Thanksgiving

[lts862]

We are thinking of going to WDW the Friday before Thanksgiving and through until the next week. When does it start to get really busy for the holiday? We have gone after Thanksgiving but never before. Thank you for your info.

 

[wdw1972]

That whole week has gotten very busy, and Thurs-Sat are mobbed. It's much much much busier than the week after Thanksgiving.

 

[Doug7856]

In 2008 we arrived the Monday before Thanksgiving and left the Saturday after. We used TGM to plan our days and we were very pleased. Up to Thanksgiving day we had crowds lighter than our summer trips. Thanksgiving Day we used TGM's second choice and the crowd level was manageable. Friday we did EPCOT Center because we wanted to do the Candlelight Processional and it was probably the busiest day we experienced (this was expected).

For us, it was far better than summer months and not as good as early December of mid November.

The weather was cool but not over uncomfortable. The nicest day was Saturday (we did not do parks that day) and it was our pool day so that was great.

Flights to and fro were not bad at all on the days we traveled. On the Saturday return, we took that last flight of the day at 8:30 pm and it was wonderful. No lines at the airport at all!!!!! The flight was delayed, but the lack of crowds at the airport was amazing!

 

[Starr W.]

We go Friday b4 to Friday after, this yr will be our 4th Thanksgiving at WDW.

I don't find it bad, especially with good touring plans. Hey I rode EE 3x on Thanksgiving Day and Space Mountain 3x on the day before.

Now T-giving 08 was not as crowded as 07.

 

[Joan S.]

We go Friday b4 to Friday after, this yr will be our 4th Thanksgiving at WDW.

I don't find it bad, especially with good touring plans. Hey I rode EE 3x on Thanksgiving Day and Space Mountain 3x on the day before.

Now T-giving 08 was not as crowded as 07.

WOW!! This will be our first time going Thanksgiving week. Did you use TGM also??? Or what was your "good touring plans"?? Thanks, Joan

 

[nicolepdonnelly]

we're going around T-day too! I was wondering what those plans are you guys were talking about in the previous posts. I usually make my own plans with help from the unofficial guide.

 

[dbprimeaux]

We visited WDW 2008 - Sat. before Thanksgiving - Tuesday after Thanksgiving!! It was GREAT!!! The crowds were moderate until Wednesday (day before thanksgiving) - thru Sunday after Thanksgiving....We stayed for MVMCP on the Sunday night - it rainned that night.... The weather was great all week, except that Sunday night .

I have already booked a 2 bedroom at SSR ~ our home for Sat-Tuesday after Thanksgiving 2009.

 

[Doug7856]

we're going around T-day too! I was wondering what those plans are you guys were talking about in the previous posts. I usually make my own plans with help from the unofficial guide.

TGM is one of the sponsors here at Disboards. There are many, opposing opinions on his touring plans. Overall, I found his best days and the boards with other members who will critique your plan to be worth the money. I find his plans to be "drop dead trying to do everything" so we did not use his touring plans, just the best days plan. His boards are more focused than here; although, you could easily find much of the same information here and it is free. I've been to WDW well over twenty times, but had never been for Thanksgiving until 2008. He has lots of limits on the information provided and cuts you off of the boards shortly after your trip. I decided to pay the fee and I think it was worth it. There are others who do not agree, and that is fine.

Doug

PS I also used the unofficial guide, but I found TGM's best days to be more accurate, in my opinion, than the unofficial guide.

 

[nwhitehead1214]

TGM is one of the sponsors here at Disboards. There are many, opposing opinions on his touring plans. Overall, I found his best days and the boards with other members who will critique your plan to be worth the money. I find his plans to be "drop dead trying to do everything" so we did not use his touring plans, just the best days plan. His boards are more focused than here; although, you could easily find much of the same information here and it is free. I've been to WDW well over twenty times, but had never been for Thanksgiving until 2008. He has lots of limits on the information provided and cuts you off of the boards shortly after your trip. I decided to pay the fee and I think it was worth it. There are others who do not agree, and that is fine.

Doug

PS I also used the unofficial guide, but I found TGM's best days to be more accurate, in my opinion, than the unofficial guide.

Who is TGM?

 

[Starr W.]

WOW!! This will be our first time going Thanksgiving week. Did you use TGM also??? Or what was your "good touring plans"?? Thanks, Joan

We made our own plans the first few yrs, which we did okay. We decided to spring for TGM, who pretty much confirmed what our plans had been in the past but we did tweak a few days given his advice.

I agree with Doug on TGM, he gives you reasons why to go to park A on Day B, not Park C. And TGM has a really good handle on how the "uninformed" masses tour the World.

Pretty much confirmed that when on Thanksgiving morning there was a huge crowd at the Congress Park/SSR bus stop. MK bus pulls up and everyone hops except for a smart few hops on.

I'm off today to offer my sister's neighbor, who's going over Xmas with her daughter's family that while she's cheap she needs to splurge on TGM or she will come home having a rotten time.

 

[Doug7856]

Who is TGM?

TGM is Tour Guide Mike. He sponsors the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies boards and offers a $3 discount there for Disboards users.

 

[lts862]

We are looking at Friday before until Thanksgiving Day. We have been to Disney enough times that we will have an enjoyable time just being the in the environment. We will probably be in parks 2/3 of the time, pool (if weather cooperates) and just enjoying the vacation the rest of the time.

Thanks for your input!

 

[edk35]

We have taken 4 trips during that time frame. We have arrived the Wed. night..... the week before and that Thursday the week before. I have to agree that we use TGM and we have done fine. This past Nov. ....the crowds were lower than past trips. I am thinking a result of the economic situation probably. We have departed on the Friday after, the Sat. after and actually on Thanksgiving night. My least fave was Thanksgiving night. We did that in Nov. 07 because the flights were soooooooooooo cheap. However....It was very sad flying out that evening. I won't do that again.

It starts getting more crowded on Tuesday two days before the holiday and just keeps getting worse. This past trip we didn't enter a park on Thanksgiving Day and we left on Friday. If you have a good plan, try using TGM and using fast passes..........you will have a great trip.

 

[wintergreen]

We are going again this year for Thanksgiving (our third time), and would like to have Thanksgiving dinner in our room. Does anyone know if any of the area grocery stores have "pre-made" or "pre-packaged" dinners that you can order ahead, and heat up/cook in the villa? Thanks.

 

[Doug7856]

We are going again this year for Thanksgiving (our third time), and would like to have Thanksgiving dinner in our room. Does anyone know if any of the area grocery stores have "pre-made" or "pre-packaged" dinners that you can order ahead, and heat up/cook in the villa? Thanks.

We used Winn Dixie. The food was OK but not great. Also, I called in the reservation but they lost it and had to put it together at the last minute. No too impressed.