Disneyland in November 2024: Holiday Magic, Crowd Levels, and What to Expect

Disneyland in November sees the quick transition from the Halloween season at Disneyland to the Holiday season! Guests visiting in November can expect to see all the holiday magic that Disneyland offers.

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

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

Disneyland Events in November

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

Holiday Season 

Disneyland Christmas holiday season starts on November 15, 2024. So if you're visiting in November, chances are you will be there to experience all of the seasonal offerings! You can read more about when Disneyland decorates for Christmas in our guide. 

Festive Holidays & Christmas Celebration 

The amount of things to see and experience during the Christmas celebration is overwhelming because of the abundance of great offerings! We recommend reading through our Christmas guide so you have an idea of what to expect and what you want to see.

Highlights of visiting this time of year include seeing the resort decked out in its holiday finest including Sleepy Beauty's Castle, holiday themed fireworks and parade in Disneyland, Santa meet and greets, themed attractions, and more. It's truly a beautiful time to visit Disneyland.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving does not go forgotten at Disneyland with the resort offering Thanksgiving meals at some of its finer resort dining options. You can read all about celebrating Thanksgiving at Disneyland here in our Disneyland Thanksgiving guide.

Disneyland Veterans Day Flag Retreat

In honor of Veterans Day at Disneyland, there is a larger flag retreat ceremony held. Each day Disneyland holds a flag retreat that features the Dapper Dans and Disneyland Band and celebrates service to our country, but on Veterans Day the festivities are even more impactful. Disneyland Cast Members who are veterans or in the reserves come together for a procession down Main Street and join in the ceremony. Sometimes a military band is also in attendance. During the ceremony last year, the 1st Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton performed during the ceremony.

Dapper Day & Expo

Dapper Day takes place November 3, 2024 at Disneyland. Dapper Day is a celebration of classic clothing that used to be worn to Disneyland and is quite the event to experience. You will see locals and tourists alike turn out in their finest outfits for the occasion.

Universal Studios Hollywood Christmas Celebration

Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates Christmas with a fantastic celebration in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter that includes gorgeous decorations, a nighttime show on Hogwarts castle, and live entertainment. They also have an annual Grinchmas celebration which features characters, entertainment, and food offerings from the Dr. Seuss classic. However, holidays at Univeral start a bit later than Disneyland. Last year, the holiday celebration started on November 24th.

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Disneyland November Crowd Calendar

The holidays at Disneyland are an extremely popular time of year for people to visit the resort. But if you want to avoid the crowds, planning on arriving before Thanksgiving can be a great way to do it. Starting Thanksgiving weekend Disneyland will stay crowded for the duration of the holiday season. Much in the same way that we recommend visiting Disneyland Halloween during September rather than October, the Disneyland Christmas season is best enjoyed during November before everyone is fully in the Christmas spirit.

Locals will have a large impact on the crowds for the holiday season as many Annual Passholders will turn out in droves to experience the park this time of year. It's always helpful to take a look at the blockout date calendar here on Disney's website. Local passholders make up a significant part of Disneyland's guest population so it's always important to consider their blockout dates when planning your trip.

Most Magic Key holders are blocked from visiting Saturdays and Sundays during November which means those will be the best days of the week to visit Disneyland.  The lowest tier of Magic Key holders are also blocked out Fridays making weekends a good choice for a holiday visit, there may be higher crowds on weekdays as locals come out to see the decor on those days.

You can still have a great vacation even if Disneyland is crowded as long as you plan ahead. Make dining reservations, consider booking a dining package for anticipated nighttime shows, use our Disneyland morning strategy and arrive early to the parks every day. Even on an extremely crowded day, being there 30 minutes before the park officially opens allows you to experience the park with smaller crowds. Those two or three hours before 11AM are the best- don't miss out. Read our full guide on handling crowds to prepare yourself for visiting Disneyland in November.

Disneyland Weather in November

The weather at Disneyland in November is pleasantly cool with an average high of around 70 degrees and an average low of around 53 degrees. The rainy season also begins in California in November so it's wise to prepare yourself for the possibility of rain although you can still expect sunny days!

One good thing about experiencing rain at Disneyland is it tends to empty out the parks as many guests dash back to their hotels. This is a great time to throw on a rain poncho and experience low wait ride times.

Tips for Visiting Disneyland in November

When it comes to visiting Disneyland 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 Disneyland? Always check the weather leading up to your trip. Especially when visiting in November! Some days you will have a high of 70 degrees and warmer with sunny skies making the day feel remarkably close to summer weather. Other days you may encounter light rain and cloudy skies. Dressing in layers is the key to feeling comfortable! You can always put extra coats in a locker so you don't have to carry them all day.

What to Pack 

I always recommend packing layers for this time of year so you're prepared for the day. I always like to throw a flannel over a tshirt and have a light hoodie in a locker in case I get cold in the evening. But really, it's up to personal preference. Bring clothes to plan for sunny days and clothes in case you experience some rain. Throw a cheap poncho in your park bag so if it does rain, you can experience the lower wait times at the park.

Considering the plethora of seasonal dining options at Disneyland for Thanksgiving and for the holiday season, you may want to pack some dressy clothes if you want to have a nice meal and feel a bit fancy!

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

What to Expect

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

• Plan for Themed Attractions- one of the best parts of visiting Disneyland during the holiday season is experiencing the themed attractions! The best ones you cannot miss are Haunted Mansion Holiday and it's a small world in Disneyland. The Haunted Mansion receives A Nightmare Before Christmas theme that some guests find to be even better than the classic theme. it's a small world will be lit up with thousands of lights and the inside of the ride itself will sing the classic song to the tune of Jingle Bells and be filled with festive decorations. Both of these rides are extremely popular because of these holiday overlays so I recommend planning to use FastPass for both of them. Wait to see it's a small world at night so you can see the facade lit up as it's a breathtaking experience.
• Plan for Crowds- the earlier in the month you can visit, the better to avoid large crowds coming to see the new holiday decor at Disneyland. Either way it's best to just plan for large crowds and be pleasantly surprised if it's calmer than expected. Make sure to follow our awesome morning strategy for Disneyland here and California Adventure here you can be done with the major rides by lunchtime before the big crowds arrive. Getting to the gates early is the key to avoiding crowds even when visiting at a busy time of the year.
• Book Dining Reservations Early– the Thanksgiving dinner celebration sells out every year so make sure you are on top of things and book that experience right when it becomes available so you don't miss out!

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

Plan Your Disneyland 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:

• Discount Disneyland Ticket Guide
• Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Guide
• Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
• Guide to Parades at Disneyland