Hi Lisa,
Welcome to planDisney! November is one of my favorite times to visit Disney World because the holiday festivities are just beginning, and it is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. I love that you are combining a few magical days with a Disney Cruise because it is the perfect way to relax! I recently did the same with some of my friends, and it was such a wonderful experience.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a fabulous event complete with specialty food items, snow on Main Street, and a parade featuring Santa Claus! I find that Magic Kingdom is a little less busy on days when there is a party going on in the evening, but it picks up significantly around 4 PM when they start letting party guests in. The only downside to this is that you have to leave at 6 PM if you are not attending Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. If you only have one day to spend at Magic Kingdom, you may want to choose the day where you can spend more hours in the theme park, even if it might be a little bit busier. Magic Kingdom has the most must-do rides and attractions for our family, so we typically prioritize having more hours to enjoy everything over worrying about crowds.
To maximize our time at the theme parks on a busier day, we purchase
Lightning Lane passes, which give you a reserved return time to utilize the Lightning Lane for attraction entry. This lane will have a significantly shorter wait time and help optimize the amount of rides you can experience throughout the day. We used this on our most recent trip, and it was super helpful! I love that Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows you to prioritize three must-do attractions before your visit. All of this is done right in your
My Disney Experience app. You can plan rides around any advanced dining reservations and ensure that you have time slots that fit your park style, whether you are an early riser or a night owl!
Happy Planning,
Jenna