Which day over Thanksgiving?

[COscrapper]

Is there any difference in crowds on the Friday vs. Saturday after Thanksgiving? Or are they both equally horrible? Here’s our situation:

My son’s high school band is going to DW during Thanksgiving week, and our whole family is making a trip out of it. We obviously can’t control the dates, but we have all been to DW before so we can focus on just the new attractions and enjoy a lot of resort time. My son will be with his band friends that Monday - Thursday with a day in each park (marching in the MK parade on Monday). When the band flies home on Thursday, we will meet up with him and he will join us for another couple days at AKL and then fly home with us on Sunday. So we will have 2 days (Friday and Saturday) to spend all together as a family: 1 resort day and 1 more park day. Does it matter if we choose Sat. vs. Fri for our additional park day? Are any parks less crowded than others (we won’t be picking MK), or have the extended evening hours for resort guests? I will have to buy my son a 1-day ticket for whichever day we choose in advance, so unfortunately we can’t play it by ear with weather and such.

Any advice or is it pretty much a crapshoot with crowds no matter what day?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I don't know if you like festivals but EPCOT starts the Festival of the Holidays on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I love it so always make that my last park day for Thanksgiving week. It's busy, but the food booths and holiday offerings make it worth the crowd.

 

[buzzrelly]

Is there any difference in crowds on the Friday vs. Saturday after Thanksgiving? Or are they both equally horrible? Here’s our situation:

My son’s high school band is going to DW during Thanksgiving week, and our whole family is making a trip out of it. We obviously can’t control the dates, but we have all been to DW before so we can focus on just the new attractions and enjoy a lot of resort time. My son will be with his band friends that Monday - Thursday with a day in each park (marching in the MK parade on Monday). When the band flies home on Thursday, we will meet up with him and he will join us for another couple days at AKL and then fly home with us on Sunday. So we will have 2 days (Friday and Saturday) to spend all together as a family: 1 resort day and 1 more park day. Does it matter if we choose Sat. vs. Fri for our additional park day? Are any parks less crowded than others (we won’t be picking MK), or have the extended evening hours for resort guests? I will have to buy my son a 1-day ticket for whichever day we choose in advance, so unfortunately we can’t play it by ear with weather and such.

Any advice or is it pretty much a crapshoot with crowds no matter what day?

Honestly, I've never been at Thanksgiving but I wouldn't think it would matter much between the Friday and Saturday. This free Crowd Calendar from WDWprepschool.com shows red all weekend...

 

[COscrapper]

I don't know if you like festivals but EPCOT starts the Festival of the Holidays on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I love it so always make that my last park day for Thanksgiving week. It's busy, but the food booths and holiday offerings make it worth the crowd.

Oooooh, thank you! That’s exactly the kind of info I need. Last time we went to DW was during the food and wine festival and my family LOVED trying all the diff foods; my kids already asked if the booths would be there this time. We were already leaning towards EPCOT for the last park day unless we found a reason to avoid it. Any chance it would have extended evening hours on Friday or Saturday?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Oooooh, thank you! That’s exactly the kind of info I need. Last time we went to DW was during the food and wine festival and my family LOVED trying all the diff foods; my kids already asked if the booths would be there this time. We were already leaning towards EPCOT for the last park day unless we found a reason to avoid it. Any chance it would have extended evening hours on Friday or Saturday?

I think extended hours are usually earlier in the week but I don't pay attention to those that much. I'm a deluxe taste on a value budget girl. I can tell you a LOT about doing things from Pop, but that's pretty much it.

 

[Paranurse]

The MVMCP will be going on during that time at the Magic Kingdom and maybe Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. I would choose one of those if that is an option for you. Less crowds and lines for rides.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but last years MVMCP was on the Friday after Thanksgiving.