There's no place like WDW for the holidays???

[tlimbergsmith]

Hi everyone,

I am here to get feedback about crowd levels at WDW from 11/22/13 through 12/1/13 (Thanksgiving break for most kids). Although I have been to WDW over 20 times in the last 34 years, I have never been during the holidays -more on that below if you're interested. We are planning on leaving the Friday prior to Thanksgiving in 2014 & flying back home on Thanksgiving Day. I have heard from multiple sources that it is crowded but manageable in the days leading up to Turkey Day, and that it turns into an absolute madhouse beginning Thursday and continuing through the weekend. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, whatever they may be. Also, if you recommend that this thread would be better suited somewhere else, I am open to suggestions. If you could tell me about your level of WDW experience (for lack of a better term), that would greatly help me interpret your feedback.

Thanks!

Tracey

 

[tlimbergsmith]

There's me: Career woman, wife, mother, Disneyphile
DD: 3 1/2 & attending Montessori pre-school. 2 Disney vacations down, 2 more planned for 2014
DH: Delivery man who also has a great fondness for Disney vacations, but he doesn't hold a candle to me.

I am the daughter of two Disneyphiles and my mother usually accompanies us on our Disney trips. My dearly departed father visited The World for the final time in May of 2007. He checked himself out of the hospital against medical advice so that he could go on the Disney trip they had planned with my niece (their only grandchild at the time). In the end, that may have been his undoing as he died only 5 mos later.


Prior to this sad story, my parents had taken me & my siblings to WDW at least 20 times beginning when I was 6 mos old. We have stayed at almost every resort on the property and even off property once or twice. In all those years, we always went during "off" periods (no summers/major holidays) even if it meant missing a week of school at a time. Many times my grandparents, aunt, uncle & cousins came on these trips as well. Disney was a huge family affair for us.

Fast forward to today: In order to for us to be able to include everyone, , we have no choice but to visit during the busy season, for reasons including everything from accelerated schools to custody arrangements. We have finally settled on Thanksgiving 2014. This trip will (hopefully) include all of the following: me, DD, mom, 2 younger sisters, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, mother & father in law, 3 nieces & 1 nephew. DH will not be able to come on this trip due to work constraints, but the 3 of us will be visting as a family in Oct. 2014.

After saying all that, I can conclude with this statement: I have many WDW trips under my belt, but no experience in Disney during peak season. I would really like to know what to expect & what is the best way to handle it?

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!