Week before or week after the week of Thanksgiving?

[marygrcevic]

Hi all,
Looking for opinions please - our pre-covid trips have always been the week after Thanksgiving for the lower point cost (at least part of the week) and early December holiday feel. This year, in looking at recent crowd reports, I'm wondering if it would be any different crowd wise going the week before the week of Thanksgiving (Nov 14th - after Veterans Day) - we have an abundance of points from not going for a while and are happy at any resort, main consideration for us this year is crowds, as we have a few new grandchildren who will be going for the first time. Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated

 

[Marionnette]

Hi all,
Looking for opinions please - our pre-covid trips have always been the week after Thanksgiving for the lower point cost (at least part of the week) and early December holiday feel. This year, in looking at recent crowd reports, I'm wondering if it would be any different crowd wise going the week before the week of Thanksgiving (Nov 14th - after Veterans Day) - we have an abundance of points from not going for a while and are happy at any resort, main consideration for us this year is crowds, as we have a few new grandchildren who will be going for the first time. Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated

Honestly, there are no uncrowded times anymore. We went the week after Thanksgiving this past year (11/29-12/8). The lines were crazy long and navigating the park with a stroller was no easy feat. But we had great weather and wonderful meals. It was our granddaughter's first visit (6 month old at the time) so we weren't trying to get a lot done and it wasn't a big deal that there were no princess meet and greets. We did get a picture of her socially distanced from Mickey.

 

[CarolynFH]

Hi all,
Looking for opinions please - our pre-covid trips have always been the week after Thanksgiving for the lower point cost (at least part of the week) and early December holiday feel. This year, in looking at recent crowd reports, I'm wondering if it would be any different crowd wise going the week before the week of Thanksgiving (Nov 14th - after Veterans Day) - we have an abundance of points from not going for a while and are happy at any resort, main consideration for us this year is crowds, as we have a few new grandchildren who will be going for the first time. Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated

Crowd levels have been so different post-pandemic compared to before that it's difficult to predict what it will be like later this year. I will guess that the week you're considering will be one of the less busy weeks this fall, since it will be between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Week, thus fewer school districts likely to be off. Sometimes I guess at crowd levels by looking at DVC availability for the time periods I'm considering and the villa size I need - if there's more availability for one week than for another, I use that as a basis to guess that the parks might be less crowded that week!

 

[Her Dotness]

That week has long been our Disney week annually.

Crowds, as said above, are probably going to be somewhat an issue since this is usually the final week of Food & Wine as well as still the 50th Anniversary celebration this year. Go to F&W on Monday or Tuesday if interested, for less crowding.

The Epcot front entrance area was a maze of construction walls when we were there that week last year and may still be. I actually recommend avoiding Epcot entirely if your grands are likely to enjoy AK or MK more anyway.

The drawback for you may be that not all resorts will be fully decorated until the weekend before Thanksgiving, nor will special holiday events be underway as yet. The GF Gingerbread House will either be done and sales counter at its back open or nearly so. Other gingerbread constructions at Deluxes, same status. Some years, the gorgeous Christmas village electric train layout is in place at Yacht Club, others we've just missed seeing it.

Weather can be somewhat variable from Florida hot-hot-HOT to so freezing cold the pools close. At least, you'll typically get mist to light, steady rain rather than those infamous afternoon downpours. Prepare for all of those to be safe, including spare socks.

It can be a lovely time to be at WDW. Enjoy whenever you decide to go.

 

[keishashadow]

Due to new AP sorcerer blackout dates over the weekend of Thanksgiving, this year we had to move that upcoming annual trip forward to first full week of December.

Busy DVC time but, hoping with PoP Warner at U; might be less of a crowd. Lol when pigs fly. Every week we’ve visited last year+ has been crowded

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

I'm hoping most folks will have gotten their revenge travel out of their systems by then and will be settling back into their normal patterns. I think historically (not counting the last two years) the week after Thanksgiving is better crowd wise, but everything has been so so so much slower to recover than I ever imagined, so just pick the week that works better for you.

 

[marygrcevic]

Thanks so much everyone!

 

[RoseGold]

I went the first week of December 2021, and I will never do it again. If Disney stays that crowded, I will sell DVC and be completely out.