Disney World in November 2026 (The Complete Guide)
November is a busy month at Walt Disney World. This month marks the end of the Halloween season as yellow and orange decorations are replaced with reds and greens. It’s a wonderful time to visit the parks during their transition because you get a taste of both seasons. That said, the Christmas season is unique 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. Park decorations will likely not be completed until the official start of the holiday season in 2026, which is November 13th. Of course, there are always exceptions. For instance, most everything will be up at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios by the first party nights in November. Those dates are November 7th for Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and November 8th for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.
As for the resort hotels, Christmas decorations are usually completely up a day or two before Thanksgiving. (Some resorts will be completed earlier than others.) Sadly, Disney announced that the Grand Floridian’s traditional gingerbread display will not return in 2026.
A Note About This Guide: After November 2026, we’ll start updating this guide with 2027 information as details become available. Some leftover information may remain in the article during the transition so you can see what was offered the previous year as we build out the new dates and details.
The Weather in November at Disney World
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. We’ve had a handful of party dates be affected by tropical weather over the past few years. For example, we attended a party one evening and had to leave by 7:00 p.m. because it was going to be a washout due to a tropical storm. We were able to exchange our ticket for another evening the next week.
Then, another time we attended Jollywood Nights, and it poured down rain in the latter part of the evening. Surprisingly, last year we attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in early November, and it was the coldest party I’d ever experienced. I missed the first parade due to meeting characters and the second because I was too cold to wait for it. I still had a great time, but the weather impacted the evening. If you would like to know how I tackled the night, see our review of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
As you can see, November weather can be very unpredictable. These are just memorable examples of unpleasant weather. So remember to be prepared for potential rain or cold weather.
Disney World Crowds in November
Veterans Day and Thanksgiving are the major holidays this month. Then, there’s Jersey Week, which falls during the first two weeks of November in 2026. This is a time when New Jersey schools are let out for a state convention, and many guests from the region visit Disney World. This year’s convention is scheduled for the 5th and 6th, which means crowds will arrive before, during, and after those dates.
These dates overlap the weekend leading up to Veterans Day, which means that most everyone will have an extra day off on November 11th. Not to mention that the first official party nights of the season are offered at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on the 7th and 8th. Then, the official holiday kick-off is on the 13th. I would expect a moderately busy first two weeks of the month with a light lull before Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving will 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 into 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, especially Saturdays. 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 marks 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 p.m. 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 at Disney World
Here is our timeline for the month:
2026 Major Dates, Holidays, and Events
- November 1st – 7th: Official Jersey Week (See the crowd section above for specifics.)
- November 7th: First Night of Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- November 8th: First Night of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom
- November 11th: Veterans Day
- November 13th: Official Start of the Holiday Season at Walt Disney World
- November 20th through the 21st: Food and Wine Classic at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin (Dates Announced)
- November 21st: Last Day of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival
- November 26th: Thanksgiving Day
- November 27th: First Day of the Festival of the Holidays at Epcot
- November 21st – 29th: Week of Thanksgiving (High Crowds)
Other Reminders for This Month
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: This celebration lasts through November 21st. It’s a popular time at Epcot with food booths and other special events. To learn more about what to expect, see our guide to the 2026 Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic: This popular weekend event is held at the Swan and Dolphin hotels on November 20th and 21st. To learn more, see our preview of the menus for the 2026 Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic.
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays: This festival celebrates the holidays at Epcot. It begins on November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving, and lasts until December 30th. If you’ll be visiting Epcot near the end of November, you might like to browse our guide to the 2026 Epcot Festival of the Holidays.
Extended Evening Hours Schedule
Extended Evening Hours are offered twice weekly for deluxe and deluxe villa resort guests. If you would like to learn more about this event, see our list of hotels eligible for Extended Evening Hours at Disney World.
Now Available: November 2026 Disney World Extended Evening Hours Schedule
Disney After Hours Dates
The last Disney After Hours event of the year was in September.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates in November
Mickey’s Christmas Party is offered on select evenings at Magic Kingdom in November. Unlike Disney After Hours, these dates could affect your touring strategy. See the section about crowds in November above for planning details.
Mickey’s Christmas Party Dates in November: 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27, and 29
For party planning, see our guide to the 2026 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
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.
Disney’s Jollywood Nights Dates in November: 7, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28
For party planning, see our guide to the 2026 Disney Jollywood Nights.
Ride Closures
Here are the scheduled attraction refurbishments at Disney World in November.
Magic Kingdom
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is scheduled to close for refurbishment on November 2nd. The attraction is not expected to reopen until sometime in December. (Refurbishment Notice for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is closed for refurbishment. It is expected to reopen sometime in 2027. (Closure Notice for the Carousel of Progress)
- The Walt Disney World Railroad is operating on a reduced route. The attraction operates as a shuttle between Main Street Station and Fantasyland Station.
At this time, no major attraction closures are listed for the following parks.
Epcot
Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
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. You can access all of our individual Disney World Monthly Guides by selecting the month of your choice:
Lastly, if you’re just getting started, don’t miss our step-by-step guide to planning a Disney World vacation. Check back with Resorts Gal soon for the latest Disney news, planning, and reviews.
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.
Excellent article. Well written with good information.
Thank you