Visiting Walt Disney World in November 2024
Walt Disney World in November is truly an enchanting time to visit! It’s personally one of my favorite times to go. The weather is pleasant, and it marks the beginning of the holiday season. You get to experience the magic of Christmas at Walt Disney World without the overwhelming crowds. Well, unless you visit during Thanksgiving week, that is! (Thanksgiving week is notoriously one of Disney World’s busiest weeks of the year!)
Except for Veterans Day weekend and Thanksgiving week, the crowds in November are generally moderate. So if you’re planning a visit in November, you’ll be greeted with mild weather and delightful holiday celebrations!
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2024? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the return of the Disney Dining Plan, and more!
November At-a-Glance
- Major refurbishments are not typically common in November. Disney tends to schedule their refurbishments during less busy months (such as January or February), but that doesn’t mean closures can’t or won’t happen in November.
- The Food and Wine Festival is quite popular with locals. Consider visiting Epcot on weekdays if you’re trying to avoid the crowds.
- Veteran’s Day Weekend and Thanksgiving week will be crowded. If you’re trying to avoid crowds in November, be sure to avoid these times… especially Thanksgiving week as it is one of the busiest weekends of the year.
- The holidays begin throughout the parks during the month of November. Christmas decorations and holiday events typically begin the second week of November. So be prepared to celebrate!
November Events
Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival will take place from August 29 through November 23. This is a highly anticipated event at the park, featuring a wide variety of food and beverage booths to satisfy the most discerning palates. In addition to dining options, attendees can take part in scavenger hunts, enjoy live music, participate in the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, and explore exclusive festival merchandise.
Also taking place in November as part of this festival is the Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Taking place October 31-November 3, 2024, this popular race usually features a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and the Disney Two Course Challenge (10K and Half Marathon). Virtual options will be available as well!
Another thing to consider if planning a visit in November is that Christmas arrives quite early in Walt Disney World! Christmas decorations begin to spring up throughout the parks and resorts shortly after Halloween. (Epcot typically waits to decorate until after the Food & Wine Festival.) And while Disney does honor Thanksgiving (and the Thanksgiving crowds are typically massive), Christmas is certainly the main attraction for most of November and all of December.
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will take place from November 29 through December 30. Featuring traditions from around the world, including some incredible cuisine and holiday treats, this festival is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. It offers some unique holiday entertainment including a celebrity-hosted Candlelight Processional.
Other notable events/dates for November include Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – Magic Kingdom’s ticketed Christmas event, which takes place on select nights from November 8 through December 20!
And Magic Kingdom isn’t the only park to have a special holiday event. In 2023, Disney introduced Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. This ticketed party will be back for the 2024 holiday season!
Be sure to visit our guide to celebrating Christmas at Disney World for more information on all the holiday fun Walt Disney World has to offer!
Walt Disney World (as well as ESPN Wide World of Sports) typically hosts several athletic events each month. These events don’t usually have a major impact on crowds in the parks, but they will likely affect resort availability and crowds at Disney’s value resorts. Here’s a look at what’s currently scheduled for November:
- Special Olympics FL Fall Classic – November 8-9, 2024
- WBCA Showcase – November 21-24, 2024
- NIT Season Tip-Off – November 28-29, 2024
- ESPN Events Invitational – November 28-29, 2024
- Disney Junior Soccer Showcase – November 29-December 1, 2024
As far as holidays and crowds in November… Veteran’s Day falls on a Monday this year (November 11), so it could affect the weekend crowds a bit more than usual as many will have Monday off to observe the holiday. Other dates to watch out for, however, are November 23-30. This particular week draws some of the biggest crowds of the year.
November Refurbishments & Closures
*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for November 2024. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)
Magic Kingdom
- Tron Lightcycle Power Run is now open!
- Splash Mountain closed permanently on January 23, 2023, to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The newly re-themed attraction opened to the public on June 28, 2024!
- Country Bear Musical Jamboree is now open!
- Jungle Cruise will be closed through October 17, 2024.
- Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island will close permanently at some point (likely 2025) as the Rivers of America will be replaced with a newly announced Cars area. Dates have yet to be announced.
- Starlight Night Parade will be debuting in Summer 2025.
EPCOT
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is now open!
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is now open!
- Test Track closed on June 17, 2024, for a multi-month refurbishment. A reopening date has not yet been announced but will likely be sometime in 2025.
- Luminous: The Symphony of Us will not be showing on October 22, 2024.
- Frozen Ever After will be closed from November 2-6, 2024.
Hollywood Studios
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed, and will be replaced with a fully reimagined production called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” The new show is expected to debut in Fall 2024.
- Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple has permanently ended.
Animal Kingdom
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug will be closing at some point to make way for a Zootopia Tree of Life Show. The new attraction will open in Winter 2025.
- Primeval Whirl is permanently closed
- It is anticipated that Dino-Rama, as a whole, will likely close at some point to make way for a major expansion. Disney has announced that the replacement will be “Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom.” Concepts include Encanto and Indiana Jones, and DINOSAUR will be converted into an Indiana Jones attraction. Dates have yet to be announced for this major project.
Other
- Blizzard Beach closed on March 17, 2024, for winter refurbishment and will reopen on November 4, 2024.
November Weather
The weather can be a bit unpredictable in the month of November, but it is typically one of the most beautiful months to visit Disney World. The average high is 79 degrees and the low is typically around 59 degrees. Hurricane season is typically over by November as well, meaning there will be fewer rainy days. You will undoubtedly want to dress in layers, however. The days (especially if they are sunny) will feel quite warm, but the evenings will probably get a bit chilly.
November Disney World Crowd Calendar
Crowd calendars are very popular, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. It’s best not to completely rely on them when making your Disney World vacation plans.
While crowd calendars can be a big help in knowing what to expect, keep in mind, they are predictions at best. When designing our calendars, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. But unfortunately, our crowd calendars cannot predict other things such as weather, travel advisories, pandemics, or last-minute openings or closings of shows and attractions.
On top of that, many are choosing to travel differently these days. Quiet months have become popular due to runDisney events as well as other Disney events and promotions, while busier seasons have seen a downward trend in the last couple of years.
Normally, November is fairly average in terms of crowds, with the exception of Thanksgiving week. In fact, Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Ready To Start Planning Your Visit To Walt Disney World In November?
Here are some resources to help you get started!
Walt Disney World Resorts:
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Disney Value Resort Hotels
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Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining:
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
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Attraction Guide for Magic Kingdom
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Attraction Guide for Epcot
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Attraction Guide for Hollywood Studios
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Attraction Guide for Animal Kingdom
There’s nothing better than knowing what to expect on your Disney World vacation. Our monthly guides can help you visit with a plan!
January | February
March | April
May | June
July | August
September | October
November (you are here) | December
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to get started!
