Disney World in November 2026 (Crowd Expectations, Weather, and Details)
November is a busy month at Walt Disney World. This month marks the end of the Fall season as yellow and orange decorations make way for red and green. It’s a wonderful time to visit the parks during their transition because you get a taste of both seasons. That said, Christmas is a unique time of year because it’s celebrated in all four theme parks, the resort hotels, and Disney Springs.
Unfortunately, not everything will be completed by the first week of November. It has been our experience that the park decorations are finished by the official kick-off of the holiday season, but said date has not been announced yet. Typically, everything will be completed at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios by the first party nights. Those parties are Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights. Disney has confirmed that both will return in 2026. As far as the resorts go, Christmas decorations are usually completely up by a day or two before Thanksgiving. (Some will be completed earlier.)
This guide has been updated for 2026 pending news and announcements that will be made at a later date. We’ll provide those updates below as they are announced. Initial Christmas details are generally announced in early July.
The Weather In November
Regarding the weather, November can be hit-or-miss. Typically, the days are warm to hot, and the evenings are mild. You might need a jacket. We’ve also experienced cold fronts this time of year with temperature dips that might leave you wishing you had packed warmer clothing. Our best advice is to bring items you can layer in the event of chilly weather. November is also the last month of hurricane season. So continue to remain weather aware as your trip date approaches.
Crowds in November
Veterans Day and Thanksgiving are the major holidays this month. Jersey week often falls sometime in the first two weeks of November. This is a time when New Jersey schools are let out for a state convention, and many guests from the region visit Disney World during this time. These dates could overlap the weekend leading up to Veterans Day, which means that most people will have an extra day off. With the two combined, a busy weekend is expected.
Thanksgiving will also be an incredibly busy time at the parks. However, after Thanksgiving, things will somewhat calm down until schools start to let out for the Christmas holidays.
If you’re visiting this month, planning will be crucial. With two seasonal parties kicking off at two separate parks, you’ll have to do a little extra thinking when selecting your park days. You might also be extra selective about your dates if you’re visiting the week of Thanksgiving. We’ve said it before and will continue to offer this advice as it applies:
Choosing to visit Magic Kingdom on a party day has its trade-offs. The most obvious downside is the early closing time, which means no fireworks or evening parade. For guests with just one Magic Kingdom day, a non-party date is the better choice. On the other hand, if you have multiple Magic Kingdom days built in your trip or a park hopper ticket, a party date might be worth your while. Crowds tend to be lighter on party dates since most visitors avoid using their ticket on a shorter day.
This same advice applies to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on evenings of Jollywood Nights. However, I don’t think that it will work in your favor as much on weekend nights. We’ve tested this out a few times and felt that crowds were still fairly moderate even on a party night. Your mileage may vary.
November also means the end of Daylight Saving Time (November 1, 2026). The sun will set earlier each day. This might affect showtimes for the nighttime parade and fireworks at Magic Kingdom. If these things are important to you, you’ll want to check the schedule beforehand. For example, the fireworks might be offered at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. in the summer months, then shift back to 8:00 or 8:30 in the fall and winter. These times can easily be checked in the entertainment section of the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit.
The positive to it getting dark earlier is that you may be able to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom after dark. This window of time each year (November through early March) often allows guests to see Pandora: The World of Avatar with a bioluminescent glow. The Tree of Life Reflections show is also offered when the park is open late enough to host it. Keep an eye out for any days that the park is open past 6:00 p.m. (Park hours can change between now and your visit. So use the app to check them closer to the time and during your visit.)
November 2026 at Disney World
Here is our timeline for the month:
Major Dates, Holidays, and Events
- November 11th: Veterans Day
- November TBD: Kick-off of the Holiday Season at Walt Disney World
- November 26th: Thanksgiving Day
- November 21st -29th: Guests visiting for Thanksgiving
Other Reminders for This Month
A new scene on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run debuted in May. You might want to check it out if you’re visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
A new destination called Soarin’ Across America debuted on Soarin’ at Epcot in May. Make sure to check it out.
Extended Evening Hours Schedule
We’ll post details here when the schedule becomes available.
Extended Evening Hours are offered twice weekly for deluxe and deluxe villa resort guests. If you would like to learn more about this benefit, see our guide to Extended Evening Hours at Disney World.
Disney After Hours Dates
There are no Disney After Hours scheduled past September in 2026.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates in November
Mickey’s Christmas Party will be held on select evenings at Magic Kingdom in November. We will list the dates below when they are announced. Unlike Disney After Hours, these dates could affect your touring strategy. Make sure you read over the section about crowds in November above for planning details.
Mickey’s Christmas Party Dates in November: TBD
Disney Jollywood Nights Party Dates in November
Similar to Mickey’s Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights will be held on select evenings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in November. We will list those dates as they are announced.
Disney’s Jollywood Nights Dates in November: TBD
Ride Closures:
Magic Kingdom Temporary Ride Closures: TBD
Epcot Ride Closures: TBD
Hollywood Studios: TBD
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: TBD
Significant park construction continues throughout 2026 at Magic Kingdom (Villains Land and new Cars area), Hollywood Studios (Monsters, Inc.-themed land), and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Tropical Americas-themed land).
For all scheduled refurbishments for the year, see our list of Disney World Ride Refurbishments. For ongoing and upcoming refurbishments at the various resorts, see our list of Disney Hotel Refurbishments.
Final Thoughts
We will update this calendar as more announcements are made. As always, we hope that these timelines will serve not only as a current reference but also as a future one. If you’re thinking about visiting in November of next year, the majority of the information we’ve discussed outside of refurbishments and slight date changes will be similar, especially regarding weather and crowds.
If your dates are flexible, our guide to The Best and Worst Months to Visit Disney World compares crowd levels, seasons, and major events throughout the year. It is a helpful starting point when deciding when to visit.
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Make sure to check back with Resorts Gal soon for the latest Disney news, planning, and reviews. You might also enjoy joining our newsletter list.
In the Comments
Did you find this November planning guide helpful? Will you be visiting toward the end of 2026? Let us know in the comments below.
