If you are going on a Disney World vacation in November 2025, then you need to know these tips before going. This list has a new show, closures, festivals, and more on it. It is good to know about all of these things going on so you can prepare for your trip and plan out what you want to do each day that you are in Walt Disney World.
The Holiday Season
The holiday season at Walt Disney World officially starts on Friday November 14, 2025. You will see a lot of Christmas decor going up before this and the stores already have Christmas merch being sold in them. November 14th is when holiday menu items will be available for purchase and everything else that’s coming for Christmas will be starting.
Weather
As far as weather, you always need to check the weather forecast right before your trip to get an idea of what it will be like on the specific dates of your trip. Usually in November the high is in the 70s or 80s and the low is in the 50s or 60s. Dress for warmer weather, but bring a light jacket or sweatshirt for the mornings and evenings, and always pack a poncho just in case it rains so you do not need to buy a poncho in the parks.
Parades
There are two parades during the month of November. They are both in Magic Kingdom park. If it is a night with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, then the parade that night will be Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade. You have to have a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to see this parade. If you are there on a night that does not have the Christmas party, then you can see Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, which is a newer nighttime parade.
Crowds
November is known for lower crowds at Disney World’s theme parks. The first half of the month will have the lowest crowds since that is the time between the Halloween and Christmas seasons. You can expect a jump in crowds on Friday November 14th for the first day of the holiday season since a lot of people will want to experience that. Then, the crowds during the week of Thanksgiving will be much higher since a lot of people have that week or a few days of that week off of work and school, so they go on vacation.
Fireworks
There are two different firework shows going on in November and both are at Magic Kingdom park. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show will be on nights that have Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You must have an event ticket to experience this. On nights that do not have Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the firework show will be Happily Ever After.
Closures
There are some closures to be aware of during the month of November that will impact your trip. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will both be closed until sometime in 2026. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT will be closed for a few days because they are changing the ride from 3D to 2D. Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom park is closed for seasonal maintenance. The Frontierland station of the Walt Disney World Railroad is closed while they do construction in the area. Other closures for the month include Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Magic Kingdom, the water park Blizzard Beach, and Animation Courtyard in Hollywood Studios. Read dates and more info about these closures here.
New Zootopia Show
There is a new Zootopia show in Animal Kingdom starting on November 7th. Animal Kingdom park permanently closed It’s Tough to be a Bug earlier this year and the area was changed to house a show. The show is Zootopia: Better Zoogether. It will feature a new character named Heidi Howler and a Clawhauser animatronic. You will also be able to meet Nick and Judy Hopps in their Zootopia 2 outfits starting in November.
Thanksgiving Tips
Thanksgiving Day is on Thursday November 27, 2025. This is usually a busy day in the parks since many people go on vacation during this week. Disney World usually does some special things for Thanksgiving, like special Thanksgiving menus at select restaurants. Some restaurants that have in the past are Trattoria al Forno, Tusker House Restaurant, Satu’li Canteen, and Topolino’s Terrace.
After Hours Events
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is in Magic Kingdom on November 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28 and 30th. Jollywood Nights is in Hollywood Studios on November 8, 15, 17, 22, 24, and 29th. We recommend not going to those parks on those days or park hop to a different park when the event starts.
Festivals
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is ending on November 22, 2025. All of the things with it, like the Eat to the Beat Concert Series will also be ending that day. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will start on November 28, 2025. This festival goes until December 30th. It will have holiday decor, holiday food items, and Living With The Land – Glimmering Greenhouses.
Take Advantage of Free Water Park Admission
Guests who are staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels can get free water park admission on the day that they check into their hotel. This will be for the month of November and December, then will probably go away for 2026. Blizzard Beach is closed in November, so if you are doing this, then you will have to go to Typhoon Lagoon.