Thanksgiving week SUPER crowded??

[twinspluscade]

I'm sure it gets really packed---but is it as crowded as mid-summer or Christmas?
Also--is it crowded all week, or just Thanksgiving day and the 3 days after?
For those of you who have been there Thanksgiving week, would you go back again during that time?
Thanks!
Kelly

 

[Simba's Mom]

No, I didn't think WDW was super crowded, and yes, I'd go back again any year-I thought the weather was just beautiful. There's only one reason I wouldn't go for the next few years at least-I find it very difficult to get a good airfare at that time. But in a few more years, DH will retire, we'll move closer to WDW so we can drive, then I'd love to spend Thanksgiving there again. I think it's really the weekend after Thanksgiving that may be super crowded, but I avoided the parks that weekend. Oh, except I did go to MK Friday nite, and while it was pretty busy, it certainly wasn't packed, like I expected. Thanksgiving night, after dinner, we went over to MGM to see the Osborne Lights, sort of usher in the Christmas season. We expected that to be very busy, but it wasn't bad. Great time, I thought.

 

[denecarter]

Mid-summer busy, but with better weather. Not nearly as bad as Christmas week.

We'd go back... but I prefer the week before Christmas. Not quite as crowded (maybe) and more holiday decorations, shows, etc.

Earlier in the week was less crowded than the end... we left Friday.

 

[smnornes]

We were there last year, Saturday to Saturday, over Thanksgiving. We hit the parks until Wednesday (day before Thanksgiving) and I think the longest we waited for anything was about 20 minutes. It was very manageable. BUT...we also went early and left early in most cases. We drove to the beach on Thanksgiving day, then went to MK early Friday morning and left at about noon when things started getting really busy. You should be fine up until Thanksgiving day, but after that, things will be busier.

 

[jennymouse]

We didn't find the crowds to be all that bad and would do it again.

 

[Mrs. Potts]

We went Thanksgiving week of 2004 and found the crowds manageable with the exception of Thanksgiving day. We were at Magic Kingdom that day and it got really crowded by around 1:30 in the afternoon. We gave up and went back the hotel to swim and relax before our dinner at Chef Mickeys. We went to DTD that night and again it was manageable. Friday morning we went to MK early with little to no problems. The weather was great. We're going back at Thanksgiving this year!

 

[Magalex]

We are planning a Thanksgiving trip too in 2007! What is the weather degree avgs. for day and night? I am glad to hear positive things about crowd levels

 

[BamaFan121s]

We go every T'giving and actually find the crowds quite minimal at this time. It's busier T'giving day and the day after, but not bad at all the rest of the time.

 

[theostwalts]

We go every T'giving and actually find the crowds quite minimal at this time. It's busier T'giving day and the day after, but not bad at all the rest of the time.

So if your first day in the parks is the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the week following, it is not that bad?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We went a couple of years ago -arrived Saturday before Thanksgiving and left Thanksgiving Day. That Wednesday was a bit crowded in MK, but I wouldn't let those crowd levels deter me from visiting

 

[BamaFan121s]

So if your first day in the parks is the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the week following, it is not that bad?

Hmmm...that week I really don't know. We always go the Friday before T'giving through the Sat/Sun after.

 

[smnornes]

So if your first day in the parks is the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the week following, it is not that bad?

Correct! It will be great, MVMCP will be going on a few evenings, weather should be good....enjoy!

 

[Lucy2005]

We've been there twice for Thanksgiving arriving the Thursday before and leaving on the Friday after. As we got closer to Thanksgiving we waited in longer lines but not that long at all. The worse day was the Friday after Thanksgiving. We left at night so spent the day in the park. We rode back to the airport with a family that had more experience and they told us that the day after Thanksgiving in DW is like going to the mall that day. Avoid it and use it as a day to relax at the pool. This made sense from the experience we had. I would go back in a heartbeat. We loved it.
Lucy

 

[BlueJeansGirl]

We went Thanksgiving week one year - it was our Magical Gathering with 10 of us! So much fun! The crowds were manageable, although we were really nervous before arriving. The only ADR we tried to make was for Thanksgiving Day. The only available ADR for 10 people all day long was at Mama Melrose. We were sure the parks would be packed! When we arrived, we found the crowds were not bad, especially the beginning of the week. As far as Thanksgiving Dinner goes - we were the only ones in the restaurant!

 

[Heather]

We went over Thanksgiving a couple of years ago, from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the Friday after. While it was more crowded than it is in early November, it really wasn't too awful. As you get closer to Turkey Day, it gets more and more crowded -- Wednesday was pretty packed but not unmanageable if you use Fast Passes and such.

On Thanksgiving Day, we went to Typhoon Lagoon. It was pretty crowded as well, but still not awful, although I do believe they closed it to new guests around 2. We heard from the bus drivers that the MK was closed to non-resort guests by 10 and to all guests before noon, but that the other parks weren't as crowded. That is all just hearsay -- we really have no firsthand knowledge and didn't have the opportunity to talk to anyone who was there that day. The day after Thanksgiving it seemed like a lot of people were 'recovering' and not going to the parks, although we had to leave by early afternoon, so maybe it did get more crowded after lunch. Again, the bus driver told us MGM and AK were the better parks to go to that day and the bus drivers usually have a decent idea of these things.

I should add that we were a group of 10 as well that year.
We'll be back this year!! Hope you have a safe & wonderful trip!

 

[Tiffany]

I'm sure it gets really packed---but is it as crowded as mid-summer or Christmas?
Also--is it crowded all week, or just Thanksgiving day and the 3 days after?
For those of you who have been there Thanksgiving week, would you go back again during that time?
Thanks!
Kelly

We were at WDW from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the Saturday after Thanksgiving this past November. The crowds were heavier than what we are used to going in January and September but not as bad as when we used to visit during July and the first part of August. We spent Thanksgiving Day at the Studios and it was manageable. We had our meal at the 50's Prime Time Cafe it was a good experiance. I think the key is to avoid the MK on Thanksgiving Day and the two days after as that is the park that gets crazy. Go and enjoy.