November or December trip - pros and cons?

[EasinEpcot]

We've only been to WDW in the spring months, which we love because it feels like a tropical/summer get-away from New England. But we are thinking of making a trip later this fall, in November or December. What is it like then weather wise? Are there times to avoid? Thoughts?

 

[melissa70]

I’ve been in December twice. It’s nice weather.. just avoid Christmas week if you can.

 

[CarolynFH]

We love November and December, weather wise. It’s definitely cooler and less humid than summer, less rainy too. Temperatures can vary a lot and be very unpredictable. You might be comfortable in shorts and t-shirts during the day but need a light jacket and/or long pants in early morning and after sundown. Or sometimes it’s cold. So you need to pack layers.

As far as crowds go, the first two weeks of December are usually the lowest crowds in the parks, although the parks won’t be empty. The busiest weeks in November are around Veterans Day and Jersey Week (the week of Election Day). Thanksgiving Week builds starting the weekend before and gets more crowded as the week progresses, especially Thanksgiving Day, but crowds thin out somewhat the following week.

 

[OKW Lover]

Please don't count on any info about weather here. What somebody may have experienced in past years has absolutely nothing to do with what you may experience when you visit. Go to www.weather.com and enter Walt Disney World as the location, then click on "Monthly" to look at what the average low/high will be during those months.

I'll just add that the likelihood of rain is much lower in November/December than your typical spring visits.

FWIW, I'm local (11+years now) but formerly from the Boston South Shore area. Before moving I regularly took breaks from the NE winters to hit WDW in January.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Weather is iffy especially later in November and in December.
It could be in the 80's or it could be in the 50's.
It could be sunny all day or rain all day.
I've worn shorts and I've warm a parka. And I've worn a poncho over a parka...

Avoid Veterans Day week, Thanksgiving week, and December after the 19th this year (most schools will be off starting Saturday the 20th this year)

 

[gottalovepluto]

Weather is a crapshoot. I’ve roasted and frozen my rear off in mid-Nov. And I’ve done the same in early Dec

I’d pick based on EP Festivals. First halfish of Nov and you’ll catch the end of F&W. After T-Day you’ll catch Festival of the Holidays.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

In general, those months are the start of the drier season in Florida. So you're less likely to get wet. But as others have noted, it can still be rainy.

Generally, I really enjoy going that time of year. The temps are mild and the crowds are not bad as long as you don;t go during holiday weeks or weekends. The only downside is that its colder than i prefer for pool time

 

[japanese maple]

Our only experience was last year first two weeks of December. It was cold. We did not really enjoy the trip as much as we normally do due to the weather. I think one day I got away with a dress and jacket during the day. At Jollywood Nights I had earmuffs and gloves on. No thanks!

Also, we've been to WDW all different times during the years - April of 2023 and October of 2021 being the two before our December trip. December was the most crowded we've ever experienced at WDW and a lot who were there when I was said the same. First two weeks of December are NOT low crowds anymore. At least not last year!

 

[Marthasor]

I'm a big fan of going between Thanksgiving and Christmas when all of the holiday decor is up and the festivities are in full swing. I guess I have gotten lucky as the weather has always been lovely when we've gone. December 1 also marks the end of hurricane season.

 

[hardcorestitch]

We've only been to WDW in the spring months, which we love because it feels like a tropical/summer get-away from New England. But we are thinking of making a trip later this fall, in November or December. What is it like then weather wise? Are there times to avoid? Thoughts?

The first week of December after thanksgiving is usually the best time to go.

 

[FSU Girl]

Love both months to go to Disney. I like when it’s colder but weather could be all over the place in either month. Make sure you check park schedules because there are a lot of party nights when the park will close early to regular guests. If you don’t like crowds avoid Christmas to NYE it’ll be the busiest time of the entire year

 

[beccasmom]

We have experienced trips in both months and enjoyed them both. We avoid the holiday periods, opting for visits early in the month. We have not visited in December for quite a while, but were there in early November 2023. The weather was terrific - no rain and just a touch humid. We have run into quite cold temps in December, but also have enjoyed temperate weather as well.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We've only been to WDW in the spring months, which we love because it feels like a tropical/summer get-away from New England. But we are thinking of making a trip later this fall, in November or December. What is it like then weather wise? Are there times to avoid? Thoughts?

November will have nicer weather than December. December will have the Candlelight Processional and the Epcot Storytellers. The first two weeks of December are no longer uncrowded. It has become a very popular time to go to WDW because of the Christmas activities that only occur in December. Early November will have the Food and Wine Festival. It depends what you want to do at Disney.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I have probably been more than 30 times in November in December I have caught the tail end of hurricanes even though they don’t call hurricanes but they were hurricanes twice I have roasted I have froze more than I have roasted on the average I would say expect more days that you start off with a light jacket take that off have nice sunny weather to put the light jacket back on at night but be prepared that you may need a heavier jacket because the weather could turn and you may have three days of very cold weather
I have been during Jersey week and Veterans Day probably 20 times it’s my week of choice Keep in mind you have the food and wine festival going on it can be crowded but it’s very manageable I have Ben for Thanksgiving and I had a wonderful time
I have been the first week of December countless times again wonderful time but again the weather could go either way often times it’s been extremely sunny nice and warm few times it’s been freezing cold you just need to be prepared for both
It’s a great time to go and visit the Parks I think the deciding factor in my opinion would be do you want to see them all decked out for Christmas or a little bit deaf down and not all the Christmas stuff going on ? You going in November you may get a little bit of Christmas but not a lot depends on how late in November you go early November you will not later you will But the parks are absolutely gorgeous at Christmas
I would highly recommend do not go the week of Christmas
I hope you have a fabulous time it’s a great time to go to the parks

 

[loves to dive]

Like others have said, I've been a number of times in Dec. and have had just about everything weather wise. I will say, since I'm from Georgia, it's never been shorts weather for me. I have been able to wear just some lighter leggings and a long sleeve shirt but never shorts. But, again, I'm from Georgia and if it gets below 75, most of us are wearing at least long pants and long sleeves. I was there last year the first week in Dec. and most days started out with a jacket (hoody type) and during the day was able to get away with a long sleeve shirt. At night, I had on a hat, heavier coat and gloves. It rained about 2 out of 4 days as well. I was there that same week the year before and while no rain, I did still have to wear a scarf, heavier jacket and hat at night and a lighter hoody during the day. It didn't rain that year. I've been the week before Christmas and was cold all the time but it was sunny. Crowds were, well crowds. It depends on what you think are heavier crowds and what your tolerance is for them. I don't remember any bottle neck places except the usual around PP at MK but waits were not walk ons either.

 

[msmayor]

We did a mid-November trip last year and the weather was glorious...never a 'swampy' feeling to the air. It was cooler at night - we needed sweatshirts - but just loved that the heat didn't sap our energy.

We're going first weekend of December this year and will pack as if it is pleasant during the day, chilly at night, and be prepared for whatever we get.

 

[CoachBeard]

I went 10/30-12/5/2022 and it was way too darn hot!

I recall going in early December but that was 2008 and the weather was not how it is today. I typically go in January now.

 

[bonnielynn]

The parks and resorts are usually decorated by mid-November. If you are into Christmas, then there is no better place to start celebrating than Disney. I went a few years back, the week before Thanksgiving, and it was cold for a few days and warm the rest. We enjoyed all the seasonal food and treats. We enjoyed going to the parks and resorts, looking at the decorations. Of course, they have the holiday parties. It was crowded but when isn't it these days?

 

[msmayor]

The parks and resorts are usually decorated by mid-November. If you are into Christmas, then there is no better place to start celebrating than Disney. I went a few years back, the week before Thanksgiving, and it was cold for a few days and warm the rest. We enjoyed all the seasonal food and treats. We enjoyed going to the parks and resorts, looking at the decorations. Of course, they have the holiday parties. It was crowded but when isn't it these days?

Not all resorts will have their decor up by mid-November. They start putting the decorations up in early November, but there is a schedule that estimates when the resorts will be done - usually all complete by Thanksgiving.

We were at Wilderness Lodge last year from Nov 13-16 and nothing was decorated there. I believe the tree went up there around Nov 21st.

 

[TikiRob]

Not all resorts will have their decor up by mid-November. They start putting the decorations up in early November, but there is a schedule that estimates when the resorts will be done - usually all complete by Thanksgiving.

We were at Wilderness Lodge last year from Nov 13-16 and nothing was decorated there. I believe the tree went up there around Nov 21st.

We were at Wilderness Lodge and came back from the Christmas Party and there were dozens of elves putting up Christmas. Super cool to see the giant production!