Too busy Thanksgiving weekend?

[want2bamommy]

Hello! We decided yesterday that we're going to go to DL for Thanksgiving weekend. We'll arrive first thing Thursday morning and leave Sunday night or early Monday morning. Is it too crowded to go at that point? Our daughter will be 27 months then and we had such a great time when we went to DW in April. Now that she is talking and is obsessed with Mickey (and friends) we really want to take her to DL.

We're going to drive from El Paso, TX which is around 12 hours. DH and I haven't been to DL since we were each around 10 years old.

Thanks for any help.

PS. We will be staying at one of the Good Neighbor hotels directly across the street from DL. Thanks again!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Hello! We decided yesterday that we're going to go to DL for Thanksgiving weekend. We'll arrive first thing Thursday morning and leave Sunday night or early Monday morning. Is it too crowded to go at that point? Our daughter will be 27 months then and we had such a great time when we went to DW in April. Now that she is talking and is obsessed with Mickey (and friends) we really want to take her to DL.

We're going to drive from El Paso, TX which is around 12 hours. DH and I haven't been to DL since we were each around 10 years old.

Thanks for any help.

PS. We will be staying at one of the Good Neighbor hotels directly across the street from DL. Thanks again!

hate to be the one to break it to you but that weekend is going to be horrible when it comes to crowds...its always been one of the worst times to go and this year is no exception...in fact, I have a feeling its going to be more crowded this year than in years past due to CL ...the only thing I can say is get their early, do as much as you can..utilize the fastpasses to the MAX!...take a break mid day and come back after sun starts to go down...also, keep in mind that even though she is probably obsessed with Mickey, being a little over 2, she is used to seeing him as a small figure on the tv im assuming??? When she sees this HUGE life size figure of Mickey, she might get scared...it happens to TONS of kids, including my grandson...so dont be upset if she doesnt want to do anything but watch him from afar...also, be aware that there are a number of rides that she may not want to go on..some of them, you will just be like...what the heck??? they can be so random and not make sense at all but the reason Im telling you this is because due to the enormity of the crowds, waiting in long LONG lines for a ride she will end up getting scared on and you will have to leave will just be a waste of time...when my grandson was 2, the only rides he would get on were dumbo, casey jr., storybook canal boats, the carousel (over and over and over), the teacups and peter pan (had to coax him on that one but as soon as we took off he loved it)...so spend a little time figuring out what she will and wont want to ride before getting in line...just pace yourself and remember...at least you're at DL

 

[Nonsuch]

hate to be the one to break it to you but that weekend is going to be horrible when it comes to crowds...its always been one of the worst times to go and this year is no exception...in fact, I have a feeling its going to be more crowded this year than in years past due to CL ...

It will be very busy, but crowds are sometimes worse the days just before Thanksgiving when AP are not blocked.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

It will be very busy, but crowds are sometimes worse the days just before Thanksgiving when AP are not blocked.

that really doesnt make much of a difference...trust me....the blockout dates have pretty much always been the same and the crowds have always been the same too...and the only day in that entire week where i can honestly say its not crowded is the Sunday after Thanksgiving...so regardless of whether or not the OP is going several days before or the day of, they are going to experience top crowd levels...

 

[madigraham]

Disneyland suicide. If u can go the following weeekend or weekend before try and do it. You will still have fun but it will be ridiculously insanely crowded to possibly the point of max capacity

 

[rgnok]

We've been going Thanksgiving weekend for years now, usually Friday afternoon through close of the parks on Monday, heading home on Tuesday. Yes, of course the crowds will be huge, but you can (and we always do) get on plenty of rides, soak in soooo much Disney magic, and have a WONDERFUL time, as long as you have the right frame of mind. If you go in scared of (or mad about) the crowds, you're just sitting yourself up for a bad experience. On the other hand, if you head in knowing that you will be joining LOTS of others on your weekend adventure and just go with the flow, there is a wonderful time to be had. Personally, I love Thanksgiving weekend!

 

[want2bamommy]

Thanks, everyone! We're going to see about going during Veteran's weekend instead. A big plus is that we can get the Military discounted tickets (they are blocked out for Thanksgiving) and of course the parks will be less crowded.

I appreciate all of your feedback SO MUCH!

 

[BensDaddy]

How are the crowds the week after Thanksgiving weekend? Hoping it will be light if everyone goes back to work and school.

 

[Eeee-va]

I went the Friday (late night)-Tuesday after Thanksgiving in 2011 and didn't find it bad at all...crowds weren't SMALL on Friday night through Sunday, and I wouldn't be surprised if Friday was a bit crazy (I wasn't in the parks that long).

But crowds weren't oppressive to me, not in the least. The only unusually long lines I found were for Pirates of the Caribbean, which had just come off of a lengthy refurbishment. Sunday evening was almost dead in the parks. Also, my mom was using an ECV to travel from land to land throughout our trip (she didn't enter the parks on Friday). We did not have trouble navigating, which shows that the walkways were not terribly congested either. The parks never hit capacity at all.

Many, many people have previously reported that the days BEFORE Thanksgiving are worse than the days after. I'm a bit confused as to why everyone is now saying that the days after Thanksgiving are absolutely awful.

I have a wait board picture from I believe 1 PM (and if not, it was 2 PM!) the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2011. It shows 10 minutes for BTMRR, 35 for Indiana Jones I believe, 25 for Finding Nemo Subs, and 15 for Small World holiday. The headliners like Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Star Tours were all under an hour. That's not low crowds, but I've seen much, much worse.

Admittedly, 2012 could be very different from 2011 because a lot more non-AP-holders could be visiting the Disneyland resort during this holiday period due to Cars Land. And those people without APs may be looking at past reports saying the days after Thanksgiving aren't that bad and making their decision based on that, which will in turn make those days crowded!

So we can't assume that the days after Thanksgiving 2012 will be OK...but in 2011, I did not think crowds were bad at all on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving.

And the week after Thanksgiving is widely reported to be low crowds (I found that to be the case the Monday after Thanksgiving 2011). Also short hours, though (I believe it was 9-8 when we went).

 

[sheetz]

What's changed recently is that so many of the local school districts, including the 2 biggest (LA and SD Unified), are now giving their students the entire week of Thanksgiving off. Combined that with no AP blockouts and the days leading up to Thanksgiving have big, big crowds.

 

[rgnok]

Many, many people have previously reported that the days BEFORE Thanksgiving are worse than the days after. I'm a bit confused as to why everyone is now saying that the days after Thanksgiving are absolutely awful.

I'm with Eeee-va in being a bit confused by that. Never had any horrible crowd experiences after Thanksgiving, but HATED the year we switched up and went before.

What's changed recently is that so many of the local school districts, including the 2 biggest (LA and SD Unified), are now giving their students the entire week of Thanksgiving off. Combined that with no AP blockouts and the days leading up to Thanksgiving have big, big crowds.

No arguing or doubting, just genuinely wondering .... why does that seem to impact the days AFTER Thanksgiving (when, presumably, most all schools in the country have ALWAYS been out Friday after, and, obviously, the weekend. If anything, it would seem that local schools being out the whole week of Thanksgiving would make the already busy days at the BEGGINNING of Thanksgiving week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or even Saturday - Wednesday) busier than years past, but that wouldn't seem to contribute to being busier AFTER the holiday, since all the schools have always been out on those days

 

[sheetz]

If anything, it would seem that local schools being out the whole week of Thanksgiving would make the already busy days at the BEGGINNING of Thanksgiving week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or even Saturday - Wednesday) busier than years past, but that wouldn't seem to contribute to being busier AFTER the holiday, since all the schools have always been out on those days

Yes, the traditional Thanksgiving crowds have shifted to the days before Thanksgiving so on the days following it should not be as crowded as it has been in the past.

 

[rgnok]

Yes, the traditional Thanksgiving crowds have shifted to the days before Thanksgiving so on the days following it should not be as crowded as it has been in the past.

Cautiously "yay"

 

[want2bamommy]

Thank you so much everyone for all of your replies! I really can't wait to go to my first trip to DL as an adult

 

[BensDaddy]

3 weeks from today!

 

[junmatno]

Thanks, everyone! We're going to see about going during Veteran's weekend instead. A big plus is that we can get the Military discounted tickets (they are blocked out for Thanksgiving) and of course the parks will be less crowded.

I appreciate all of your feedback SO MUCH!

I was just looking at your question and the post after it and I want to say that I am so sad that this Diznee person made it sound so miserable that you changed your plans : (. We ALWAYS go Thanksgiving and love the atmosphere. In fact we took our 5 yr old DS starting at 8 months and every year after. Including a Xmas trip. I agree with the poster that says you CAN DO IT and ENJOY it. Tue poster that said its busy PRIOR was CORRECT actually. 2010 we went and they closed DL down the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving but NEVER on Thanksgiving day.

Don't let negative nellie's persuade you, if you want to go, go and have fun. I am jealous actually of you cause we didn't get to go this year due to our new DD 2 months. But she will have her first trip next June when she's 9 months old. And if I have my way, we'll be back on Thanksgiving weekend!! ENJOY!!!

 

[nsiordia]

What is thanksgiving day itself like?

 

[majermom]

Thanks for asking this. We are going the same time, Thurs thru Sun. Cannot wait!!!

 

[majermom]

Thanks for this post. You eased my fears about maybe not even being able to do all that we want to. We were there Christmas 2010 and it was insane but this time were not pressured to do "everything" because we did that last time. Cars Land for sure but otherwise were pretty flexible. I'll share your post with my DH & DS

 

[ty71803]

Thanks, everyone! We're going to see about going during Veteran's weekend instead. A big plus is that we can get the Military discounted tickets (they are blocked out for Thanksgiving) and of course the parks will be less crowded.

I appreciate all of your feedback SO MUCH!

Where does it tell that military discount tickets are blocked. I have some
military tickets and did not realize they have blockout dates.