Week of Thanksgiving

[lovealldisney]

What are the parks like the week of Thanksgiving? How is the weather? What are the hours? Thinking about going the kids have off the whole week.

 

[01Sweetpea]

We're going from 11/18 - 11/25. To answer your questions:

What are the parks like the week of Thanksgiving?..Not sure, but I'm presuming busy, and getting busier the closer you get to Thanksgiving and that weekend.

How is the weather? Not sure

What are the hours? They are posted on the official Disney site.

 

[Cmbar]

I am hopping on this post because I would like to know about the crowds. I have had friends go this week and they had beautiful weather. I also presume it is going to be crowded toward Thursday and Friday and probably awful during that time. However, If you plan your trip right it might be ok before Thanksgiving day. Since your kids have off the whole week, maybe leave out on the Friday before and come home on Thanksgiving day or that Friday. That will probably be the worst time! Just a thought!

Looks like the parks are open late (until 10pm or 11pm) That is late to us because we go in February when they close at 8pm and Fantasmic is at 7pm!

Good luck planning.

 

[BamaFan121s]

We go every T'giving...it's our favorite time to go! The weather is much cooler so you aren't sweating buckets everyday. Most days it is warm enough for shorts by day, jeans and possibly a light jacket at night. Kali River has always stayed open, no line obviously, but is very cold as one might guess. You can walk on Splash Mt. at just about anytime. The parks are much less crowded and you hardly ever have to wait long and rarely have probs getting a FP. The parks are much slower at night, but the crowds are usually much bigger at Downtown Disney.

 

[tink70]

We go every T'giving...it's our favorite time to go! The weather is much cooler so you aren't sweating buckets everyday. Most days it is warm enough for shorts by day, jeans and possibly a light jacket at night. Kali River has always stayed open, no line obviously, but is very cold as one might guess. You can walk on Splash Mt. at just about anytime. The parks are much less crowded and you hardly ever have to wait long and rarely have probs getting a FP. The parks are much slower at night, but the crowds are usually much bigger at Downtown Disney.

We are going this year ourselves and I was wondering about the weather.
Have you gone when it is quite warm? We went one year the second week, veterans day week, and it was so HOT.
Also, was it busy on thanksgiving and the day after?
Just wondering. Thanks

Marnie

 

[GOOFY D]

Thanksgiving Day in MK is very busy. The days leading up to Thanksgiving get progressively more busy, but not unbearable. It is really Thursday and Friday that are very busy. We love that time though.

 

[01Sweetpea]

How busy is MK on Thanksgiving night, say after 8pm?

We're planning on going to AK that day, then doing a carriage ride at 6pm at Ft. Wilderness before our 7:15 ADRs for HDDR, then we need to decide if we should go to MK for a few hours, or head over to DTD for the remainder of the night.

 

[aunt kelly]

We've been twice at Thanksgiving and I thought the crowds were heavy. You definately need to plan well and be at the parks when they open. The weather is very nice. The mornings and evenings were chilly (we usually wore sweatshirts). During the afternoon, we wore short sleeves and shorts. Disney opens the parks early and closes late to accomodate the crowds. Have fun!

 

[donna in Oz]

The worst crowds we've ever encountered were on T-Day and on the Friday after. The MK was so packed that it became nearly impossible to go in a direction other than the one the general crowd was traveling in. I'd suggest going anywhere but the MK on those days.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We went during Thanksgiving week last year, and it really wasn't that bad. The weather was beautiful. Thanksgiving night, after Thanksgiving dinner, we went to MGM to see the Osborne lights, sort of a "usher in the Christmas season" in our mind, and there weren't too many people. Friday eve, I went to MK and although it was pretty busy, it wasn't unbearable. Saturday I just stayed at the resort, but I was hearing horror stories that weekend about long waits at attractions. I wouldn't hesitate to go again that week.

 

[tink70]

That sounds like a great idea, to go see the osbourne lights. I am glad you mentioned that. I was looking for something to do other than be at MK since they are saying it is so crowded.
I am planning to go at this time of year because I really wanted to go to the holiday party at MK and wouldn't you know they are having it the night before we arrive and 2 days after we leave. Why they are not having it for 10 days is beyond me.
I wish they would add a day while we are there!!

 

[Mrs. Potts]

We went the week of Thanksgiving in 2004 and are going again this Thanksgiving week. Our kids have the whole week off as well. Two years ago the weather was lovely. Warm enough to swim if we wanted, but not oppressively hot. From the Saturday before Turkey day until the day before, the parks were great and open late. Thanksgiving day we made the mistake of going to the Magic Kingdom. It was wall to wall people by noon and started to get kind of scarey. We left around 1:30 and went back to the hotel to relax before our holiday meal at Chef Mickey's. The next day we went to MK early and then to MGM in the afternoon. All in all an enjoyable time. The holiday decorations added to the festivities. We're excited to be going again!!!!!

 

[BraveMom3]

We've gone Thanksgiving week for the last few years. We arrive on Wednesday before and leave on Monday after. We NEVER go to MK on Thanksgiving Day, always MGM, leave for "Thanksgiving Dinner" around 4:00 or 5:00 and then return for the Osbourne Lights. We may go to MK on the Wednesday we arrive, then do not return until Sunday afternoon for MVMCP. Get to the parks at opening, use fast pass, and be sure to have ADR's for meals that are not counter service!

 

[lovealldisney]

Ok forgive me but what are the osbourne light?

 

[BamaFan121s]

It really isn't bad crowd wise except on Thurs/Fri. You just have to remember, MK has a parade on T'giving day and that is the park where EVERYONE seems to go. Plus, they have groups of all-star cheerleaders and different high school bands that come in to participate. They travel on group packages and stay at the AS & Pop...so steer clear of there. Also, they have days assigned as to what park they are to go to on what day (so video crews can make videos of them) so find out this schedule and don't go to the park they're going to! (Trust me...imagine trying to take in a Safari in a vehicle full of young, middle school aged cheerleaders!

We've been for T'giving when temp was cool the whole week and we needed jackets at night, and then we've been times when it was hot, we wore shorts and were able to swim and lay out by the pool.

 

[Greg K.]

Ok forgive me but what are the osbourne light?

It's a HUGE Christmas lights display in the 'downtown' facade area of Disney-MGM. It's breathtaking to behold. It usually begins on Thanksgiving night. They often sell hot chocolate and cookies on the street, and it 'snows' part of the time, too. Definitely something to see

 

[01Sweetpea]

Is the Osbourne lights every night after T-day or only certain nights? Friday after T-day is our MGM day.

Thanks!

 

[Mersmom98]

MGM will have the Osborne Lights every night. One word can explain it "AWESOME!" It definitely will get you into the Christmas spirit.
We went this past Thanksgiving week and the weather was really nice. Shorts during the day (although it was cool in the shade) and pants and light jacket at night. The crowds weren't horrible but we did avoid MK on Thanksgiving Day.