THANKSGIVING week planning??

[Trinav]

With so many of us discussing our plans and having several similarities I think Disney should set aside a "meet/greet DIS board/forum members"

 

[ariane37]

I totally agree with you. It will be crowded no matter what plan you choose. Though as much as I love the idea of being in MK for Thanksgiving, I'm not sure i am ready for THOSE crowds after having experienced Christmas/New Years Eve so I may suck it up and hang out at AK. Who knows what can happen to alter the plans?? (not getting FP, change of ADR, RAIN, etc...) in fact, on one of our earlier trips way back we had to cancel an entire day because one of the kids came down with the flu...poor baby (and mommy). Yuck!!

Last year ON Thanksgiving I woke up with the stomach bug, so we had to cancel our ADR and park plans Older DS and DH ended up going to AK while younger DS stayed in the room with me, and I much rather be the sick one than one of my kids, but yes goes to show you never can tell what will happen no matter how much planning you do!

 

[mrsp1030]

Last year ON Thanksgiving I woke up with the stomach bug, so we had to cancel our ADR and park plans Older DS and DH ended up going to AK while younger DS stayed in the room with me, and I much rather be the sick one than one of my kids, but yes goes to show you never can tell what will happen no matter how much planning you do!

We also had a sick kid 2 years ago and we adjusted. I keep reminding myself that this is also a family vacation; a time to hang out and be in an awesome place together and how fortunate we are to get to come here! Over planning only makes me stress and go crazy! As long as there are happy faces and smiles, we are all good!

 

[kittylady1972]

A lot of great plans here...and based on our Thanksgiving week plans we will probably be passing by many people here in the parks and not even realizing it!

Like others, we base our plans on the easyWDW crowd predictions. We are going a bit against the grain because out travel party includes two little ones who have never been to the parks before (ages 4 and 2) and I want MK to be their VERY first park even if it goes against the grain of the crowd predictions. We know for the most part we will focus 70% of our park time or so at MK and the rest of the time at other parks. We'll do some park hopping in the evenings and try to see the evening shows if the littles are up for it.

We LOVE the parks during Thanksgiving week and the decorations. We will definitely be missing the Osborne lights this year though.

 

[ariane37]

A lot of great plans here...and based on our Thanksgiving week plans we will probably be passing by many people here in the parks and not even realizing it!

Like others, we base our plans on the easyWDW crowd predictions. We are going a bit against the grain because out travel party includes two little ones who have never been to the parks before (ages 4 and 2) and I want MK to be their VERY first park even if it goes against the grain of the crowd predictions. We know for the most part we will focus 70% of our park time or so at MK and the rest of the time at other parks. We'll do some park hopping in the evenings and try to see the evening shows if the littles are up for it.

We LOVE the parks during Thanksgiving week and the decorations. We will definitely be missing the Osborne lights this year though.

Just wanted to say

 

[3boys4me]

With so many of us discussing our plans and having several similarities I think Disney should set aside a "meet/greet DIS board/forum members"

I haven't seen anything similar lately, not on boards as much, but dis boarders would attach a lime green Mickey head to their bag or stroller. Some with their username on it. Home Depot used to have the paint sample colors for the Disney paints on Mickey heads. Anyway, used to be fun to spot one.

 

[tanyali26]

We will be there from 11/23-27th.
We only have two day hoppers as this is our 2nd trip this year. Basically we want to do MK and Epcot for Holidays Around the world. Originally I was planning the following:
11/23 arrive DS Fronterra for dinner
11/24 MK Thanksgiving lunch 2:30 Whispering Canyon Go back to MK 7 or 8
11/25 MK early morning break at 12 or 1. Epcot Just for Storytellers and Hopefully Frozen.
11/26 Disney Springs/resort day and 1900 Park fare for Dinner
11/27 depart

Now I am wondering should I swith my park days to Friday and Saturday? Same strategy as above. MK Friday Morning, break, and go back in the evening. MK Saturday Morning and go to Epcot in the evening. Any suggestions welcome.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm totally bumfuzzled at what to plan when.
I have made 8 trips to Disney this year alone, you'd think I'd have this down pat.
But Holiday trips are foreign to me. Give me summer trips, I know how to work with those.
We arrive 11/22, depart 11/28
All I have planned thus far is we'll eat somewhere on Thanksgiving Day, either Boma or 1900PF for brunch and the Savor the Savanna Tour at AK for dinner or Nomad's Lounge for Dinner. Probably sticking to AK on Thanksgiving Day too.
Then DD, DGD and I are doing the Christmas Party on 11/27.
That's it.
I can't even decide what park I want to do when.
I think the problem is all parks are pretty much 10's the whole time, at least till our last day. So I guess it just doesn't matter which we pick, they'll all be bonkers.

 

[Coconuts]

I'm totally bumfuzzled at what to plan when.
I have made 8 trips to Disney this year alone, you'd think I'd have this down pat.
But Holiday trips are foreign to me. Give me summer trips, I know how to work with those.
We arrive 11/22, depart 11/28
All I have planned thus far is we'll eat somewhere on Thanksgiving Day, either Boma or 1900PF for brunch and the Savor the Savanna Tour at AK for dinner or Nomad's Lounge for Dinner. Probably sticking to AK on Thanksgiving Day too.
Then DD, DGD and I are doing the Christmas Party on 11/27.
That's it.
I can't even decide what park I want to do when.
I think the problem is all parks are pretty much 10's the whole time, at least till our last day. So I guess it just doesn't matter which we pick, they'll all be bonkers.

I am right there with you. I am not a WDW newbie, but I am a newbie to Thanksgiving or any high volume time. We are there 11/20 - 11/28. I have been excited to try and find ADR'S but have not planned out my park days at all. Tomorrow is my FP day and I have no idea what to do. All places that I have researched says every park is a 10 except for our arrival and departure day and our next to last day. How do I decide what park to go to if they are all high crowds?. I am at a loss for tomorrow.

 

[Trinav]

I am right there with you. I am not a WDW newbie, but I am a newbie to Thanksgiving or any high volume time. We are there 11/20 - 11/28. I have been excited to try and find ADR'S but have not planned out my park days at all. Tomorrow is my FP day and I have no idea what to do. All places that I have researched says every park is a 10 except for our arrival and departure day and our next to last day. How do I decide what park to go to if they are all high crowds?. I am at a loss for tomorrow.

I was in the same position as you and felt the same way. Eventually I just three "caution to the wind" and planned what worked out for our family with the littles. Balancing between parks that had late hours with those that closed a little earlier so they might get a little more sleep sometimes and by suffer major meltdowns!! I imagine all the parks will be crazy but hey, it's the holidays. Can't be any worse than Christmas and we survived. Lol. I think the key is to be able to be flexible and realize your plan just might not go exactly according to plan. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

 

[Trinav]

Soooo...I think I got the FP+'s I wanted but I have a quick question about rope drop in MK. We've never managed to get there for RD yet and I'm wondering if there is a show? Worth hanging around for it or bypass it when they let you in and "head for the hills"? Is i t the same each day? We are aiming to be there for RD 21st & 22nd. My thoughts (if there's a "show"): on 22nd we have adr at CRT at 9 so I thought we'd take a moment to get in, enjoy opening and head to the castle before dealing with the rest of the day. BUT maybe we should just get a running start to the rides on the 21st at RD? (If so then I might switch a few of my FP for something else and try to get to buzz/space mountain right away??

 

[AngiTN]

There is typically a show to open MK. It's cute, worth trying to catch if you can

 

[kittylady1972]

There is typically a show to open MK. It's cute, worth trying to catch if you can

Yep...what she said! Arrive early, get close to the front and that way when it's over and the crowds start moving you are ahead of them!

 

[Coconuts]

Well my FP is done. I am so confused as to what rides to pick, what parks, what days, etc. Hope my selections are ok.

11/20 arrival day, ? MK or HS
11/21 EP (maybe AK), HDDR 4pm
11/22 MK, Ohana 10:45am
11/23 EP, GG 2pm
11/24 MK(maybe EP in the am), LTT 3:35pm
11/25 HS, Ohana 4:05pm
11/26 AK am, MK pm, TH 925am, BOG 6:55pm
11/27 MK am, ?EP pm, CP 8:05am
11/28 departure day

 

[casnider]

We were there last year for the weekend before thanksgiving and didn't have crowds until Monday came. Friday we did ak, no crowds. Saturday was mk in the morning and ds in the evening; no crowds for mk, crowds for Osborne lights, of course. Sunday was Epcot...no crowds; then teens went over to mk for fireworks, no big crowds. Monday we did emh at ds with medium crowds and by 11 waited 45 min just to get through security at mk. We had lunch, used a couple fp's and headed out of the big crowds to Disney springs. Disney springs was crowded, but we saw a movie and the theater was practically empty. Just take your time & enjoy.

I second this......we were there on the Thursday the 19th and stayed until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Those first few days were great, no many lines, we rode what we wanted, didn't really have to worry about having fast passes.....then came Monday!! Got off the bus for MK and hit a wall of people. It took 2 hours for us to get into the park alone. We barely made the fast passes we had scheduled and we got out. We toured around to some other parks and then toured around resorts. I am glad we had decided on the 10 day stay this time because we needed it. Once we used our fast passes for the day there were never anymore to be had.

Now that being said, we had a great time. Our kids were older on this trip so we could roam around and just enjoy things, like the resorts and decorations and Epcot World showcase. All the things that when they were little, they would have whined about. So even though the park was packed we still had a magical time.

 

[DisneyMommy9]

We will be there!! Nov 18-26th staying at All Star Movies.
11/18 arrive and MVMCP at 4-midnight. Got 3 fastpasses 4-7.
11/19 MK
11/20 HS
11/21 AK
11/22 EPCOT
11/23 MK
11/24 AK evening
11/25 MK
11/26 leaving but MK for 3 fastpasses

 

[AngiTN]

Since my FP day is rapidly approaching my best guess is

11/22 - arrive at 10:00 AM, MK till we are too tired to move any more
11/23 - Epcot
11/24 - HS
11/25 - AK
11/26 - DH goes home, not sure what us girls will do. May just hop around
11/27 - MK, Christmas Party (we have AP so we'll go whenever)
11/28 - Epcot till we leave at 6:00 PM

 

[Trinav]

I second this......we were there on the Thursday the 19th and stayed until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Those first few days were great, no many lines, we rode what we wanted, didn't really have to worry about having fast passes.....then came Monday!! Got off the bus for MK and hit a wall of people. It took 2 hours for us to get into the park alone. We barely made the fast passes we had scheduled and we got out. We toured around to some other parks and then toured around resorts. I am glad we had decided on the 10 day stay this time because we needed it. Once we used our fast passes for the day there were never anymore to be had.

Now that being said, we had a great time. Our kids were older on this trip so we could roam around and just enjoy things, like the resorts and decorations and Epcot World showcase. All the things that when they were little, they would have whined about. So even though the park was packed we still had a magical time.

Yes it can be daunting to have wall to wall people but even then it's manageable if you realize you just aren't going to get a lot done and simply enjoy your surroundings and what you do get to see (at least that is what I am telling myself). We went about 4-5 yrs ago during Christmas-new years and YIKES!! It was crowded we could barely push our strollers without knocking into someone. Lines were unbelievable so we stuck to simple child friendly rides (they were 3) and then seeing many shows and characters. Now the littles are a bit older (8) so I'm hoping it will be s tad less crowded so they can enjoy a little more (they have NO recollection of the previous trip so I'm excited that it will seem like their 1st time there. There's something about seeing your child (children) experience that level of excitement all through a child's eyes.

 

[Ajbro44]

We check in November 16 at CSR. My plan is as follows:

Nov 16: MK for the evening
Nov 17: MK until 4:30 then hop to EP
Nov 18: HS
Nov 19: MK ( Watch football) then more MK
Nov 20: resort day, DS evening at MK
Nov 21: AK
Nov 22: EP
Nov 23: MK
Nov 24: departure

I don't plan on getting a whole lot accomplished at MK on the 23rd. I have FP scheduled and CRT dinner planned as a surprise.

 

[Trinav]

We check in November 16 at CSR. My plan is as follows:

Nov 16: MK for the evening
Nov 17: MK until 4:30 then hop to EP
Nov 18: HS
Nov 19: MK ( Watch football) then more MK
Nov 20: resort day, DS evening at MK
Nov 21: AK
Nov 22: EP
Nov 23: MK
Nov 24: departure

I don't plan on getting a whole lot accomplished at MK on the 23rd. I have FP scheduled and CRT dinner planned as a surprise.

You are smart to arrive the week before and then LEAVE on the 24th I wish our schedule (school) would have allowed us to do that. We have no problems taking them out of school for a few days but we might be doing that in February/March and those darn schools have such an issue with your child being gone a lot. lol. We are surprising our littles with the CRT as well to celebrate their bday. Have fun!!