November ushers the holidays into the parks with festive decorations and entertainment offerings. But, the holidays also mean "crowds."
Here's what you need to know:
How our Crowd Calendars Work
Ready to dive in? Jump down to the November Crowd Calendar
1. For each day of the month, we tell you on a scale of 1-10 how busy the entire Walt Disney World Resort is when compared to other days of the year.
2. Then, for each park you'll see the park hours and any special events that are planned.
3. We also track refurbishments and closings (which you can toggle on and off).
4. We have a handy feature that allows you to automatically add your Advanced Dining Reservation date to your calendar.
5. And, one of the most useful features is the ability to be able to print the calendar so that you can have a paper copy for planning (or to just use as a backup).
What order should you visit the parks?
Depending on the length of your trip, here's how many days we recommend for each park:
When it comes time to decide which days are best for each park, here are some general things to keep in mind:
- Hollywood Studios is consistently the first park to reach capacity, primarily because of popular attractions like Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash.
- Magic Kingdom is the most popular park overall. It is also the park most first-time visitors think of when they think "Disney World". Saturdays are the busiest, with mid-week typically the least busy.
- Epcot hosts nearly year-round festivals, and those festivals are popular with both out-of-state visitors as well as with locals. And, since a lot of what the festivals are famous for are alcohol and food, the areas around the Festival Booths can be a lot busier (and a bit rowdier) than what you'd find during the daytime hours on the weekdays. If that isn't the vibe you are looking for, you may want to skip Epcot during the nighttime on Friday and Saturdays.
- Even with the new Park Pass system, Animal Kingdom remains one of the "easiest" parks to fit into a trip. You should be able to plug it in wherever it makes the most sense for you.
We go into a lot more detail in our guide on The Best Days to Visit Each Park.
Planning for Disney World in November
PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT'S NEW | TIPS
PARK HOURS
Disney publishes its park hours about 75 days in advance, but those hours can (and very often do) change.
Note: This used to be about 180 days in advance, but since the reopening, they have transitioned to a roughly 75-day window.
As the dates get closer, it isn't unusual for Disney to tweak either the opening or closing times. And during especially busy times of the year, they may change both.
That means to avoid having your plans sidetracked, you'll definitely want to keep checking the park hours - including while on your trip.
When it comes to park hours - in general - the heavier the crowds, the longer the parks will be open during the day. Of course, that also means that the parks will be open fewer hours of the day during less busy times of the years.
That means in November you can expect to see the parks open more hours around both the busy Veterans Day and Thanksgiving holidays.
Read More:
- Guide to Magic Kingdom Park Hours
- Guide to Epcot Park Hours
- Guide to Hollywood Studios Park Hours
- Guide to Animal Kingdom Park Hours
PRICES AND DISCOUNTS
Even though November has a couple of very busy holidays, there are still chances for some discounts.
Guide to Disney World Discounts
SPECIAL EVENTS
50th Anniversary Celebration
October 1, 2021 is the official kickoff for the 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Extending all the way until April 1, 2023, this celebration will offer guests the opportunities for new experiences, entertainment, and of course merchandise and treats.
Complete Guide to the 50th Anniversary at Walt Disney World
International Food and Wine Festival
Probably the most famous of all the Epcot festivals is the International Food and Wine Festival.
Held every year in the fall, for 2021 we will see the dates extend from July 15 all the way until November 20.
If you are a fan of good food and fun drinks, you'll definitely want to plan to spend some time at Epcot during your trip.
Overview of the International Food and Wine Festival
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Note: Due to current health and safety measures, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party was suspended for 2020 & 2021. In its place, Disney is hosting Very Merriest After Hours. See below for more on that.
One of the hottest parties around, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a specially ticketed event (translation: it costs extra) at Magic Kingdom. During the party you'll find special character meet and greet opportunities, dance parties, a special parade, fireworks, and special treat stations where you can get hot cocoa and cookies.
Complete Guide to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Disney Very Merriest After Hours
Disney After Hour events aren't new, and the smaller crowds are the perfect way to share the holiday season without being pressed in like sardines. The Christmas version includes fireworks, the popular Once Upon A Christmastime parade, and more.
Complete Guide to Disney Very Merriest After Hours
Festival of the Holidays
Typically starting at the end of November, Epcot's Festival of the Holidays introduces guests to holiday customs and traditions throughout the world.
An Overview of the Festival of the Holidays
WEATHER​
November at Disney World can be anything from hot to perfect to cool. That means you'll definitely want to check the forecast when your trip gets closer and then consider packing layers.
During November, the temperatures will range from lows in the 60s to highs in the upper 70s.
The rain chances also decrease, with November only seeing around 2 and a half inches of rain per year.
But even though the rain chances aren't as high, we still recommend that you come prepared with ponchos, multiple pairs of shoes (in case one pair gets wet), and umbrellas just in case.
How to handle the weather at Disney World
Swimming in November
Even though it may be too cold to swim in November where you live, at Disney World the pools are heated which means even if the air is a bit chilly, the pools are still a comfortable temp.
In addition to the pools at the resorts, at least 1 of Disney's 2 water parks will remain open.
FAQ's about the Pools at Walt Disney World
WHAT TO WEAR​
Traveling in November? We recommend you start with clothes that are comfortable for summer but that you also consider bringing jackets or sweatshirts for the nighttime or early morning.
In fact, even during the hottest months we keep a light jacket in our park bag because coming out of the sun into an air-conditioned space is sometimes too cold for our liking. And in November, that can still be true.
If you're the kind of person that finds sitting under the AC to be too much, you might want to consider tossing in a light jacket, too.
Ultimate Packing List for Walt Disney World
REFURBISHMENTS AND CLOSURES​
While routine refurbishments aren't typically scheduled in November, you'll likely still run into a few attractions that are closed.
We keep track of those on the calendar below.
To see what will be closed on your trip, toggle the "attraction closings" tab.
WATER PARKS​
During the colder months, Disney also typically closes Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon (one at a time) for refurbishment.
These scheduled closings typically take place between the end of October and mid-March.
Make sure you check the calendar below to see what park will be open during your visit.
WHAT'S NEW?​
At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in November
TIPS FOR DISNEY WORLD IN NOVEMBER
- If you can avoid Veterans Day and the week of Thanksgiving you'll have the best chances for lower than average crowds.
- Keep checking for discounts. Even if you've already booked discounts can still be applied.
- The pools can get quite busy. For the lowest crowds consider visiting in the morning.
- If you plan to visit the Food & Wine Festival, consider going on a weekday when the crowds are lower.
