Veteran WDW; 1st time to DLR

[newddmommie]

My family and I are going to DLR for 3 days over thanksgiving week (M, T, W). We've got hotel reservations and flights. It's myself, my DH, 2 DDs, Mil/FIL, BIL/SIL. We're veterans to WDW, but first time to DLR. How crazy will thanksgiving be and what's the best touring plan? We'll be sure to pack our patience and have a great time, but I want to manage expectations. TIA for the help planning.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I recommend Hydroguy's Tips. Also, park hoppers, for sure, so you can hop as many times as necessary.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/hydroguy-tips-compilation.1520483/

 

[figment_jii]

From within HydroGuy's Tip Compilation thread, I highly recommend taking a look at his DLR Guide for WDW thread. That give you a good sense of the similarities and differences between DLR and WDW.

Given that you're going during Thanksgiving time...the Holiday Season should have started at DLR by then (some elements will trickle in later in December), but you should see/experience some of the fun of DLR at the holidays. You might want to check out the ChristmasTime SuperThread and keep an eye on that for information as it trickles out.

As a WDW Vet it's worth noting that DLR dining reservations come open 60-days in advance, but the operating calendar is usually posted about 45-days/6-weeks in advance, with full entertainment information being posted closer to 30-days in advance. We are still awaiting detailed information about the holidays at DLR this year, because the 60th anniversary celebration is likely to impact the holidays.

 

[newddmommie]

Thanks for the responses. For those that have been is DLR less crowded than WDW during that week?

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks for the responses. For those that have been is DLR less crowded than WDW during that week?

I have been to DLR that week but never WDW that week. Regardless, from what I understand both are very busy TG week for obvious reasons.

DLR tends to feel more crowded than WDW because it is smaller and walkways are narrower. However, even on busy days DLR tends to have shorter lines for rides because there are more rides. Or, rather, DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks put together.

 

[figment_jii]

Take this a large grain of salt, but Touring Plans has posted their crowd calendar predictions versus "actual" for both WDW and DLR for that period last year (Nov 23-29, 2015). They list their "average" wait time, so you can get a sense of daily average wait times. None of this means future Thanksgiving weeks are going to be the same, but I generally agree with HydroGuy that both resorts are busy that week because it's a holiday and lots of people are traveling. The parks will be busy, but I don't think you're likely to come across capacity-level crowds. I would go expecting high crowds.
DLR: http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/12/02/disneyland-resort-crowd-report-november-23-29-2014/
WDW: http://blog.touringplans.com/2014/12/02/disney-world-crowd-report-november-23-29-2014/