Thanksgiving?

[luv2vacation]

We are thinking about going to Disney over Thanksgiving. Please tell me about it... Weather? Crowds? Swimming? Anything elese we shoould know?
THANKS!!

 

[Mahusky]

We went T-Day 05 with a big family gathering; 19 of us. It was awesome!! Not only do you get T-Day down there but also you get all of the Christmas activities (Osborne Lights, Candlelight Proc. Christmas Party, resort hopping to see the decorations!)

We arrived on the Monday evening before T-Day and Stayed until the following Tuesday. Crowds prior to T-Day and the day after were VERY Heavy! You have to pick and choose your spots, utilize fast pass and be PATIENT!!! Starting the Sat after T-Day the crowds deminished. We went to Typhoon Lagoon on the Monday after T-Day and if there were 500 people in the entire park I would have been shocked.

Weather was dry and in the High 70's to low 80's. Low's were mid 50's.

If you are looking for a place to eat a good T-Day meal (we wanted to avoid the crowds at MK) eat at Cape May Cafe! The food was a traditional T-Day meal plus their normal seafood fare. We went to Epcot in the AM walked and had and early dinner and walked back to Epcot.

Enjoy and Good Luck.

 

[jennymouse]

We did this last Thanksgiving and would go again that time of year. I was expecting it to be more crowded than I felt it was. I did subscribe to Tourguide Mike for the trip and we didn't wait in lines at all. We even did MK on TG day because we had a breakfast in the castle that day. We'd planned on hopping to a different park when it got crowded but we were having so much fun we ended up staying from before opening until Wishes that day. As far as swimming goes, it was a bit chilly for us. We went to SAB one afternoon, but my DGD11 was the only one who got in the water and she said it was pretty cold.

 

[luv2vacation]

Thanks for the reply!!!

 

[01Sweetpea]

We're going T-day wek as well. Hoping for warm weather as we are going to try TL for the first time the Monday before T-day.

If you are thinking of going, start making your ADRs soon. I wanted to eat at Le Cellier on 11/24 and the best I could get was 8:30pm, and that was AT the 180 day mark. When I call now to try and switch times there are no tables for 5 available AT ALL. Hoping the CP package will give me a better time.

 

[MelanieC]

We used to go the week of Thanksgiving till the week after Thanksgiving. There is usually minimal if any rain. The weather is iffy. Sometimes it's nice and warm and other times it can be downright cold.

Crowds are really bad the week of Thanksgiving and they all but die off the week after Thanksgiving.

The best thing is the Christmas decorations and Osborne Family of Lights!

 

[BamaFan121s]

We go every T'giving and love it. Generally warm enough for shorts by day, jeans by night. No big crowds really until actual T'giving day and after.

 

[redheaded mama]

We will be there for Thanksgiving!!! We are going to go to the Animal Kingdom for Thanksgiving day and do a late Thanksgiving Dinner elsewhere. I can hardly wait for EE. We are planning this trip as a total surprise for our kids. I am having so much fun planning and dreaming for our trip that it is very difficult to keep it a secret.

Linda

 

[Caitsmama]

We will also be there for TG week! We are staying at WL. This will be our 4th time there for thanksgiving.. (3rd in a row!) and we LOVE it! The parks are not crowed at all up til TG.. But, the day after and the weekend after TG.. i avoid the parks as much as possible!
The weather is usally very warm during the day.. we have always gone swimming this week. And at night you need pants/sweatshirt.. perfect!
We are eating dinner on TG at the Hoop De Doo- 3rd yr for this also! LOL But i have also eaten TG dinner at 1900 park fare..which was good too!

 

[luv2vacation]

Thanks again for the info. We like warm weather and swimming when we vacation. So, we are thinking 4 days Disney (before Thanksgiving) then 5 day cruise (thanksgiving weekend to avoid the crowds). How early do they decorate for Christmas? Are all the resorts decorated?
Thanks again!!!!!!

 

[Mahusky]

Thanks again for the info. We like warm weather and swimming when we vacation. So, we are thinking 4 days Disney (before Thanksgiving) then 5 day cruise (thanksgiving weekend to avoid the crowds). How early do they decorate for Christmas? Are all the resorts decorated?
Thanks again!!!!!!

When we went this past year we arrived the Monday evening before T-Day. That night they put up the tree at AKL (Awesome!) and from that day forward all the resorts were decorated. We visited Poly, GF, BW Y&B an d Wilderness... all have special Christmas themes not to be missed! Take an evening or 2 and resort hop!

 

[luv2vacation]

Mahusky.. Thanks for the info. We have been to Disney alot but never during Christmas time. This will be perfect for us!! Spending time looking at decoration sounds great!!!!!

 

[01Sweetpea]

We will also be there for TG week! We are staying at WL. This will be our 4th time there for thanksgiving.. (3rd in a row!) and we LOVE it! The parks are not crowed at all up til TG.. But, the day after and the weekend after TG.. i avoid the parks as much as possible!
The weather is usally very warm during the day.. we have always gone swimming this week. And at night you need pants/sweatshirt.. perfect!
We are eating dinner on TG at the Hoop De Doo- 3rd yr for this also! LOL But i have also eaten TG dinner at 1900 park fare..which was good too!

We're eating T-day dinner at HDDR as well! 7:15 ADRS. See you there!

 

[Caitsmama]

We're eating T-day dinner at HDDR as well! 7:15 ADRS. See you there!

OMG!! Too cool!! We are eating at that same show!! Just look for the loud table - there is about 11 of us total!! LOL, i will make sure i wear my green mickey paint chip! LOL


As for the decorations, they can't be beat.. WDW decorated is BEAAAAUTIFUL!!!

 

[Gradar1]

I would definitely suggest going over Thanksgiving. It's a bit crowded, but worth it. We (our extended family of 9 ranging from 6 to 50), had an amazing time. We did MGM on Thanksgiving Day and had lunch at the Brown Derby, and it was one of the best meals I've ever had at Disney--the apple stuffing was to die for! (And now I'm hungry! :-D) Plus, one of the best things was to see the Christmas decorations the days after Thanksgiving. Disney is definitely at it's best around the holidays.

 

[TigerKat]

We used to go the week of Thanksgiving till the week after Thanksgiving. There is usually minimal if any rain. The weather is iffy. Sometimes it's nice and warm and other times it can be downright cold.

Crowds are really bad the week of Thanksgiving and they all but die off the week after Thanksgiving.

The best thing is the Christmas decorations and Osborne Family of Lights!

Does anyone know when the Osborne Lights go up?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Does anyone know when the Osborne Lights go up?

I'm pretty sure that this year, they'll be up for showing a full week before Thanksgiving. Last year, we went to see the Osborne Lights Thanksgiving night. We had a 4:15 ADR for dinner, then went over to see the lights-it was a really nice way to "usher in" the Christmas season in our minds.

 

[sarahsmom73]

LOVED IT!!! I would spend every Thanksgiving there if I could talk DH into it! It was so much fun~! The weather was great, it was great to celebrate both holidays and the MVMCP was so fun!