What Is Walt Disney World Like in November?
When is the best time to visit Walt Disney World? Everyone has an opinion, and none of them is wrong.
As someone who goes to Orlando frequently, I’ve developed an appreciation for some months over the others.
What is Walt Disney World like in November? It’s spectacular, and I’ll happily explain why.
Let’s Talk about November Visits
The one thing you’ll always have in the back of your mind about a Disney vacation involves crowd size.
You know that certain times of the year include peak capacity, which is probably not the optimal time to plan a vacation.
Sometimes, you don’t have a choice, though. Your vacation days align the same way as everyone else’s.
For instance, Thanksgiving qualifies as one of the busiest times on the annual calendar because most Americans get those days off.
That’s just a few days during the entire month, though. As long as you don’t arrive for Thanksgiving week, you’ll find the crowds quite tolerable.
In fact, the first three weeks of November generally come with a reduction in crowds.
Disney hosts Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in September and October. People order it and deem it a destination event.
So, after the event ends on Halloween, crowd size diminishes for a few days.
Afterward, attendance starts to grow due to the arrival of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, an annual event that didn’t occur in 2020.
About the Holidays
Disney still hasn’t announced whether it will host any parties in 2021 due to the pandemic.
If Magic Kingdom offers these events, the Halloween party probably won’t host any dates in November because Halloween is on a Sunday.
However, the Christmas party will likely start during the second week and run through Christmas week…assuming it happens.
The Christmas party isn’t as popular as the Halloween party, at least not historically.
All bets are off for 2021, though. We’re an entertainment-hungry people.
We DO know two things about the holidays, though. As soon as Halloween ends, cast members start switching to Christmas decorations.
This process generally takes four or five days, and it’s adorable to track.
In 2020, my brother’s family was at Disney’s Animal Kingdom while we were at Magic Kingdom.
We were texting each other pictures of the changes occurring at the parks. Every few hours, something new and exciting pops up.
By November 10th, virtually all decorations are live, including the ones at the various Disney resorts.
You WILL want to stay at one of them to maximize your enjoyment of the holidays.
I highly recommend Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for the gingerbread cabin or Disney’s Contemporary Resort for the…gingerbread everything.
Speak with a MickeyTravels agent to learn the best ways to book over the holidays. Their services are entirely free, and they’re THE Disney experts!
Let’s Talk about the Weather
You may wonder whether Florida ever gets cold. The answer is yes, just not often.
Many guests, myself included, think that November represents an optimal time to visit due to the weather.
The oppressive heat from the summer has vanished. It gets replaced by moderate temperatures that feel like a nice, beachy day.
According to Weatherspark, Orlando’s daily highs in November average 75 degrees. Even better, they rarely go below 66 or above 86.
So, you have a nice, steady range for the weather while you’re at the parks.
As far as low temperatures, they’re generally in the 60s but can drop to the lower 50s or even the 40s during a cold weather spell.
You should check the temperature in the days leading up to your trip. The weather may require a hoodie, jeans, and/or layered clothing.
Realistically, Orlando’s temperature will be at least 20 degrees warmer than wherever you’re visiting from, though.
Walt Disney World presents the ideal weather escape as winter begins.
Let’s Talk about the November Activities
Okay, you should know about three things happening at Walt Disney World during November.
The first one actually starts on October 1st. That date represents the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.
Park officials are throwing a party that will last for 18 months! So, you’ll have plenty of time to admire the festivities.
The primary landmarks at all four theme parks will feature unique lighting effects to make them look more magical.
EPCOT’s latest attraction, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, will debut on October 1st as well. You’ll have plenty of unique entertainment this trip.
However, Disney will also host the 2021 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival through November 20th.
Then, the park will presumably switch to the 2021 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays the following week.
Disney hasn’t announced whether the Candlelight Processional will return this year.
Even if it doesn’t, you’ll still have a tremendous incentive to visit in November.
Other Events to Remember
Remember that Disney isn’t the only theme park in the area. Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando are both within driving distance.
During the pandemic, car rentals have become challenging to acquire. If you’re comfortable with ride-sharing, a trip to either park costs roughly $30 one way.
I mention this because those parks decorate for the holidays as well.
At Universal, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s winter effects are spectacular and well worth a visit, at least for us magic-loving Muggles.
In Orlando, the soccer season has ended by November, unless the team has earned a spot in the league finals. You probably shouldn’t count on that.
Thankfully, the University of Central Florida continues to host home games.
They’re playing Tulane on November 6th, UConn on November 20th, and South Florida on November 26th, which is also Black Friday.
The Orlando Magic hasn’t announced its 2021-2022 basketball schedule yet.
The NBA season started late in 2020, but it should be back on track next year.
As such, you’ll probably get to watch an NBA game during a November visit this year if that interests you.
Final Thoughts
My family has chosen the first week of November as one of our favorite times to visit Walt Disney World.
We arrive in time for Halloween at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Then, we spend the next few days watching the decorations go up at the parks.
Seeing the Christmas tree at Magic Kingdom is always magical. However, it’s that much better when I watch it happen live.
I’m guilty of missing what’s right in front of me at times. We’ll walk down Main Street, U.S.A., and my wife will point out decorations that I missed.
The changes happen so suddenly that the spooky stuff vanishes and gets replaced by holiday lighting. I’ve started taking the transformation for granted.
Cast members have gotten so good at the changes that they could even do them while short-staffed during the pandemic. It’s awe-inspiring.
I think the first two weeks of November represent one of the best times to visit all year.
However, if you can only go during Thanksgiving week, you’ll still have a fantastic time!
Are you thinking about visiting Disney World in November? The crowds will be larger, but you’re still at Disney for the holidays! How cool is that?
Feature Image Rights: Disney