Opinions about November 2017

[Disny'er]

So my family and I are looking to book in November 2017. Either 11/4 - 11/12 OR 11/11 - 11/19. Since we want to book soon I have been looking at various sites with crowd predictors for 2017. Everything shows the week of 11/11 has a lower crowd prediction. One site said the week of 11/4 is Jersey Week - so it has a moderate crowd prediction. We are not Disney 1st timers - this would be our 5th trip so we can go at a slower pace because we know what we like, don't like, want to see, etc. We have always gone in Sept., Oct., and May. We hope to attend a Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party and at least attend one day of Food and Wine Festival - that 2nd week is cutting it close to the end, I know. The kids really want to take breaks in the afternoon to swim at the resort. So a little worried about how cool November can be - esp the later week. So if anyone has gone during this time frame in previous years - what's the pros and cons of these weeks? I didn't think 1 weeks difference could matter much but these sites are telling me it can.

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[Mome Rath]

I can't give a technical difference, but I have gone in November several times and have some general observations. First, the weather; it varies wildly from year to year and can actually vary widely from day to day. For example, one day you'll want a long sleeved shirt and maybe a jacket, the next it's like summer... so unfortunately either week you go, you'll have to track the weather right before you go. I have been there right at the end of Food and Wine and the beginning of the MVMCP, and it is a neat time to be there, so I do think that's a good idea. Even the last day of Food and Wine wasn't too crowded, esp. earlier in the day.

I honestly think you'll be fine with the crowds either way (because you've been before), and it will be the dates of the F&W and the MVMCP's that will determine more for you. Also, later in November they will start having EPCOT's WS all done up for Holidays around the World, and if you go too soon in Nov. that won't be going on. I can't remember the start date for that, but I was there Nov 29th last year and it had begun, along with the Candlelight Processionals (the first one this year is 11/25). I don't think there is a perfect week were you'll get to see everything, so you may have to pick what you really want to do and aim for that. The weather for me last year was pretty mild, t-shirt weather mostly, with a couple of colder mornings and evenings.

 

[Average Joes]

We went from Nov 8-18 in 2015. It was the week after Jersey Week to the start of the 3rd week of Nov. They came out with free dinning for the second week after we booked. It was more crowded compared to what was expected on the crowd predictions. Epcot was often a 6-7/10. On non-party days MK was a 8-9/10. We had a good touring plan, went at rope drop and it was fine. Weather was fantastic every day but we probably got lucky.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that it is way too early to use a crowd calendar to predict other than to see if any groups are scheduled. Lately I don't think any of them are accurate, and not because they don't try, but because Disney changes are making it very difficult to look ahead.

I like November. I think that Disney is very good at adding discounts to increase the resort bookings, so that increases the crowds more. I also think that since this is not your first rodeo, and you already know what you want to accomplish on the trip, you should be fine.

 

[SaintsManiac]

You simply cannot predict it anymore. Expect crowds no matter when you go.

 

[forthekill]

Jersey Week this year is through Sun Nov 13th. We are headed down Nov 10-20, which I believe one of the free dining weeks.

We've been there during Jersey Weeks in the past, and I never thought it to be super crowded, especially since it's still an "off" time (whatever that means anymore). Unless you really dislike people from Jersey

How it will compare to what is usually a pretty "low" week pre-TG, I don't know. But they offer the free dining for a reason that week: to get attendance up. So I am guessing that it will be slower than Jersey Week.

The weather is hit or miss as the first response said. Between the two weeks, however, there won't be much difference weather wise.

 

[dchronister]

I have been several times in Nov and it's great. Good points, the weather is great and the crowds are what I consider low, I have been at Easter, spring break and Presidents' Day, so I consider nov crowds low to low mid. I usually go 11-18 or 12-19, that week. We hit the very last day of food and wine and it's not terrible crowded. Bad points, closures, they like to do closures at this time, never as many as this year, but usually two to three. And the one I hate, is the shorter hours, this has been a hurdle for me every year, more people, more hours, less people, less hours, so I always choose less people, but it's always a hard choice, every year when I get home, I always say, next year, I'm gonna go in April or May, they are nice months too, but I always end up rationalizing it out. We are the people that leave every park, other than AK, last, they have to make us leave, we like an empty park, and the later you are there, the emptier it gets, but my kids are big too so they can tough it out. but whenever you go, plan well, use FP and you will have a great time.