Has anyone gone in early November before? If so, please help!

[karma3939]

Hi, I feel bad that I keep posting so many questions. I need to get my thoughts organized. Here is the issue:

I am going November 7-12, with my boyfriend. We are middle 20's. We have both been to Disney before, but I have never stayed over at a resort or done any nighttime activities because I always was visiting my grandparents. So this is the first time I am making dinner plans and shows and I am extremely frustrated that I can't get official November hours until September!

So I need to find some way to estimate the hours. I have found hours from last November and am using them. But my questions for those of you that have been in November before are regarding Wishes and Fantasmic. I had planned to do dinner at the California Grill while Wishes was going on and then hitting MK right after for their evening EMH. But according to the hours I have estimated, Wishes will be at 7:00! Is it even dark then? Should I just scrap this whole plan since by the time we are done eating we might not even have enough time to ride anything since the EMH will be over at 10?

My second question has to do with Fantasmic... I wanted to do the dinner package with the Brown Derby. However, again, the night I planned to go, Fantasmic is at 7! We would have to eat around 4:30. I don't like that at all because I am Greek and I am used to eating dinner around 9 every night. So I was wondering, since the crowds are supposed to be low, do we need to do the dinner package?

I am so sorry this is so long but I figured I better get it all out. I would DIE without this webpage. Thank you all so much for all your time.

 

[karebear1]

Yep! It's dark by 7 pm in November! And I wouldn't worry about having to do a dinner package for Fantasmic at all. If you get there 30 minutes before there's more then enough room for ya. November is a great time to go- we'll actually get there the day you leave!

 

[Sammy]

karebare1:

DH and I are making a trip to WDW in November...our first during this time of year. Can you give me an idea of what the temps are like? Is it generally hot enough to go swimming or lay out by the pools? What about the evenings? We historically go in September, which can still be quite hot and humid, so I don't know how to pack for November!!

Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Sammy

 

[JohnNJ]

Well, you won't be alone that week. That's Jersey Week and it will get more and more crowded as your week progresses. Last year on your first Saturday, the Magic Kingdom closed at 11pm. The hours are later than normal because of the Jersey crowds. You may want to subscribe to TourGuideMike.com so you won't have to worry about the number of people that will be there.

 

[Rozzie]

beginning of NOV is hit or miss. our trip last year was shorts and swimming. It all depends on if a cold front comes through. Cannot plan Florida weather, it changes all the time! I always bring my swimsuit, shorts (several) and long sleeve T's, 1 sweatshirt, and one pair of jeans when I pack for a nov trip.

 

[ton80]

we too go have gone in November (this year 11-13 thru 11-19) which
is a great week because it is the week before thanksgiving and jersey week
is over and the F&W festival ends 11/12 so the crowds are very small.
try to postpone to the following week.. lol jus kidding. also the weather is not bad and you can enjoy the waterpark(s)
depending whcih one is going to be closed this year for refurb.

Dixie landings 09/98
All Star Sports 09/99
Off Site 05/01
BWV 11/04
AKL 03/05
SSR 11/05

 

[karma3939]

What is Jersey Week?
I am panicking now because I thought we were going at a relatively dead time!

 

[karma3939]

Nevermind, I found out what it is. Definitely did not see that one coming. Are the crowds then going to be even worse since there are a lot of people there but the parks close early?

 

[DizBelle]

On Jersey Week - Don't panic! I've heard many reports of Jersey Week that said that they didn't know it was Jersey Week until the came back and found out about it. They indicated that the crowd level was still low enough. I've gone in November many, many times and if any of them were during Jersey Week, it didn't affect crowds.

On weather - November has the best weather. It is the month of the lowest precipitation. Days are in the mid 70s and nights/mornings are in the high 50s/low 60s. I always wear shorts and t-shirts and bring a light jacket to slip on when the sun goes down. I personally don't swim in that weather, but at peak heat of the day, you certainly can.

Fantasmic Dinner Package - I would still do the dinner package. I will use the dinner package as long as it is available. I think it can't be beat. I don't want to burn valuable park time when the park closes early waiting an hour or more for Fantasmic. Why don't you get the earliest time available, call it a late lunch, and have your 9pm Greek dinner afterward?

The park hours from last year will probably be very close (if not exactly) like this year will be.

 

[JohnNJ]

On Jersey Week - Don't panic! I've heard many reports of Jersey Week that said that they didn't know it was Jersey Week until the came back and found out about it. They indicated that the crowd level was still low enough. I've gone in November many, many times and if any of them were during Jersey Week, it didn't affect crowds.

And this is where the fine line comes in to play. All of the reports, like the above, that say the crowd level was low enough or the crowds weren't bad or the crowds were not any worse all have the same common thread...there were CROWDS. If you have ever been in September or January or even early December, you know that there are no crowds. All the rides are walk ons.

Jersey Week has crowds. Manageable, but still crowded. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Plan ahead using TourGuide Mike and you'll be fine.

 

[TLHB70]

I also recommend packing at least a pair (or two) of jeans and one sweatshirt if you can afford the space. We always make our trips in November. We usually hit the week before or the week after Thanksgiving. (We always avoid Thanksgiving week.) One year on our trip a cool/cold front came through and the temps dipped down into the upper 50s during the day. I wasn't prepared for it and we had to go buy appropriate clothes in the parks. Of course, I don't mind the extra souvenirs, but they got pricey. If you can pack that in case of emergency it will be better.
Normally I wear shorts or capris and tshirts and we are fine. I agree that you should pack a light jacket (one that will fit in backpacks or whatever) for the night shows.
Most of the time it is warm enough to swim during the day. For me, it is a bit too chilly in the evenings, but there are always people at the pool even if it is too chilly for me.

 

[bdcp]

This Nov will be out third trip to WDW and all have been in Nov (spread out over 15 years). Once the first week and the second time was the week before Thanksgiving. It was warm both times. Even hit 90, but usually was in the 80's. Wwe swam both times too and the water park (the one that wasn't undergoing Winter rehab) was crowded. We never needed jeans or sweatshirts. It also only rained on the day we left on the first trip and not at all on the second. Also, the longest lines were no more than 30 minutes. Some rides we walked right onto. We saw the fireworks and laser show at Epcot and the fireworks at MK. The park hours are shorter, but you dont' need the longer ones since it's not as crowded. I personally think it's the best time to go to FL. No hurricanes, lower humidity, less heat, less crowds.

 

[asktriplets]

we're going first 2 weeks in nov. and i, too, was worried about the crowds during jersey week. i looked at the unofficial guide's crowd level predictions and they are about the same all through early/mid nov....4s and 5s, for the most part (early/mid nov. numbers are actually slightly lower than early/mid oct. levels, if i remember correctly). i posted a question about this just a few weeks ago, asking how it could be possible that the crowd levels wouldn't be significantly higher given that lots and lots of kids are out of school. len (one of the researchers, i believe) from the unofficial guide responded to my question, stating that they DO include jersey week into their predictions, but it just doesn't impact the overall crowd at wdw enough to bump up the levels.

i've heard that in previous years, some people really noticed the crowds and others, there at the same time, have said that things seemed fine and very manageable. i guess it depends on your prespective and your plans. we'll plan, like always, to start early and hit all of the "big" rides before the crowds...

hope this helped....

you'll have a great time!

 

[DeborahA]

Please don't laugh--I don't know what jersy week is? Help
Deb

 

[kath1210]

Many NJ schools are off all or part of that week, so many head down to WDW.

We were at Disney during Jersey week in 2003. The weather was unusually HOT - low to mid-90s most days, but got pretty cool at night. The weather people were commenting on the unusual heat. It was OK in the pools at night, but it's a good idea to have something warm and dry for when you get out and the night air hits you!

Thr crowds in the parks were not too bad, as I recall. MGM was the worst, for some reason. Only the big rides at the other parks had a very long wait.

I did not like the fact that it got dark so early - we were there right after DST ended, so maybe that was it!

 

[karebear1]

It's always best to stay on the safe side. Be sure to bring at least one pair of pants and for sure bring a sweat shirt or jacket. Evenings can get cool. And, if i were you and there during Jersey week, then I would also go ahead and do the Fantasmic dinner package- just make it for as early as possible and have your dinner later like someone here suggested. You should be good to go for the swimming too. I love going this time of the year because the weather is just right for me-not too cold and not too hot (usually anyway!)

 

[DiscussDisney]

Just avoid MGM that weekend (11/12-11/13). I believe that is the ABC Super Soap weekend and the park gets very crowded (although the ride lines are still manageable). Most Jersey folks arrive on Wed or Thurs of that week. It is somewhat more crowded, but still very manageable (not nearly as crowded as the summer or Easter). Weather is generally great!! We are going in September this year because of the FREE FOOD offer . Don't worry about the crowds.....you'll have a ton of fun!!