Tour Plan the week after Thanksgiving?

[Cinderumbrella]

I just finished reading the UG and I am curious if we need to follow a tour plan the week after Thanksgiving. We have never been this time of year and are hoping for low to moderate crowds.

Any advice? We are going with DS3.5 so Space Mountain is out and probably Splash Mountain if the weather is too cool. BTMRR is a toss up for us. We would like to see all of MK in one day so we have a chance to just see favorites later. We also have alotted 1.5 days at MGM, 2 days at Epcot (we have to see Soarin and Test Track!!) and 1.5 at AK (we plan on skipping EE and Kali but are hoping the new Nemo show will be open by then).

Thanks!

 

[kimbac3]

We went this time last year and we are going back again this year. It was awesome. Just about everything was walk-on or 10 min wait tops! We did use fastpasses for test track and Soarin. Also we randomly used them in MK but didn't really need them. If you get there at opening you could easily accomplish all of MK with the exception of Tom Sawyer Island. That really needs more time - strollers are really hard to deal with there so your little one will be on foot.
The only line we waited in for characters was the Princess line. We walked right in to Mickey and stumbled onto everyone else. It was a really great time to go. If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask!
Have a great trip!!
Kimba

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks!! I know last October it wasn't super crowded and we accomplished a lot in the AM.

We are planning on hitting Mickey's Toontown our arrival day so we can avoid it on our "full day". Ditto for the MK afternoon parade.

The plan now for MK is to hit all of Fantasyland right after our 8:25 CP breakfast then head to Tomorrowland to hit Buzz, Indy cars, Astro Orbiter and TTA. We'll grab a FP for Jungle Cruise before lunch, eat and then tour the rest of Adventureland while we wait for the return time. The rest of our group will grab a FP for me for BTMRR for late afternoon (DH and DS are sitting it out) and then we are hopping to Epcot for the tree lighting ceremony and dinner at Garden Grille.

I am most concerned about trying to get through Future World at Epcot. We are doing it on our MVMCP day so we won't get there until 11AM or so so we can sleep in some to make the most of the party later. The rest of our party plans on being there when they open so they are meeting me at Soarin with a FP at 11AM (DH and DS will sit it out). We plan on FP Test Track before we meet the group, but would still like to see the Land ride, Circle of Life, The Living Seas, Spaceship Earth and use our Test Track FP and still get out of the park by around 3pm so we can go back to the hotel before MVMCP... Is this possible in 4 hours? We plan on doing Imagination Pavillion, Innoventions and the "tame" version of Mission Space the following day when we visit the Santas at World Showcase (again arriving late since we will have been up late the night before).

Whew! I am exhausted just typing this let alone doing it!

 

[kimbac3]

When are you planning on eating lunch on your Epcot day? I only ask because if you are arriving at 11 and want to leave by 3 AND still do all those rides you might not have enough time to eat. Although, lunch aside, I think you should be ok. The only things I can think of that may stall you is The Circle of Life show and the Living Seas. This will be especially true if you want to see Turtle Talk. That line can be crazy. The whole place can get crowded.
If you can be a little flexible..like back at the hotel between 3 and 3:30 you might stress a little less.
The land ride and spaceship earth should be walk on, or a very minimal wait. And as long as you get fast passes for the other 2 you should be fine.
Be sure to bring sweatshirts for the party because it can get downright chilly!! We brought cotton stretch gloves for our kids and they needed them!
I hope I've helped! If you have anymore questions..fire away!!
Kimba

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks Kimba! We are just doing a quickie lunch somewhere in FW (if we're hungry that is! We have a 5:30 dinner at LTT that night). Circle of Life isn't too important too us, so we can push it to later if we have to, but Turtle Talk is super important. All of the Living Seas was closed last year when we went so DS didn't get to see any of it.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I am looking at this year as my 8th trip to WDW at that time of the year, it is great. Good weather (you do need to check the weather before you leave, and be prepared for variations), low crowds, all the Christmas decorations and extras and value pricing at the reosrts. Best time of the year, IMO> I owuld suggest popping for 18 bucks and following TGM's suggestions as to what day, what park, works like magic. I used his suggestions last several trips, worked like a charm. Enjoyl

 

[mickeymule]

Our favorite time of the year to go. We are going this year, actually leaving Mass. (driving) the day before or after Thanksgiving Have fun, I just play my daily visits by ear, no planning, fly by night

 

[lpizzuro123]

First a question to you about arriving at 11:00 in Epcot and heading to Soarin' and your friends having a FP waiting for you. You need your ticket to get a fastpass so unless someone is already in the park and gets a fastpass and decides not to use it - you cannot get a fastpass until you enter the park.

Another great thing to do is in Epcot they have the Holiday Storytellers. Each country has a storyteller that tells the story of how they celebrate the holiday in their country. Each show is about 15 minutes and there are at least 5 to 7 shows per day. After they tell about the holiday they will do pictures and sign autographs. It is really interesting to do.

There is also a great tree lighting ceremony in the walkway between FW and WS. This is a great show with all the characters dressed up in their holiday best singing and dancing and of course lighting the huge tree. I believe this is at around 6:00 every night. There is also the Lights of Winter. This is a lighted arch also between FW and WS. The lights go in time to the music and it is beautiful and fun to watch.

There is also the Candlelight Processional. This is the telling of the Christmas story, narrated, along with a wonderful chorus. It is in the American Garden Theater. You can do a dinner package to get special seating or just wait in line to see the show. If you are going this early in the season you should be able to get a seat. There are three shows each night. It is best to see the second or third show because it will be dark and you get to see the chorus with their candles in the dark.

We are also planning on heading down to WDW that week also. Enjoy your holiday vacation.

Linda

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks Linda! We are working on Candlelight Processional right now (if they would only hurry up and release the dining packages for them!) and plan on seeing some of the storytellers on our 2nd Epcot day and seeing the Epcot tree lighting before our dinner at Garden Grille.

As to the FP for Soarin, my FIL has a strict rule about not going on any rides that pregnant ladies are warned against- if they can't ride neither will he! He will be using his ticket to get my FP for the "wild rides" when we are not with the rest of the group. But thanks for the heads up!

 

[lpizzuro123]

(As to the FP for Soarin, my FIL has a strict rule about not going on any rides that pregnant ladies are warned against- if they can't ride neither will he!)

This comment made me laugh also.

We hope to purchase the Candlelight package also. Can't wait till they release the narraitors with the dates they will be there. Last time we saw the second show of Candlelight and then went to dinner at Rose and Crown. The timing was just right to catch IllumiNations while eating our desert.

Linda

 

[daughterminnie]

We went that week in 2003 (by accident) and LOVED IT! In fact, several 'locals' working in our resort told us it's the best week in Disney. The crowds were low and the weather just perfect. Cool in the AM (enough for a sweatshirt and capri pants or shorts) but by the afternoon it warmed up enough to take off the sweatshirt and be more than comfortable. My DD and DS were able to swim in the evenings at our resort. We loved it so much that we've planned another trip this year for the same week and have convinced my sister and family to come with us.

We purchase tickets for the MVMCP. It allows us to do MK at night (most of the parks close early this time of year) and experience the magic of Christmas at Disney. The lines during the MVMCP were non-exsistent (less than 10 min) for most rides, including space mountain. During the fireworks, we got on Thunder Mountain and experience the fireworks while riding - very cool! When we pulled into the station there was NOT ONE person waiting to get on so the 'conductor' told us to "stay where you are folks, we're going again!" We rode again and got to see more fireworks! It's one of my DD favorite memories of MK - she thought that was very cool!

Be warned though . . . the weekends are still very crowded as many AP holders visit on the weekends all year round. We arrived the Sunday after Thanksgiving and went to Epcot. Lines were very long for the "rides". We left the following Saturday and spent the day at MK. Big mistake - super crowded and hot! We ended up leaving early and killing time until our flight.

 

[magicaldisney]

I'm subscribing to this thread. We also will be there the week after Thanksgiving for our first Christmas experience at WDW. DH is very bummed we are missing Halloween at WDW so I hope all the info I'm getting from you guys will make this trip just as magical.

Thanks guys for all your info, keep it coming.

 

[KevinM]

We arrived the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2005 and went to the parks from Sunday to Friday. Excellent time to go, crowds seemed to be less than the 2 previous years we went the first full week of December. The only crowds that we encountered were on the Friday before we left at Epcot, when we noticed lots of groups of teenagers dressed similarly roaming the park and wait times really soared. I think Pop Warner was starting the following day, so I'm assuming that they were hitting the parks before the competitions started.

I would still advise to get to the parks at opening. We were able to go on the most popular rides with little or no wait and then had the rest of the day to hit the less popular rides. The only exception was Soarin, which always had a long standby line. We rode it once using Fastpass, but I didn't think it was that great (an opinion not shared by many here!). We are going later this year (Dec. 7-16) , but only because we couldn't arrange for a vacation after Thanksgiving again.

 

[Kristina]

Hi everyone ! After lots of back and forths and should we or shouldn't we's my DBF and I decided, we should! So last night I booked us flights with Virgin Atlantic and we are going to Walt Disney World ! Our dates are Nov. 27 through Dec. 13th and reading this thread struck me as to how much planning I've yet to do! Which is a good thing, as I love it love it so!

You guys sound like you know what you're talking about so I think I best subscribe! I too have Tour Guide Mike and besides being great it adds to the fun!

Yeah! Christmas time, someone pinch me!

 

[kimbac3]

Be warned though . . . the weekends are still very crowded as many AP holders visit on the weekends all year round. We arrived the Sunday after Thanksgiving and went to Epcot. Lines were very long for the "rides". We left the following Saturday and spent the day at MK. Big mistake - super crowded and hot! We ended up leaving early and killing time until our flight.

Boy do I second this!! We were so spoiled all week that when the crowds came on Saturday ... We were so annoyed that we had a 20 min wait for Pirates! We had walked right on all week! The best advice for that Saturday night is to make an ADR for dinner. We had an ADR for Cindy's at 8:30. We were just going to do dessert (back then you could) but because it was so crowded, we just decided to eat dinner. We did NOT want to go back out there!! It was packed. This year we have an ADR at the Plaza Restaurant. I already explained to my kids that we are only going that night for Spectro and Wishes. I would avoid it all together but...my kids wanted their last night to be at MK..Sun is our last night but it's an EMH.....oh it's confusing
Kimba