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Is Disney more crowded at Thanksgiving or Christmas?

How crowded is Disney World on Thanksgiving? Though Thanksgiving week is definitely considered a busy time at Disney World, it's not nearly as crowded as other times of year – like Christmas.



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Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest weeks of the year at Walt Disney World, and although there is arguably a slight decline on Thanksgiving itself, it is still a 9/10 in terms of crowds. We cover crowd level expectations in our When to Visit Walt Disney World post.

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But while there is lots to enjoy about December at Disney World, there are a few other things you should know: December is very busy crowd-wise thanks to the Christmas season at Disney World and New Year's Eve. If you have a good plan and are flexible, we are positive you will still have a great time.

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Walt Disney World's parks are typically least crowded:
  • January 2nd until just prior to Presidents' Day week (third Monday in February)
  • The week after Labor Day until just prior to Thanksgiving week.
  • The week following Thanksgiving weekend until the week prior to Christmas.


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Overall. Overall, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is not a cheap experience, and it's really up to you to decide whether it's worth it. If you're looking for lower ride wait times and smaller crowds and you can swing the cost in your budget, it might be a worthy investment.

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A trip at this time of year also has the added bonus of cooler temperatures — or, to superfans, Spirit Jersey weather. Disney World's least busy month, though, is almost always September.

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Off-peak times fall around January, February, September, and early November. Discounts on vacation packages booked directly through Disney (which combine park tickets and hotel stays) can be found year-round, though they're most common at these less-crowded times.

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Off-peak times fall around January, February, September, and early November. Discounts on vacation packages booked directly through Disney (which combine park tickets and hotel stays) can be found year-round, though they're most common at these less-crowded times.

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As a general rule of thumb, Disney World is busy and crowded during Christmastime. This makes no difference even if you do decide to pick on of the weeks in early December.

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Hi, According to another website I checked, the least crowded park on Christmas Eve is expected to be Epcot, and on Christmas Day, Epcot and MGM. Of course, least crowded is almost a joke during Christmas week, as every park will reach capacity or near-capacity.

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A: It's always a great time to visit Disney theme parks! However, when planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort, expect lower crowds from mid-September through mid-November (before the Thanksgiving break). Mid-January through mid-March is another time when potentially lower crowds are expected.

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November 2023 – Save for Thanksgiving and Veterans Day weeks, neither of which are as bad as the Christmas and New Year's holiday weeks in terms of crowds, November is similar to December. Early and mid-November are usually good times to visit Walt Disney World, and the week after Thanksgiving is exceptional.

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Though Thanksgiving week is definitely considered a busy time at Disney World, it's not nearly as crowded as other times of year – like Christmas. Throughout the week, crowds continue to build, with the Saturday-Wednesday before Thanksgiving generally being slightly less busy than Thursday-Sunday.

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Aside from Thanksgiving, November is again a typically quieter month. With temperatures that don't drop too low, a lower chance of rainfall, and lower wait times for rides due to thinner crowds, November is a great time to visit if you can.

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Highest Crowd Level When Visiting Walt Disney World The week before Christmas through the first two weekends of January, with the weeks including Christmas Day and New Year's Eve bringing in the historically highest crowd level each year.

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When is Disney World the MOST crowded?
  • Easter (both the week before and the week after typically have increased crowds)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Indigenous Peoples' Day (2nd Monday in October)
  • Veterans' Day (November 11)
  • Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
  • Christmas week through January 1.


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As happens every year around this time, crowds are starting to fall before Fall 2023 at Walt Disney World. This wait times report covers data for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

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As previously mentioned, the winter holidays are one of the most expensive times of year to visit Disney World, and the week of Christmas and New Year's is typically the priciest period to visit. July Fourth, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and other federal holidays are also going to be more crowded and expensive.

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Crowds will remain elevated across the board as Halloween transitions to Christmas. However, attendance won't be as high as Thanksgiving or Christmas. Nevertheless, November is a good month to visit Walt Disney World due to mild weather, moderate crowds much of the month, and the start of the holiday season!

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