Last Updated on October 15, 2026
Quick answer: November 2026 at Disneyland has two halves. November 1–12 is a quiet changeover: Halloween Time is over, “it’s a small world” is closed for its holiday overlay and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is down. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort starts Friday, November 13, bringing the parade, small world Holiday, World of Color – Season of Light and Santa in Toontown. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, and that week is one of the busiest of the fall. One-day tickets run $104–$224.
| November 2026 | What to know |
|---|---|
| Nov 1–12 | Between seasons; small world closed for overlay (classic closed from Oct 30); Redwood Creek Challenge Trail closed |
| Nov 13 | Holidays at the Disneyland Resort begins (runs to Jan 6, 2027) |
| Nov 16 | Holiday character dining begins (extra cost) |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, Nov 26; Thanksgiving week is very busy |
| One-day tickets | $104–$224 depending on date tier |
| Lightning Lane Multi Pass | From $35 in advance, $38+ day-of |
| Closures | Indiana Jones Adventure closed, no reopening date |
| Hotel offer | Up to 20% off 3+ night stays (stays Oct 11–Dec 18) |
This guide covers both halves of the month, Thanksgiving week, costs and our picks. For the full holiday season, see Disneyland holidays 2026; coming from Halloween, see Disneyland in October.
Is November a good time to visit Disneyland?
Mid-November is one of the best-value windows of the year. From November 13 you get the entire holiday lineup, and the weeks before Thanksgiving usually see school in session and lower date tiers than December. The exceptions are Veterans Day (Wednesday, November 11) and Thanksgiving week, when families with time off fill the parks.
The first 12 days are a different trip. Halloween Time ends October 31 and holiday entertainment doesn’t start until the 13th, so early November has fewer seasonal extras and a couple of family attractions offline. Decorations do start appearing before the official start; see when Disneyland decorates for Christmas.
November 2026 week by week
| Dates | What’s running | Crowds | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1–8 | No seasonal event; small world and Redwood Creek closed | Lighter on weekdays | Good for rides-first trips |
| Nov 9–12 | Same; Veterans Day Nov 11 | Bump around the holiday | Fine; avoid Nov 11 if you can |
| Nov 13–15 | Holidays opening weekend | Busy | Fun, but expect crowds |
| Nov 16–20 | Full holiday lineup, character dining begins | Moderate | Our top pick |
| Nov 21–29 | Thanksgiving week and weekend | Very busy | Book early; buy Multi Pass |
| Nov 30 | Full holiday lineup | Moderate | Good start to a December trip |
Crowd notes are our estimates from school calendars and Disney’s tier pricing, not an official forecast. Narrow it down with the Disneyland crowd calendar.
Disneyland on Thanksgiving 2026
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Expect heavy crowds from the weekend before through the Sunday after, and higher ticket tiers. The holiday lineup is fully running, so the parks feel festive, but it is not a low-crowd week.
Thanksgiving dinner at Disneyland
Disney hasn’t published 2026 Thanksgiving menus. Holiday character dining starts November 16, so Goofy’s Kitchen and Storytellers Cafe holiday meals cover Thanksgiving week; book them now in the app. See our holiday dining reservations guide and best character dining.
How to handle Thanksgiving week
- Arrive 45–60 minutes before opening and do headliners first.
- Buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass ($35 in advance, $38+ day-of) before you arrive.
- Plan your heaviest park day for Monday–Wednesday, not Friday or Saturday.
- Take a midday hotel break and come back for the parade or World of Color.
- Fantasmic! is scheduled nightly Nov 20–27 on Disney’s current calendar, so Thanksgiving week is a good time to catch it. See best Disneyland shows.
What changes on November 13
- “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” and “Believe… in Holiday Magic” fireworks start in Disneyland park.
- “it’s a small world” Holiday reopens after its overlay (timeline).
- Haunted Mansion Holiday continues from Halloween Time.
- Santa moves to Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn (Nov 13–Dec 24).
- World of Color – Season of Light, Festival of Holidays and Disney Viva Navidad start at California Adventure.
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail reopens, with Santa’s Holiday Visit there.
- Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail in Downtown Disney starts two days earlier, on Nov 11. Downtown Disney also has nightly snowfall during the holiday season (no ticket needed).
Closures to plan around
| Attraction | Status in November |
|---|---|
| “it’s a small world” | Closed Nov 1–12 for overlay; Holiday version from Nov 13 |
| Redwood Creek Challenge Trail | Closed Nov 1–12 |
| Indiana Jones Adventure | Closed, no reopening date announced |
| Fantasmic! | Select nights: Nov 6–7 and 13–15, then nightly Nov 20–27; dark Nov 1–5, 8–12 and 16–19 (Disney’s schedule is loaded only through Nov 27) |
Disney updates these often. The live list is on our Disneyland ride closures page.
Is November cheaper than December?
Usually, outside Thanksgiving week. One-day tickets run $104–$224, and many early and mid-November weekdays sit in lower tiers than mid-to-late December. Disney’s hotel offer (up to 20% off 3+ nights) covers all of November. See Disneyland hotel deals, cheap Disneyland tickets and, for service members, the military discount guide.
Want help pricing it? Get Away Today can quote Disneyland tickets and hotel packages together. (Affiliate link; we may earn a commission at no cost to you.)
Which part of November should you pick?
Choose Nov 1–12 if…
- You care about rides more than decorations.
- Your kids won’t miss small world or the Redwood Creek play area.
Choose Nov 16–20 if…
- You want the full holiday lineup with moderate crowds.
- You want holiday character dining without Christmas-week demand.
Choose Thanksgiving week if…
- School breaks leave no other option, and you budget for Multi Pass. Read our Lightning Lane guide first.
Disneyland in November: FAQ
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort starts Friday, November 13, 2026 and runs through January 6, 2027.
Some decorations appear before the official start, but the parade, it’s a small world Holiday, World of Color Season of Light and Santa all start November 13.
Yes. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, and the week around it is one of the busiest of the fall. Arrive early and consider Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
The classic ride closes October 30 for its holiday overlay, and it’s a small world Holiday reopens November 13.
One-day tickets cost $104 to $224 depending on the date tier. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is $35 in advance and $38 or more on the day.
November 16 to 20: the holiday lineup is running, character dining has started and Thanksgiving crowds have not arrived yet.
Last updated: October 15, 2026.