The holidays are always extra magical at Disney Parks. This November, decorations sweep over the theme parks and resorts as Walt Disney World Resort. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays begin this month. We’ve also recently seen some Disney prices go up and now know of some closures and refurbishments happening soon. We’ve got all of the details for you here in our Disney World News November 2024 update. Whether you’re planning your next vacation or want to be inspired to book one, we hope this Walt Disney World news and updates roundup helps keep you in the know.
Use Year Reminder: Members with an April use year must bank points by November 30th.
Disney World News Dates to Remember November 2024
Here we have some dates related to Disney World news November 2024 and beyond.
June 10 – Extended! | ¡Celebración Encanto! show at Epcot (More Encanto at Disney World)
August 29 – November 3 | EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2024
November 2 | Jingle Cruise opens for the season
November 4 | Blizzard Beach Opening, Typhoon Lagoon Closing
November 8 – December 20 | Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select nights
November 9 – December 21 | Disney Jollywood Nights event on select nights
November 29 – December 30 | EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
January 6 | Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for refurbishment
January 13 | Dinoland U.S.A. starts phased closure
What’s New at Disney World November 2024
The Disney World fall line up includes Halloween and Christmas as the holiday season starts early every year. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party starts on November 8 and runs select nights through December 20, 2024. The switchover to the holiday season is seen nearly everywhere around property by mid November. Epcot dazzles us with delicious food and wonderful entertainment starting after Thanksgiving on November 29.
Disney World Ticket Price and Annual Pass Increases
We see Disney hike prices regularly. The last few years, Disney prices across the board have gone up more than many could have imagined. Additional ticket prices were just released for November and December of 2025. You’ll find some higher prices than that time this year. Annual passes were also raised.
The Incredi-Pass has the biggest price increase at $1,549 up from $1,449.
The Sorcerer Pass is up to $1,079 from $999. An $80 jump.
The Pirate Pass is $829 up from $799.
The Pixie Dust Pass is now $469 up from $439.
| Disney World Annual Pass Type | 2025 Price | 2024 Price |
| Disney Incredi-Pass | $1,549 | $1,449 |
| Disney Sorcerer Pass | $1,079 | $999 |
| Disney Pirate Pass | $829 | $799 |
| Disney Pixie Dust Pass | $469 | $439 |
Disney Food Price Increases
On top of higher ticket prices, visitors are paying more for other vacation expenses like food too. Some raises are nominal like churros at $5.99 up 20 cents from $5.79. Remember not too long ago when Disney popcorn was $3.50 per box? Popcorn at Disney World just went from $5.50 up to $7.00.
Many restaurants also saw price increases like the Disney character meals at resorts. Cape May Cafe is up to $49 for breakfast. It was $45 per person, plus tax and gratuity, earlier in 2024. Chef Mickey’s was $51 for breakfast and $62 for dinner earlier this year. Prices are now $58 for breakfast and $69 for dinner before tax and tip. For four adults, including children over the age of ten, one of these meals could easily run $30 more than you budgeted for originally. With that happening every time you get a meal or snack, that can add a few hundred dollars to your trip expenses. This is good to know and consider before your next trip!
Buy DVC and Lock in Your Price
Referencing all of these price increases, it’s always good to consider that when you buy DVC, you’re buying at the current rate. Annual dues go up a bit each year but the price you paid for your contract stays the same, missing inevitable increases. When people who purchased Disney Vacation Club points long ago talk about what they paid, it’s so surprising how much lower prices were.
Polynesian DVC Showcase Room
The lobby at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has a new area showcasing Disney Vacation Club. This small gallery room is located across from the BouTiki shop near the Disney Vacation Club desk. Inside there is just a couple of benches with pieces of Moana and Polynesian inspired art on the walls. There is also an interactive door style screen that we’ve seen a few other places. You may have experienced the one at the Disney Vacation Club lounge at Disney Springs. The new Polynesian Island Tower DVC addition opens in December of 2024. Points are now available for purchase. New Members at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows can book with points starting November 5, 2024. All Members can book with points November 19, 2024.
The Cake Bake Shop is Now Open at Disney’s BoardWalk
The walls are down and the prices are up. Literally. In October, The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers hit another milestone as construction walls came down. The Disney BoardWalk location is now open.
Prices are pretty high, even by Disney’s standards. This is a full service restaurant location that offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and a bakery selection. Brunch is not as common at Disney restaurants so this is nice to have as an option.
The $49.99 crab cakes are priced high but they were originally listed as $52. Menu prices were adjusted following public reception. A burger and fries is $26.99 down from $32. A side of fries is $14.99. The Cake Bake Shop is meant to be a more upscale, signature dining restaurant with a crisp, bright interior and glitzy chandeliers. The atmosphere is definitely part of the price.
At Flying Fish a few restaurants down on the BoardWalk, entrees are around $50 on average. Disney’s BoardWalk has a selection of dining options but most are on the pricey side. The Cake Bake Shop was scheduled to open in 2023 but seemed to face construction delays. It takes the place of the former ESPN Zone restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk.
Jollywood Nights is Back
The Hollywood Studios event Jollywood Nights is back for its second year starting November 9. There are some upgrades, like an ice skating show in the middle of the park. Which Disney holiday event is right for you? Comparing Jollywood Nights vs Christmas Party you’ll find they’re quite different.
Blizzard Beach Opens, Typhoon Lagoon Closes
A reminder that the Disney World Water Parks are about to switch operating schedules this month. Blizzard Beach opens November 4 as Typhoon Lagoon goes dormant for the season. We’ve seen only one or the other be open since the pandemic.
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays Begins November 29
This year the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays runs November 29 through December 30, 2024. See our post about the event for all there is to look forward to.
Jungle Cruise Open After Refurbishment
Jungle Cruise in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland has animatronic animal sightings and a silly narrative by a skipper on your boat. The popular attraction closed August 26, 2024 for a planned refurbishment. Jungle Cruise reopened for guests on October 16, 2024. It’s always good news when an attraction reopens in the parks. Whether it’s one you enjoy or not, it helps spread out guests around the park, normalizing wait times.
During the holiday season, Jungle Cruise turns into Jingle Cruise with a seasonal narration overlay by your skipper and some decorations. This is one of the Christmas time offerings you can enjoy without having to purchase a special ticket. It’s part of an every day visit to Magic Kingdom included with your park ticket or annual pass. Jingle Cruise debuts November 2 in 2024.
Dinoland U.S.A Closing Dates
The year 2025 will kick off with an extinction event in Dinoland. We now have some closing dates for the Animal Kingdom land. It’s a large area and will be closing in phases as work begins on the tropical Americas takeover that’s replacing it. The last day to enjoy the first section of Dinoland that’s closing is January 12, 2025. The following will close at this time:
- TriceraTop Spin attraction
- Fossil Fun Games carnival style setup
- Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures themed store
For now, the rest of Dinoland stays open. That includes the Dinosaur attraction along with the Boneyard play area and dining options Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Closing for Long Refurbishment
Frontierland has had lots of construction going on over the last few years. Splash Mountain is now Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the Country Bears got a show makeover and the shooting arcade closed to make way for a new DVC lounge. Now Disney has announced Big Thunder is closing for a lengthy refurb. The last day to ride the wildest ride in the wilderness is January 5. Starting January 6, 2025 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close until 2026.
Disney Debuts Lightning Lane Premier Pass
This month a new way to access Disney World Lightning Lanes is in play. Lightning Lane Premier Pass is a new pricier options that allows you to access each Lightning Lane in one theme park. This is on your own time which is the real draw.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass rolls out in addition to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. It’s possible to purchase the Premier Pass and enjoy all of the attractions once and to purchase other options as well.
As of now, access to Lightning Lane Premier Pass is sold in limited quantities and only to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts and a few other hotels.
Prices for Lightning Lane Premier Passes vary based on the date and park. It starts at $129 and goes up to $449 per person, plus tax on the busiest of days.
Membership Magic Beyond Launches New Perks Soon
Early in the new year, Members will be able to add on an annual perks package. This is separate from annual dues and changes how you can use your Membership. It includes discounts and changes the way you can book rooms and buy tickets. Read more in our overview: Membership Magic Beyond.
Little Mermaid Show Reopening Delayed
After the pandemic, The Little Mermaid show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios never reopened. This long running classic is set to be replaced with an updated but similar show. The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure was supposed to open this fall. Disney now says it will open in the summer of 2025. The old show marquee will be removed soon as exterior work begins. This version of the show will still have live singing and puppets. The Ursula puppet is new along with what appears to be an all new set.
Hurricane Season Nearing End for Florida
You’ll notice on the DVC point charts that September is an economic time to visit. It’s also around the peak of hurricane season. A storm doesn’t hit Orlando every year. You’ve probably heard 2024 has been particularly eventful in Florida. Hurricane Milton had quite the impact on the entire state but went right over Orlando. Walt Disney World Resort operated for a half day and closed for another day completely as the hurricane hit and for clean up and safety efforts.
We have a lot of information about vising this time of year here: Does Disney close for hurricanes? It depends on when and where the storm is and how intense it is. If a hurricane is going to come near Disney but not a direct hit, it’s possible Disney won’t close. It truly depends on the individual variables of each named storm or weather event. This year, more than one Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party event was cancelled due to weather concerns. It’s still a great time to visit as crowds can be lower and weather can be cooler.
What’s coming to Disney World in 2025?
Don’t miss this lineup:
- The new Magic Kingdom night time Disney Starlight parade debuts in the summer of 2025.
- The new Polynesian Island Tower is newly open in 2025 with the Wailulu Bar & Grill, Moana water play area and more. This is an exciting option for those who already own here or are looking to add on at the Polynesian through DVC resale Polynesian.
- Dinoland U.S.A. starts to close in January of 2025. With a promised opening of the tropical Americas Animal Kingdom land in 2027, ground breaking should need to happen soon. If you want one last trip with the Dinosaur attraction, it’s time to plan for that. The closing date is not known for this attraction.
- The Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge at Magic Kingdom opens in 2025 but we don’t have an exact date, or even a season, yet.
We also have a full list of what’s coming to Disney World this year, in 2025 and beyond.
Recent Disney World News to Remember
- Country Bear Musical Jamboree is open at Magic Kingdom and now features Disney songs.
- Test Track is down for refurbishment. A reopening date is not out yet.
- The Fast Pass style program Disney Genie+ is now Disney World Lightning Lane.
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is now open using a virtual queue and Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
- 1900 Park Fare has reopened with new characters: Aladdin, Tiana, Mirabel and Cinderella.
Continued Reopenings at Walt Disney World Resort
We’ve been covering Disney World’s pandemic closure reopening come back for years. Disney World reopened in 2020 running a very lean operation. So many things have returned to the parks and resorts but many have not. There are still many temporarily unavailable closures. Some of which may greatly impact your trips. We want to help you set expectations and plan your trip based on what is available.
What’s not back at Disney World?
- The tea room at the Grand Floridian is still closed but resort construction has reached the lobby.
- The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage has not returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
- The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at the Grand Floridian and Disney Springs are still not open.
- It’s A Wonderful Shop, Stage 1 Company Store, In Character and Disney Studio Store are still closed at Hollywood Studios.
- Disney says DVC pool hopping is still suspended.
- Saratoga Springs Senses Spa and Beach Club’s Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness are still closed.
- Services like having your purchases delivered to the front of the park or to your room are paused.
- Disney Annual Passholders still need park reservations to visit parks for a full day.
- Many shows have not reopened like: Citizens of Hollywood, Jedi Training, Citizens of Main Street, Main Street Trolley Show, Move It! Shake It! Street Party, Once Upon a Time, The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats, Serveur Amusant, Swotu Waya Pandora Drummers, Pandora Utility Suit Pilot and more.
We do our best to continue to share things as they come back.
The Disney World news November 2024 update did not bring any returns that we saw.
DVC Resale Experts Can Help, Disney World News November 2024 and Beyond
Does this Disney World news November 2024 edition leave you needing more Disney trips?
DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. Whether you’re adding on points, buying or selling Disney Vacation Club, the Experts can help you find the right price to place a bid with or list your contract for. Our independent, licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. They have decades of pixie dusted experience selling DVC and delight in providing excellent service to their clients. The Experts have seen it all and are happy to answer your questions throughout the process.
See our resale DVC listings listings for a look at real time availability and pricing.
Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract to sell DVC.
