Best place for New Years?

[wenuwishuponastar]

Hi, my family and i are going to disneyworld for newyears this year and i was wondering if i can get any advice about where the best place in the disneyworld area is to be on newyears eve is??

thanks

 

[Rob R]

in your hotel room. hit the parks on new years day for crowd free touring.

rob

 

[Mickey02]

We were there on New Years last year and will be there again this year. The crowds are horrible it's true but we stayed in Magic Kingdom to welcome in the New Year. There were fireworks all the way around the park. It was AWESOME. We stood on the bridge on the right side of the castle and watched. Even though the parks are so crowded I would not change being in Magic Kingdom for anything.

I have heard that they close the parks for non Disney guests early in the day. If you are staying in a Disney resort no worries otherwise you better get there really really early.

 

[Sooze]

My DH and I will be there on New Year's Eve as well. Since we will be without children, we are willing to brave the crowds anywhere! Are the crowds really smaller on New Year's Day?! That's exciting news!

I'd love to hear more ideas or thoughts about where to be! This is a good thread!

 

[lpizzuro123]

We have spent a few NYE in WDW. Each time we spent our entire day in Epcot (except for the year we welcomed in NYE on the Disney cruise). We were not staying in a Disney hotel. My boyfriends father lives in Orlando. We try to get to the park by 11:00am. I believe I had heard that they closed the park but then it reopened a few hours later. We like Epcot best and it is the largest so we figured there were more places to just hang out. All the lines were really long but we go down at least twice a year so we didn't mind not getting on all the rides. We did not have any dining reservations so the worst was waiting for food. I waited over 45 minutes for CS in Mexico for lunch. We were walking past the Rose and Crown around 6:00 pm and my boyfriend actually asked them about dinner and we were given a beeper and got seated by 7:00. This worked out great because we were able to catch the first viewing of IllumiNations that night right from our seats during dinner. Of course we stayed until midnight and watched the second viewing and special NYE fireworks from around the lake.

One year it rained so hard that the park emptied out after the first fireworks - of course we were drenched but stayed for the midnight IllumiNations. My boyfriend actually held the umbrella over me and the camcorder and I recorded the midnight IllumiNations.

The parks get very crowded and very noisy (especially after they give out all the noisemakers and hats) but I would not miss being in the park. We are two adults (in our 40's) and we always have my boyfriends teenage son with us.

Linda

 

[Sooze]

We have spent a few NYE in WDW. Each time we spent our entire day in Epcot (except for the year we welcomed in NYE on the Disney cruise). We were not staying in a Disney hotel. My boyfriends father lives in Orlando. We try to get to the park by 11:00am. I believe I had heard that they closed the park but then it reopened a few hours later. We like Epcot best and it is the largest so we figured there were more places to just hang out. All the lines were really long but we go down at least twice a year so we didn't mind not getting on all the rides. We did not have any dining reservations so the worst was waiting for food. I waited over 45 minutes for CS in Mexico for lunch. We were walking past the Rose and Crown around 6:00 pm and my boyfriend actually asked them about dinner and we were given a beeper and got seated by 7:00. This worked out great because we were able to catch the first viewing of IllumiNations that night right from our seats during dinner. Of course we stayed until midnight and watched the second viewing and special NYE fireworks from around the lake.

One year it rained so hard that the park emptied out after the first fireworks - of course we were drenched but stayed for the midnight IllumiNations. My boyfriend actually held the umbrella over me and the camcorder and I recorded the midnight IllumiNations.

The parks get very crowded and very noisy (especially after they give out all the noisemakers and hats) but I would not miss being in the park. We are two adults (in our 40's) and we always have my boyfriends teenage son with us.

Linda

Does Epcot do anything else besides the Midnight IllumiNations? Anything extra special for New Year's?

 

[lpizzuro123]

Below is info from All ears net on NYE at Epcot. I am sure as it gets closer to the holidays they will list more things.

"Epcot celebrates the New Year "around the world" with DJs and evening dance parties located throughout World Showcase and lasting late into the evening, as well as a special presentation of the "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" lights, lasers and fireworks display."

Linda

 

[funhouse8]

We were in Epcot on NYE 2003-2004. It was amazing. All douring the day each county celebrates their NYE at the proper time. We had dinner in Japan. It was perfect, after Dinner there was a DJ right outside and we hung out there till midnight. I have to say the fireworks were wonderful. Each county set off their own display and then at miidnight they all get together to put on the best firworks show I have ever seen. My NYE hat was bouncing up & down on my hat. Did I say it was amazing.

 

[wenuwishuponastar]

thanks sooo much for the advice, this is really helpful and it sounds like so much fun !! which has the best displays?? magic kingdom or epcot?? its a hard decision.. are there lots of people in both of the parks?? and around what time do the parks shut their gates?? thanks

 

[lpizzuro123]

Hard choice between MK and Epcot. We have always chosen Epcot - for a few reasons - this is our favorite park and there are alot of things you can do there and alot of places you can relax (especially in the countries). They do get busy but it just seems like there are more places you can go and just sit (maybe listen to the bands in UK or Canada). We also love the way they celebrate the New Year in each country. If you happen to be in say Germany when it is NYE there - all the CM come out and wish everyone a Happy New Year and it just so energenic.

As far as what time they "close the gates" that is also hard to call. I think it depends on different things. A few years ago it started raining so hard right before the first IlliumiNations that alot of people left the park and it was not as crowded at midnight. The other nice thing they do is two IllumiNations - this way people with little kids or people that just do not want to stay in the park all night enjoy the first IllumiNations and then leave the park. At midnight they do the regular IllumiNations and then add the special NYE fireworks. I am not sure if they do two fireworks at MK or not.

Linda

 

[colleen costello]

We are too wimpy to be in the parks because of the insane crowds, which I figure would give me a major anxiety attack. Instead we book dinner (at exactly 180 days out) at a great resort restaurant. Last year we did 'Ohana then hung out at the Poly. We rode the monorail and boats and walked the path between the GF and Poly after dinner. Watched the fireworks at midnight -- it was magical.

This year we have booked dinner at Chef Mickey's. Same deal, close to the action but not in the MIDDLE of it! The fireworks are amazing from around the lake as they shoot them off from all around -- you don't know where to look. So for anyone chicken to do the parks, there is still a lot of fun that evening.