How's November?

[FCDub]

First off, thanks to everyone who answered questions about my one-day December solo trip. Finally convinced friends to tag along next year, and we're thinking about early November, basically just after Halloween.

What should I know about this time? How are the crowds? (We'd be going midweek, probably Nov. 1-3, so just missing the Dapper weekend.) What about ride closures, specifically Space Mountain and Ghostly Galaxy? Are Christmas decorations immediately up after Halloween, or do they take a few days to show up?

Never gone in November before, so any help would be super appreciated! Thank you!

 

[SMD]

They start the castle before Halloween. It takes about 2 days for Halloween to come down and a few days for Christmas to go up. The tree won't be up until about 2 days before the official start.

 

[MacMama0930]

Decorations start showing up more towards the middle of November. I believe the Ghost Galaxy overlay goes down right after Halloween and stays down for a week or so? So you'd likely miss that ride during those dates. It does tend to be a low attendance time (as Disneyland standards go!) and shorter hours - so it's a trade off. I went this year mid November and the crowds were WAY lower than my October trip. I think October has gotten way too busy so November was nice, but during those dates, no real decorations to speak of. Haunted Mansion will keep its overlay from Halloween through Christmas time.

 

[SMD]

Decorations start showing up more towards the middle of November. I believe the Ghost Galaxy overlay goes down right after Halloween and stays down for a week or so? So you'd likely miss that ride during those dates. It does tend to be a low attendance time (as Disneyland standards go!) and shorter hours - so it's a trade off. I went this year mid November and the crowds were WAY lower than my October trip. I think October has gotten way too busy so November was nice, but during those dates, no real decorations to speak of. Haunted Mansion will keep its overlay from Halloween through Christmas time.

Removing the SMGG overlay only takes 2 days. In 2015 it was down for longer because of HSM, but this year the switch over was just 2 days again. So there's a chance that SM could reopen on the 3rd next year as long as there's no additional refurb. You'll see some Christmas decor, the park doesn't reset to normal between Halloween and Christmas.

What you likely won't see is any Christmas entertainment, character costumes or the IASW or Jingle Cruise overlays, and those rides will be closed. At the time of year there typically won't be any fireworks midweek, or possibly any night time entertainment in DL. We don't know yet if/when F! will reopen what the schedule will be. And we don't know if there will be a night time parade and what it would be. In DCA, WOC typically would run midweek, but depending on if or when they do a holiday version this year, those are the dates that it would be down for the switchover.

 

[Imdboss]

DH and I were there during Dapper Days weekend this year and even those crowds weren't unmanageable so I think during the week prior to that should be decent. HSM opened back up the Thursday prior to our arrival (might've been Friday). There were quite a few decoratiins up which was a nice surprise. It won't be full blown Christmas but you'll see some for sure plus the stores merchandise.

 

[GatorChris]

The first three days of November, Space Mt could be down. Usually it goes down for 2 days to take Ghost Galaxy off. That starts on either the first or second of November, depending on when the last party happens.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If the Christmas parade taping sticks to the traditional schedule (first weekend in Nov.), there may be equipment being set up in Town Square and around the castle. That can cause some minor traffic delays, but shouldn't be a big problem if you know to avoid those areas.

 

[FCDub]

Thank you, everyone!

Especially helpful to know about the parade taping.