Does anyone have any experience with Disney World near Thanksgiving? We're thinking about going around November 20th or a couple days before like November 18th. Anyways I've heard it can be a total nightmare because of all the crowds because it's almost Thanksgiving. What is it like really? horrendous? oh and if you have any ideas of when my family and I could go at a good time let me know. We can't visit this summer and i heard october/september is bad for hurricanes. However, we would like to visit before 2006 is over.
j2006-04-26T15:50:53Z
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I went to Disney World in late November too. The weather was perfect (pack light jackets). The crowds are not bad, and it's beautiful. Definitely go around Thanksgiving, because it's not THAT crowded, and they have all Christmas stuff out by then including lights, souvenir's, etc. It's perfect. Definitely take advantage of that and go at that time. I guaranteed that you will have a great time, and the crowds won't be bad.
Around most major holidays, Disney World is a mess. I know around Thanksgiving at Disney-MGM Studios they have the Osborne Family Spectical of Lights which always draws a crowd. Early November is the best time to go I think. You can avoid the Summer heat, the tropical season is over, and the crowds are at a minimum. AVOID Anytime between December 11th and January 3rd! That's the holiday rush and the parks will be a nightmare.
Granted, September and October might be bad for hurricanes, but the crowds are not bad then. I worked at "MGM-Studios for four months (August through December 2005) during a college internship and saw the park crowds on a daily basis. Once school lets back in, the parks are relatively empty. So while it may be a gamble, if you can avoid the hurricanes, it'll be well worth it.
Thanksgiving is not the most crowded time of the year, but the crowds are moderate. It's not the lowest, not the highest season, just falls in between. I love going in the Fall months, it's a nice time to go. The thing that makes Thanksgiving time nicer than other times when it is busy, is the fact that the weather isn't as bad, it is cooler. Trust me, when you mix huge crowds and weather like July, it can be miserable.
My favorite time to go is during September and October. I go almost every year at this time. The crowds are pretty good, weather is nice, it can get rainy and stuff, but I wouldn't say it's always bad. Plus, because it is hurricane season, Disney has great promotions, i.e this year they are offering free dining, the offer can't be beat from Disney, it's great. You also have to remember that Orlando is in the middle of the state, it doesn't get hit by hurricanes like something on the beach, so you don't have to be as worried.
The best thing is to go during value season. This is when the crowds are least busy. Then you can look at the weather and see what you prefer.
The absolute best time to visit Disney World is the week after New Years in January. I go there every year for my birthday (Jan 4th) and the crowds are non-existent. Plus, its a really cheap season so you can catch all the deeply deeply discounted hotels and airfare. If you go early enough too, you can catch the tail end of the holiday decorations which are a real treat to see at pennies to the dollar of what other people paid to stay and see during the winter holidays. I know this is not technically before 2006 but I would highly recommend it.
We have gone the week prior to Christmas 2 years in a row. Never again. The crowds are frightening. I heard to local ladies talking in the bathroom about the fact that they had been there the week before we were and they just walked onto all the rides. No lines. I am taking their advice and this year we will go the week of December 3. The weather is beautful in December. Some days we wore shorts.