Thanksgiving week

Question

Hiya I've booked a 5 day stay from Sunday 23rd November, stupidly forgetting its thanksgiving week but it was the only week I could go plus it's a bonus trip that I wasn't expecting, I've heard the crowds are horrendous during thanksgiving BUT I'm only planning on doing the parks on the Monday and the rest of the week, shopping at the outlets, hopefully catching a magic game and people watching/drinking at citywalk, anyone had experience of the Monday before thanksgiving crowds?

Answer

Visiting Orlando during Thanksgiving week definitely comes with larger crowds, especially in the parks. The Monday before Thanksgiving is usually one of the busiest days of the week, but it’s often slightly less crowded than Tuesday through Thursday, which are peak holiday travel days.

Here’s what you can generally expect for that Monday:

Lines for popular attractions at Disney and Universal can be very long, often similar to a typical summer weekend day.
Parking and transportation within the resort can be slower, so plan extra time to get to the parks.
Dining reservations fill up fast. If you want a sit-down meal, booking well in advance is recommended.
Expect crowds in gift shops, main streets, and popular areas even early in the morning or late evening.

Since you’re only planning to do one park on Monday and focus on other activities for the rest of your trip, you can optimize your day by:

Arriving at rope drop (park opening) to experience some popular rides before the heaviest crowds arrive.
Using Genie+ or Express Pass systems if visiting Disney or Universal to minimize wait times for your top attractions.
Planning to eat meals either early or late to avoid the lunchtime rush.
Taking breaks in quieter areas of the park or returning to your hotel for a short rest if needed.

For the rest of the week, shopping at the outlets, attending a Magic game, and exploring CityWalk are excellent choices. Crowds will be heavy in the parks, but off-site activities are more manageable. Outlets can be busy on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), so plan your shopping accordingly.

Overall, if you keep expectations realistic and plan strategically for Monday, you can still have a fun park experience. The rest of your trip, focusing on shopping, sports, and people-watching, should be much more relaxed.

Thanksgiving week

More Orlando Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions