Disney World in November 2023: Tips on Holiday Magic, Weather, Crowds

Disney World in November kicks off the holiday season including festive decor, holiday treats, and characters dressed in their Christmas best. But not just Magic Kingdom gets into the holiday spirit, you will see holiday magic inside each theme park at Disney World beginning in November.

Everyone has personal preferences to consider when planning the date of their Walt Disney World trip- each season will have its pros and cons and guests' choices will vary based on those. Make sure to read our Walt Disney World crowd calendar to get an idea of what to expect when picking a date to visit Walt Disney World.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about visiting Disney World in November including current events, what weather to expect, crowd level predictions, and what to pack!

Disney World Events in November

Here are all the current events to know about impacting Disney World in November!

Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary

Disney World's 50th Anniversary celebration kicked off in October marking the 50th year since opening day of Magic Kingdom. Be on the watch for anniversary themed celebrations!

Thanksgiving at Disney World

There are a variety of restaurants in Disney World that offer a traditional Thanksgiving meal for you to choose from. Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner at Disney World is a popular way to celebrate so make sure to book your reservation ASAP so you don't miss out!

Holiday Events & Celebrations at Disney World

The holiday season officially begins on November 8th and runs until the end of December at the Walt Disney World Resort. This year will look different as Disney gets creative in bringing holiday magic to the theme parks while also maintaining health and safety standards.  Read our full guide to celebrating the holidays at Disney World to find out everything about how each park celebrates, meet and greets, special events, food, and more.

The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

The festival is a celebration of international holiday traditions from around the world. This festival experience includes an International Yuletide Extravaganza: featuring 11 holiday traditions of the 11 World Showcase nations, seasonal food from around the world, and holiday music from select singers/live bands. The festival begins on November 26th at Epcot.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party will take place on select dates in Magic Kingdom featuring special holiday entertainment, meet and greets, Christmas fireworks, and more. Magic Kingdom will close early on party dates so make sure you're prepared with a park hopper ticket if you don't have a ticket to this special event.

The Epcot Food & Wine Festival

The Epcot Food & Wine Festival continues until November 20th in Epcot with a wide variety of festival marketplace booths with international food and wine.

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Disney World in November Crowd Calendar

The good news is that the crowds really don't kick off until Thanksgiving week and into December. If you can avoid Thanksgiving week, you will avoid a big crush of crowds. Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest weeks of the year at Disney World. The moderate crowds combined with the mild weather makes November a great time to visit Disney World.

Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom in November will have to be aware of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. If you don't have a party ticket, you will be asked to leave the park around 5pm on party days. It's important to plan ahead for those dates so you have a plan in place for once the party starts. In the past the first start of the day before the Christmas party is actually low in crowd levels as many party goers don't enter the parks until later in the day when their Christmas party ticket allows saving them the cost of a full day ticket. It can actually be a wise decision to start off the day early at the park hosting the Christmas party to beat some of those crowds.

Read our Park Touring Strategy based on our recent experience at Disney World!>

Disney World Weather in November

The weather at Disney World in November is fairly warm and dry making it a great time of the year to visit. The average high for Orlando in November is 78 degrees with the average low being 59 degrees. However, this month tends to be one of the most unpredictable with some guests reporting cold temps during a November visit and others reporting hot days. Your best bet is to check the weather leading up to your stay and pack for all types of weather so you're prepared.

Chances of rain in November are the lowest you typically see all year with only an average three days of rain in the month. For guests that love Disney World but are not a big fan of the rain, this makes November a great time to visit.

Tips for Visiting Disney World in November

When it comes to visiting Disney World in November, we have some tried and true hacks for having a magical time on your vacation.

What to Wear 

One of the most frequently asked guest questions is: what should I wear to Disney World? Always check the weather leading up to your trip. The good news about visiting Disney World in November is that the chance of rainfall is greatly reduced making it less necessary to wear a rain poncho daily to the parks. We still recommend bringing one because you just never know! I recommend dressing in layers and come prepared for some chilly mornings. Once the sun goes down, the evenings will feel chilly (especially when you factor in humidity) so bring some lightweight hoodies or jackets. You can always rent a locker to store jackets in during the day and go back to grab them once the day cools down.

What to Pack 

Even though the average high temperatures start dropping this time of the year, the temperatures can still be pretty warm especially if you're not used to hot climates and humidity. Because the weather can vary so much day by day, check the weather each day leading up to your trip. Come prepared based on what the forecast says. Dress in layers so you're prepared for sunny afternoons and chilly nights.

Always bring the hot weather necessities like sunscreen, portable fans, cooling towels, and other items all aimed at keeping you cool on hot days. If you find yourself wanting one of these while you're there, you'll end up paying a high price in the parks or at your hotel.

You can read our giant packing list here to make sure you show up prepared for literally anything you need while you're visiting Disney World.

What to Expect

There are a few things you should expect when choosing November as your month to visit Disney World:

• Know the Christmas Party Dates- being prepared for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is essential for guests looking to visit Magic Kingdom. You should plan on park hopper tickets so you can hop over to the other theme parks when the party starts if you don't have a ticket. If you plan on attending, we recommend not buying a park ticket that day as your party ticket will allow you into the party! Party days tend to reduce crowds in the mornings before the party starts so we also recommend taking advantage of those mornings to ride those popular rides.
• Holiday Tips and Tricks- there is so much to see and do between the four theme parks for the holiday celebrations at Disney World. I recommend looking through our extensive Disney World Christmas guide to plan out what you want to see the most and make any applicable dining reservations for must do experiences.
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Tips- some experiences at this festival require advanced reservations so be prepared to schedule some activities in advance that you may be interested. Read our full guide to Epcot International Food & Wine Festival to prepare yourself for what to expect and how to make any reservations.
• Watch the Weather- be aware that hurricane season is wrapping up in Florida so keep an eye on the weather before your trip and make any necessary adjustments. Pack rain gear so you're prepared no matter what! It WILL rain during your trip, don't be left without the gear you need.

But most of all, remember to enjoy your time at the most magical place on earth!

Plan Your Disney World Vacation!

Keep reading our blog to keep you updated on everything you need to know to prepare for a Disney Parks vacation! We have a team of writers working hard to keep you updated weekly on events in the parks and tips for navigating the magic. Subscribe to our free deals newsletter to receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. You can find more information on planning your vacation here:

• Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Guide
• Discount Disney World Tickets
• Ultimate Guide to Disney World Hotels
• Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
• Top Budget Disney World Hotels