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Orlando in November sits between seasons: by NOAA’s numbers it is the driest month of the year, average highs slide from about 81°F to 76°F, and the theme parks swap Halloween for Christmas within two weeks. In 2026, EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival runs to November 21, Disney’s holiday season starts on November 13, Universal’s on November 14, and Thanksgiving falls on November 26.
This guide uses NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for Orlando International Airport, official school calendars and event dates published as of October 14, 2026. This year, two water parks are closed and the National Weather Service expects a wetter dry season than usual. Confirm dates and hours before you book.
Quick answer: Expect highs in the upper 70s, lows in the upper 50s and about 1.8 inches of rain over roughly six days, the fewest rainy days of any month. Going by official school calendars, November 2–6 and November 16–20 overlap the fewest breaks, and Thanksgiving week (November 21–29) the most. Food & Wine ends November 21, Disney’s holiday parties start November 7 and 8, and Blizzard Beach is the only Disney or Universal water park open. Pack a light jacket and pick a hotel with a heated pool.
Below: weather, crowds, events, water parks and three hotels that suit the month.
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Orlando weather in November
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Orlando International Airport put the November average high at 78.3°F and the average low at 58.2°F: almost exactly March by day (78.9°F) and a little milder at night. A typical November 1 runs from about 61°F to 81°F, and a typical November 30 from about 56°F to 76°F.
| Measure | November normal | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 78.3°F | Warm, not hot, afternoons |
| Average low | 58.2°F | Cool mornings and evenings |
| Rainfall | 1.79 in | Driest month of the year |
| Days with rain | 6.0 | Fewest of any month |
| Days at 80°F or above | 15.0 | About half the month |
| Nights at 50°F or below | 4.7 | Pack a real layer |
The daily normals give each day roughly a one-in-five chance of measurable rain, and only about one day a month brings half an inch or more. The National Weather Service office in Melbourne puts the median start of Orlando’s dry season on October 15 and the median first temperature below 50°F on November 5.
This year may differ: NWS Melbourne’s 2026–2027 dry-season outlook expects a very strong El Niño and favors well-above-normal rainfall across central Florida, with Climate Prediction Center odds of above-normal rain reaching 50 to 70% from November to January, plus a higher risk of severe weather, including strong tornadoes. Temperatures lean toward normal. Keep a poncho and weather alerts handy.
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, so sunset jumps from about 6:42 p.m. on October 31 to 5:41 p.m. on November 1, reaching about 5:29 p.m. by November 30. Compare the other months in our Orlando weather by month guide and our guide to the best time to visit Orlando.
The last month of hurricane season
The National Hurricane Center defines the Atlantic hurricane season as June 1 to November 30 and notes that storms sometimes form after it ends. November hurricanes are rare but not unheard of: Hurricane Nicole made landfall at Vero Beach as a Category 1 hurricane on November 10, 2022, then crossed the peninsula between Orlando and Tampa. The NHC’s report lists the highest storm total, 7.11 inches, at a station near Orlando.
Keep a refundable rate if you can; our Orlando hurricane season guide explains Disney’s and Universal’s storm policies.
Orlando crowds in November 2026, week by week
Disney and Universal don’t publish crowd forecasts, so this is our reading of official school calendars (checked in October 2026), not a prediction: the more breaks your dates overlap, the busier the parks are likely to be.
| School system | November 2026 days off | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Kent County Council, England | None | Half term ends Oct 30 |
| Orange County Public Schools, Orlando | Nov 23–27 | Open on Veterans Day |
| Gwinnett County, Georgia | Nov 23–27 | Thanksgiving Break |
| New York City public schools | Nov 11, Nov 26–27 | Remote day Nov 3 |
| Boston Public Schools | Nov 11, Nov 26–27 | Early release Nov 25 |
November 1–8: Halloween ends, Christmas begins
Halloween Horror Nights ends on November 1, and Kent’s schools go back on November 2. None of the US calendars in our table has a day off this week. Food & Wine is in full swing, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration starts on November 6, and Disney’s holiday parties open on November 7 and 8.
November 9–15: Veterans Day and the holiday launch
Veterans Day is a federal holiday on Wednesday, November 11. New York City and Boston schools close, while Orlando’s public schools stay open. Disney’s holiday season and Christmas at Gaylord Palms start on Friday, November 13, and Universal’s holidays on Saturday, November 14.
November 16–20: the pre-Thanksgiving window
No calendar in our table has a break this week, yet the decorations are up and Food & Wine is still on. If your dates are flexible, aim here.
November 21–30: Thanksgiving week
Saturday, November 21 brings Food & Wine’s final day and the Florida Classic. Orange County and Gwinnett County schools are off November 23–27 (the 23rd and 24th are Orange County’s third and fourth storm make-up days), and New York City and Boston close November 26–27. Our Thanksgiving in Orlando guide covers park hours, holiday meals and Black Friday for that week.
Events in Orlando in November 2026
Dates as published on official pages at the time of writing:
| Dates | Event | Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Through Nov 1 | Halloween Horror Nights | Separate ticket |
| Through Nov 21 | EPCOT Food & Wine Festival | EPCOT admission |
| From Nov 6 | SeaWorld Christmas Celebration | Park admission |
| From Nov 7 and 8 | Disney’s holiday parties | $169–$229 + tax |
| From Nov 13 | Holidays at Walt Disney World | Park ticket |
| From Nov 13 | Christmas at Gaylord Palms | Timed tickets online |
| From Nov 14 | Holidays at Universal Orlando | Park ticket |
| Nov 21 | Florida Classic | Game ticket |
| From Nov 27 | EPCOT Festival of the Holidays | EPCOT admission |
EPCOT Food & Wine: the final three weeks
Disney lists the festival from August 27 to November 21, 2026, included with valid EPCOT admission (a park reservation may be required for some tickets), with Global Marketplaces and Eat to the Beat concerts. The Cheers to Cheese! exhibit at CommuniCore Hall ends on November 8.
From November 22 to 26, neither festival is running. The Festival of the Holidays then runs from November 27 to December 30, with Holiday Kitchens and the Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theatre, where a celebrity narrator, a massed choir and a 50-piece orchestra tell the Christmas story.
Disney’s holiday season and Christmas parties
Disney’s holidays run from November 13 to January 6 with regular admission: the Frozen Holiday Surprise castle show and Jingle Cruise at Magic Kingdom, projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel and a 55-foot tree at Animal Kingdom’s entrance.
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27 and 29, 7 p.m. to midnight, for $189 to $229 plus tax ($10 less for ages 3 to 9).
- Disney Jollywood Nights: November 7, 14, 16, 21, 23 and 28 at Hollywood Studios, 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., for $169 to $199 plus tax.
- Early closings: at the time of writing, Disney’s calendar closed Magic Kingdom to day guests at 6 p.m. on November 8, a party night, and Hollywood Studios at 7 p.m. on November 14, a Jollywood night.
Holidays at Universal Orlando
Universal’s season runs from November 14, 2026 to January 3, 2027, included with a theme park ticket or annual pass (blockout dates may apply). It brings Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across three parks, the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s and Snoggletog at How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk in Epic Universe.
SeaWorld and Gaylord Palms
SeaWorld Orlando’s event page lists its Christmas Celebration on select dates from November 6 to January 4, included with park admission, but its FAQ still says November 7 to January 5, so check the calendar for your day. In Kissimmee, Christmas at Gaylord Palms opens on November 13 with ICE! featuring The Polar Express, carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice and kept at 9°F (parkas provided). Tickets are timed and sold online only; our Gaylord Palms Resort review covers staying there.
Florida Classic
The Florida Classic, the annual game between the FAMU Rattlers and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, is set for Saturday, November 21 at Camping World Stadium, with a Battle of the Bands the night before. Its organizers say more than 2 million fans have attended since 1978, so book early if you want to stay near the stadium.
What is not in November 2026
The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon is on Sunday, October 25 this year. Our Orlando in October guide covers it and the Halloween events.
Park hours, early entry and ride closures
- Typical Disney hours: on a regular day such as November 10, Disney’s calendar listed Magic Kingdom from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., EPCOT and Hollywood Studios to 9 p.m. and Animal Kingdom from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the time of writing.
- Disney perks: Early Theme Park Entry gives guests of Disney Resort hotels and select other hotels a 30-minute head start every day, through 2027 per Disney. Extended Evening Hours are for Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts and a few select hotels on Disney property, and Disney Resort and select hotel guests can buy Lightning Lane passes 7 days ahead instead of 3.
- Universal Early Park Admission: Universal hotel guests can enter up to an hour early at select attractions in Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe through November 30, with valid admission. Universal Studios Florida shows no upcoming dates.
- Closures: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure closes on November 2 and is expected back in December. Universal lists Jurassic Park River Adventure as closed until December 16, the Hogwarts Express as closed on November 4 and Animal Actors On Location! as closing for good on November 3.
Water parks and pools in November
- Universal Volcano Bay: closed for maintenance from October 26, with a planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027 (subject to change).
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon: closed for refurbishment, with no reopening date on Disney’s calendar when we checked.
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach: listed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the November dates we checked, with water heated to about 81°F per Disney. Weather can close it at short notice.
- Universal hotel pools: heated, but Universal’s FAQ says slides close below 60°F, pools below 50°F and pool decks below 45°F. With a normal low of 58°F, slides may open late on cool mornings.
At other hotels, trust only the hotel’s own statement about heating.
Where to stay in Orlando in November
Three options sold on Booking.com: one for Disney’s holidays, one for Epic Universe and one for cooler days.
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista: Early Entry and a walk to Disney Springs
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, at 1850 Hotel Plaza Boulevard, is on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list, and the hotel says Disney Springs, where Disney lists a holiday Christmas Tree Stroll, is a short walk across a pedestrian bridge. Its 189,000-gallon pool under a rock waterfall is heated, with an elevated hot tub beside it.
Hourly shuttles run to all four Disney theme parks from 90 minutes before opening to 90 minutes after closing (reservations required), but not to the water parks, runDisney events or after-hours special events, so plan another ride home from a Christmas party. EPCOT’s main parking lot is about 5 miles by road. Our Wyndham Lake Buena Vista review covers the rooms and views.
- Good to know: at the time of writing, the hotel listed a nightly resort fee of $36 plus tax (Wi-Fi included) and gated self-parking at $30 plus tax per night. Pets aren’t allowed, and Pack ‘n Plays are free on request. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
See prices and availability at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Universal Helios Grand Hotel: Epic Universe’s holidays next door
Helios Grand, at 8505 South Kirkman Road, rises above Epic Universe’s Celestial Park and has its own dedicated entrance into the park (separate admission required), so Snoggletog in the Isle of Berk is a short stroll away. It has 500 rooms, including 35 suites, and guests get Early Park Admission, which Universal lists at Epic Universe and Islands of Adventure through November 30, plus free shuttle buses to the other parks.
The zero-entry pool with a hot tub is reserved for Helios guests, and Universal’s FAQ says its hotel pools are heated. Non-suite rooms run from 325 to 415 square feet. Free Universal Express isn’t included here. Our Universal Helios Grand Hotel review covers the room types.
- Good to know: at the time of writing, Loews listed overnight self-parking at $36 plus tax and valet at $45 plus tax, a minimum booking age of 21 and complimentary Pack ‘n Plays, with no resort fee listed; pets aren’t permitted. In-app mobile check-in is limited to bookings made directly with Universal or Loews. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
Check your November dates at Universal Helios Grand Hotel on Booking.com
Caribe Royale Orlando: pools kept at 80 to 84°F
For cool November mornings, Caribe Royale, at 8101 World Center Drive, publishes its water temperature: the FAQ says the pools are kept between 80 and 84 degrees and open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a 75-foot water slide (42 inches to ride alone) and no lifeguards on duty. You stay in one-bedroom suites with a separate living room, sofa bed and microwave, or in two-bedroom villas with full kitchens.
The resort fee covers scheduled motorcoach transportation to the Disney theme parks and an evening Disney Springs shuttle, reserved at the concierge desk at least an hour ahead. By road it is about 5.5 miles to the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios toll plazas. On Thanksgiving Day, The Venetian Chop House lists a holiday buffet from 1 to 5 p.m. Our Caribe Royale Orlando review covers the suites and villas.
- Good to know: at the time of writing, the resort fee was $38 plus tax per room per night (Wi-Fi and the Disney shuttle included), with self-parking at $36 plus tax a night and valet at $49 plus tax a day. It isn’t on Disney’s Early Entry list. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
See available suites at Caribe Royale Orlando
What to pack for Orlando in November
- Layers: shorts for afternoons, plus a light jacket for mornings and late parties.
- Rain gear: a poncho or compact umbrella, given this year’s wetter outlook.
- Sun protection: sunscreen and a hat, even on cool days.
- Swimsuit: for heated hotel pools or Blizzard Beach.
- For ICE!: closed-toe shoes and long pants; Gaylord provides parkas and strongly recommends hats and gloves.
Frequently asked questions
Is November a good time to visit Orlando?
Yes, for most travelers. November averages a high of 78.3°F and a low of 58.2°F, it is the driest month, and you catch the end of Food & Wine plus the start of the holidays at Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. The trade-offs are cooler pool days, two closed water parks and Thanksgiving-week demand.
What is the weather like in Orlando in November?
Mild and mostly dry. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Orlando International Airport give November a high of 78.3°F, a low of 58.2°F and 1.79 inches of rain on about six days, with highs falling from about 81°F to 76°F over the month. NWS Melbourne’s 2026–2027 outlook leans wetter than normal, so bring rain gear.
Is Disney World busy in November 2026?
It depends on the week. Going by official school calendars, November 2–6 and November 16–20 overlap the fewest breaks. Veterans Day (November 11) closes New York City and Boston schools, and Thanksgiving week, November 21–29, is the busiest stretch, with Orlando’s schools off November 23–27. Treat this as a guide, not a forecast.
Is it too cold to swim in Orlando in November?
Not usually, if the pool is heated. Afternoons average about 78°F, but nights can drop into the 50s, so an unheated pool can feel cold. Universal’s hotel pools are heated, though slides close below 60°F and pools below 50°F. Blizzard Beach is heated to about 81°F, while Volcano Bay and Typhoon Lagoon are closed.
When do the holidays start at Disney World and Universal in 2026?
Disney’s holiday season runs from November 13 to January 6, and Universal’s from November 14 to January 3. Disney’s ticketed parties start earlier: Jollywood Nights on November 7 and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on November 8. SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration starts November 6 (November 7 per its FAQ), and EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays opens November 27.
Is hurricane season over in November?
Not until November 30, the official end of the Atlantic season, and the National Hurricane Center notes that storms occasionally form later. Late storms are uncommon, but Hurricane Nicole made landfall on Florida’s east coast on November 10, 2022 and crossed the state between Orlando and Tampa. Book a refundable rate.
Bottom line
Orlando in November gives you comfortable, mostly dry park days, the last weeks of Food & Wine and the start of the holidays. Aim for November 2–6 or 16–20, plan around early sunsets and closed water parks, and pack layers and a poncho. Staying longer? Our Orlando in December guide picks up where this one ends.
Compare rates for Wyndham Lake Buena Vista for your November dates
Sources checked in October 2026: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 climate normals, Orlando International Airport, NWS Melbourne 2026–2027 dry season outlook, National Hurricane Center: tropical cyclone climatology, Walt Disney World: holidays, Universal Orlando: Holidays at Universal