Thanksgiving week

[Crazy4Disney72]

I am in the process of planning our first ever trip to DL for the whole family. My previous 4 trips have just been myself or myself and one of my kids at a time, this time it will be DH, the kids, and me

We arrive in the afternoon the Friday before Thanksgiving and we leave very late at night on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. I know it's going to be crowded, but will it be insanely crowded, like it will be for Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving? I wish we could go the week after Thanksgiving instead of the week of, but my kids are only off the week of Thanksgiving and with DS 14 starting high school this year, I don't want him to miss too much school. As it is they will miss that Friday, but that's the best I could do to get good airfare deals was Fri-Tues not Sat-Wed as I would have preferred.

DL park hours are not up yet for November, but looking at what the hours were for that same time frame last year, DL open 8-midnight, I'm afraid the crowds are going to be horrendous. At this time we are not planning to stay onsite, planning to stay at either the Tropicana or the Park Vue, but now I'm wondering if it's going to be so crazy crowded that it might be worth it to stay onsite just to get early entry every day instead of just the one day we will get with our hopper tickets if we stay offsite.

Was anyone there that week last year or previous years and can give me some tips on what to expect and how to best deal with the crowds? Thanks!

 

[DL4my2kids]

we are also going that week this year. I noticed last year that it didn't start getting crowded until the day of Thanksgiving. I had thought it would not be crowded on the holiday day but I was wrong. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were great.

We stay on site. We didn't take advantage of EE last year because my kids were small. DH and I feel since we are on vacation, live it up and sleep in. I like on-site because we can come and go as we please. We can take as many breaks as need and head right back into the park. DLH last year and GCH this year.

If you want to do any Character dining, I highly recommend you call for PS and I think it is like 60 days in advance.

 

[XTinabell]

We'll be going this year as well during that time, and we're expecting crowds but from the research I've done it doesn't seem to get very crowded until Wednesday or Thursday of thanksgiving week. And I've done ALOT of research because I too was terrified of the crowds ( I can handle them but DH goes crazy) and we're leaving on the Wednesday morning in hopes of avoiding the thanksgiving rush.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

we are also going that week this year. I noticed last year that it didn't start getting crowded until the day of Thanksgiving. I had thought it would not be crowded on the holiday day but I was wrong. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were great.

We stay on site. We didn't take advantage of EE last year because my kids were small. DH and I feel since we are on vacation, live it up and sleep in. I like on-site because we can come and go as we please. We can take as many breaks as need and head right back into the park. DLH last year and GCH this year.

If you want to do any Character dining, I highly recommend you call for PS and I think it is like 60 days in advance.

Oh good, I'm so glad to hear it probably won't be scary crowded when we are there! I will definitely be calling for PS for Goofy's Kitchen and Blue Bayou.

 

[shoppingmom]

We did the week before Thanksgiving(American) last year and wow it was awesome, you know what there were crowds but not a big deal. I think there are always crowds at DL. The weather was in the 90's! I think it is the best time to go because of the Christmas decorations! We are going back the same time in 08!

Have fun!

 

[Dolce27]

What about the actual week-end before Thanksgiving? This year it's the week-end between Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving. I'll be there the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (leaving on Monday) before Thanksgiving. Should crowd levels be so high that week-end that I won't be able to enjoy the parks or do you think that a lot of people will hold off going to the parks until later in the week?

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

We're going at that time too! Sounds like it will be crowded just from all of us!!! LOL!

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

And oh wow! That post took me over to a Mouseketeer! YEA!!!

 

[bouncy54]

I don't know if we can go by last year's schedule because I have read on another Disney forum that the "official" holiday season begins on Nov. 16th this year so park hours may be different for the dates you are arriving.

I really don't like having to wait until October to see the calendar for November...it's hard to make plans.