Should we go the week before (i.e. check out the Friday before Thank) or the week after (check in 3 days after Thank and leave the following Friday)? Want to avoid heavy crowds and any blackout dates for a potential room discount. Thank you for your advice!
Week BEFORE or AFTER Thanksgiving
- Thread starter anelson81
- Start date
kmb584
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 12, 2010
Both are good times to visit in regard to crowds, but we like the week after and moved our fall trip to that week about 2 years ago. We simply love being able to see almost, if not all, of the Christmas decorations. WDW is special in its own right, but there's nothing quite like WDW at Christmastime. Historically, discounts are offered during both timeframes.
BuckeyeBama
You are stronger than you think.
- Joined
- May 29, 2013
The week after has 100% of the Christmas decorations, shows and pageantry available. The week before has only some. Also, the crowds start to really pick up on Tuesday and Wednesday the week before, where the crowds will be low for the entire trip the week after. Those are the reasons that we prefer the week after.
LSUfan4444
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2005
One of our favorite trips ever was arriving on wednesday before thanksgiving, thanksgiving lunch at CRT and leaving the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Even Thanksgiving Day in Magic Kingdom wasn't too bad. We hit RD for a 7 am opening and toured till about 11:30 and didnt wait more than 20 minutes for anything (except our CRT ADR). That night we went back for Wishes.
BuckeyeBama
You are stronger than you think.
- Joined
- May 29, 2013
Wait, so you are saying that the lines were 20 minutes on Thanksgiving? We were there 3 years ago and the lines on Thanksgiving were all over an hour, and most over 2 hours.
AngiTN
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2011
It sure wasn't last Thanksgiving. We were there and the lines were quite a bit longer than 20 min max. It wasn't Christmas week awful but it was med-high crowds.
LSUfan4444
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2005
Im saying that with a 6:35 arrival for a 7 am opening we did not wait more than 20 minutes for anything (including Mine Train, Splash, Thunder, Space, Pirates) but again we left right after lunch. Did people there on the same day wait more than 20 minutes, absolutely. Can it be done with minimal waits if you arrive early enough, absolutely.
If you catch a 7 am opening, most people won't get there that early and alot of success can be had.
Fantasyland about 10 am on Thanksgiving Day
Main Street - mid morning (not sure of what time) - lots of room there.
LENNON500
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2008
A 7am opening virtually guarantees very short lines and your pick of attractions whether it's Thanksgiving or any day of the year!Im saying that with a 6:35 arrival for a 7 am opening we did not wait more than 20 minutes for anything (including Mine Train, Splash, Thunder, Space, Pirates) but again we left right after lunch. Did people there on the same day wait more than 20 minutes, absolutely. Can it be done with minimal waits if you arrive early enough, absolutely.
If you catch a 7 am opening, most people won't get there that early and alot of success can be had.
Fantasyland about 10 am on Thanksgiving Day
Main Street - mid morning (not sure of what time) - lots of room there.
BuckeyeBama
You are stronger than you think.
- Joined
- May 29, 2013
Im saying that with a 6:35 arrival for a 7 am opening we did not wait more than 20 minutes for anything (including Mine Train, Splash, Thunder, Space, Pirates) but again we left right after lunch. Did people there on the same day wait more than 20 minutes, absolutely. Can it be done with minimal waits if you arrive early enough, absolutely.
If you catch a 7 am opening, most people won't get there that early and alot of success can be had.
Fantasyland about 10 am on Thanksgiving Day
Main Street - mid morning (not sure of what time) - lots of room there.
Thanks for the clarification. That would never work for us. If I tried to get my wife up at 6am or earlier for a 7am rope drop on vacation, she would start looking for a divorce attorney. Regular rope drops are a struggle. But I am glad that this worked for you, and it offers a strategy that can work for others.
AngiTN
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2011
For a couple of hours but not all day, not by any means
BuckeyeBama
You are stronger than you think.
- Joined
- May 29, 2013
And Thanksgiving doesn't have 20 minute lines all day. September barely has lines like that anymore.
The reality - if you want really short standby lines, you have to go very early or stay very late. That's just the way that it is right now.
LENNON500
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2008
Of course, only the first couple of hours...
dina444444
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2013
I was there from the Saturday after Thanksgiving to the following Sunday this past year and I would say that it wasn't that crowded from arrival day through Thursday. The crowds picked up on Friday with the arrival of all of the Pop Warner kids and the second Saturday was way more crowded than the day I arrived.
stinkpickle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2013
For comparison's sake, here are TP's historical "All Parks" crowd levels for the Saturday-to-Saturday time periods for both weeks last year...
11/12 - "8" vs 11/26 - "7"
11/13 - "5" vs 11/27 - "5"
11/14 - "6" vs 11/28 - "6"
11/15 - "3" vs 11/29 - "4"
11/16 - "4" vs 11/30 - "4"
11/17 - "3" vs 12/01 - "3"
11/18 - "5" vs 12/02 - "5"
11/19 - "6" vs 12/03 - "6"
Crowd wise, both weeks were nearly identical.
11/12 - "8" vs 11/26 - "7"
11/13 - "5" vs 11/27 - "5"
11/14 - "6" vs 11/28 - "6"
11/15 - "3" vs 11/29 - "4"
11/16 - "4" vs 11/30 - "4"
11/17 - "3" vs 12/01 - "3"
11/18 - "5" vs 12/02 - "5"
11/19 - "6" vs 12/03 - "6"
Crowd wise, both weeks were nearly identical.
stinkpickle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2013
MK was actually a "7" on Thanksgiving Day. It was more crowded earlier in the week.
AngiTN
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2011
Having been there I can say their numbers are off. I've been on other days they have listed as 7. It was more crowded. It was not more crowded earlier in that week either. Wed, Thur (Thanksgiving Day) Fri and Sat were very crowded. The rest leading up to it, not so much.
stinkpickle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2013
That's using their new, adjusted scale. That "7" was probably more like the old "8" or "9".
stinkpickle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2013
And the "9" they had for MK the Monday before Thanksgiving was definitely the old "10".
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