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Thanksgiving week theme park crowds 2026

Model-based crowd outlook for Nov 23–29, 2026 (Walk-On → Peak). Not official attendance.

Every park, busiest first

Expect Heavy crowds almost everywhere open: Disneyland Park tops the list at 3.43 (Heavy), while Knott’s Berry Farm, San Diego Zoo, and Six Flags Magic Mountain tie as the calmest of the open parks at 3 (Heavy).

ParkAvg scoreExpected
Busch Gardens Williamsburg3.43Heavy
Disney California Adventure3.43Heavy
Disney's Animal Kingdom3.43Heavy
Disney's Hollywood Studios3.43Heavy
Disneyland Park3.43Heavy
Dollywood3.43Heavy
EPCOT3.43Heavy
Hersheypark3.43Heavy
Kennywood3.43Heavy
Kings Dominion3.43Heavy
Las Vegas Strip3.43Heavy
Magic Kingdom3.43Heavy
Sesame Place Philadelphia3.43Heavy
Silver Dollar City3.43Heavy
Six Flags Fiesta Texas3.43Heavy
Universal Epic Universe3.43Heavy
Universal Orlando Resort3.43Heavy
Universal's Islands of Adventure3.43Heavy
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay3.29Heavy
Carowinds3.29Heavy
LEGOLAND California3.29Heavy
SeaWorld San Diego3.29Heavy
Six Flags Over Texas3.29Heavy
Universal Studios Hollywood3.14Heavy
Knott's Berry Farm3Heavy
San Diego Zoo3Heavy
Six Flags Magic Mountain3Heavy

Typically closed then: Cedar Point, Kings Island, Sesame Place San Diego, Six Flags Great Adventure.

Surviving it

Thanksgiving week is a wall of Heavy and Peak. If you must go: arrive at opening, eat lunch at 11, and pick the calmest open park from the table rather than your favorite.

Read our Peak-day survival strategy and check the compare tool — shifting even a few days earlier or later can drop a tier.

FAQ

How crowded are theme parks on Thanksgiving week (Nov 23–29)?

On our model, Heavy to Heavy across open parks — this is one of the busiest windows of the year.

Is this official attendance data?

No. Walk-On · Moderate · Heavy · Peak are IsItCrowded model estimates — not live gate counts or official park data.

All guides · Peak-day survival · How predictions work