Thanksgiving or NYE?

[cdcooper]

So, I wish I could go to WDW in the off season, but with school and all, it's really difficult. I was wondering: would you recommend sometime around Christmas/New Years, or the wednesday before thanksgiving until the following wednesday? I know both times will be busy, but will it be a downer on the trip?

Thanks experts!

[scoobydooby]

Christmas is mobbed. I am of the view that's fine if you are prepared to get up early because most people aren't. I do mean early though. MK opens at 7am! If you rock into the parks mid morning, don't expect to ride much.

[cdcooper]

Christmas is mobbed. I am of the view that's fine if you are prepared to get up early because most people aren't. I do mean early though. MK opens at 7am! If you rock into the parks mid morning, don't expect to ride much.

I know it's busier than usual, but do you think Thanksgiving is mobbed too, or just busy?

[Drince88]

Thanksgiving, particularly after Saturday, isn't mobbed. Sunday-Wed of your trip should be fairly low crowds. Plus you'll have plenty of time to see ALL the Christmas stuff (In Epcot, Candlelight, the Storytellers, and the extra ending to Illuminations don't start until Thanksgiving or the day after)
Would you be flying on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, though? That's traditionally, the busiest airport day of the year. So the airport will be a mob scene!

[danyoung]

Several years ago I visited WDW during Thanksgiving weekend a couple of times, and while it was certainly busy I didn't find it to be super bad crowded at all. And as others have said, once the holiday partiers go home on Sunday you'll have much smaller crowds for the rest of the week.

[disnut8]

I would definitely recommend the Thanksgiving time. We go just about every year during that time and usually just for the holiday part. However, we have gone the Wednesday before and it's not as bad as Christmas time (we've been there during that time as well). And we've stayed until the Monday after Thanksgiving and Sunday was great. So your plan of Wednesday to Wednesday would be fine. Just be prepared for it being busier Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The other days will be OK. Also, if you do go and want Thanksgiving dinner, make your reservations as soon as you can.

[Cheshire Figment]

During the week between Christmas and New Years there will be a lot of Park Stage Closings due to capacity limitations. I have seen days where three of the four Parks have some guest limit closings in place at the same time.

The week you are looking for of the day before Thanksgiving to the following Wednesday should not be bad at all. Thanksgiving tends to be more traveling to family homes and not Resorts. The only problem you may have is a decent air fare on the day before Thanksgiving, as well as crowds at the airport.

[cdcooper]

Aww Test Track is closed until November 30th... I think we'll still prefer Thanksgiving over Christmas time (at least we have Radiator Springs Racers over here in California we can go on)...

Where would you guys/girls recommend for Thanksgiving Dinner around the Resorts? Be Our Guest? At a Hotel? Do they have thanksgiving food (Turkey, Stuffing, etc) at any of the restaurants in/out of the parks?

Thanks!

[danyoung]

I know they do a big turkey spread at the Liberty Tree Tavern.