Park Watch: What’s Happening This Month
NOVEMBER 2023
Oh hey there November. Didn’t see you there. Ok yeah I was in a Halloween candy induced sugar coma and missed the first of the month post. Moving on.
It’s November in Disney parks and that brings all of the official Holiday celebrations – including a brand new party in Disney World!
Disney World
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Santa Claus is coming to town, right down Main Street USA as the holiday season in Disney World kicks off with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! The party takes place from from 7:00 PM to midnight on select nights November 9 to December 22. Several nights are sold out already, so be sure to check for party tickets before booking your trip.
November: 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30
December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22
Ticket prices range from $159 to $199 plus tax for adults and $149 to $189 plus tax for children ages 3 to 9, depending on the date selected. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket, valid for select event nights.
Party-exclusive entertainment and activities:
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
- Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show
- Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration show at Cinderella Castle
- Special Holiday ride overlays on many attractions including Space Mountain’s Holiday Run and the Jungle Cruise transformation to the Jingle Cruise
- Disney Junior Jingle Jam and Club Tinsel character-themed dance parties
- Party-exclusive snacks and merchandise
- Event-exclusive PhotoPass Magic Shots
Also returning this year, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing, and the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dining Packages at Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table.
Disney Jollywood Nights
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is hosting a brand-new nighttime party Disney Jollywood Nights. This special event takes place from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM on select nights November 11 to December 20. Several nights are sold out already, so be sure to check for party tickets before booking your trip.
November: 11, 18, 20, 27, 29,
December: 4, 6, 16, 18, 20
Ticket prices range from $159 to $179 plus tax depending on the date selected. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket, valid for all event nights.
Party-exclusive entertainment and activities:
- Disney Holidays in Hollywood – an all-new stage show inspired by the glitz and glamour of vintage Hollywood TV specials
- What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along
- Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular – returning ONLY for Jollywood Nights
- Holiday Fiesta en la Calle – Latin inspired holiday street fair on Commissary Lane
- Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club – Limited Capacity celebration in the courtyard of The Hollywood Tower Hotel.
- Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby – Limited Capacity Jazz Lounge
- Party-exclusive snacks and merchandise
- Event-exclusive PhotoPass Magic Shots
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival continues and runs through November 18. This popular festival event includes an awesome variety of food with over 25 global marketplace booths, great wine selections, entertainment, and more. New booths and menu items are being added each month!
Disney has released the full line-up for the popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series that includes Boyz II Men, Hanson, 98° and more! Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are available again this year and you can setup MouseWatcher alerts to snag a seat for your favorite performances!
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
The 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will begin on November 24 and will run through December 30. This may be the shortest of all the EPCOT festivals offered, but it packs a festive punch featuring holiday traditions from around the world. The celebration features the popular Candlelight Processional, holiday storytellers from around the world and, of course, festive foods! All of the outdoor kitchens from the Food and Wine Festival transform into Holiday Kitchens offering traditional holiday and seasonal foods from around the world.
Candlelight Processional in EPCOT
The most popular entertainment at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional. With nightly performances at America Gardens Theatre, a celebrity narrator retells the biblical tale of Christmas along with a live orchestra, Voice of Liberty and the Walt Disney Cast Choir.
Three performances are held each night at 5:15 PM, 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM at America Gardens Theatre. The show’s full runtime is approximately 50 minutes. The 2023 lineup of celebrity narrators includes lots of new faces including Jordan Fisher, Audra McDonald, Eva Longoria and Brendan Fraser.
The Candlelight Processional is incredibly popular and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis so we highly recommend booking one of the Candlelight Processional Dining Package options. By reserving a Candlelight Processional Dining Package you are guaranteed seating at a Candlelight Processional showtime. You can choose from 8 participating EPCOT restaurants and will receive Candlelight Seating badges at the restaurant after your meal. The badge will specify the date and show time they have reserved.
Disneyland
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
The Holiday season in Disneyland officially kicks off November 10 and goes through January 7. Festive decorations transform Main Street and fan favorite rides and attractions get their holiday makeovers – including the Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare Before Christmas takeover and the Holiday Lighting overlay on It’s a Small World.
Sleeping Beauty Castle lights up nightly in sparkling icicles and thousands of shimmering lights as snow falls. A Christmas Fantasy Parade marches down Main Street daily and the Believe…In Holiday Magic nightly fireworks display returns to the skies over Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Disney Festival of Holidays
Disney California Adventure Park offers special holiday celebrations as well. Take in the sights and sounds of this joyous celebration of cherished holidays—including Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day—that make the season bright through diverse festivities and beloved seasonal traditions.
Celebrations Include:
- Festive Foods Marketplace – Share in cultural celebrations through food at various locations
- Mickey’s Happy Holidays – dance along with Mickey Mouse and pals to the magically merry rhythms of the Holiday Toy Drummers
- Disney Character sightings, including Mirabel from Disney’s animated film Encanto
- Holiday Toy Drummers march to their own beat while drumming up smiles wherever they go
- Disney ¡Viva Navidad! – this joyous street party features exuberant performances, including authentic folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, drummers and incredible 12-foot-tall mojiganga puppets of Santa and Mrs. Claus, with a special appearance by Mickey and Minnie in their fiesta best!
- World of Color – Season of Light