What's the word on November / week before Thanksgiving?

[wvasweetness]

We're thinking about 7 nights at Disney the full week prior to Thanksgiving... Turkey Day is on the 27th, we would arrive to WDW the 15th and stay through the 22nd.

What's the word on November weather and crowds? I found a few posts about it, but they didn't have many details. Give me the deets!

BTW, we will leave WDW and head to Clearwater - how's the warmth of the water that time of year?

 

[FLchick415]

If I remember correctly, I was checking wait times on MDE the week before Thanksgiving, and they were pretty low. Seems like it might be a good time to visit.

 

[DisMama5]

That's a great week. I haven't personally been but I had started a thread about the same time frame a few months back. I was told it's pretty low crowds and warm but not hot. I know there were a few things that people told me to watch out for in early November, like jersey week. But overall they said it was a great week choice to go. The crowds start hitting the Saturday/Sunday right before thanksgiving which will be when you are headed out. I don't have many personal details since I haven't been during that week yet but the responses I got were great so I'm sure other posters will step in and give you more of a break down in full details.

 

[rwdavis2]

A great week. We did it in 2012. Back then we caught the end of Jersey Week, last Sunday F&W, and Monday was Veteran's Day (still not bad). By Tuesday the place was pretty empty. The only big crowd that week was the Friday Mickey's Christmas Party.

But you should miss all that since Thanksgiving is later.

 

[Mercenary]

Great time to go. Crowds were larger last year 2013 vs 2012 (so not sure what that means), and weather can be all over the place. Plan on comfortable days and cold mornings/ and nights. Christmas stuff is up you can do the party... Again I think this is a great time to go!

 

[brekken1]

We are booked for that week also! Hoping for a good week.

 

[Indio]

We were there the week before Thanksgiving this year. Crowds were VERY low. Didn't wait more than 10-15 minutes for anything. We used the FP+ only because we wanted to see how it worked (didn't really need any of them). We liked the system by the way. The weather was t-shirt/jeans weather with light jackets in the morning and evening. There were people with shorts on, and there were people swimming, but I'm from the south so it was just not warm enough for either of those for us. The temps were high 50s/60s at night and 70s during the day. Christmas decorations were up and the Osborne lights were on. MVMCP in full swing.

We didn't take the kids because of school, but if I could, that would be the time I'd love to visit more often. PERFECT!

 

[summerskye]

Great time to go. We usually have to do the week of Thanksgiving. One year we did the week after and the crowds did not drop as much as expected. Another year we did half a week before and enjoyed the crowds much more. The weather can be all over the place. Generally it is more on the warm side but be prepared for an early cool front. Have fun.

We will be there Thanksgiving week this year.

 

[tazbill]

We've been watching crowd levels as we are there from 22/11 for 2 weeks ,and I think week leading up to thanksgiving is not too busy in most parks so I'd say you should be ok and no very long waits for most things

 

[PrincessYoda]

We did that week for our first family trip back in 2009 - it was perfect! Low crowds, walked on many rides (rode Splash four times in a row, no wait!). The weather was cool first thing in the morning and in the evenings, but just right during the day (unlike our trip in September 2011, when it was surface-of-the-sun hot!).

I'm hoping to talk DH into a November trip again this year...fingers crossed!

 

[mulan1123]

My friends and I went the week before Thanksgiving in 2013 and it was great. We did FP+ on the headliners (we actually didn't book our FP+ until the day of while we were waiting for the bus to go the parks as we weren't sure which parks we wanted to go to). Crowds were actually pretty good (we did SB for TT and we waited for about 20 minutes which was actually pretty good according to my friends since it was my first time at WDW, and only waited about 10-15 for EE at AK for SB after we used our FP+ already for it).

Weather was up and down. It was raining off and on through out the week, mostly during the evening though and a little in the morning. Afternoons were hot, and evening and morning were cooler.

Plus, the Christmas decorations are slowly being completed throughout the park.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Agree with the previous posters. We went last year at that time. It was a perfect week.

 

[kay1864]

In 2012 and 2013, we did a week later than that (Fri-Wed before TG day). Crowds are manageable, but we used RideMax to avoid long wait times. FP is a must.

Weather is iffy. In 2012, it was warm all days. In 2013, two days were on the cool side, and one night got down to 40 during Wishes. Still, one day had a high of 79, and that happened to be our Blizzard Beach afternoon (we always leave MK at 12 and return in the evening). Almost no wait times for the water slides.

Typhoon Lagoon is invariably closed this time of year, so BB is your only waterpark choice. Still we, got the Fun n More option since DD loves DisneyQuest.

 

[MamaBear58]

We are booked for that week also! Hoping for a good week.

Us too! I'd rather risk "cool"--jeans instead of shorts--than deal with the summer humidity. WL 11/15 to 11/22. Just have room booked. Now need to watch flights and plan our itinerary! First time family trip; I haven't been since 1990 and DH hasn't been since 1997.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Went in 2013, loved it, shh do not tell people about his fabulous week. Weather was not too hot but still could swim in pools. All the Xmas decor is up too. Crowds are super low, we walked on to most rides.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Ditto. That is a great week. Shh...

 

[FLchick415]

YES. SHUSH. lol I'm hoping to get up there that week and I'd like it to be as crowd-free (relatively speaking lol) as possible!