Considering NYE and early Jan 2017 Trip

[Amy Dumoulin-Jeromel]

We have visited the parks several times since 2004 at various times of the year including in late Sept, over Canadian Thanksgiving, early December and our last trip was over our March Break in 2015. We are considering a trip in early Jan 2017 or 2018 as the kids aren't back in school until Jan 9. I am debating whether we should splurge and stay NYE or plan on arriving on Jan 1 or 2 instead? We typically stay 10 nights, rent DVC points and get a 10 day pass with hopper. I am leaning towards the Poly for this trip. We are a family of 5 with kids aged 14, 12 and 9. I am expecting the parks to be crazy busy on NYE (and we may just do a resort day and watch the fireworks from the beach) but what will they be like from Dec 30 to Jan 9? When are Star Wars Land and Avatar Land supposed to be finished? We aren't worried about the weather as anything is better than a winter in Ontario. Thanks!

 

[CAS239]

I highly recommend being down during New Years. The fireworks are amazing and probably some of the best you'll ever see. One key trick that I found out through these boards is that you can see the NYE MK fireworks without being in MK on New Years. They do the same show as a practice run the night of Dec 30th..so we watched the NYE fireworks then. Then we spent New Year's Eve at Epcot and watched their NYE fireworks. Which I have to say were amazing and I'd give the vote to Epcot. MK is beyond crowded on New Year's Eve all day so I would avoid that. Epcot wasn't bad on New Year's Eve. The atmosphere was fun and multiple dj parties at different countries were cool. I wouldn't skip out on being at Disney for New Years if you can come then instead of Jan 1st or 2nd

Pandora is set to open spring/summer next year in 2017. Toy Story and Star Wars land will probably be about 2019/2020

 

[Cindy Woods]

I highly recommend being down during New Years. The fireworks are amazing and probably some of the best you'll ever see. One key trick that I found out through these boards is that you can see the NYE MK fireworks without being in MK on New Years. They do the same show as a practice run the night of Dec 30th..so we watched the NYE fireworks then. Then we spent New Year's Eve at Epcot and watched their NYE fireworks. Which I have to say were amazing and I'd give the vote to Epcot. MK is beyond crowded on New Year's Eve all day so I would avoid that. Epcot wasn't bad on New Year's Eve. The atmosphere was fun and multiple dj parties at different countries were cool. I wouldn't skip out on being at Disney for New Years if you can come then instead of Jan 1st or 2nd

Pandora is set to open spring/summer next year in 2017. Toy Story and Star Wars land will probably be about 2019/2020

What do you mean "you highly recommend being down during New Years???" We are coming out the day after Christmas and leaving on January 2nd. I keep hearing Epcot is the park to be in for New Years but Disney hasn't released its NYE schedule yet so it's hard to plan for ADR's. Any advice is appreciated. Not sure to do all the parks before the 30th and just chill on the 31st and 1st or venture into the parks...I realize it is the busiest week of the entire year but we still want to enjoy WDW during the holidays. We have done F&W Festival, Spring Festival and Mickey's Not So Scary...which is why we wanted to try NYE.

 

[AussieNSW]

We saw the preview or trial run of the fireworks at MK last year and went to the dessert party. It was fantastic. This year with the changes they have madeto the dessert party in that people who purchase on the day view the fireworks from the area that we watched fireworks from with fast passes it will be even better. On the days prior to NYE we made sure we saw the Christmas parade and did everything that was important to us by being their every morning before rope drop. On the 31st we avoided the parks and had a resort visiting day and had a great time. On the way to Wilderness lodge we changed ferries at MK as we were coming from GF and were shocked to see the length of the que to get in people were lined up to the monorail station. This was about 11am as we were on our way to lunch. That evening we started at Hollywood studios for dinner and decided to go back to GF about 10pm and ended up seeing MK fireworks again from there. It ended up being a really good decision. They had cocktails available in the lobby and a party atmosphere. We once again arrived for rope drop on the 1st Jan and by the time it was getting busy we were ready to leave as the crowds seemed to arrive a little latter maybe due to the late night before.

 

[Skywise]

the parks WILL be a zoo on NYE - ALL of them (well maybe not AK). I've done it twice now. First time I was in the middle of a trip and did AK for NYE day and that did ok- second trip we arrived on NYE day and caught the fireworks from the Contemporary which worked better.

You should definitely try to catch the fireworks from the Poly or the contemporary if you can (or, because you're early enough) get a dessert party for the NYE fireworks on the 30th or 31st inside the park!

Neither land will be ready by 2017 and I'd recommend just doing a resort day on NYE (or AK because it doesn't do fireworks so the crowds are SLIGHTLY less there on that day)

 

[Cindy Woods]

the parks WILL be a zoo on NYE - ALL of them (well maybe not AK). I've done it twice now. First time I was in the middle of a trip and did AK for NYE day and that did ok- second trip we arrived on NYE day and caught the fireworks from the Contemporary which worked better.

You should definitely try to catch the fireworks from the Poly or the contemporary if you can (or, because you're early enough) get a dessert party for the NYE fireworks on the 30th or 31st inside the park!

Neither land will be ready by 2017 and I'd recommend just doing a resort day on NYE (or AK because it doesn't do fireworks so the crowds are SLIGHTLY less there on that day)

Thank you!! I appreciate your advice!! I know all the ins and outs of Dland but this will be our 4th time at WDW so I still feel like a newbie. We are staying at SS so I was leaning towards resort or DS for NYE...now that I've read your post and the previous post...I think we will definitely do that.

 

[Cindy Woods]

We saw the preview or trial run of the fireworks at MK last year and went to the dessert party. It was fantastic. This year with the changes they have madeto the dessert party in that people who purchase on the day view the fireworks from the area that we watched fireworks from with fast passes it will be even better. On the days prior to NYE we made sure we saw the Christmas parade and did everything that was important to us by being their every morning before rope drop. On the 31st we avoided the parks and had a resort visiting day and had a great time. On the way to Wilderness lodge we changed ferries at MK as we were coming from GF and were shocked to see the length of the que to get in people were lined up to the monorail station. This was about 11am as we were on our way to lunch. That evening we started at Hollywood studios for dinner and decided to go back to GF about 10pm and ended up seeing MK fireworks again from there. It ended up being a really good decision. They had cocktails available in the lobby and a party atmosphere. We once again arrived for rope drop on the 1st Jan and by the time it was getting busy we were ready to leave as the crowds seemed to arrive a little latter maybe due to the late night before.

Thank you for your input!!!! I really appreciate it. I am a rope drop person too (my family hates it) but the advantages far out weigh sleeping in. I like the idea of going to the park early NYD and leaving once it is crowded. Avoid NYE and try to do MK on the 30th with dessert party or watch from GF. Thanks Again!!

 

[mdsouth]

What about New Year's Day itself? I will be arriving on January 1. I know that it will be crazy busy but wondered what has been your plan in the past and how it worked out.

 

[Regan117]

the parks WILL be a zoo on NYE - ALL of them (well maybe not AK). I've done it twice now. First time I was in the middle of a trip and did AK for NYE day and that did ok- second trip we arrived on NYE day and caught the fireworks from the Contemporary which worked better.

You should definitely try to catch the fireworks from the Poly or the contemporary if you can (or, because you're early enough) get a dessert party for the NYE fireworks on the 30th or 31st inside the park!

Neither land will be ready by 2017 and I'd recommend just doing a resort day on NYE (or AK because it doesn't do fireworks so the crowds are SLIGHTLY less there on that day)

Animal Kingdom will be an ACTUAL zoo lol.

 

[lindsey]

We went to AK Jan 1, 2015 and it was great. We went to EPCOT Jan 1, 2016 - at rope drop. Did everything we wanted and left about 2pm when it started to get busy. Week following at all parks was great.

 

[NormaG]

We'll be there from December 29-January 11 (I'm doing the Dopey Challenge during Marathon Weekend). We're DVC members and will be staying at AKV. We had planned, weather permitting, to go to Blizzard Beach NYE day and just celebrate at the resort in the evening/night.

My questions are, do all the resorts make it a big celebration? Am I going to feel like I missed the party if I'm not at one of the parks? Are we making the right choice?

We've been at WDW for the 4th of July and watched fireworks at MK. It was SO busy that we were watching them from BEHIND the Main Street shops. Not an ideal location.

New Year's is one of my favorite holidays, I don't don't want to feel like I've missed out on it but I don't want to deal with the madness of the crowds.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We'll be there from December 29-January 11 (I'm doing the Dopey Challenge during Marathon Weekend). We're DVC members and will be staying at AKV. We had planned, weather permitting, to go to Blizzard Beach NYE day and just celebrate at the resort in the evening/night.

My questions are, do all the resorts make it a big celebration? Am I going to feel like I missed the party if I'm not at one of the parks? Are we making the right choice?

We've been at WDW for the 4th of July and watched fireworks at MK. It was SO busy that we were watching them from BEHIND the Main Street shops. Not an ideal location.

New Year's is one of my favorite holidays, I don't don't want to feel like I've missed out on it but I don't want to deal with the madness of the crowds.

The parties are in the parks - specifically MK and Epcot. If you really want to have fun, try Epcot. The many DJ options make it something to behold. Fireworks are amazing also, but the party lasts for hours before the fireworks and is amazing. You will not experience anything like this in your resort.

That said, I would never do MK or Epcot on NYE with small children. It is more an adult/teen atmosphere.