12/30/14 MK Advice Needed

[tink88]

Disney veteran, but first trip during New Years week.
Want to spend 12/30/14 in Magic Kingdom…can't determine
what time we should be in that park so we don't get shut out.
Looking to be there for fireworks that evening. Trying to
determine a strategy prior to my ADR date. Any advice?

 

[tndisney5]

Haven't done MK on NYE but did HS on NYE (12/31/12) and a DVC member told us (while waiting in line for a character meet) that MK was at max by noon on 12/30 and 11am on 12/31....I've heard MK maxes out early during NYE week.

 

[VP037388]

If you are staying offsite, be there at rope drop and plan not to leave all day. We were there Christmas to NYE a few years ago. The 29th, 30th, 31th the parks were all at max by 10AM. It was cold too (unseasonable)! Those staying offsite, even AP holders, were turned away. We were offsite and were never able to get in those 3 days. Wish we would have known what to expect. At that time, if you were onsite, you could still get in at any point. With all the DVC real estate built/sold lately, I would confirm with your resort that onsite still has the special admission. Prepare to wait in line for everything, including the restrooms and Peoplemover! Not trying to be negative here, knowledge is power especially for NYE week.

 

[kmb584]

If you are staying offsite, be there at rope drop and plan not to leave all day. We were there Christmas to NYE a few years ago. The 29th, 30th, 31th the parks were all at max by 10AM. It was cold too (unseasonable)! Those staying offsite, even AP holders, were turned away. We were offsite and were never able to get in those 3 days. Wish we would have known what to expect. At that time, if you were onsite, you could still get in at any point. With all the DVC real estate built/sold lately, I would confirm with your resort that onsite still has the special admission. Prepare to wait in line for everything, including the restrooms and Peoplemover! Not trying to be negative here, knowledge is power especially for NYE week.

On-site guests and AP holders are allowed in unless it's a Phase 4 closure (in that case no one is getting in). That's odd that they turned you away from all 4 parks.

 

[got4boys]

12/30 was not bad last year. It was 12/31 that were bad where it was at Phase 3.5 Closure.

It does get to capacity usually late morning, but it does open up again. If you are staying on site, it should not be an issue.

Last year on 12/31, they were turning people away at the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot entrance gates and the lines were really, really long.

 

[tink88]

I appreciate all this info greatly-trying to gather the most info
so that we can make the most of our trip, despite the crowds.
We are staying on property and are annual pass holders so
that could help in a pinch. Plan to go early and stay in Epcot
on 12/31 but would prefer not to have to do that on 12/30 for
MK if we can help it but may not be possible.