I’ve been going to Disney World for over 20 years now, and honestly, November is one of my favorite times to visit!

It’s the month that Halloween (my personal favorite holiday) and Christmas have a baby in Disney World, with decor and delicious seasonal treats overlapping. Hannah Montana said it best — “you get the best of both worlds,” — which makes it an exciting time for fans like me who want to experience it ALL. However, there are some HUGE changes you’re going to want to know about before scanning your MagicBand into the parks!

Heading to Disney World soon? Be sure to check out our planning worksheets. You can click the image below to get our list and make sure you don’t forget a thing!

Here’s an overview of what you can look forward to in November at Disney World!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is healing with the opening of a new attraction!

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in their own attraction, your dreams are about to come true! Zootopia: Better Zoogether is a brand-new show coming to the Tree of Life Theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and it officially opens on November 7th. 

This replaces the long-running It’s Tough to Be a Bug, which closed earlier this year. Will it be difficult to walk in there and not see the punny posters in the waiting area? Oh yes — tears will be shed.

However, we are excited to be immersed in this story. It is still a 4D show that you’ll watch through your Carrot Vision 3D Glasses, and it begins when you arrive at the main stage just in time for Zoogether Day festivities. We just got a sneak peek at the Clawhauser animatronic, and we can’t wait to see it in person!

Don’t want to wait until November 7th? You might not have to! Cast Members and Annual Passholders have previews ahead of the grand opening. Passholders will get a chance to join a Virtual Queue in the My Disney Experience app on November 5th and 6th. Yes, Virtual Queues are back (at least for a couple of days). Learn all about how that process will work here.

5 Cringey Things That Make Me Rethink Walking Into Animal Kingdom Ever Again

Ready to party? Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins.

Starting November 7th, 2025, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returns on select nights through December 21st! Tickets are on sale now, and although several dates have sold out, you can still score some for $169 to $229 per person, depending on the date.

During the event, you’ll get complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, interactions with rare characters, low wait times for rides, exclusive entertainment (like the Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade), specialty food, and so much more.

The best part? SNOAP. Yes, the “snow” is made of soap that falls on Main Street during the event. Who knew some suds and a few machines would be the key to making our dreams come true?!

If you are NOT attending the party, it’s still important that you pay attention to party nights! That’s because the park closes early. It can be a perk if you have a park hopper ticket, because crowds tend to be lower on party days. However, if you have a 1-park per day ticket, you’re wasting precious time in the parks by going to Magic Kingdom on these days!

Why You Should Start Planning Your 2026 Disney World Christmas Trip Now

Or, try something new at Jollywood Nights!

That’s not the only festive event happening in Disney World! Jollywood Nights, one of Disney’s most controversial events in recent years, is back at Hollywood Studios for 2025 on select nights from November 8th to December 22nd, 2025.

The vibes at Jollywood Nights are pretty different than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which is a huge draw for adults. You can have a special dining experience at The Hollywood Brown Derby, enjoy several exclusive shows (including one with the Muppets!), festive food, and more.

We’re not gonna lie — Jollywood Nights was off to a rocky start when it kicked off in 2023…but with some changes in 2024, we were pretty impressed! You know we’ll be at the first night, so we’ll give you all the details before you shell out the cash for those tickets.

Tickets are on sale now, but there is plenty of availability left, so no rush. However, if you want to guarantee a spot, we’d recommend buying it now, just in case. We’re interested to see how it goes with several lands under construction!

Disney Just Released 5 New Christmas Loungeflys Online

Disney World’s EXCLUSIVE Food & Wine Festival

While EPCOT’s festivals might be the most famous, there is a lesser-known Food and Wine festival over at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort that has our hearts! This year it takes place on Friday, November 14th, and Saturday, November 15th, 2025, from 5-9 PM on both days.

You can dine on different items from restaurants like Bourbon Steak, Smokin’ D’s BBQ, Todd English’s bluezoo, and more. This special ticketed event also includes separately ticketed Tasting Experiences, previously called the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Seminars.

The event costs $205.00 per person ($224.01 with tax and service fees) for either Friday OR Saturday night, and you get unlimited access to the food and drink! If you want to attend both days, you can also grab the two-night ticket at 10% off for $369.00 per person ($403.30 with tax and service fees).

FIRST LOOK (And Reviews!) at Disney World’s Other Food & Wine Festival

Gobble up some delicious food on Thanksgiving

Did you know some Disney World restaurants offer an exclusive menu only available for Thanksgiving?! Bring on the feast!! This year, Thanksgiving lands on Thursday, November 27th, just in case you lost track of dates when planning your trip (that’s what happens if you’re like me and use four calendars to track your life).

While many restaurants in your hometown may close, Disney World is open for business as usual every day of the year. But you deserve something special! So you can book a special meal at restaurants like Whispering Canyon Cafe and Steakhouse 71. Check out the full list at the link below!

These are ALL of the restaurants with special Thanksgiving meals

It’s time to eat your weight in cookies at EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays!

Many people celebrate Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and while we love shopping as much as the next Disney fan, our focus is split. That’s because the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays kicks off on November 28th!

Food booths pop up around the park with festive eats and drinks, the storytellers take over the pavilions, celebrities visit to narrate the Candlelight Processional, and you can even meet Santa Claus!

Each EPCOT festival is special, but this has a soft spot in our hearts. Okay, it might be because you get rewarded for eating your weight in cookies through the Cookie Stroll, but still! Yes, you purchase five cookies at booths around the festival to collect stamps and then turn those in for a free treat — it’s as amazing as it sounds!

This is one of the shorter festivals, so you only have until December 30th to check it out. We’ll be there on opening day to give you full reviews of every single booth, just like we do for every festival!

Everything You Need to Know About the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

If you’re booking a trip to Disney World soon, we’ve got a hack for you! Check out our friends over at Small World Vacations to help you plan the perfect trip — you won’t regret it!