November Pros:
- Holiday decorations start to go up!
- Low chances of rainfall.
November Cons:
- No Thanksgiving Day festivities or activities. You can find the traditional turkey dinner at some restaurants though!
- Epcot can still be pretty busy on the weekends until the Food and Wine Festival ends!
November Weather:
- Average temperature is about 78° (high)/59° (low).
- Low chances of rainfall.
Packing Tips:
- Summer Clothes! Can have cool mornings and evenings so pack a light jacket/sweater and a pair of pants just in case you need them.
- Nike Dri-Fit Clothes are great because they dry quicker, provide extra ventilation and provides UV protection!
- I always pack a light sweater for the restaurants b/c most of them seem pretty cold to me!
- Swimsuits! At least 2 per person so one has time to fully dry. It can get quite hot during the day by now!
- I like swim shirts for the kids for extra sun protection.
- All Disney parks and resort pools are heated year round to 82°!
- Sunglasses are always a must for adults!
- Ponchos! Even though rain channes have decreased a bit it is nice to have when your kids make you go on Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids! No one likes to be in damp clothes all day!
- Hats and visors seem better for kids than sunglasses to block the sun from their eyes and cheaper than lost or broken sunglasses.
- Sunscreen is always a must in Florida! If you have to buy it here you will not forget it again! Cha-ching!
- Chapstick with SPF is always good because lips can get burnt too!
- If you are prone to cold sores this will help prevent them too.
- A Small Towel to wipe down seats on water rides, benches or chairs outside at quick service tables. It is not uncommon to see rain in Florida no matter what month!
- Hand Sanitizer and Wet Ones Hand Wipes! It will seem like your kids literally touch everything in site!
- Flu season in the US technically starts in October!
- I even pack travel size Clorox Wipes for the plane seats and tray tables, hotel room light switches, door knobs, phone and remote control.
- To be even safer I always pack adult and children Cold Medicine. These bugs linger around no matter when you go!
- Sudafed (the kind you have to show your ID at the pharmacy for) is helpful for the ear congestion on the plane as well as sinus headaches you may get when vacationing in a different climate than you are used to.
- Ibuprofen or Tylenol for any kinds of aches and pains! Plan on LOTS of walking!
- I have been known to dose up on Echinacea the week before and during vacation to give the ol' immune system a booster!
- Speaking of prevention, L-Lysine (found in vitamin/supplement aisle) can help with cold sore prevention. The stress of all this planning can bring those suckers out!
- Adult and kid Pepto Bismol for possible upset tummies after all those yummy treats!
November 2018 Holidays and Events:
- November 1-4: Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend
- Expect HIGH crowds November 1-5!
- November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!
- August 30 – November 12: Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival!
- Expect higher crowds at Epcot on the weekends! Locals love this event!
- November 6: Election Day
- November 8-12: "Jersey Week"
- Expect HIGH Crowds!
- November 11: Veteran's Day!
- November 22: Thanksgiving!
- Expect HIGH Crowds November 17 -25!
- November 30 - December 8: Pop Warner National Cheer & Dance Championships
- Expect Moderate Crowds!
November 2019 Holidays and Events:
- Early November - Week Before Christmas: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
- Typically starts the 1st week of November through the week before Christmas.
- Dates not released yet for 2019.
- Early November: Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend
- Expect HIGH crowds!
- Dates not released yet!
- Early November: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party MAY still occur
- Dates not released yet!
- Early November: Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival
- Expect higher crowds at Epcot on the weekends! Locals love this event!
- Dates not released yet.
- November 5: Election Day
- Early to Mid November: "Jersey Week"
- Expect HIGH Crowds!
- Dates not released yet for 2019.
- November 11: Veteran's Day
- November 28: Thanksgiving!
- Expect HIGH Crowds November 23 - December 1!
November 2018 & 2019 Refurbishments:
- January, 2017 - 2019: Coronado Springs will be undergoing many refurbishments through 2019.
- September 4, 2018 - December 12, 2018: Coronado Springs Siestas Cantina, La Marina, Dig Site Spa, Lost City of Cibola Kiddie Pool, Lost City of Cibola Pool, Jaguar Slide and Iguana will be closed. Siestas Cantina will remain closed until 1/5/2019.
- February 1, 2017 - 2019: Caribbean Beach Resort - Barbados and Martinique sections demolished to later become Disney's Riviera Resort.
- May 1, 2017 - Fall, 2018: Caribbean Beach Resort - Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters at Old Port Royale, Cabana Pool Bar and Calypso Trading Post Closed for Refurbishment.
- A variety of dining options, including Centertown quick service restaurant, grab and go items from different markets and food trucks will be available for all meals.
- July 27, 2017 - TBD: Caribbean Beach Resort - Disney Skyliner Construction underway.
- August, 2017 - December 31, 2019: Art of Animation will be undergoing constuction for a new gondala system called the "Disney Skyliner".
IF IT WAS MY VACATION (2018)...
- I would plan the week of November 12 - 18, 2018 to miss the "Jersey Week" and Thanksgiving crowds! I have also found flights to be cheaper into Orlando at this time vs going right after Thanksgiving when the other low crowds are expected.
- Too early to plan this portion of the trip for 2019!
- What my week would look like:
- 11/12/18: Arrival Day; Tour and enjoy resort activities!
- 11/13/18: Magic Kingdom Day #1
- 11/14/18: Hollywood Studios
- 11/15/18: Magic Kingdom Day #2 OR Resort/Disney Springs day!
- 11/16/18: Animal Kingdom
- 11/17/18: Epcot
- 11/18/18: Departure Day; Check baggage at Airline Check-In on property (if staying at Disney Resort) and enjoy resort activities/pool until Magic Express picks us up!