Thanksgiving Week Park Crowds - Monday or Thursday?

Question

We are going to be in Tampa during the week and want to drive over to Orlando for one park day / one night hotel. I've read conflicting advice on crowds (yes I know they will be high) as to whether Monday before Thanksgiving or the Thursday holiday will be better days. We are debating about two options and cost is a consideration. Option 1 (higher cost): night at Cabana Bay / pool day on check in, next day early entry at Universal / IOA with park hopper (but not Express passes). Option 2 (much lower cost): night at one of the Disney All Stars hotels and make use of the free admission to Typhoon Lagoon on check-in day.

Answer

During Thanksgiving week, both Universal Orlando and Disney parks experience elevated crowds, but there are some nuances to consider when choosing your park day. Generally, the closer you get to the actual holiday (Thursday), the busier the parks will be. Monday before Thanksgiving is often slightly less crowded, as many families are still traveling or haven’t yet started their holiday vacations.

Here’s a breakdown of the considerations for each option:

Option 1 – Universal Orlando / Cabana Bay: Staying at Cabana Bay offers convenience and early entry to the parks. Monday would likely be a bit less crowded than Thursday, especially at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Early entry will be valuable for experiencing popular attractions like Harry Potter areas without excessive wait times. Pool time on check-in day is a nice bonus for relaxing before hitting the parks.
Option 2 – Disney All-Star Hotels / Typhoon Lagoon: This is a lower-cost option and includes access to Typhoon Lagoon on check-in day. Typhoon Lagoon will likely be very busy on the holiday itself, so check-in day pool time is a great way to enjoy water attractions with slightly lower crowds. Disney’s All-Star Resorts are basic but comfortable for a single night. Monday or Tuesday may be quieter for park hopping if you opt to go to a Disney park instead of water parks.

Additional tips:

Traffic: Orlando and Tampa-area highways can get congested around major holiday dates. Allow extra travel time when driving between Tampa and Orlando.
Park strategy: Without Express or Lightning Lane passes, prioritize early entry and focus on a few key attractions. Arrive at park opening to maximize rides with shorter waits.
Cost vs crowd balance: Monday offers a slight advantage in crowd levels but higher hotel cost at Universal might offset the benefit. Thursday is the holiday itself, likely the peak day for all parks, which may make the Disney option more appealing if cost is a primary concern.
Single-day choice: If you want to maximize fun and minimize stress, Universal on Monday is preferable for lower crowds, whereas Disney on Thursday is more crowded but still manageable if you stick to Typhoon Lagoon or other water park attractions.

Overall, for one-day park visits without Express/Lightning passes, Monday is generally the smarter choice for smaller crowds and better ride opportunities. If cost is more important and you are okay with slightly higher crowds at Disney water parks, the All-Star/Thursday option is reasonable.

Thanksgiving Week Park Crowds - Monday or Thursday?

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