The Monday after Thanksgiving

[SpaceMtnGirl]

I am tentatively planning a trip for the week after Thanksgiving, 2017. Can anyone with personal experience that week tell me what the Monday after Thanksgiving is like? It would be our first full day of the trip and I'd like to start with MK like we always do, but I wonder if it will be crazy at MK still. Thoughts??

 

[Marissa227]

I'm going that week this year. Based on crowd calendars it looks like it will be higher crowd levels than non-party days that week, but considerably lower than the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

 

[Babs1975]

I am tentatively planning a trip for the week after Thanksgiving, 2017. Can anyone with personal experience that week tell me what the Monday after Thanksgiving is like? It would be our first full day of the trip and I'd like to start with MK like we always do, but I wonder if it will be crazy at MK still. Thoughts??

DO NOT DO IT! I REPEAT, DO NOT DO IT!!! lol The Monday after Thanksgiving is bonkers. MK is known to have higher crowds on Mondays anyway, but that Monday after Thanksgiving is nuts. I would avoid it at all costs! We go that week after Thanksgiving, actually come on on Thanksgiving and stay through the following week and two years ago we made the mistake of doing MK that Monday. What a mistake! We waited in 45 minute lines for things that would have been a walk on or at most 10 minute wait another day. We couldn't figure out the reason, but certainly learned our lesson. Other people in the lines were saying the same thing. The problem that week is that there are a lot of parties to avoid, but honestly it would be better to just do it on a party day. You'll get more done in less time.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

DO NOT DO IT! I REPEAT, DO NOT DO IT!!! lol The Monday after Thanksgiving is bonkers. MK is known to have higher crowds on Mondays anyway, but that Monday after Thanksgiving is nuts. I would avoid it at all costs! We go that week after Thanksgiving, actually come on on Thanksgiving and stay through the following week and two years ago we made the mistake of doing MK that Monday. What a mistake! We waited in 45 minute lines for things that would have been a walk on or at most 10 minute wait another day. We couldn't figure out the reason, but certainly learned our lesson. Other people in the lines were saying the same thing. The problem that week is that there are a lot of parties to avoid, but honestly it would be better to just do it on a party day. You'll get more done in less time.

Thank you so much for the advice! How about Epcot that day? Then we could do MK on Tuesday (and probably mvmcp that night too).

 

[Babs1975]

I think that would be good! If I can help anyone else avoid that craziness, I'm glad to!

 

[Sarah_Bella]

Is it just MK that is crazy that day? We fly in that day and are staying through Friday 12/1. Planning to eat dinner and hit a few rides that Monday at AK. Now I'm worried about crowds! Any experience about that whole week?

 

[ktlm]

We've done that week multiple times. I would do EPCOT on Monday and MK/MVMP on Tuesday. MK is less crowded on party days in our experience. People who are not going to the parties will flock there on non-party days for the longer hours and the fireworks. (Not sure how the lack of an evening parade might affect or lower the crowd this year- because in the past ELP and before that Spectro were a nighttime non-party night draw as well). To us, that week was fine. Not empty, but not crowded. I would probably say it is on the low end of moderate most days. The good thing is that they are not filming the Christmas parade that week any more-- we always had to work around that at the end of the week which was a bit of a hassle. I would think the week would be easier without that in the mix. We always thought it was a good week to go. 12/2 (Saturday) will likely be crazy at MK because the Pop Warner kids are all starting to arrive and they all hit the parks (MK) on arrival as their activities have not started yet I don't think.

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We've done that week multiple times. I would do EPCOT on Monday and MK/MVMP on Tuesday. MK is less crowded on party days in our experience. People who are not going to the parties will flock there on non-party days for the longer hours and the fireworks. (Not sure how the lack of an evening parade might affect or lower the crowd this year- because in the past ELP and before that Spectro were a nighttime non-party night draw as well). To us, that week was fine. Not empty, but not crowded. I would probably say it is on the low end of moderate most days. The good thing is that they are not filming the Christmas parade that week any more-- we always had to work around that at the end of the week which was a bit of a hassle. I would think the week would be easier without that in the mix. We always thought it was a good week to go. 12/2 (Saturday) will likely be crazy at MK because the Pop Warner kids are all starting to arrive and they all hit the parks (MK) on arrival as their activities have not started yet I don't think.

Aw man. I didn't even think about that Saturday and the Pop Warner kids. That would be our last park day and I absolutely must spend that at MK. We have done Disneyland on a Saturday night grad night, wonder if it compares?? It was crowded and loud but not horrible...

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Also, I chose this week after reading about how low the crowds are. We are trying to escape first week in October--too hot and crowded. I am willing to pull my ds out of school for a better trip experience! Does anyone have a better suggestion?

 

[Accident]

I am tentatively planning a trip for the week after Thanksgiving, 2017. Can anyone with personal experience that week tell me what the Monday after Thanksgiving is like? It would be our first full day of the trip and I'd like to start with MK like we always do, but I wonder if it will be crazy at MK still. Thoughts??

so previous experience is one of the lowest crowd weeks at the start, but by the weekend it's building up and keeps on building to the massive xmas/holiday crowds...

now this year there is something new going on. first several discounts were offered and normally it's a no discount week. one of them was free food and other was a killer high % off. Next a lot of peopel on this forum keep asking about this week... I think it's going to be crazy crowded now and we're not going to see a dip and rebuild after thanksgiving this year. It's just going to get thanksgiving crowded and stay that way until after new years.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Don't have a ton of experience to draw from but we went for a four day trip after Thanksgiving in 2014. Arrived Sunday when the masses were leaving. It felt like we were the only ones arriving. I don't remember what we did that Monday but overall I felt that trip matched the tone of most of those crowd calendars that rate it as a lower week. It wasn't empty by any means, but perfectly manageable from my perspective. Your mileage / perception may vary!

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

so previous experience is one of the lowest crowd weeks at the start, but by the weekend it's building up and keeps on building to the massive xmas/holiday crowds...

now this year there is something new going on. first several discounts were offered and normally it's a no discount week. one of them was free food and other was a killer high % off. Next a lot of peopel on this forum keep asking about this week... I think it's going to be crazy crowded now and we're not going to see a dip and rebuild after thanksgiving this year. It's just going to get thanksgiving crowded and stay that way until after new years.

Oh no. I feel like I'm back to square one. I love Disney but I cannot deal with fall break heat and crowds anymore. the crowds first week of October get worse every year!

I can't seem to pick a new week to go!

 

[Accident]

Oh no. I feel like I'm back to square one. I love Disney but I cannot deal with fall break heat and crowds anymore. the crowds first week of October get worse every year!

I can't seem to pick a new week to go!

There is no low crowd week and when there is, disney will discount or throw something at ap holders to get them into the parks (and this year, TiW joined the strange offers to get into the stores). So pick based on weather and have a great time!

 

[ktlm]

Oh no. I feel like I'm back to square one. I love Disney but I cannot deal with fall break heat and crowds anymore. the crowds first week of October get worse every year!

I can't seem to pick a new week to go!

Ha! We went from that after Thanksgiving week TO the first week of October. We did like that week though (except for the parade taping issues which are no longer there). We got hooked on MNSSHP, the fact that packing is a lot easier for October because you know it is shorts weather; the ability to swim; and Food and Wine. I would say that the crowds are a little less the first week in December, but I don't think it is a huge difference. WS is a lot less crowded since there is no Food and Wine. As far as temperatures, the weather is unpredictable and it is all over the place. We had one trip with highs in the 80s (some were record highs) all week. The week before those highs people were in coats. Our other trips, the weather could be all over the place in the same week. One trip we started the week in shorts day and night and ended the week in sweaters, coats and gloves. While it created packing issues, the variation of weather was kind of fun. WDW is great in the Christmas season. We love the decorations and music. I definitely would recommend experiencing it at least once (although the Osborne lights will be missing this year which is a big loss)!

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

Ha! We went from that after Thanksgiving week TO the first week of October. We did like that week though (except for the parade taping issues which are no longer there). We got hooked on MNSSHP, the fact that packing is a lot easier for October because you know it is shorts weather; the ability to swim; and Food and Wine. I would say that the crowds are a little less the first week in December, but I don't think it is a huge difference. WS is a lot less crowded since there is no Food and Wine. As far as temperatures, the weather is unpredictable and it is all over the place. We had one trip with highs in the 80s (some were record highs) all week. The week before those highs people were in coats. Our other trips, the weather could be all over the place in the same week. One trip we started the week in shorts day and night and ended the week in sweaters, coats and gloves. While it created packing issues, the variation of weather was kind of fun. WDW is great in the Christmas season. We love the decorations and music. I definitely would recommend experiencing it at least once (although the Osborne lights will be missing this year which is a big loss)!

You're right about the packing. You can definitely pack light the first week in October! And we do love MNSSHP, but we've never experienced Christmas at WDW.

I am taking along my parents (dad will be 82, and mom has mobility issues) and they have specified-- not too hot and not too cold. The last time we all went together was MLK week Jan 2014 and the crowds were super low but we nearly froze some days!

You say the first week in Dec is less crowded, but I keep hearing about the crowds from Pop Warner that week.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

My advice for low-ish crows is mid November (before thanksgiving) or mid December after Pop Warner but before the Christmas rush.

Given the choice I'd choose mid December every time.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Last yr we went mid Dec-week after Pop warner-it was great! Not sept lows but better than week after thanksgiving. We can't do the mid Dec week this yr due to DH work- but that is definately my first choice. We did the MVMCP and thought that was good,crowd wise as well. Hotel hopping was good-not tons of crowds in lobby. We go every yr in this time frame so we have seen the crowds build from yrs and yrs ago where it used tobe much lower crowds.

 

[ktlm]

You say the first week in Dec is less crowded, but I keep hearing about the crowds from Pop Warner that week.

If you are talking about the week after Thanksgiving. The Pop Warner kids don't start arriving until that Saturday. Sunday (when all the Thanksgiving week people are leaving) through Friday are good. Saturday is when the Pop Warner people start arriving and to us, it felt like they all headed straight to MK...but the weeks we were there, the parade taping was also taking place that day and I'm sure that increased crowds too. We haven't been there past that Sunday, so I don't know how it is once the Pop Warner activities start (Monday?), but I've seen reports that after that the days are fine because they are all in activities.

Last yr we went mid Dec-week after Pop warner-it was great!

We did that week one time - DD's first trip when she was 2 (she is 10 now). It was great! It was by far the lowest crowds we have had on a WDW trip...but as she got a little older that week interfered with school parties, Christmas performances, Christmas parties etc. That week would be my choice during the holiday season, but DD did not want to miss all her holiday activities and performances.

 

[tmoo]

We have gone several times on the week after Thanksgiving. If it is a no discount week crowds are light. If free dining is offered that week then it is crowded, especially at the restaurants. You will get a different experience based on if a discount is being offered the year you go.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I have gone that week about 4 times and had great luck and very manageable crowds as long as I stayed away from EMH parks (I prefer to have a park hopper to go wherever/whenever it is less crowded). But I haven't been since 2010 and even back then I noticed the crowds increasing from year to year. Like other have said, it's never truly slow anymore and now that HS is a scaled down experience with the construction, the other parks are going to be more crowded. I still say that you should void EMH parks or, if you have to go to am EMH morning park, go early and hop to another park when the park starts feeling crowded (by 11 usually).