Here’s the preliminary November 2012 Disney World Crowd Calendar:
Click to expand. If you have no idea what you’re looking at, read over the top of this post. It explains what each line means. It might seem a little wonky at first, but all of the months look the same, so once you understand it you can hopefully apply what you’ve learned in the future.
The recommendations may change slightly as I take a closer look at it. The daily analysis will come after I finish the May updates. The Osborne Lights November 9th debut is “unofficial,” but it’s the first date where Hollywood Studios switches from a 7pm close to an 8pm close in November. That’s an indication that the Osborne Lights will start. The early 4pm close the night before may be a cast member preview along with another event of some magnitude.
Overall, November is one of the more complicated months as far as putting together the recommendations, crowd levels, and daily analysis. Over the first two weeks, we have the Food and Wine Festival making it difficult to schedule Epcot. Epcot is overwhelmingly busier on the weekends during the Festival, particularly on Saturdays and to a lesser extend Fridays and Sundays. It makes touring the World Showcase on the weekends difficult both because of the wall of crowds and inebriated college students/conventioneers/adults/underage kids. The Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party schedule also makes recommending Epcot and Hollywood Studios in particular more difficult. Since so many people avoid Magic Kingdom when it closes at 7pm for a Party, they inevitably have to visit a different theme park. With the long hours and evening entertainment, Epcot and Hollywood Studios see the brunt of those crowds though Animal Kingdom is also busier.
Then in the middle of the month, the Extra Magic Hours schedule changes because the Food and Wine Festival is over. You’ve also got Veteran’s Day crowds mixed in with Jersey Week crowds. Then there’s Thanksgiving. But that’s more my problem than yours. Save for Thanksgiving, November sees mostly average to slightly below average crowds. That’s still going to be heavier than it has been in past years, but we’re comparing it to a very busy summer, spring break season, Christmas, etc. Most of November is a good time to visit, particularly because of the more comfortable weather, but we’re certainly not talking about empty theme parks. With overwhelming international attendance, particularly from South America, the days of no lines and no crowds are behind us.
The weeks before and after Thanksgiving in particular are great. After Thanksgiving, you also have the benefit of seeing the Candlelight Processional and Holidays Around the World at Epcot. For the week before, the decorations at Magic Kingdom will be up, Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights will be in full swing, and the resorts should be completely decorated for the holidays, especially as you get closer to November 17th.
Thanksgiving week is quite busy. Last year saw the largest crowds on record for that week and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see slightly heavier crowds this year. Crowds should still be lower than the week before Easter or December 21st – January 1st if those are your only options. On-site pricing is also lower in November.
Here’s a look at last year’s November Walkabouts in case you’re wondering what it “really looks like.” I did take Thanksgiving off to return to Washington state, so there aren’t any pictures from that week. The first two Party articles should give you an idea about what to expect if you’re on the fence about attending:
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2011 Character Locations, Ride Wait Times, Parade/Fireworks Info, etc.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2011 Characters, Strategy, Merchandise, Food, etc.
Disney World Christmas, Holiday, Hannukah, Kwanza, New Year’s Merchandise Part 1
Disney World 2011 Christmas, Holiday, Hannukah, Kwanza, New Year’s Merchandise Part 2
Animal Kingdom, Holiday Merch Part 5, Flame Tree Barbecue, A Look Around – November 5 2011
Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios 2011 Pictures and Strategy, Streets of America Holiday Menus
Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade 2011 Pictures and Tips
Christmas Characters, Decorations, and Fun at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House 2011 Pictures, Menu Pricing, and Extending Your Day
Festival of the Masters 2011 Pictures and Review, Downtown Disney Walkabout November 13
A Busy Veteran’s Day Weekend 2011 – Odds and Ends of Varying Interest
Grand Floridian Resort 2011 Christmas Decorations And A Walk Around
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Christmas Decorations And A Look Around
Back in the Saddle…A Quick Peek into Magic Kingdom on 12/1/11
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Fabulous! November calendar is up and just found me some leftover chocolates from Easter… life is good. Curious from your post, are you from the Seattle area of WA?
This post doesn’t have enough comments. So I’m just popping in to say hello!
Thanks for the calendar.
Do you know if election day on the 6th of November has any impact on crowds? I’m British so I have no idea how it works over there.
Here in the UK, schools are used as polling stations, and all the kids at those schools get the day off. The theme parks over here then end up being really busy, because so many parents think they are being “clever” by going on that day. I suppose it’s kind of different though, since the parks over here are all just day trips.
Excellent timing, we are just considering a late November trip
Josh,
Thank you so much for this info, I really appreciate all the work you put into this.
Now for a personal question. We plan to be in Disney on Monday 11/26 through Thursday 11/29. We deffinately want to see MSEP and Wishes while we are there and that leaves me to decide between being in Magic Kingdom on Monday 11/26 or Wed 11/28 (the only days they are showing). Do you expect there to be a signifigant difference in crowds between 11/26 (ranked 4th) vs 11/28 (ranked 3rd)?
Adam – No, I don’t expect to have any appreciable effect. Neither Osceola County or Orange County (the two school districts closest to Walt Disney World) are getting the day off or have shortened schedules.
Levon – I’d definitely do Wednesday at Magic Kingdom.
Do you expect there to be a significant difference crowd-wise between the Thur. party and the Fri. party on the 15/16th? Friday works better for our schedule but I’ve heard most locals attend that evening and Thursday is a better choice. If there shouldn’t be much difference though, I might just go with Friday.
Thanks for getting this up so quickly! Just what I’ve been waiting for…
Wow! I’m impressed that it’s up so fast. I was happy to see this and figured out my park days immediately as a result. (Of course, it’s subject to change, especially with two Dec days at the start of my trip. I’m optomisically writing EP as those two days, hoping TT will be open and knowing MK will be an avoid park due to the parade).
Oh YEAH!!! MK is a GO on Nov. 2…I am so happy. This is a prelim, but I’m still excited. We get to do MK before we go home. Woot!
Yay for November crowd calendar! We’ll be arriving on Sunday, Nov. 25. MK is your most recommended, but we wouldn’t be getting there until the afternoon. Wonder if the lines will be too heinous by then? (Not heinous by normal, reasonable people standards, but by my family’s exceptionally low tolerance for waiting in lines standards.) And we’ll probably hit Epcot on the 26th, so that works out (except for the fact that we’re staying in a MK resort because my kid usually only wants to go to MK…and this time he’s adamant about going to Epcot, naturally).
Josh, thanks so much for getting this up so quickly AND for all the work you do. I am planning our first trip as a family for November (went twice as a young adult) and adore this site!!! I have been lurking for a few months now and am impressed (and so thankful) about the amount of work you put into it. Several people have suggested I use the touring plans website, but I tell them quite honestly that I prefer your website. Ok, that is probably enough praise for now, but I do appreciate this website as it is SO informative.
Josh,
Will you be changing your recommendations for the MK if the Holiday parade is being taped in the MK Nov. 29 – Dec. 1?
Minniesota
Thanks for the site,
Made our plans Nov 10-18.(crowds possible? After Jersey week?)
We have the option of MVMCP 3 nights, 12th Veterns day, the 15th,( Plain ol Thursday,discount advance tickets) and Friday the 16th. Which day does your crystal ball say might be the least crowded? We went 2009 in the first week of December and it was packed!
Thanks for all the hard work…….planning is half the fun for me!
Will
As time has progressed, is this still your outlook for the crowds on nov. 11 th-16th? We are starting to finalize the plans of our trip. Thanks!
Sorry another question, do you think Osborne light show will b e in full swing on the 11th?
Where can I find a code ? for the november calendar????