Thanksgiving - Which Park?

[NaturalLove]

In your opinion, which park is the best to be at on Thanksgiving? I'm thinking Magic Kingdom would be great with our boys. Our first visit to Disney 4 years ago was during Thanksgiving week. I got sick and was hospitalized for most of the day and was too weak to really enjoy MK Thanksgiving evening. But one thing I do remember is that place was CROWDED!!!!

 

[scjo68]

First, so sorry that you were so sick last time. This trip will be better!
We were there last Thanksgiving.
We were in MK on Thanksgiving day, and it was not as crowded as I thought it would be. As the day went on, the crowds picked up. We left MK mid-afternoon, checked out monorail resort decorations, then went to Downtown Disney.

We ended the day at Epcot. Thanksgiving night was absolutely the least crowded night I have ever spent in Epcot. I have never seen so few people there during Illuminations. So if you want to experience regular Epcot, IMO, Thanksgiving day/night is a good time to do it. I think it was so uncrowded that night because the Epcot Holiday festivities started the next day, and I think people were waiting for that. So if you want to experience Holiday activities at Epcot, you will need to go after Thanksgiving day. And it was very crowded then, but still very fun and festive.

Honestly, I would gladly go at Thanksgiving, again. Have fun!

 

[SalandJeff]

I just came over to post this same question. We are going for the first time during Thanksgiving week. I am wondering which park will be least crowded on Thanksgiving day.

This is a trip we just planned, so I don't have a lot of time/choices for ADRs.

 

[jco_direwolf]

I just came over to post this same question. We are going for the first time during Thanksgiving week. I am wondering which park will be least crowded on Thanksgiving day. This is a trip we just planned, so I don't have a lot of time/choices for ADRs.

Epcot and or animal kingdom. They are the biggest parks they will be the least crowded.

 

[prisjoyce]

We have been to DW three times for Thanksgiving. We did MK 2 years, and the evening hours are very, very busy. It was a little nerve wracking trying to stay together! On a whim after dinner one year, we went to HS. The Osborne Lights area and the bus line were busy, but we had a great night and it didn't "feel" as busy as MK. I have read Thanksgiving night at Epcot is great, but we never made it there.

Fwiw, we have eaten at Captains Grille for Thanksgiving dinner- easier to get an ADR there, and the food is good. Just leave plenty of time if you plan to take the boat. The lines for that get long.

Enjoy!

 

[owensamo]

Last time we were at MK for Thanksgiving, we spent the day at the over-crowded MK and my DH said we were never going for Thanksgiving again! He did like the Thanksgiving skillet at the Whispering Canyon at the WL, though!

DH apparently changed his mind so we're going again this year (it's been a long time since we've been at all!) and we're planning to go to DHS on Thursday, and have an ADR at the 50s Prime Time Cafe for dinner. I figured that would be most like being with family!

That said - I'm sure that DHS will be *packed* that day, and no one else should plan to go there.

 

[michellej47]

Based on all of the crowd calendars and park recommendations I've read, we plan to do HS on Thanksgiving Day. We have park hoppers, so we may go to Epcot in the evening if we are done with HS early enough.

 

[itchin2go]

We are going Thanksgiving week, and (just my humble opinion) you couldn't pay me to go to MK on Thanksgiving Day. I firmly believe AK will be the least crowded, and MK will be unbearable. We've always visited in non-busy times, so I'm expecting the worst.

There is a good argument to be made that folks won't go to Epcot because Epcot holiday stuff starts the day AFTER Thanksgiving, and lots of people plan to go then.

We've elected to not do much "park stuff". We're going for dinner at DHS (Hollywood Brown Derby) and to see the Osbourne lights, and otherwise taking it easy. Hope that's a sound plan. We'll see!

 

[SalandJeff]

Great feedback everyone. I did not realize the Osborne lights would be set up. DHS it is!

 

[CAL2]

we are going next year and will be there for Thanks Giving, by reading the posts it sounds like its Animal Kingdom then over to Epcot for the evening.
if that's the case then I'm thinking that maybe we will be able to get a quick service version of a thanks giving diner over at sunshine seasons ? do they do that ?
cal

 

[Music City Mama]

We were there on Thanksgiving day last year. We went to DHS in the a.m. (were there for RD) and honestly, I thought it was very crowded. We always go during the summer (and during Star Wars Weekends), so we're used to crowds, but I thought it was more crowded than even what we're used to. We went to Downtown Disney in the evening, and again, it was probably the most crowded I've ever seen it. Fortunately, it wasn't unbearable because we are used to crowds, but we'll probably go during Thanksgiving again in 2015 and try and different approach.

 

[Goofyuk]

Do any of the parks have extra parades, fireworks, characters etc during Thanksgiving or is it normal operation just a lot busier?

 

[rainwatter]

I'm thinking that maybe we will be able to get a quick service version of a thanks giving diner over at sunshine seasons ? do they do that ? cal

I know the Holiday decorations and other extras won't be up, but it might be worth checking if any of the Holiday snacks will be available. Last year Promenade refreshments had a turkey and stuffing waffle, and a sweet potato waffle. Disney food blog did a review, the pictures look awesome and I hope they come back this year.

 

[CAL2]

hi, I'm hoping the Christmas decorations will be up, I know not all of them but I'm sure iv read that they start putting them up at the beginning of November
cal

 

[laughinplace199]

We were there for Thanksgiving 2011. On Thanksgiving day, we went to Epcot and it wasn't crowded at all. We got to Epcot at rope drop and stayed at Epcot until mid-afternoon, then went back to our resort (AKV).

We had dinner at Boma, which was excellent. They had their usual buffet offerings, as well as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc.

After dinner, we went to HS to see the Osbourne Lights.

 

[itchin2go]

We were there for Thanksgiving 2011. On Thanksgiving day, we went to Epcot and it wasn't crowded at all. We got to Epcot at rope drop and stayed at Epcot until mid-afternoon, then went back to our resort (AKV).

We had dinner at Boma, which was excellent. They had their usual buffet offerings, as well as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc.

After dinner, we went to HS to see the Osbourne Lights.

How crowded was HS in the evening?

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I arrived thanksgiving day 2013. Plane got in around 10:15 and went to AK...was there by 12:30. Rode EE 3 times, saw flights of wonder show, walked trails, saw the parade (sadly this isn't there anymore), watched FLCL and then headed out around 5 for dinner at Raglan Road and some shopping at DTD. If I had more than 3 hours of sleep the night before I might have gone to MK for nighttime entertainment, but I was beat. I will say that AK didn't seem crowded at all. Went to MK the day after arrived for rope drop (it opened at 8am) and had gone on 11 rides by 10:45 - not crowded at all. There were lots of stops for pictures and restroom breaks too. I will say when we left MK around 11:45 or so it seemed much MUCH more crowded. Used the afternoon to check out resort decorations. I would definitely go back at Thanksgiving again. So beautiful and weather was great...although I understand weather is very unpredictable.

 

[laughinplace199]

How crowded was HS in the evening?

It wasn't bad, but we were only there for the lights, so I can't say how the lines for rides were.

 

[hop2disney]

Going this Thanksgiving, thinking Epcot on Thanksgiving Day, curious how day after at MK will be?

 

[danjoan14]

Going on Thanksgiving too! This will be our first visit during the Thanksgiving break. DW wants to see the Osbourne Lights at HS, so we're planning to spend the whole day there. Also tossing around the idea of going to the MVMCP at the MK on Sunday night the 30th.