This Thanksgiving week, Walt Disney World Resort is welcoming approximately two million visitors into a mix of heavy crowds, fewer operating rides, higher ticket costs, and a rapidly changing weather pattern.
Some of the park’s most popular attractions, including Buzz Lightyear, Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Big Thunder Mountain, are either temporarily unavailable or permanently closed. Despite a 1% dip in attendance compared with last year, per-guest spending is up 3-6%, driven in part by the sale of premium extras like Lightning Lane access.
In fact, Magic Kingdom’s Lightning Lane Premier Passes are already sold out through November 28, with similar sellouts across other parks. Guests opting for lower-tier passes still face prices ranging from $179 to $339, depending on the park and day.
The weather is set to affect plans this week. Wednesday is forecast to be the warmest day, with highs in the mid-80s and minimal rain. But a cold front moving in late Wednesday night will bring a sharp temperature drop through Thanksgiving, with highs only reaching the upper 60s to low 70s and northerly winds reaching 10-15 mph, gusting up to 20 mph, as reported by Click Orlando.
By Black Friday and Saturday, temperatures in the morning could dip into the 40s northwest of I-4 and low 50s elsewhere, with daytime highs in the 60s. Guests will want to dress in layers and take advantage of indoor attractions during the cooler days.
With two million people in the parks, timing and planning are more important than ever. Rope drop will help maximize experiences, late-night exploring offers relief from peak crowds, and Lightning Lane return times will move quickly given the limited number of open attractions. Disney has clearly found a strategy to maintain revenue through higher pricing, but the week’s weather will be an additional factor for guests to manage.
How the week unfolds will depend on preparation and flexibility. Guests are encouraged to plan carefully to make the most of both outdoor and indoor experiences during this holiday period.
