WDW after Thanksgiving?

[CPSM]

We are planning a trip for this coming year (2006) and i'd love to go a day or so after Thanksgiving so we can see the Christmas decorations. My husband says its way too crowded that time of year. Anyone been there during that time and have some opinions?

Your help is appreciated!!!

 

[Autumngirl]

Just came back from that exact time of year. The Friday after Thanksgiving can be a little hairy, even the Saturday...after that, the Thanksgiving crowd goes home. We arrived the Saturday after Thanksgiving and check in on Sunday. We never waited more than 25 minutes for a ride...most were a walk on. The weather was perfect (it did rain one day though). We saw all the special parades, functions and events. This was our second trip at that time of year (first one was 2003). We love it. It doesn't actually get "way too busy" until the week of Christmas and the week after Christmas.

 

[blessedby3]

NO CROWDS!! We checked into POP the day after Thanksgiving, but didnt go into the parks until the 27th (Sunday) and we didnt have to wait for anything. Maybe 5-10 mins., but most things we walked right onto or even got to stay on because no one was waiting to ride (BTMRR, SP). It was great. There werent any crowds until Friday, Dec. 2nd at Epcot. Lots of teens there. This is our new favorite time to go! You wont be disappointed.

 

[Stacerita]

This is a great time to go. We checked in the sunday morning after thanksgiving and went right into the parks. They weren't crowded and wait times for most things were pretty short. It was great seeing all the decorations up as well.

 

[Terk-1]

Have been twice arriving the day after Thanksgiving (with the 3rd planned for 2006), so I think I can help.

I found the parks to be pretty crowded that Friday and the Magic Kingdom extremely crowded that Saturday, but then found the crowds really thin out by Sunday. Saturday's tend to be more crowded with the locals and such. I do make PS for all the places I want to do a TS meal at, since you just never know.

I like going this time of year, as it allows me 10 full days at WDW for only 5 days of vacation!

 

[theflowerladee]

I was also there this year, flew in Thanksgiving am...big mistake.
By also in agreement with everyone else, by Sunday the crowds died
down and it was a very nice week.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Flew in Sunday pm (after Thanksigving)...had no trouble at the airport. I was surprised. We went to DD that night, it was a bit crowded, but absolutely doable. That was the most crowds we saw. the rest of the time it wasn't bad at all, and they definitely thinned out over the week.


Monday morning, my mom flew in. We had no trouble with the airport being crowded. We ate and went to Epcot. It wasn't bad at all. It started to rain that night, in fact, it downright poured for a bit that night, but we survived. The crowds really thinned out, and we had a great time!
On Tuesday, we went to the outlet mall during the day for a bit. We should have gone to the pool cause it turned out to be our best weather day (warmest)...But that night we went to the MVMCP refeshed. It was great!
There were almost no lines for us at all!

Wednesday, we had breakfast at the castle (that was the day I got) so we went on a few things, then went to AK, and last, to MGM (To see the lights before it closed). None of the parks were very crowded that day at all. The MGM Osbourne light area had some people, but I suppose that was to be expected. We only had about an hour there. So we managed three parks in one day - BEFORE 7pm! That's a new family record!