Anyone else going to WDW during Thanksgiving?

[Holly]

Will it be your first time there during the holiday or do you go every year?

And if you've gone before, is it true that the one park to avoid on the day of T'giving is Magic Kingdom?

I'm a planner, so I've come up with a tentative schedule for our vacation - if you have any thoughts on restaurants not to miss for lunch at the parks, please post 'em.

Wed: 1/2 day - Magic Kingdom
Thurs: Epcot & Chef Mickey for T'giving Dinner
Fri: Animal Kingdom & Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Sat: MGM
Sun: Magic Kingdom (and hopefully Cindy's Breakfast) & Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Mon: 1/2 day - whatever we've missed

Thoughts, ideas, input? Anything??? :lol:

 

[Pioneer Hall]

The Thanksgiving time is a good time to go. The holiday decorations are out and the crowds aren't horrible (as opposed to Chirstmas when you get the same park experience). The weather is cool sometimes and hot at other times. So pack carefully (you will need clothes for any situation).

 

[teenamw]

We are going Thanksgiving week. Staying in PO Riverside. I've been trying to make my itenary but I haven't decided what day to do what and where to eat Thanksgiving meal

 

[hadleybarth]

This year will be our third Thanksgiving at WDW. It is a great time to go. The crowds are only heavy on Thursday and Friday (and even then that is a very relative term--high sesaon is worse).

As stated earlier, pack for all possiblities. We have worn everything from shorts and T shirts to long sleeves, pants and our Michigan winter coats.

Last year we spen Thurday at EPCOT hoping to avoid the crowds and were surprised to find it quite full. There were lots of locals there for the day (drawn in I suspect by the many good places to have their Thanksgiving Day meal). This year our crowd avoidance technique is to go to MK when it opens (early is always a good bet), then have a late lunch at Wilderness Lodge before heading to EPCOT (futre World side only--generall very slow by late afternoon even when the park itself is crowded). Anyway, we are hoping this will cut down on the crowds some.
Be aware that the price of Chef Mickey's will proabably be higher on Thursday than other days (last year we ran into this at the Garden Grille--added $5 per person--no big deal if it's just one or two, but can add up quickly for a group). Also, I suggest you make your PS the first day you can (which is later this week I believe).

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

i'll be there for Thanksgiving as well. i'll be staying at Beach Club Villas (i'm so excited about that!) it won't be my first time, i've visited during Thanksgiving 2 or 3 times before. Thanksgiving is a pretty good time to go. i do enjoy the Christmas decorations and such. the weather can get a bit cool for my tastes (mainly at night...if nothing else be sure to bring a jacket!) and i like it better when there's a bit more of a crowd....but it's a good time to go. personally, i wouldn't want Thanksgiving to be the only time i ever visited though. i prefer the parks the way they are every other day of the week...but the Christmas decorations are a nice change from time to time. but you CAN'T miss the Osbourne lights at MGM or the Candlelight Procession at Epcot (especially since Roy Disney will be reading during Thanksgiving break!) at least stand out side the theater and watch for a while...that's what my family has always done, but this year we decided to go for it and actually sit in the theater to watch! i can't wait! :sohappy:

just about every sit-down restaurant has a special Thanksgiving meal on the special day...and our first Thanksgiving there (stayed at All Star Music) they had a Thanksgiving Day buffet set up! so keep that in mind *just in case* something happens and you don't get to eat at Chef Mickey's (but you probably will be able to...just ALWAYS have a Plan B...and since you're a planner, i'm sure you already do )
and, in my experience, MK isn't nessasarily a park you'd want to avoid on Thanksgiving day...it's no more crowded really than the other parks. course, i guess it depends on the time of day. i'm sure Epcot and MGM are the most crowded at night because of the lights and the candlelighting ceremony. but that's just my opinion.
DisneyInsider is right....pack for anything! usually i pack shorts and pants....usually never long sleeves, though. i just bring a jacket with me and that works fine!

 

[Jedi Osborn]

We'll be there two days after Thanksgiving, does that count??

We want to do the whole Christmas thing, avoid the pop warner super bowl, and still have time when we get home to enjoy the Christmas season. Sounds like we'll have it all covered.

 

[thebig2]

Which Thanksgiving, There is a Canadian and an American Thanksgiving, I am going for Canadian thanksgiving in OCtober fro mybirthday, so you can all buy me beer

 

[Sailor Mouse]

Well...I won't be at Disney this year for Thanksgiving, but I have been there before durring that time. It was a good time to go, the crowds were low and the decorations were pretty. It was the time my family and I always went, but, my schools got kinda mean about attendance. We usually went to the Polenisian Luau for Thanksgiving dinner. Hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[Holly]

Originally posted by Dizknee_Phreek
but you CAN'T miss the Osbourne lights at MGM

Unless they change their schedule, we won't be able to see the Osbourne lights.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party & Osbourne Lights start on the very same day - December 1 - and I already purchased tickets for Mickey's. And we're leaving the afternoon of the 2nd.

I'm so bummed. Someone cross their fingers for me that they'll do Osbourne Lights early.

 

[hadleybarth]

Hey Holly,
We're doing the same thing you are. We also have tickets for that first VMCP and are leaving on the 2nd.

There is often times a soft opening of the Osburn Lights for at least one day before the official opening; so you may want to try heading to MGM on the 30th and see.

 

[disneydentist]

Don't be surprised if they change the dates for the Osborne Family Lights. We've been to WDW on Thanksgiving three times in the past and the Lights usually opened the weekende BEFORE Thanksgiving. Keep you fingers crossed.
BTW, we have ressies for POFQ for the same days you due but they depend on my coming up with a decent airfare and flight times.

 

[Holly]

hadleybarth - I'll look for ya there! I'll be the mom who looks more excited than her kids.

disneydentist & hadleybarth - I'll definitely keep my fingers crossed! This is something my DH is dying to see ... so hopefully they'll make some changes!

 

[Jimmy]

We are going for Thanksgiving also. We will arrive Thanksgiving morning. We go every other year at this time. O'hana is a good meal for Thanksgiving night. You get turkey but it is much better than a normal oven roasted turkey. We have tickets to MVMCP on Sunday night as well. In order to fit Spectromagic into the schedule, we will have to brave MK on Thanksgiving night after O'hana. By the way, the Osbourne lights begin on the 29th.

 

[Holly]

Originally posted by Jimmy
We are going for Thanksgiving also. We will arrive Thanksgiving morning. We go every year at this time. O'hana is a good meal for Thanksgiving night. You get turkey but it is much better than a normal oven roasted turkey. We have tickets to MVMCP on Sunday night as well. In order to fit Spectromagic into the schedule, we will have to brave MK on Thanksgiving night after O'hana. By the way, the Osbourne lights begin on the 29th.

According to Disney's website, Osbourne Lights run Dec. 1 - Dec. 31st ... are you sure that they start on the 29th?

(Crossing my fingers here!)

 

[Jimmy]

Originally posted by Holly


According to Disney's website, Osbourne Lights run Dec. 1 - Dec. 31st ... are you sure that they start on the 29th?

(Crossing my fingers here!)

Go to www.wdwig.com it lists the opening date as 11/29/02. For some reason the Disney website does this every year. They list the opening day later than when it actually opens. My first time going for Thanksgiving I learned this the hard way. Normally it opens the day after Thanksgiving. Also, if you have an Annual Pass, WDW gives an AP preview even earlier than the day after Thanksgiving. Check the November Mickey Monitor when it comes out.

 

[Holly]

Thanks for the info ... hopefully we'll check it out the Sat. after T'giving!

A side note on PS for T'giving dinner ... I called FIRST THING this morning and the only time I could get for Chef Mickey's was either at 3:15pm or at 8pm. Ugh.

 

[Jimmy]

Originally posted by Holly
Thanks for the info ... hopefully we'll check it out the Sat. after T'giving!

A side note on PS for T'giving dinner ... I called FIRST THING this morning and the only time I could get for Chef Mickey's was either at 3:15pm or at 8pm. Ugh.

I got a PS for 6:00 p.m. for O'hana but I had to reserve it with a credit card due to the holiday.:animwink:

 

[Holly]

Originally posted by Jimmy


I got a PS for 6:00 p.m. for O'hana but I had to reserve it with a credit card due to the holiday.:animwink:

As I was on the phone, they did have a 5:30pm available - but as soon as I said "yep, book it!" it was gone. Bummer.

I'm going to try calling back a couple of times between now and November and hope for a cancellation ... won't hurt to try.