Veteran's Day or Thanksgiving?

[Refillable Mug Dork]

I'm planning a DL trip in Nov. I am looking at Veteran's Day weekend (11/6 - 11/11) or the weekend before Thanksgiving (11/21 - 11/26). Does any one know what the crowds are like during these times. I have read that the days leading up to Thanksgiving are less crowded than the days following. Is that true?

Thanks for any help.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Hi there,

I would recommend the weekend before Thanksgiving. Disneyland will be decorated for the holidays at that time, and it just seems more magical. The Christmas Parade begins on Thanksgiving Day, I believe, but other than that, you'll enjoy most of the festivities.

The crowds will be be moderately heavy, but I don't think they'll be more busy than on Veteran's weekend.

However, avoid Thanksgiving and the weekend unless you thrive on standing in line for hours and lots and lots of people.

mj

 

[hookedup]

Ditto to what the ever-so-smart Mary Jo said.
We usually do a trip the weekend before Thanksgiving and crowds are there but not awful. This past year we also went on Vets Day weekend and IT WAS REALLY BAD! I will never go back to DL on a holiday. Thanksgiving (day and Friday & weekend after) is brutal too. If you have a choice go the weekend before Thanksgiving - it will totally get you in the holiday mood!

 

[renzdr]

We just went to Disneyland the last week of July. Are the crowds Thanksgiving weekend even worse than the summer crowds? We thought they were pretty bad!

 

[Refillable Mug Dork]

Thanks for the info. It makes my planning much easier.

 

[CalGal]

RMD -- I am thinking along the same lines. I did notice that hotel rates, especially at the Disney Resorts, skyrocket on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

My question to hookedup and Mary Jo -- you say that the Xmas decorations will be up the week before Thanksgiving. Do you know you when abouts they are put up? I really don't want to miss them or the ELP, which I haven't seem since it left DL! Thanks!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Calgal,

Disneyland is usually decorated with harvest decor, and some Halloween in October, especially in New Orleans Square for the Haunted Mansion "Nightmare Before Christmas" (NBC). Then either the first or second weekend of November Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney get their holiday makeovers. The fireworks will begin again on the weekends, with a holiday theme and "snow" falling afterwards. I believe that Disney's Electrical Light Parade, A California Tradition, will be performing on the weekends (we just saw it last weekend and the crowd still cheers) . I like to be on Main Street around 5pm or so when the Dickens carolers lead everyone in a Christmas singalong - it's very special. Also, It's a Small World will be made over by then - I'm thinking by the 2nd week in November, and that is always worth seeing.

 

[CalGal]

Thanks Mary Jo! Your information is very helpful.

 

[dsnylndmom]

All the holiday decorations and little side booths and holiday snacks are slated to be up Nov. 7, the only thing missing is the Christmas parade.

We did Veteran's Day Weekend last year and thurs., fri. and saturday were fine crowd wise but really rainy. Sunday and Monday were HOT and Summer time like crowded.

We've also been the weekend before Thanksgiving and it was perfect. No crowds, all the decorations and the weather was wonderful! I would defitnely pick this time period!!

 

[CalGal]

You've convinced me dsnylndmom. The week before Thanksgiving it is. Perhaps I'll see Refillable Mug Dork while I'm there. I think January and November are the only months that I haven't yet been to DL, so soon I'll just have one more month to conquer.

Have a great birthday visit. Will you be doing the birthday celebration at Goofy's kitchen? I did that for my son's 7th (6 years ago at the old GK). It was a blast. Since my son wore his birthday pin around, lots of characters put special notes in his autograph book including Merlin who wished him a happy 107th birthday.