Everything you need to know about visiting Disney World in November

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November may be winter for us in the UK, but Orlando and Disney World see beautiful 26°C temperatures making it an ideal winter getaway vacation. 

With so many great events that take place in November, as well as relatively low crowds, this winter month may just be one of the best months of the year to visit Disney and Orlando as a whole.

I’ve had the pleasure of jetting off to Disney World in November. And I must say it really is a magical time to visit.

With Halloween wrapping up and Christmas celebrations beginning, Disney guests are in for a heap of festive fun—on top of the fun that they’d usually have on a regular Disney day.

For those planning a trip to Disney World in November, here is everything you need to know to make your trip run as smoothly as possible. 

The average temperature in Orlando in November

The average temperature in Orlando in November ranges from highs of 26°C (78°F) to lows of 15°C (59°F).

November is one of the best times to visit Disney World in terms of weather, as the chances of rain are low. And temperatures aren’t unbearable like they are in the summer months. 

Occasionally, however, you may be hit with a cooler day here and there. As well as in the evenings when temperatures inevitably drop after the sun goes down.

If you pack accordingly and head to the parks prepared, you’ll be more than fine dealing with whatever weather Orlando has to throw at you.

How busy is Disney World in November?

Disney World is relatively quiet throughout the month of November, aside from Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, which take place at the start and the end of the month.

For the most part, you can expect below-average crowds in all of the Disney parks. However, some schools’ scheduled breaks vary, meaning it’s extremely difficult to predict how busy the parks will be.

Veterans Day, on the 11th of November, will bring with it slightly smaller crowds. Whereas the widely celebrated Thanksgiving holiday will see numbers in the parks shoot up significantly.

If you can plan your days in the parks around these days, then I highly suggest it. However, you’ll still have a great time regardless. 

Special events at Disney World in November

November in Disney World is one of the busiest times of the year in regard to events, as there are so many special things planned in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

If you’re looking for a truly unique and jampacked getaway to Disney, then November truly is one of the best months for it.

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

November is the last month to catch the International Food and Wine Festival over in EPCOT. And with the festival being the park’s busiest and most popular celebration, you won’t want to miss it.

On a regular day, EPCOT is a foodie’s paradise. I mean, there are 11 pavilions throughout the World Showcase serving cuisines from all over the world—and that’s not to mention the various other restaurants in the World Celebration area.

During the festival—if it is even possible—EPCOT guests have even more food and snacks to choose from.

I love nothing more than walking around the World Showcase pavilions, tasting dishes from various different cuisines, and eating myself into a food coma. And that’s even when the festival isn’t on.

So, I’m sure you can only imagine how much more enjoyable it is when the festival does come around.

But the fun of the festival doesn’t end there. As well as limited-edition snacks, the International Food and Wine Festival brings with it entertainment and activities for the whole family to enjoy making it one of the best times to visit EPCOT in the entire calendar year. 

Christmas Decorations

If you’re a Scrooge, then you may think November is way too early to be putting up Christmas decorations—but Disney World disagrees. After the last Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween celebration, Magic Kingdom undergoes its biggest transformation for Christmas.

The other three theme parks and the Disney Resorts also get dressed up for the festive season. However, not to the same extent as Magic Kingdom.

With a Christmas parade, firework shows, and all the Disney Characters dressed in their adorable Christmas attire, November is a fantastic month for Disney guests who want to see Disney World at Christmas—without the crowds that come along in December. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

The final Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place on November 1st, meaning if you do make it to Orlando at the start of the month, you can celebrate both Halloween and Christmas all in one trip.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party guests get let into the park from 4:00 PM onward. However, it isn’t until 7:00 PM that the real fun starts.

Running for five hours all the way up until midnight, Halloween party guests can experience Magic Kingdom with minimal crowds making it the perfect time to ride the park’s most popular attractions.

But low ride wait times aren’t the only benefit of purchasing tickets to the party. Throughout the night, guests can take part in dance parties at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.

Watch the Halloween special firework display that is hosted by Jack Skellington. And witness the Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade that runs down Main Street.

In true Halloween fashion, guests can also dress up in their favourite Halloween costume. And trick-or-treat across treat stations that are dotted around the park. 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

As one party ends, another begins. And from November 9th to December 22nd, Disney guests can join in on the Christmas fun at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

With a ticket to the party—that runs from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM—Magic Kingdom party-goers can behold the Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, watch the Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and enjoy cookies and cocoa at stations all throughout the parks. 

They even have snow on Main Street—I bet you never thought you’d see snow in Orlando, did you?

Thanksgiving

Disney World doesn’t go all out for Thanksgiving. But some restaurants in both the parks and hotels will put on a special Thanksgiving dinner menu.

If you’ve never experienced a Thanksgiving in America before, then it is a unique experience. However, tables book out incredibly fast. 

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

A week after the International Food and Wine Festival ends in EPCOT, the International Festival of the Holidays begins.

From November 24th through to December 30th, guests at EPCOT can watch a Candlelight Processional, snack on holiday-inspired dishes and snacks, and see entertainment that is only on during the festival period. 

Disney Jollywood Nights

Hollywood Studios very rarely puts on any sort of special event—apart from Disney Jollywood Nights, which celebrates the festive season.

On select nights from November 11th to December 20th, you can purchase tickets to see event-exclusive shows and entertainment, indulge in yuletide treats, and of course, ride Hollywood Studios’ attractions with incredibly low wait times.

The Disney Jollywood Nights event takes place from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM. However, ticketholders can enter the park from 7:00 PM onward.

Early Entry for Disney Resort Guests

Disney Resort guests get the incredible benefit of entering the parks 30 minutes before regular-ticketed guests. These extra 30 minutes in the morning can make a huge difference to your Disney day.

You can use this time to ride a popular attraction, take photos in iconic park places, or just stroll around the parks with very few people around. 

I’ve stayed both onsite and offsite during previous holidays to Disney World. And I can honestly say that the early entry for Disney Resort guests makes paying the extra for a Disney Resort well worth it. 

Extra Park Hours for Deluxe Resort Guests

Those staying in Disney Deluxe Resorts also get the opportunity to enter either EPCOT or Magic Kingdom once a week for two hours after the park officially closes.

Extended evenings hours vary from week to week. So it’s best to check the Walt Disney World website to see which park qualifies on which day during your stay onsite. You can also ask reception when you check in to ensure you don’t miss out. 

Extended evening hours are some of the quietest times in the parks with most of the popular attractions having miniscule queues. If you can, save your must-do rides for these extra hours so that way you can utilise your time in the parks during the day as opposed to waiting in 60+ minute lines.

What to wear to Disney World in November

The temperature in Disney World in November can be kind of unpredictable in November. So although on most days you’ll want to wear light, breathable clothing, it’s wise to take along a jumper or a jacket just in case the temperatures drop.

Another thing I will suggest is wearing comfortable shoes that you could literally walk miles in. The Disney Parks are by no means small. And on an average day you can expect to walk over 20,000 steps.

I’ve previously made the mistake of choosing fashion over comfort when it comes to footwear. And I can honestly say I’ll never make that mistake again. 

What should I pack for Disney in November?

When packing for a Disney World trip in November, you’ll want to pack warm-weather clothing, as well as a jumper or a jacket, and long pants if you feel the cold.  Don’t forget these Disney Packing Essentials either!

Additionally, you will also want to throw the following in your suitcase:

• Comfortable shoes
• A sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Socks and underwear
• Flip flops for days in the water parks or around the pool
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Poncho or raincoat (Rain is a possibility)
• Handheld fan
• Suncream and regular toiletries
• Backpack

Tips for visiting Disney World in November

I personally feel like Disney holidays are far more stressful to plan than any other holiday. So to help your trip run more smoothly, I thought I’d share all the Disney World Tips and Tricks that I’ve learnt over the years. 

Rent or Take a Stroller

Strollers will be your best friend at Disney—and I truly mean that. For an adult, walking around the parks all day is tiring. But for kids with little legs, it’s almost impossible.

Even if your kids are well above the stroller-using age, having a stroller in Disney can prevent tantrums and breakdowns when they inevitably get too tired to walk any further. And as strollers also double up as storage for all your gear and Disney merchandise they really are a win-win for any family visiting the parks. 

You can take your own stroller to Disney—as long as it is smaller than 31” (79 cm) in width and 52” (132cm) in length—or you can rent one near the entrance at any of the theme parks. A single hard-shell stroller in Disney costs $18, whereas a double costs $36—plus tax. So factor that into your budget if you think a stroller will come in handy.

If you are planning to take your own stroller, then I’ve put together some recommendations over on What is the Best Stroller for Disney?

Pack Your Own Snacks

Walking around Disney is tiring work—especially in the heat—so taking your own water and snacks can really help you save money if you’re holidaying on a budget. I personally always take a refillable water bottle with me to Disney, as you can refill it at refill stations all over the park.

A single bottle of water costs $3.50. So when you take into consideration how much water your family needs to drink a day, you’ll begin to understand how expensive purchasing drinks in the park can be. 

Disney does allow you to bring in food and drinks—contrary to popular belief—so I highly suggest taking along your own to keep costs low.

For some great Disney World snacks, check out Best Snacks to Bring to Disney World.

Schedule Naps for the Middle of the Day

Mid-day and the hours on either side are when the sun and temperatures are at their highest. When my kids were little, we used to take them back to the hotel for a nap, a swim, and just a few hours of relaxing in the shade before heading back to the parks in the late afternoon.

Now that they’re older, we don’t do it as much. But if there are days that are particularly hot, we do like to take a break. 

It’s no secret that Disney days are long. And it’s almost impossible to be there from rope drop to the end of the fireworks with little ones in tow. For this reason, just a few hours back in the hotel in the middle of the day can make all the difference.

For families with older kids who protest that they don’t need a nap, then plan to ride attractions with indoor queues to beat the midday heat. 

Head to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon in the Morning or Late Afternoon

As of recently, Disney has decided only to have one water park up and running at a time. This means that from March through to September, guests can enjoy the tropical—storm-hit—Typhoon Lagoon.

Whereas from September through to March, Disney ticketholders can usually enjoy the melting-ski resort that is Blizard Beach. 

With only one water park being open at a time, crowds will be significantly larger than usual. However, early mornings or late afternoons should be quieter to some degree.

Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes

Lightning Lanes and Disney Genie+ are additional services on top of your regular ticket. 

Disney Genie+, in particular, allows you to use the Lightning Lane entrance on some of the park’s busiest rides—you won’t get on immediately, but it will be much quicker than the standby line. 

Whereas Lightning Lanes lets you skip the queue on two high-demand attractions per day—at an additional fee, of course. On days when the parks are busier than usual, then Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes can ensure that you get to ride all of your must-do attractions.

However, on days when the parks are quieter, you may find that both features aren’t worth the additional fees. 

Whether Disney Genie+ is worth it is all a personal preference. So for more information on the service, I’ve put together An Easy Guide to Using Disney Genie +.

Download the Disney World App

If you haven’t already downloaded the Disney World app, then you need to because it can really help you out around the parks. From being able to book dining reservations and virtual queues to giving you directions to attractions and ride wait times, the Disney World app is a handy tool that makes your Disney day a little bit easier. 

Book Dining Reservations 60 Days in Advance

Disney lets its guests book dining reservations 60 days before their trip. And if there are some must-do restaurants on your Disney bucket list, then you need to be ready at 6:00 AM (EDT) 60 days prior to your first day in the parks.

Disney dining reservations book out extremely fast—especially character dining. So have a clear plan of where you want to eat, some backup restaurants, and other days/times which could work if your original plan isn’t possible. 

But even if you don’t manage to secure dining reservations in advance, don’t get discouraged. There is the possibility that openings will become available leading up to your trip.

So, keep checking the Disney World app, as when people cancel their reservations, those slots will once again become available. 

FAQs 

How busy is Orlando in November? 

Orlando isn’t overly busy in November, aside from Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.

Veterans Day on the 11th of the month, and Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of the month, bring larger crowds to Orlando as locals take time off school and work. On days outside of these holidays, however, you can expect low crowds throughout the city.

What to wear to Disney in November? 

Disney World is fairly warm in November, so you’ll want to wear lightweight and breathable clothing.

But as temperatures can drop, it’s always wise to take along additional layers—especially for the evenings.

Are Disney parks busy in November? 

Disney parks are relatively quiet throughout November, apart from Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, when crowds spike significantly. 

Is Disney World worth it in November?

Disney World is worth it in November as temperatures are manageable and special events are in abundance.

November Disney guests can enjoy Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney Jollywood Nights, the International Food and Wine Festival in EPCOT and the International Festival of the Holidays in EPCOT. It really doesn’t get much better than that!