Booked and nervous of crowds

thor369

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 9, 2019
I booked hotel and flight for Nov 23rd until Nov 28th, 5 nights and 4 park days.
With little kids we have decided to do 2 -2 days MK and 1 day AK. Skipping HS and Epcot.

But now looking at crowd calendars looks like it will be very busy, if I have the option to change should I change it the the previous week, or the crowds will be ok, not Christmas crazy.

What are the chances of getting the FOP FP? on the 60 days mark?
 
I think if you're concerned about crowds, you probably won't notice a difference. It'll still be a lot of people the week before...
 
Thanksgiving week is among the most crowded weeks at WDW the entire year. But usually the week has a notable increase in park operating hours and capacity, plus no MVMCPs that gobble up MK hours and shift people’s touring habits around.

I would not let Thanksgiving crowds deter you - a good plan and good expectations are 99% of it - but just know it will in fact be crowded.
 


Two years ago we went the week before Thanksgiving, through to the Monday of Thanksgiving week. The week before was busy-ish, but not bad. As we got toward the weekend before Thanksgiving, crowds were building noticeably. I think if you can it would be a good idea to move up the trip.

The only way you might get FoP FP is to put AK as your last day and try to get that one first, right at 7 AM on your FP day. That advice stays the same whether you move the trip or not. Good luck!
 
Two years ago we went the week before Thanksgiving, through to the Monday of Thanksgiving week. The week before was busy-ish, but not bad. As we got toward the weekend before Thanksgiving, crowds were building noticeably. I think if you can it would be a good idea to move up the trip.

The only way you might get FoP FP is to put AK as your last day and try to get that one first, right at 7 AM on your FP day. That advice stays the same whether you move the trip or not. Good luck!

How would the FOP FP for the following situations. Three park tickets, since we will have a 2 year old with us.
I get FP for me and my 5 year old and wife, but only me and my 5 year old can go and then after the ride is over, I stay with my 2 year old and she goes with my 5 year old. How can i book this? This goes for all rides that has a height requirement.
 
I think if you're concerned about crowds, you probably won't notice a difference. It'll still be a lot of people the week before...

How does the crowd impact anyways? wait times for eveything, but since this is our first time and with little kids we wont be able to do everything, so if we can do 3 FP per day and spedn 2 days and get to ride the 6 rides including the 7 dwarfs that should be alright I guess. I don't want to stress coz of crowds.
 


How would the FOP FP for the following situations. Three park tickets, since we will have a 2 year old with us.
I get FP for me and my 5 year old and wife, but only me and my 5 year old can go and then after the ride is over, I stay with my 2 year old and she goes with my 5 year old. How can i book this? This goes for all rides that has a height requirement.
What you want to do is called rider switch. You book a FastPass for each of the three of you riding. When you (all four of you together) get to the FastPass lane ask the cast members guarding it for a rider switch pass. They’ll work some magic and help you do exactly what you have laid out here all via the FastPass lane.
 
How does the crowd impact anyways? wait times for eveything, but since this is our first time and with little kids we wont be able to do everything, so if we can do 3 FP per day and spedn 2 days and get to ride the 6 rides including the 7 dwarfs that should be alright I guess. I don't want to stress coz of crowds.
Pushing a stroller will be harder. You’ll be able to do 8-10 rides or shows a day if you meander, but quite a bit more if you make a plan using one of the services that help you do that.
 
Disney has a marketing team who's entire job is to make sure every park is crowded every hour of every day.

Forget about crowds. make your plans. and enjoy your time in Disney.
Exactly. I was always disappointed when I was trying to chase the elusive lower crowds. We went thanksgiving week last yr with a 7 month old & it was wonderful. Planning to go thanksgiving week next yr also.
 
It will be crowded no matter when you go. Yes a little more crowded thanksgiving week, but in reality not any less crowded the week before either. You will be more stressed trying to change dates than just keeping them and planning ahead. Focus more of your time on planning some special events while you are there. Look at things like the candlelight processional that is always really nice. Also, in the coming days and weeks Disney should release paid special events like after hours or early morning magic hours, although both will cost you more money buying extra tickets, crowds at these events are not a factor. Near Thanksgiving there is a lot going on, crowded yes, but you will enjoy it....
 
You are going Thanksgiving week. It will be very crowded. A week early should be a little less crowded, but you really can’t predict crowds.

As I always say...there are only 2 crowd levels in WDW - crowded and more crowded.


It doesn't matter when you go if the crowds are low Disney cuts back on the staff and the wait time is about the same when crowds are larger, all at the expense of the customers. I wish Disney was more patron friendly but we are in a new age of shutting down at 9:00 and dumping everyone out to the buses at the same time. Is the value disappearing at Disney? Yes.
 
Last year we arrived the day after THanksgiving and for the 1st 3 days it was pretty busy at MK. Than we noticed it was considerably less busy after Monday hit and all the holiday travelers left. If I could do it again, I would arrive Sunday after thanksgiving and stay 5 nights. It was amazing how much the crowds died down.

However I do remember being in MK the day after Thanksgiving, and it was still manageable. We did our 3 rides, even got on a few others like Small world. Than we ate BOG dinner, than Later that night we did HEA dessert party so we didnt’ have to worry about getting a spot for the show.

During the next day, we did Tony’s viewing package for the day parade so it was easy for us to get a nice spot without waiting a hr ahead of the shows.

If i’m Going during a holiday, i’m Spending the extra bucks for the things like CLFP, dessert parties etc.
 
Disney has a marketing team who's entire job is to make sure every park is crowded every hour of every day.

Forget about crowds. make your plans. and enjoy your time in Disney.
There used to be lower crowd weeks and predictability for low attendance levels. Boy, did I love planning back then...
Those days were years ago and in the past....throw it all out the window!
Book your trip and enjoy :-)
 

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