Last updated on 07/08/2023
November at Walt Disney World 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:
November is busy month for Walt Disney World. While there is a lot to enjoy during this time, including the holidays, the crowds certainly aren’t for everyone.
That said, there are all kinds of reasons to love Disney World during November. Here are some of our favorites:
But while there is lots to enjoy about November at Disney World, there are a few other things you should know:
Yes, November in Disney World is busy. Very busy.
There’s a lot happening during this month, like: Thanksgiving (and those who are on break), two Epcot festivals (Food and Wine and Festival of the Holidays), the runDisney Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, other Christmas events, and more.
Even though most of the month will be busy, there are still a few days that will be busier than others.
During busier times of the year, Disney does try to improve guest experiences by doing a few things to help keep the lines down. Although they never officially announce anything, these are the things that we’ve noticed that do help:
Although Disney can make adjustments to keep the lines manageable, they can’t control just how busy the parks look and feel. During busier times of the year like November, walkways and paths in the parks may be full, Quick Service locations remain busy for longer, and the crowds for nighttime shows will be heavier.
We don’t tell you that to scare you, but to prepare you. November is not the time of year to just wing it. Spending even just a few minutes on a plan for your Disney World trip will make all the difference.
To avoid the heaviest crowds in November, skip these dates:
PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT’S NEW | TIPS | NOV TRIP REPORTS
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:
Even though November has a couple of very busy holidays, there are still chances for some discounts.
Probably the most famous of all the Epcot festivals is the International Food and Wine Festival.
Held every year in the fall, 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.
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.
Typically starting at the end of November, Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays introduces guests to holiday customs and traditions throughout the world.
Christmas has always been an extremely popular time to visit Walt Disney World, with specially ticketed events at Magic Kingdom a highlight for many guests.
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.
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.
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.
While routine refurbishments aren’t typically scheduled in November, you’ll likely still run into a few attractions that are closed.
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.
At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in November.
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:
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).
Official park hours are usually released around 75 days in advance.
The "crowd level" compares each day to the rest of the year; it indicates how crowded the entire WDW Resort area is on a scale of 1-10.
Magic Kingdom | Epcot | Hollywood Studios | Animal Kingdom | Typhoon Lagoon | Blizzard Beach | Disney Springs | Dining Closings | Attraction Closings | Reservation Dates | |
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