Will Thanksgiving be crowded?

[asfarrell]

We are planning our first trip ever to WDW the week of Thanksgiving!! Has anyone been during Thanksgiving? Is it crowded?....It's the only time we can go, so crowded or not WE ARE GOING! Thanks to everyone at DIS..you have made my planning so much fun and easy.
Andrea

 

[RandiB]

we went last year the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving and it wasn't crowded. I have read there are big crowds on the day after Thanksgiving.

 

[Hope73]

My friend was there last year and it was not soo bad. The locals will stay home that day. The day after make it a pool day becaus ei think it is corwded then

 

[perdidochas]

We are planning our first trip ever to WDW the week of Thanksgiving!! Has anyone been during Thanksgiving? Is it crowded?....It's the only time we can go, so crowded or not WE ARE GOING! Thanks to everyone at DIS..you have made my planning so much fun and easy.
Andrea

It will be crowded, but it will be worth it. We went Thanksgiving 2005, and truly enjoyed it. We will be going back Thanksgiving 2007, but this time, we are going earlier (last time we drove down Wednesday, this year we will drive down the Saturday before).

 

[mom2willnash]

We went about 3 years ago during Thanksgiving week and it was definitely crowded. The CM's said the week before was dead...no waits on any of the lines. We had a fabulous time, though, anyway. I loved seeing the Christmas decorations already going up. The worst part was not at the parks....it was the drive home (way too much traffic!). I would recommend getting ADR's as soon as it as possible, though. ADR's for Thanksgiving dinner go very quickly!

 

[asfarrell]

I would recommend getting ADR's as soon as it as possible, though. ADR's for Thanksgiving dinner go very quickly!

OK, here's a question! If you are staying at the park for a week and you can only make reservations 180 days in advance...do you wait until the 190 day mark and make all reservations or starting at day 180 make one day at a time..probably a stupid question. Thanks

 

[mom2willnash]

If you're staying onsite you can make ADR's 180 days plus 10. So, yes...call exactly 180 days out and make your ADR's for the whole week during the same phone call. You don't have to keep calling back each day.

 

[mom2willnash]

Me again...just re-read your post. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL 190 DAYS OUT!!! You more than likely will miss being able to get an ADR for Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[Jrabbit910]

hi andrea;
like you said...no matter what your going crowded or not....one thing i have to say its a GREAT time to go. The crowds usually pick up alot more the day after but I think with the year of a million dreams it will be more crowded then usual. I think ur going to have a great time. the parks are decorated for the holidays and there is so much going on. HAVE A GREAT TIME N TAKE LOTS OF PICS!!!!

 

[ReneeDisney]

Me again...just re-read your post. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL 190 DAYS OUT!!! You more than likely will miss being able to get an ADR for Thanksgiving dinner.

We'll be there the week of Thanksgiving as well. In reference to your note above, how early can you call for your Thanksgiving day dining?
THANKS!!

 

[princesspiglet]

We were there last Thankgiving and it was pretty crazy to us. However, we stayed away from the parks on Thanksgiving day and went to DTD on black Friday( BADDDDDDDD idea). Definetly make your ADR's on the 180 days mark or you will be eating CS for Thanksgiving dinner. We failed to make one on the 180 mark and tried unsuccessfully for 6 months to get one. We ended up waiting at Trails End for 45 mins as a walk in (which in hindsight was not that long a wait for Thanksgiving dinner!) Thanksgiving weekend was insane. We saw people wait for 2 hours for Soarin- hasn't everyone heard of FP yet? If you utilize FP and plan your day out, you should be fine. It was great with all the holiday decorations and music playing. The weather was beautiful except for one day where it poured all night at Epcot. We are going the first week of Dec this year to try to beat some of those crowds. Hope you have a great first trip!

 

[asfarrell]

We'll be there the week of Thanksgiving as well. In reference to your note above, how early can you call for your Thanksgiving day dining?
THANKS!!

Well, according to my calculations (unelss I can't add, which is highly likely) Thanksgiving day reservations should be done on May 26th right? I think we are planning on eating at Wolf Gang Pucks so we can shop afterwards or at our resort WL at Whispering Canyon, but it sure would be fun and memorable to eat at the Royal Table for dinner our DD 5, loves Cinderella more than life.

 

[JMCDisneyBound]

You can make your reservations for your entire week on the 180 day mark from your arrival date. So, If you will be there the whole week of Thanksgiving you can make your Thanksgiving day reservation (along with all other days) 180 days from your first night there. You do not have to wait until 180 days from Thanksgiving. Does this help!?

We arrived on Thanksgiving Day last year and stayed for 10 days. We had Thanksgiving at Chef Mickeys but I would recommend Liberty Tree Tavern if you are wanting a fabulous traditional Th meal. The crowds were manageble but it was crowded to us.

 

[asfarrell]

OK, Thanks for the "when to make ADR" advice. I marked it on my calendar each day I had to call and make reservations . Thanks for the tip.
It will be so much easier!
Andrea

 

[goofyboyzmom]

When are you going? The whole week up to Thanksgiving or starting Thanksgiving and the next week? We have always went starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving and it was great. November 2006 we went the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and stayed until the Tuesday after and the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Thanksgiving) and Friday were really busy, so plan it correctly!! A crowded day at Disney is still better than a quiet day at home!

 

[asfarrell]

When are you going?

We are going the week of Thanksgiving! Monday the 19th to Sunday the 25th. We have a family business and it's hard to take off (we have been planning this for a year, giving everyone a "heads up", but it will still be an issue in November) Plus our DS is in school, so it's really the only time we have...we don't want to go in Summer---too hot for us.

 

[nicolemarie]

We were at Disney Wed-Sun of Thanksgiving this year. We loved it! It was crowded, but we followed Tour Guide Mike's advice and had a WONDERFUL time!

We'd do it again in a heartbeat...

NM

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I was at Disney this past Thanksgiving. We arrived the Saturday before and left the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was extremly crowded. We still had a great time. Just use the Fastpasses and you'll be fine.

 

[MegansMom]

We are leaving for WDW on Thanksgiving day and staying until Dec. 1. I am glad you started this thread because I would really like to know what it is like the weekend after Thanksgiving. We are planning to chill out at pools, DTD, and the like for the first few days to let the crowds pass, and then hit the parks majorly the week after Thanksgiving. I have heard that the crowds lighten up significantly after Sunday--is that true Goofyboyzmom?---

When are you going? The whole week up to Thanksgiving or starting Thanksgiving and the next week? We have always went starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving and it was great. November 2006 we went the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and stayed until the Tuesday after and the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Thanksgiving) and Friday were really busy, so plan it correctly!! A crowded day at Disney is still better than a quiet day at home!

I would love to know what the crowd levels are like the week after Thanksgiving if anyone knows--thanks!!! Great Thread--Maybe we will see you down there!

 

[mom2willnash]

OK, Thanks for the "when to make ADR" advice. I marked it on my calendar each day I had to call and make reservations . Thanks for the tip.
It will be so much easier!
Andrea

For figuring out which day you can call ahead for reservations go to this website www.pscalculator.net
It will calculate the exact date for you. Also, remember that you can call in 180 days plus 10. So unless you are staying for more than 10 days you can make all of your ADR's at one time.