How busy is the weekend prior to Thanksgiving?

[jensdisney]

We are planning a Holiday trip in 2011 and we were wondering how busy the parks are the weekend before Thanksgiving?

Do you know if they have the Christmas decorations up and are the special events going on then?

I know I asked a lot of questions but we are going to spend more than we usually do for our Disney trip and we want to get the most out of this trip. Thanks

 

[luvlifeinfl]

We just returned from our trip Nov. 21-30. So we had arrived the Sat. before thansgiving, we thought that it would not get busy till Wed. ( day before Thanksgving) Man we were so wrong. I think that there were offers out there to get folks in the parks they were coming in and it was packed.

The parks had some decorations up so did some of the resorts. but I know our resort did not put up their tree up until the day after thanksgiving.

but then you need to think alot can change in 2yrs.

 

[erstwo]

If you mean the Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving (first Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week), it will be really busy. Lots of people will take their kids out of school for 2 or 3 days (because their kids will have Thursday & Friday off) and they will spend the week.

Now if you mean the week before Thanksgiving WEEK - We were there Saturday - Tuesday, November 14 - 17 (the week before Thanksgiving week) this year and the crowds were great! You can read my trip report. We only went to the parks on Sunday (went to MK, Epcot, & DHS), but there were no waits on any rides except TSMM at DHS. We stayed at Pop and the crowds were light there too.

 

[bgraham34]

If you mean the Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving (first Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week), it will be really busy. Lots of people will take their kids out of school for 2 or 3 days (because their kids will have Thursday & Friday off) and they will spend the week.

Now if you mean the week before Thanksgiving WEEK - We were there Saturday - Tuesday, November 14 - 17 (the week before Thanksgiving week) this year and the crowds were great! You can read my trip report. We only went to the parks on Sunday (went to MK, Epcot, & DHS), but there were no waits on any rides except TSMM at DHS. We stayed at Pop and the crowds were light there too.

My co-worker was there the same week the 14-17th and loved it.

 

[jensdisney]

Thanks for the great info! My daughter will be in kindergarten the year we go and I was reluctant to pull her out of school but the way it sounds that is what is going to happen! Need to avoid the craziness of the crowds with a little one and a hubby that is very crowd sensitive!

 

[wm49rs]

Thanks for the great info! My daughter will be in kindergarten the year we go and I was reluctant to pull her out of school but the way it sounds that is what is going to happen! Need to avoid the craziness of the crowds with a little one and a hubby that is very crowd sensitive!

Trust me, it's kindergarten, and her teachers will understand. We just took our kids (one of whom is in kindergarten) down there the 20-28 of November and all I can say is "never again." We're going back to the first week of June and the period right before Christmas for our trips.

 

[Keri]

It's not that bad. I was there Thanksgiving week for the last 2 years and the crowds were not that bad. No real long waits for rides either. Most of the resort decorations do not go up until the day before Thanksgiving but the parks are all decked out!

 

[BelleWannaBe77]

you're best bet is december 3-10. i worked at the dhs then, and it's definately the most dead week of the holiday season. plus, all of the decorations are up!!