Thanksgiving Week Strategy

[SDA]

We will be visiting Disney World - staying onsite, the week of Thanksgiving this year (Sat-Sat). Dates are firm as they are tied to another event. Myself, husband and 13 yo daughter who has never been to Disney. We will not start visiting parks until Monday due to another event.

We understand it will be crowded, I have researched LL strategies etc. The entire thing sounds miserable! Haha. I was seriously considering splurging for the LL Premier pass for MK on Monday, but after further research am now concerned that the LL Premier could sell out before our window to purchase opens. After thinking on this, I realized that I could likely buy Mickey Xmas and Jollywood tickets BOTH for the same range as one day of LL Premier.

My thought would now be to visit MK and Hollywood on the party days. Still going for LLSP and LLMP to increase our chances for getting rides and then we could use the party time to either ride things we were unable to ride or just be able to relax and enjoy the park/party instead of running around chasing slots. The added bonus is that my daughter loves Christmas more than your average human, so she would be in heaven.

My next thought is that with the extended party hours we avoid trying to early entry/rope drop. Have a bit more of a leisurely morning - getting to those parks around 10:30 (depending on how our LL bookings work). Then we could save our early ams for Epcot and AK.

Is this crazy? Somewhat doable? Advice?

Plan would be:
M: Hollywood + Jollywood (start late morning)
T: MK + Mickey Xmas (start late morning)
W: Rest/Water Park/Disney Springs - weather/energy depending
Th (Thanksgiving!): Epcot (early entry)
F: Animal Kingdom (early entry) - AK on the last day as we'll have to drive home earlier on Saturday am.

Thoughts?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

First - I have tickets for the party on Tuesday so maybe we will see each other!

Second - only you know how hard your family can go. I discovered last year at Thanksgiving that I don't have the energy to go hard in a park during the day and then enjoy the party at night. My plan on Tuesday is to sleep in, enjoy the pool, and then head to MK around 4 for the Christmas party. I also go often enough that I am ok with not "doing everything" if I can't get on a ride or something. Just know that the later night, the getting the cookies, and all the party extras seem to take more energy.

Third - do you like Festivals at Epcot? Festival of the Holidays starts on Friday. I know you have to drive home on Saturday (me too. boo!!) But if you daughter loves Christmas so much, you may want to switch Thanksgiving and Friday. Festival of the Holidays has food booths, holiday story tellers in each country, etc.

I go a lot at Thanksgiving so feel free to PM me if you want to talk more!

 

[SDA]

Yes, I saw that about Epcot but was a little concerned about crowds that day. We'd normally love something like that, I may need to consider. I also might reach back out with some Thanksgiving week questions! I appreciate the offer! The planning is a little daunting although I do enjoy planning vacations. I haven't been to Disney since I was a kid, so its still all a little new to me as well!

 

[NYCgrrl]

Just an observation. I see you are possibly planning a water park day. If you can switch it to your check in day it will be free admission.
Have fun.

 

[juxtapose]

We'll be there the same week and are still organizing things. So far we have the party Friday night and the rest is still up in the air.

My only advice is I would consider making Tuesday morning your break time and going to MK Wednesday. That'll allow you a few extra hours at MK and make you less tired on the Christmas party day.

 

[Marthasor]

Yes, it's doable, but personally I would not do the parties back to back even with late mornings. I would consider:

M: Hollywood + Jollywood (start late morning)
T: Animal Kingdom (consider LLSP + LLMP so you can arrive later in the AM. AK is not a full day park, IMHO, especially with LL booked)
W: MK + Mickey Xmas (start late morning)
Th (Thanksgiving!): /Water Park/Disney Springs - weather/energy
F: Epcot (early entry) - Festival of the Holidays