Week Before of Week After Thanksgiving?!?

[Meldev]

I've completely lost my mind I think. We have reservations during Free Dining week before Thanksgiving - but I've read so much about how wonderful week following Thanksgiving is and happened to check Southwest and going out after Thanksgiving saves us approx 40K points....trip packages are within a couple hundred dollars....

So, do I save a couple hundred, use more points and go week prior to Thanksgiving OR save lots of points, maybe spend a couple hundred more in package (though if I switch resorts (move from CSR to AoA, it's a wash) and go week after Thanksgiving??

I already have dining that I'm fairly happy with booked for both weeks in case we made the switch...

If it helps, we're a family of 6 - kids aged 3 - 11 (at time of travel more like 4-12)

Please advise - thank you!

 

[sharonabe]

It depends on what your priorities are. Personally, I think the week BEFORE Thanksgiving will be less crowded than the one after. What used to be a golden week has gone the way of the dodo. The biggest pro for the week before is the crowd level and your money savings with free dining.

Pros for the week after is that all the Christmas stuff will be up and running. Candlelight Processional and Holiday Storytellers at EP don't start until after Thanksgiving, so if you go the week before you will miss them. Osborne and most of the Christmas decorations will all be up the week before.

Cons for the week after is crowd level and the Christmas parade taping that should take place on the first Fri, Sat, Sun of December in MK. That along with MVMCP can play havoc with park planning. Depending on your departure date, you may also overlap with some of the Pop Warner people coming in who have added days to enjoy the parks.

So, if experiencing ALL the Christmas festivities is your priority, then I would go the week after. If savings and slightly lower crowds is your priority, I would go the week before.

 

[Meldev]

Depending on your departure date, you may also overlap with some of the Pop Warner people coming in

We're looking at Friday after Thanksgiving to following Friday, where does the Pop Warner group typically stay? The values? Moderates?

 

[sharonabe]

They stay all over. I think the majority are at All Star Sports, but we had several groups at Coronado Springs too. They're not really a factor, but they could be.

If you're looking at the day after Thanksgiving, that Fri-Sun will still be very crowded. The following Mon-Fri will be moderately crowded.

 

[lahobbs4]

We have gone the week before for the past 2 years and are again this year. So…. you should go the week after. I don't want people to know about my special, quiet week at WDW

 

[Meldev]

We have gone the week before for the past 2 years and are again this year. So…. you should go the week after. I don't want people to know about my special, quiet week at WDW

Free Dining hasn't increased the crowds that week - reservations were so hard to get I thought that was an indicator of increasing crowds that week, maybe not though.

 

[lahobbs4]

ADR's have gotten harder, but it's still relatively slow in the parks. Especially if you go on the recommended days. We have done MK on a Monday the past 2 years (not this year) and have walked on everything but 7DMT for at least the first 2 hours

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I have never gone the week before or after Thanksgiving, but have gone over Thanksgiving and I personally like after Thanksgiving. The reason is due to really enjoying the Holidays Around the World at Epcot. That is my only complaint about going before Thanksgiving in that you would miss all of that. If you have never been over the holidays, then I would pick the week after.

 

[tmoo]

At times in the past they had free dining the week after as well, but not this time. The Christmas party does throw a wrench in the schedule. The only night availability at Magic Kingdom is Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. All of those will be busy days at MK.

 

[Disneychick75]

If you want to see WDW decked out for Christmas, go the week after Thanksgiving. Just know that the weekend after will still be crowded. If possible, arrive on the asunday after that week.
We've never been the week before but it is inviting because the crowds are so low that week. I really am considering it for a future trip. The only thing holding me back is I love to see the parks and resorts dressed up for Christmas.

 

[Meldev]

I really appreciate all this input! I was concerned about low crowd levels staying so low when there was no additional room discount offered the week prior to Thanksgiving, yet there was (though limited most of the rest of the month excluding Thanksgiving) - Our plan would be to stay offsite (DTD hotel) Friday and Saturday night - with the main objective being to visit DTD Saturday and checkin probably at CSR Sunday - Friday - those would be our park days, and we'd plan to attend most likely the Tuesday night party.

 

[Disneychick75]

I really appreciate all this input! I was concerned about low crowd levels staying so low when there was no additional room discount offered the week prior to Thanksgiving, yet there was (though limited most of the rest of the month excluding Thanksgiving) - Our plan would be to stay offsite (DTD hotel) Friday and Saturday night - with the main objective being to visit DTD Saturday and checkin probably at CSR Sunday - Friday - those would be our park days, and we'd plan to attend most likely the Tuesday night party.

Sounds like a great plan! Hoping y'all will have a magical vacation!!!