Disney around Thanksgiving? Horrible idea?

Meeshe

Not for this year, but thinking ahead to next year we are tossing around the idea of going for my son's 5th birthday (and coincidentally my DH's 40-two days before and the day of Thanksgiving respectively).  Looking at crowd levels though I'm seeing 8s.

We took my daughter for her 5th birthday and it was a wonderful trip.  Her bday was at the end of September though so crowds were mostly 2/3-5.  The kids are sort of expecting it since we did it for her.  Will the crowds make it unenjoyable?

englishtrish1

I lived close to Disney World for 20 years and the two very worst times for anything are Thanksgiving week and the week between Christmas and New Year. One year we got a wild hair and went to Epcot Thanksgiving weekend and it too almost an hour to park and get in the park.

hutchsl

Agree with PP. Bad idea. It is best to go in October or May when older kids are in school. You can find hotels rooms easier and sometimes better deals. Weather is also usually great then.

JoanE2012

hutchsl said:

Agree with PP. Bad idea. It is best to go in October or May when older kids are in school. You can find hotels rooms easier and sometimes better deals. Weather is also usually great then.

Of course, but what about when you have kids in school?  Do you pull them out?  My parents NEVER pulled us out of school for a vacation.  We did everything in the summer, even if it meant more crowds.  

als1982

hutchsl said:

Agree with PP. Bad idea. It is best to go in October or May when older kids are in school. You can find hotels rooms easier and sometimes better deals. Weather is also usually great then.

Yep.  My parents took us out of school for a week of vacation every Fall, and somehow I still made it through elementary, middle and high school, plus college and graduate school just fine.  Huh.

DZKathryn

Are you talking about Disney World? I'm in Los Angeles and we've found the best time to go to Disneyland is the weekend that they film the Disney holiday parade. It is usually around Veteran's Day. (So still Novemberish, but not quite Thanksgiving) There are cool holiday performances and  arade if you're into that. Or, if you want to get onto as many rides as possible, the lines are shorter because so many people are watching the holiday performances/parade. 

Disneygeek77

I love Disneyworld and even I wouldn't go then.  Too crowded.

I mean if you are ok with long lines and the fact that you wouldn't be able to do much at all, then sure go.  But if you actually want to be able to ride more than three things a day, I would go at another time.  

annie10

Is the week right after Thanksgiving an option? My family went this year and it was fabulous. All decked out for Christmas and not too long of a wait for anything. We went Monday-Sat, though and were in the parks Tues-Fri. so most people were back at work and school. 

decorchic89

Disney is crazy around holidays

BBTheriot

Personally, I wouldn't dare go around the holidays. The parks get so crowded that they will close down in phases and guests won't be allowed in.

We pull out kids out of school to go to Disney.

dutchgirl76

My husband and I went for the first time in late September this year and it was still really crowded. Unfortunately people pull their kids all year, and those with kids young enough to not be in school get the same idea to go in Sept/Oct when it should be "less crowded" I've heard January's pretty good, weather's not too hot. Flights are supposed to be cheaper too since everyone just traveled for holidays.