Calling All WDW NYE Veterans

[AmyBWV99]

We've been to WDW for almost every major holiday. This year, we're going down from December 24th to Janaury 2. Having been on July 4th (our busiest WDW experience), Easter and on Christmas, how do the NYE crowds compare? I've heard they're brutal and NYE of 1999 was the only time Epcot was closed.

 

[Connears]

The 2 NYE we spent at WDW (2003-4 and 2004-5) we spent at MGM/Epcot and MGM respectivley. MK closed to all guests(including resort guests by 10am both years. We knew not to try MK. We started at MGM the first year and toured without problems(using FP) until 4pm then went to Epcot via boat into IG. It was crowded, but Epcot is spead out so you don't fell it as much. The passed our noisemakers and hat at 5:30 and it was insane. We had ADR at Teppanyaki for 8pm and still had to wait almost an hour because it started to pour and everyone tried to keep dry. Meal was great, but by 10pm the rain was at our ankles and we boated over to BW while DH got car at MGM and we headed back to OKW for midnight(there were circus entertainers at BW with hats and noisemakers also). The second time we stayed at MGM all day and met up with friends. There was a live radio disney feed all afternoon then live bands starting in the evening. We had ADR at Brown Derby and then saw the last Fantasmic show. DS wanted to try to ride RRR around 11:30pm but it was 60 min wait with no FP so we decided to baoat to Swan where we were staying and got a fantastic view of Fantasy in the Sky over MGM from our room then went to dock at Swan and watched epcot fireworks. My suggestions: get ADR as early as possible at the park you wish to go to for NYE; if you go to MK plan on getting there early and not park hopping(you can't get in if they close to all even if you have ADR); you can park hop between MGM and Epcot fairly securely.; take advantage of all the special outdoor venues(if you don't get rained out like we did the first year); if possible plan on being at a resort that has good transportation to the park ylu want..picked Swan for the boat to MGM and Epcot..well worth not having to get to a car with the masses.
Connears

 

[AmyBWV99]

We're planning on Epcot for NYE. Do they do special fireworks or anything @ midnight?

 

[disnut8]

We were there for New Year's Eve 2004. And 2001 but didn't venture near a park for that one. Too much family. For 2004, we went to Animal Kingdom and had a great time. Not very crowded at all. A bit more people but manageable. After a while, some of our party went over to MGM to finish that up and ended up having a great time and wanting to stay quite a bit longer. My son (22 years old at the time) said that if it wasn't for us and his grandparents waiting, he and his family would have stayed for the festivities. They got top hats and noise makers for the evening. Son said it was very nicely done. He thought that maybe with the ABC TV coverage focusing on Magic Kingdom and Epcot, that MGM was "neglected".

As far as Epcot is concerned, we saw their fireworks from outside our room at All Star. Yes, they do something extra. It's a WOW moment.

 

[dahirsh]

I was at MK on 12/31/99. We made sure we got to the park early and had very low expectations about what we could accomplish that day due to expected crowds. We were pretty pleased with how most of the day went. Yes it was crowded, but it really didn't seem that bad.