Hi Jackie, and welcome to planDisney! There's something extra special about visiting Walt Disney World Resort during the holiday season, so I'm glad you stopped by with your question!
Crowd levels are always a bit unpredictable, so it would be difficult to say with certainty which days will be busiest or when you should plan for a rest day. With that said, Thanksgiving week is a very popular time to visit since schools are closed for the holiday. The busiest days of the week can vary from year to year. Some years, earlier in the week is actually busier than Thanksgiving Day itself. Since there’s really no way to know how crowd levels will fluctuate this year, I would encourage you to plan your park days in a way that best fits your vacation plans rather than trying to predict which day will be the lightest. If celebrating Thanksgiving inside the parks feels magical to you, I would go for it!
No matter which days you choose for park days that week, I recommend arriving at the parks early for shorter wait times before the larger crowds arrive. If you’re staying in a Disney resort hotel, be sure to take advantage of
Early Theme Park Entry. I also highly recommend purchasing
Lightning Lanes passes. This will reduce your time in line for attractions and give you more flexibility with your schedule. I love Lightning Lane any day, but it will be especially helpful during Thanksgiving week!
During the week you’re visiting, there are some wonderful special events happening! You may be able to catch the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, which will be in its last day on your arrival day. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will also be taking place several nights at Magic Kingdom during your visit. Imagine snow on Main Street, U.S.A. while you watch a magical holiday parade with Cinderella Castle as your backdrop! Does it get any better than that?! For a little vintage Hollywood glamour,
Jollywood Nights will also be lighting up the night at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is your excuse to put on a festive holiday outfit and celebrate! Not to mention, all of the truly enchanting holiday decor will be up all over Walt Disney World Resort throughout your visit!
One more tip…one of my favorite restaurants in
Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom. It would be the perfect place for a holiday meal any day during Thanksgiving week! They serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner family-style year round and I’ve always dreamed of eating there on Thanksgiving Day. The food is absolutely delicious and makes me think of home-cooked holiday meals around my family table! Be sure to reserve it exactly 60 days before your arrival date if you’re staying at a Disney resort hotel or 60 days prior to the date you’d like to dine if you are staying at another property. Reservations absolutely
will fill up quickly!
Jackie, while I wasn’t able to give you a definitive answer about crowd levels, I hope this helps you make a plan for a wonderful holiday week! If you have any more questions, be sure to
come back and see me. I’m here to help you plan a visit that is practically perfect in every way!
See you on Main Street,
Casey