybody who has been during the Thanksgiving holiday, give me any information relative to the weather, crowds, etc.

I want to know EVERYTHING!

Thanks in advance.

Nov 25 - Dec 2, 2007

HIGH LOW AVERAGE
Temperature: 83.3 °F / 28.5 °C 60.7 °F / 15.9 °C 71.5 °F / 21.9 °C


November 25 - Dec 2, 2006 (seemed cooler than 2007)

HIGH AVERAGE LOW
Max Temperature 75 °F / 23 °C 66 °F / 18 °C 55 °F / 12 °C
Mean Temperature 68 °F / 20 °C 57 °F / 14 °C 49 °F / 9 °C
Min Temperature 60 °F / 15 °C 48 °F / 9 °C 43 °F / 6 °C

You never know!

As for crowds, same as the weather! 2008 may be tough as some are considering the value w/ ridiculous gas prices.

 

[kadesha]

We'll be there around that time, I'd like to know EVERYTHING as well!

 

[KingGrumpy]

We were there last year over Thanksgiving, from the Saturday before thru the Saturday after. The weather couldn't have been more perfect! 70s and 80s everyday and only had one 20 minute shower the whole week. The crowds were not to bad. In fact, the day before Thanksgiving we were at MK and walked on to every ride we wanted to without fast passes and little to no wait. The Christmas decorations are all out, although the Christmas events and parades are suspended that week. However, we did see a Christmas themed parade at AK. We loved that time of year so much we're going back the same week this year.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Anyone else?

 

[rgrgirl]

We have been going for TG for over 5 years now and know that the weather can really vary. Some years it has been so nice we were wearing shorts and t-shirts. Then a couple years we were wearing gloves and scarf. When we pack we bring a variety of clothes. I can just recommend that you check the weather before you leave.
For the crowds, it gets busier the closer it get to Thankgiving day and then after. We normally don't arrive until the MOnday before. I have heard that the crowds are not that bad the weekend before. We are bumping our trip back to arrive on the Saturday before for that reason. We try to plan what we really want to do att he beginning at the week when the wait will not be as bad.
And the Christmas decorations go up before TG day. Not sure what day it will be, I have to go look that up. We enjoying noticing how each day there are more decorations.
Hope this helps. We love going this time of year!

 

[Zuzu03]

I'll be there from the 19th to the 28th (19-22 conference). And I just found the window decorating thread and since I'll be there alone (can you believe my husband and daughter do not want to go???) I'm also going to decorate my window - just to make myself happy!! Hope we have good weather!

 

[DisneyGirl0102]

I am leaving Nov. 28 until Dec. 7th staying at Port Orleans Riverside. This is a grand gathering--we are going with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and their 3 children. Can't wait!!! It is going to be a great time.

 

[Clubhouse Mickey]

Hi there,

We went for Thanksgiving last year. We got there on Sat before and arrived at hotel around 4-5pm. We stayed until Friday morning, the day after TG.

The crowds were pretty heavy. If you weren't prepared, I could see where it could be overwhelming.

We used tour guide plans and tips from the UG to see the rides we wanted to see most. If we got up early and stuck to the plan, it worked out good.

We also made use of the extra magic hours at night. One night, MK was opened until 3am. We went from about 9pm-midnight and were able to ride several rides without any wait.

Plan any meal reservations now. We had reserved a couple of character meals at 6 mo out, but the rest I did not do until Sept/Oct. I literally was on the phone with Disney Dining every day once or twice for about a month trying to get it all right. Next time, I will plan much farther in advance.

Downtown Disney was not crowded at all. You could have walked into Planet Hollywood without reservations, but we went late afternoon about 3'ish. Not sure about the evening. I did learn though that they only give a few of the ressies to Disney Dining, so have lots of room for those who just show up. On the other hand, at the parks, the restaurants were full and people were being turned away for TG dinner if they did not have prior ressies.

Crystal Palace's TG dinner buffet was awesome. I would definitely go back. We had a blast.

The weather last year was warm. Capris or shorts were definitely the best. Shorts would have been ok but the am's were just a little cool, so personal preference there.

It did not rain much. Just a light rain on TG at MK is all I remember. No biggie.

My biggest advice would be to just plan it all ahead. Know what you want to see and when you plan to do it. Know how to use fastpass and manage your time, and don't expect the parks to be empty. If you do all that, you will be fine.

Oh and all the Christmas decorations were up. My daughter even got a pic with Santa in her shorts at DD. LOL....

And one last thought, the castle lights were beautiful... that made it all worthwhile. You can't get better than that!

 

[Zuzu03]

Thanks Clubhouse Mickey, great tips! I'm really excited that the Xmas decos will be up!

 

[always_learning]

I am leaving Nov. 28 until Dec. 7th staying at Port Orleans Riverside. This is a grand gathering--we are going with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and their 3 children. Can't wait!!! It is going to be a great time.

We are thinking of those exact dates because the 28th is my son's birthday. Although I am nervous about crowd level that weekend. We really enjoyed the low crowds the first full week of December in 2007.

Great tips listed

 

[4nana]

Thx, pls keep them coming, appreciate all your advise and tips! We have been planning our grand gathering for about a year and can't wait for Thanksgiving week to come ! We are also using TGM's in hopes to make our time and plans go more smoothly. Simply can't wait to see the magic sparkle in our grands eyes!

 

[jonbannan]

We are arriving on the day after Thanksgiving and staying until Dec 7th. Can't wait for it!!! We will be celebrating my daughters birthday while we will be there as well.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

bumping as I wanna go then too!! We were there the week before TG in '02--I was preg. with my dd and we stayed at the Poly. It was awesome!!! Great weather-shorts and t-shirts-maybe wind breakers just a couple of nights(or jeans) and the crowds were low. I am reallllly wanting to go back this time of year.

I keep asking on various threads---when is Jersey week?? does anyone know?I may just skip that week and do the week after TG. My oldest will turn 13 there if we do this. That would be a blast,huh?!!

 

[Rhonda7011]

We are going Nov. 18-23 and staying at the Beach Club villas. This is the week prior to Thanksgiving week. What can I expect with crowd levels? I am bummed that the Osbourne lights won't be on (or won't officially be on yet). Is there any chance that they will be lit before Thanksgiving? We are doing MVMCP so I am assuming that there will be christmas decorations at MK. What about the other parks? Will they be decorated yet or will we see more decorations as our days go by?

 

[goofygal531]

Last year the lights were on earlier. I don't know if they were "officially" on or not?

We'll be there this year and I'm praying for the same warm weather as last year!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

we were at POP last Nov 11-19 and saw those Osborne lights, dont know if they were officially on but they were DEFINATELY on, we saw em twice even-lovely

 

[kscsluvmickey]

These tips make it even more exciting! When we booked our trip we never expected to see the Christmas decorations so when we found out later it just made my YEAR!!! I love Christmas and I am super duper excited to be able to start celebrating early and not have my whole family thinking I am crazy!
Any more tips and tricks?
For those who have been over that week, what was your FAVORITE part of the week?

Thanks!!!

Fort Wilderness 11/22/08-12/1/08

 

[princessmom29]

Can anybody tell mer about the weekend after thanksgiving? We will be there thanksgiving doay throug the monday after. When do the crowds start dying off after thanksgiving? TIA