Crowds in Early November?

[tinawv]

We are going to WDW 11/4/05 to 11/12/05. Can anyone tell me what the crowds are like in early November? This is our first time traveling in November. Our other trips have been in mid October and early December.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SalandJeff]

We've found the crowds were not bad at this time at all. I think they will be less than October and probably comparable to early December. Plus the weather should be nice...not too hot.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We were just there this past Nov 2-6 and it was bad. It was NJ Week the week we were there and some days it felt like summer crowds. The MK was so packed on Nov 4, that we left and went to Epcot where it was slightly better. Still had a 90 min wait for Test Track. We never really experienced this before as this was about the 3rd or 4th time we've traveled during this time period. The hurricanes this year may have contributed some with people having to reschedule their vacations. Also, Food & Wine Festival is going strong during early Nov. We love it, but the World Showcase was a mob scene the two nights we visited (Nov 4 & 5).

 

[MomofKatie]

Well, the week you will be visiting, there are a few events that will make the parks pretty crowded, for that time of year.

1) Jersey week is the second week in November this year. You will be sharing the parks with LOTS of NJ folks.

2) Epcot Food & Wine Festival will be finishing up that weekend... so there might be extra crowds there for the "last hurrah".

3) Super Soap weekend will be that weekend at MGM. It will be pretty crowded, but most likely, most of the folks there will be lined up to greet the actors. You will most likely be able to ride things with not too long a wait.

4) Veterens' Day is also that weekend- so there might be extra people there for that.

We went last fall during Jersey Week, and IMO, it wasn't that bad. As long as you make a plan of attack and get to the parks early, you should be able to do most everything you want. Have a great time- we will be there the week before you.

 

[Doede95]

We went at that time last November. It was much more crowded than usual for that time of year. I talked to a CM when we were there and she said that the crowds were way up. The only park that was hard for us was the MK. It had waits up to 90 min. for some of the bigger rides. The morning hours were much better than by afternoon. After reading the boards, it seems as if Disney is crowded all the time. I remember when it felt like we had the parks to ourselves. I think those days are gone. We did book again for the first week of November. This time I will expect the crowds. We had a blast on our vacation regardless of the crowds. Good luck!

 

[n2mm]

Food and Wine is now scheduled to go to Nov. 14th. So that adds to the crowds. Festival of the masters, an annual event, also should be added to the above list.

 

[MiaSRN62]

After reading the boards, it seems as if Disney is crowded all the time. I remember when it felt like we had the parks to ourselves. I think those days are gone.

Doede95....
I totally agree. I can't seem to figure out when the down times are anymore either ? We had massive crowds in early Nov. You mentioned that the MK was the only park that was bad for you. While I agree it was the worst, we saw 90 min waits for the Safari, Dinosaur, Khali River at the AK and also 90 min waits for Rock N Roller and TOT at MGM. Even the Great Movie Ride had a 60 min wait. We just didn't expect this for early Nov.

I just got back from WDW last week too. Who would have thought Feb 10-13 would be that bad ? I figured we were beating the President's Week crowds, but got slammed with hundreds (literally !) of cheerleaders for some competition. They were everywhere ! Also there was a High School band competition in Daytona---but lots stayed in and around WDW.

We went the last week of Sept in 2002 and it was nice then. Not sure if it still is. Things seem to be changing. I heard the normally low-crowd time of the first two weeks of Dec were non-existant this past year too ?

 

[jonemick]

We have been to Disney in November in 1999, 2001 and 2003 (10-12 day trips) and each year it was fairly busy. Their have been times we had to leave a park becuase all Fastpasses were taken and the crowds were very heavy. We have also had light crowds during this time of year too, but the crowds were getting heaver each year. Jersey week is always very crowded, I also think the brits have time off from school in early November, because at every venue you will hear people from Britain and New Jersey.

Weather has always been fantastic for us, low 80's and dry.

If your really worried about crowds, think about going to Universal and staying on-site. If you stay on-site you get front-of-the-line access with little or no waiting. And even if you don't stay at a Universal hotel, the crowds are pretty light in November.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We have been to Disney in November in 1999, 2001 and 2003 (10-12 day trips) and each year it was fairly busy.

Jonemick,
We were also there in '99 and '01. If you thought it was fairly busy then, you should have seen 2004 ! BIG difference. I would have been happy with the type of crowds we had in '99 and '01.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

DH and I visited WDW this past year at the end of Oct. beginning of Nov. AKL was EMPTY on Saturday, October 30. MK was not too bad during the morning and DDD/PI was EMPTY durin the evening of Oct. 31. After that, EVERYTHING was PACKED. MK was so crowded on that Tue. that we left after only an our in that park. Based upon past experiences, I was very surprised by the crowds. I saw many, many young families but very few school-aged children there. Also, there were a large number of foreign families present.

 

[tinawv]

Thank you for the advice everyone. I had originally picked this week because I thought there would be low crowds, and my son would only have to miss a few days of school due Election Day and Veterans Day. I should have figured that a lot of people might have selected these dates for the same reason. We are tied into these dates, so I guess we will have to make the best of it. Thanks again.

 

[MiaSRN62]

might have selected these dates for the same reason. We are tied into these dates, so I guess we will have to make the best of it. Thanks again.

Tina,
We picked this week for the same reason as you. The kids had off for election day and also there was a teacher inservice day that week. I really think the fact that the NJ schools have off all that week makes the impact. We had spent 4 nights in WDW and then got on the Disney Magic on Nov 6. My son went and joined the teen club. He told me the majority of the friends he made on the Nov 6 cruise were from NJ. Those NJ folks really took over Disney for the week ! lol
But as long as your mentally prepared for it (we were not because past years during this week were no where near this bad), you can plan accordingly. Make sure you make some PS. We checked into OKW around 5:30 pm after driving from Philly and were starved ! All of our favorite restaurants to eat dinner at had 90+ min stand-by waits (we tried Boma, O'Hana, Cape May Cafe to name a few). We ended up doing a 45 min stand-by wait at Kona Cafe at the Poly. It kind of worked out because had we been able to get into one of those other restaurants we probably would never had tried Kona's----and it was a pleasent suprise. We really liked the food here. Anyway....just plan on crowds/lines.....get to the parks early and get your Fast Passes.....make your PS's etc. It will all work out. You'll just have to put a little more thought into how you plan your day. Have fun !

 

[tinawv]

Thanks Maria. Sounds, like some great advice. I look at your pictures from your November trip. They were great. You have a lovely family.

 

[MiaSRN62]

What a nice thing to say....thanks Tina ! Glad u enjoyed the pics !