There’s a chill in the air when you wake up in the morning. Perhaps you have swapped your usual iced coffee for a hot latte. The shorts and t-shirts have been put into storage. No matter how you mark the transition from summer to fall, there’s no denying that cooler temperatures are here to stay.
Well, that is, if you’re like me and live in the northern half of the United States. I remember living in Southern California, where the temperatures only got hotter this time of year. I don’t miss that.
At any rate, November is right around the corner, and it will feel as though the holidays will arrive at Walt Disney World before the kids have the chance to utter “trick or treat.” I myself am a November 1 girlie, when the Halloween decorations come down at the stroke of midnight, and our tree is up before Veteran’s Day. So, I’m clearly ready for the holidays to be in full swing, as is Disney World. Holiday decorations begin to appear in November in the parks and resorts. If you want to visit during the holidays but are weary of those December crowds, November is a great time to take a trip (it’s one of my personal favorite times of the year to visit Disney World)!
If you’re heading to Disney World in November (one of my favorite months to visit, BTW!), there is a lot going on that you’ll want to be aware of. Even if you aren’t attending an after-hours holiday party or participating in a marathon, these are the sort of events that will have an impact on most guests visiting during this time.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
November signals the start of the holiday season at Walt Disney World, along with its hallmark after-hours event, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This year, the hard-ticketed event begins on November 9 and continues on select nights through December 22.
Admission to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party includes access to purchase exclusive treats, as well as Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, dance parties, and more.
On the nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place, Magic Kingdom will close early to regular guests before the event kicks off at 7:00 PM. Guests with tickets to the party can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 PM the day of. If you aren’t attending the party this year, just be aware of which nights Magic Kingdom is hosting the party and plan accordingly!
Jollywood Nights
Disney World is welcoming a brand-new after-hours holiday event this year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Jollywood Nights takes place on select evenings from November 11 to December 20.
Jollywood Nights features brand-new entertainment, including what Disney describes as a “musical variety show with special guests Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.” There will also be a party-exclusive showing of Hollywood Studios’ holiday show Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Themed entertainment areas can be found throughout the park, including Holiday Fiesta en la Calle, a limited-capacity lounge at The Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant, and an “otherworldly soirée” at The Hollywood Tower Hotel courtyard. Specialty sweets and cocktails will also be available for purchase throughout the event.
Jollywood Nights will take place from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM on select nights, with ticket holders able to enter Hollywood Studios as early as 7:00 PM. Plan your Hollywood Studios visits accordingly if you’re visiting in November but are not planning to attend.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
EPCOT’s flagship Food and Wine Festival will continue in the first half of November through the 18th. Then, it’s just a short week until the next festival kicks off! Returning to EPCOT this November is the Festival of the Holidays, filled with food booths, festive decorations, and the fan-favorite Candlelight Processional. EPCOT’s festivals are not separate-ticket events, and all guests are welcome to enjoy the food and drink items that are available for purchase.
The Festival of the Holidays, along with Candlelight Processional, begins on November 24 and runs through December 30. In addition to the nearly two dozen Holiday Kitchens scattered throughout World Showcase, guests will be able to eat their way through the Holiday Cookie Stroll, purchase limited-time merchandise, and enjoy a performance of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season. At night, the Candlelight Processional returns to the American Adventure Pavilion with a star-studded lineup of celebrity guest narrators.
A great way to guarantee a seat at Candlelight Processional is to book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package. Head over to Disney’s website to book a dining reservation.
Click here to read more about how EPCOT is celebrating the holidays this year.
Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend
If you’re an avid runDisney participant, you probably already know about the upcoming Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. It’s taking place from November 2 through 5, with 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon races lined up.
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World that first weekend of the month, you’ll probably experience a minimal impact from the marathon. Aside from runners being in town for the event, you may notice increased traffic getting around the resort in the morning hours – particularly the morning of the Half Marathon (Sunday, November 5), which lasts a little longer.
Fun fact – you can line up during the races to cheer on the runners! It’s a fun way to get into a Disney World theme park during the early morning hours (you just have to set your alarm really early!). Keep an eye on runDisney’s website for spectator information.
The Hatbox Ghosts Materializes in Magic Kingdom
During the 2022 D23 Expo, it was revealed that the Hatbox Ghost would materialize at the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom.
For anyone who has no idea what I just said, the Hatbox Ghost is a fan-favorite character within the lore of Haunted Mansion. He has been around for decades, but only recently has an audio-animatronic figure been installed in the Haunted Mansion over at Disneyland. At last year’s expo, we learned that Disney would add a Hatbox Ghost figure to Magic Kigndom’s version of the ride, too.
Fans learned at this year’s Destination D23 that the Hatbox Ghost would appear on The Haunted Mansion starting in late November – though an exact date was not announced. Fans will have to keep their eyes peeled as they ride the Haunted Mansion in the weeks to come.
