Is Thanksgiving Or Christmas Week Better At Disney World?
October 13, 2009 by Mistress Spank
Filed under Christmas
I am planning a trip to Disney world next year either Thanksgiving week (11/21/08-11/28/08) or the week before Christmas (12/17/08-12/24/08). Is either one better than the other? Will both weeks be just as crowded? If anyone has any insight I would greatly appreciate it.

Aside from Thanksgiving day (and most times weekend after) it is much less crowded. Christmas week through New Years are the busiest two weeks of the year at Disney – It will close to capacity with an hour or so of opening on most days in that time frame.
Both weeks are crowded, but if you are trying to choose between the two I would say the week of Thanksgiving is the better of the two. Christmas is the busiest time of the year and more crowded than any other time. Thanksgiving is also crowded, but not nearly as bad as Christmas. The weather durning Thanksgiving is also a bit nicer as well, temps are a little higher for swimming.
If you are looking for more info, check out the disboards. The disboards is a message boards website that is all about going to Disney. You can ask questions, get trip reports, restaurant reviews, resort reviews, and tips for the best time to go to Disney as well as avoid crowds. I put the link below.
Hope this helps, have a great trip!
Both weeks will be crowded, but the Thanksgiving week crowds will probably be a “little” lighter, because most kids will have school on Monday and Tuesday of the Thankgiving week. But, starting on that Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the parks will be crowded. In my part of the country, our kids will get out of school around 12/17, so kids are off the whole week in December you are proposing. Also, it’s colder in December and people are looking to go to warmer climates. If I had to pick I would go in November and be prepared for big crowds starting around the 26th. Good luck. Whatever you choose, Disney is a great place to visit anytime of the year!
Definitely go with Thanksgiving week, simply to avoid more crowds the week of Christmas. Thanksgiving has moderately high crowds, but it won’t be high crowds and you can still enjoy all of the holiday decorations, shows, events, etc..
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if you can do it in Jan, there is NEVER a wait for rides. You can ride, get off and ride again, and again. XMAS week is hell
The Thanksgiving week would be a lighter crowd but still crowded. Christmas week up to New Years is insanely busy. You couldn’t pay me to go then.
Go the week after thanksgiving the crowd are light and the wait times are short. We went this year and are going back the nov. 30-dec. 6 next year.
The value time is the best time to go.
Defiantly go the thanksgiving week!
i went two years ago around Christmas and it was hell!
we had to wait hours and hours in line
apparently Christmas is the busyest time of the year there!
The week before Christmas is not nearly as bad as the week of Christmas. I just came back from Florida this past Saturday (12/22), and the parks were pretty much empty. Thanksgiving week they will be crowded that Thursday and the weekend. I’d go the week in December.
Thanksgiving week
During Christmas the decorations, parades, and events are a lot better but it is really crowded. Thanksgiving is less crowded but you don’t have all the decorations and events. Your pick.
My aunt works in the Human Resourced department at Disney and said that Christmas week is the busiest week of the year. I’d recommend Thanksgiving week or a week in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.