The week of Thanksgiving Crowds

[BadRomance]

I searched "Thanksgiving crowds" and found all these scary threads from 2010 about the HORRIFIC crowds the week of Thanksgiving. I'm talking 25 minute waits for winnie the pooh, a 45 minute wait to eat lunch at Pacific Wharf Cafe, freezing rain at WOC and fireworks, waits to go to the bathroom even! EEEEEKKKKK!

Was it any better last year? The explanation was that CA schools are out that whole week now and the blackout dates don't start until later in the week.

I really hope that year was just a fluke. I am planning on a day trip with my extended family.. We will all be in Vegas for Thanksgiving... but we wanted to do a day trip possibly on Monday before Thanksgiving. Yes we will have strollers, yes there will be kids, yes we are crazy. In fact I am planning on bringing my 5 month old.

Someone please tell me about their Thanksgiving week experience. Me and DH went in 2009 but that was on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and it was AWESOME! Very light crowds, perfect weather, perfect day. I want another day like that. But we won't be able to go on Sunday this year.

 

[kylie71]

I searched "Thanksgiving crowds" and found all these scary threads from 2010 about the HORRIFIC crowds the week of Thanksgiving. I'm talking 25 minute waits for winnie the pooh, a 45 minute wait to eat lunch at Pacific Wharf Cafe, freezing rain at WOC and fireworks, waits to go to the bathroom even! EEEEEKKKKK!

Was it any better last year? The explanation was that CA schools are out that whole week now and the blackout dates don't start until later in the week.

I really hope that year was just a fluke. I am planning on a day trip with my extended family.. We will all be in Vegas for Thanksgiving... but we wanted to do a day trip possibly on Monday before Thanksgiving. Yes we will have strollers, yes there will be kids, yes we are crazy. In fact I am planning on bringing my 5 month old.

Someone please tell me about their Thanksgiving week experience. Me and DH went in 2009 but that was on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and it was AWESOME! Very light crowds, perfect weather, perfect day. I want another day like that. But we won't be able to go on Sunday this year.

I've been there the last 2 Thanksgiving weeks. Last year (2011) was by far more crowded than 2010. The weather was also much warmer, so maybe that brought out more locals and their families...
We did wait for about 30 min for lunch at the PWC, on the Sat after Thanksgiving.
It was not horrific, I love DLR over Thanksgiving week. The decorations are up, and it's a total holiday feel. Makes my heart full!
We we're also gifted, by a very special friend,,, to the Fantasmic! Dessert seating. It was the highlight of our trip! It snowed on us and everything! I highly recommend...
Just make sure you make dining ressies as soon as they open up!

Go and have a great time!
See you there!
P.S. love your screen name and avatar!

~ lori

 

[BadRomance]

^^^ Haha thanks Kylie!

I have been to Disneyland when it is totally crowded- I have been during the peak of summer, spring break, Labor day weekend, Christmas parade filming... and I have enjoyed every trip! This one makes me nervous bc it will be the first time I will be going with a baby- MY baby at that. I have never done Disney with a stroller... so I am totally nervous! Lets keep our fingers crossed for light crowds so I don't anger someone by accidentily clipping their heels. (I am SO nervous about getting yelled at by the stroller police!)

 

[jennilouwho]

The days leading up to Thanksgiving Day in 2009 were very very packed. I have heard that last year (2011) was even busier. In 2009 Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after were not as bad, but I had someone else on a recent thread say that last year Thursday and Friday were busier than year's past. That said, we had a 15 month old and a 3 year old with us in 2009 and still had a great time.

 

[todzwife]

We were there in 2010 and it was packed. In the mornings though, it wasn't bad, we even have video of my family (all 22 of us) by Pirates first thing and there isn't another soul there yet.

Go early, expect crowds, take advantage of fastpasses.

When we went in 2010, we had 3 kids ages 4, 7 and 6 months. The 6 month old was a piece of cake. I wore her in a Beco Gemini buckle carrier 90% of the time. She slept, nursed and I'd change her every 3-4 hours when we had downtime. I highly recommend looking into a good carrier because otherwise there is so much in and out of the stroller. It was easier to let her sleep next to me, and I could go on most of the rides with her like that instead of waking her up to take her out of the stroller.

Also, bring a change of clothes (or 2). For some reason, Disney makes my kids diapers fail. Nothing like carrying a naked baby through every store on main street trying to find something for her to wear that didn't cost $50.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I've been there the last 2 Thanksgiving weeks. Last year (2011) was by far more crowded than 2010. The weather was also much warmer, so maybe that brought out more locals and their families...

I completely agree, we spent Thanksgiving Day - Sat @ DLR last year and 2010, we still had a great time last year, with FP & SR skills and knowledge gleaned from here we were fine, still I prefer few bodies. 2010 was fantastic.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

We went this past year from Thanksgiving Day to the following Tuesday and it was pretty packed. However, I think some of that was due to Pirates opening up on Thksg Day after a closure of a few months for maintenance. The lines to Pirates was the longest I've ever seen with switchbacks extending close to Haunted Mansion. Even though it was pretty crowded, it was manageable. The only part that made me nervous was trying to exit the park after the evening parade. It was wall to wall people all heading to the exits. We ducked into the shops to exit that way, but it was still pretty jammed. So if you're going with a stroller, I would recommend leaving before the parade or wait until after a majority of the crowds exit.

 

[deejdigsdis]

I was there Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday until around noon the week of Thanksgiving 2011. Here are a few random pictures from that time period:

Crowds after lunch on Monday:

Wait times after lunch on Tuesday:

Nighttime.

Here's a link to my Trip Report with more details/pictures about crowds, etc. if you are interested. The Trip Report for this specific trip begins in Post #603.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2342117&page=41

 

[Eeee-va]

I understand Thanksgiving and the days AFTER are less crowded than the days before Thanksgiving due to California school breaks and blockout days. I had no trouble with the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. I didn't get in until 8 PM or so on Friday night; it was pretty crowded and I didn't ride anything, but I probably could have if I wanted to.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Also, bring a change of clothes (or 2). For some reason, Disney makes my kids diapers fail. Nothing like carrying a naked baby through every store on main street trying to find something for her to wear that didn't cost $50.

Seriously - it must be DL. We had 4 blowouts in one day!!!! One was within 10 minutes of the previous one. I had 2 changes of clothes (extra shorts and pants for the evening). Ended up having to buy him an outfit at the park. Left the park by 5:00. The next day I took other DS to the park and DH stayed at the hotel with the baby. Totally his normal self, no blowouts. Next day ventured back to the park and 2 more blow outs. That night he popped his first tooth. Never had an issue the rest of our trip. Poor little peanut.

 

[BadRomance]

Thanks deej! Those pictures are VERY helpful! I have got to avoid that night time crowd though- There is no way I can push a stroller through that. I will lose my dang marbles! Going to check out your TR now...

Thanks for the advice on bringing extra clothes etc... I love hearing from been there done that Moms that are Disney experts. There should really be an official Baby does Disney thread or something!