Thanksgiving week at Disneyland tends to be very busy, with Thanksgiving Day itself usually among the park’s peak crowd days. You can expect longer wait times, more foot traffic in pathways, and fuller attractions compared with most non-holiday weekdays. However, crowd patterns can vary year to year based on factors like park hours, special events, and how early or late in the week you visit. Key notes to plan around:
- Peak days: Thanksgiving Day and the surrounding weekend (Thanksgiving week) typically see the highest attendance of the year. If you can, consider visiting on a day with historically lower crowds in the same week (e.g., the weekdays before or after the holiday, depending on that year’s schedule) to reduce lines.
- Early arrival and rope drop: Arriving before official opening and taking advantage of rope drop can yield shorter lines for popular attractions early in the day.
- Lightning Lane / Genie+ planning: The introduction of paid skip-the-line options can help manage longer waits on busy days, though availability and pricing fluctuate during holidays. Check current options and plan strategically around headlining rides.
- Dining and reservations: Holiday crowds extend to dining venues. If you plan to eat at table-service locations, make reservations well in advance to avoid long waits.
Practical tips:
- Prioritize top attractions first thing in the morning, then use any paid skip-the-line options for high-demand experiences.
- Be prepared for longer-than-usual walk times between lands and more time spent in queues overall.
- Consider flexible scheduling: if crowds look heavier on Thanksgiving Day, shift major activities to the days immediately before or after when possible.
If you’d like, share the specific year you’re asking about (e.g., 2025 or 2026) and your planned dates, and the type of visit (park-only vs. with dining, first-time vs. returning), and I can tailor a precise day-by-day plan with expected crowd patterns and optimized ride strategies.
