11 big things happening at Disney World in November 2018
The holiday season at the Walt Disney World Resort is one of the busiest times of the year as all the parks and resorts celebrate with special entertainment and put on their holiday best.
Christmas trees, tinsel and lights will be popping up all over the resort this November and there is also a very special birthday party taking place, Mickey Mouse turns 90 on Nov. 18.
So, let’s dive into the big things happening this November at Disney World.
1. Last days of Epcot Food and Wine Festival
The massive 75-day food and wine festival ends at Epcot on Nov. 12. And there are still five bands left you can catch at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series:
Nov. 1-2: NEW! High Valley
Nov. 3-4: Taylor Dayne – “Prove Your Love”
Nov. 5-7: Boyz II Men – “End Of The Road”
Nov. 8-9: The Hooters – “And We Danced”
Nov. 10-12: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – “Go Daddy-O”
2. Disney Wine & DIne Half Marathon Weekend
From Nov. 1 to Nov. 4, runners will be descending on Disney World for the ultimate Sip & Stroll event. The event offers races for kids, a 5K, 10K and Half-Marathon races over the weekend with a special Expo for runners.
3. New entrance for Hollywood Studios parking
Starting Nov. 8, those driving to Hollywood Studios will use a new entrance and exit located off of Osceola Parkway. The current main entrance off of World Drive and Osceola Parkway will be repurposed for Disney cast members only. The satellite entrance off of Buena Vista Drive will be dedicated to buses. only. This change is part of major expansion taking place at Hollywood Studios and the addition of the Disney Skyliner.
4. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off
The Magic Kingdom gets dressed up for the holidays and starts the first of the 22 specially ticketed nighttime parties on Nov. 8 The party will include Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade; “Holiday Wishes” fireworks spectacular, “A Frozen Holiday Wish,” featuring Queen Elsa transforming Cinderella Castle into a sparkling, icy centerpiece for the celebration; and the “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.”
5. Holiday celebrations start at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studio, Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs
Nov. 8 is a big day a Disney as three of the four parks and Disney Springs kick off celebrating the holidays. The Magic Kingdom will be decked out for the holidays, in addition to the Christmas parties.
Animal Kingdom will be adding Diwali, the holiday Festival of Lights in India, to the new live UP! A Great Bird Adventure show this year.
Flurry of Fun returns to Hollywood Studios. This year, Toy Story Land will feature special seasonal fun, such as holiday songs on Alien Swirling Saucers. Sunset Seasons Greetings returns this year with new laser effects and “snow.” Holiday and seasonal projections will transform the Hollywood Tower Hotel into scenes of the season. The nighttime spectacular Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! will combine state-of-the-art projections, fireworks, special effects and music to create a one-of-a-kind holiday experience.
Disney Springs will be dressed up with holiday decor and food. The Christmas Tree Trail returns, as does Santa’s Chalet where you can meet Santa. And guests will take part in Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt and discover where the mischievous Experiment 626 is hiding.
6. “Ralph Breaks the Internet” preview
A preview sequence for the upcoming “Ralph Breaks the Internet” movie comes Nov. 2 to the Walt Disney Presents attraction in Hollywood Studios starting Nov. 2.
7. Ralph and Vanellope come to Disney World
Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz from the “Ralph Breaks the Internet” will be coming to Disney World for special appearances starting on Nov. 21, 2018, the day the movie opens, in Innoventions West in Epcot. But that is for s short period of time. In the winter, a new area in the Imagination Pavilion will be created in ImageWorks for the meet and greet.
8. Epcot International Festival of the Holiday kicks off at Epcot
Beginning Nov. 18, it’s Epcot’s turn to start celebrating the holidays with holiday traditions from 11 World Showcase nations during Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Here you will find
- Seasonal tastes from around the globe are served at special Holiday Kitchens.
- World Showcase pavilions come alive with the sights and sounds of special entertainment celebrating each country’s holiday heritage.
- Chip and Dale will be collecting ornaments for their Christmas tree. In Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree scavenger hunt.
- The nightly fireworks display, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, will feature an additional holiday finale.
9. Candlelight Processional begins
From Nov. 22 to Dec. 30, the story of Christmas comes alive, as told by a celebrity narrator, and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. The processional is performed three times a night (5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.) at the America Gardens Theatre in Epcot.
Here is the updated schedule of narrators:
Nov. 22- 23: Chita Rivera
Nov 24-25: Helen Hunt
Nov. 26-27: Alfonso Ribeiro
Nov. 28-Dec. 2: TBD
Dec. 3 – 6: Neil Patrick Harris
Dec. 7-9: Whoopi Goldberg
Dec. 10-12: Bart Millard
Dec. 13-14: Blair Underwood
Dec. 15-17: Gary Sinise
Dec. 18-20: Pat Sajak
Dec. 21-23: Auli’I Cravalho
Dec. 24-25: Edward James Olmos
Dec. 26-27: Jodi Benson
Dec. 28-30: Cal Ripkin, Jr.
10. Mickey’s Birthday Celebration
Walt Disney World and other parks around the world wll be celebrating Mickey’s 90th on his actual anniversry, Nov. 18 by marking the day with special commemorative merchandise, photo locations and more.
Before heading to the park you will be able to watch a two-hour special on ABC on Nov. 4 celebrating Mickey’s birthday.
11. Holiday specials being taped
Disney will again be filming at Disney World in early November for the variety of Disney Parks holiday specials that will air on ABC and the Disney Channel.
Filming will take place Nov. 7-11, 2018 all around the Walt Disney World Resort. While no specifics of the filming have been released or who will be performing, a number of stage shows and musical performances are expected to be taped around the resort.
