Current Epcot Conditions

[BigAlsGal]

I'll post some in an hour or so if no one else does

Feel free to PM me for my Facebook link if you'd like more pics

Aww. Thanks for the offer. I don’t have Facebook. Gave up years ago.

 

[Keels]

I'll post some in an hour or so if no one else does

Feel free to PM me for my Facebook link if you'd like more pics

I’m going to be on the look-out for you!

 

[Airb330]

O

I imagine wifi capacity is sized for average crowds. They're probably at what? 200-300% normal user level currently!

Oh I’m sure. AT&T has a DAS here so it should be robust. But yeah, everything is going to be maxed out!

I’m still finding the crowds manageable. I’m France now for the fireworks and dinner!

 

[Dug720]

I’ve done NYE at Epcot a bunch, so we have a system we use that works for us and it’s really enjoyable ... I’m sure NYC is better, but there is just something about the vibe of Epcot on NYE and how they celebrate the countries that’s so exciting. But I definitely wouldn’t do it without a plan and a reasonable expectation of doing nothing but partying.

You guess wrong. There are zero bathrooms in Times Square - I used to work in the Disney Store there and all the stores close their bathrooms (because it got ridiculously messy and disgusting because people were too drunk to care even at 11am) and you cannot get into a hotel unless you are staying there and have a specially made for THAT NYE so you're pretty much stuck. Stock up on Depends or something. And all the stores close around 1pm because you have to be out of the buildings by 3. That is a LONG time to be out there waiting to watch a ball slide down a pole.

I did Epcot the year of the Christmas Blizzard in the Northeast which stranded me in Orlando (luckily my sis worked at WDW so I had somewhere free to stay) and loved it there. Crowded, yes. But I fell in love with their countdown!! If I didn't have to be back at school (I teach) the day after New Year's, I'd try to be there every year. But it's too risky to plan to get back on 1/1.

 

[Dug720]

I guess you are right because obviously there are enough people who partake in this insanity (IMO). Tonight in NYC Times Square it will be 10 degrees and feel like 0 degrees. People will start waiting 8 hours before the ball drops in the bitter cold with no where to use a bathroom and shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of strangers. I would deem those people more then the Epcot visitors.

Try over 12 hours. The NYE I pulled a shift at the Disney Store in Times Square, the section in front of the store was already closed to capacity when we opened at 9am.

 

[oceanmarina]

I still shake my head why ANYONE would wait in a 4 mile line to get into the parking lot for the MK. How enjoyable can that be? Even when you get into the park and you are sardined in there and have to wait long periods for everything (food, bathrooms, rides, buses, monorails etc), is there really any joy to being there? Honestly, I just don't get it.

I don't either. To pay all that $$ for park passes and to have crazy long waits for rides , ect, just not my cup of tea. I'm also not a fan of huge crowds / crowded conditions so I'm sure that's part of it. I can appreciate though others wanting to be there for the sense of excitement to be there for the New year. Now I'm in NY, (about 20 minutes from Manhattan) and to be packed in Times Square and the real feel temp. Tonight is supposedly 10 below, you couldn't pay me to do that either. At least Disney is a lot warmer than that tonight!

Someone please post pics soon. I love NYE crowd pics!

I love them too!

I'll post some in an hour or so if no one else does

Feel free to PM me for my Facebook link if you'd like more pics

Thanks!

 

[TeresaWen]

All this is getting me excited for next year. I was booked for this year but we canceled after my husbands back surgery. Did not think he would enjoy it.

We just booked for Dec 27 2018 - Jan 2 2019! Hope we can make this trip!

Cheers all!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I’m def gonna make my way over there one year thank god im not working in Times Square tongiht 9 degrees in NYC! I’d wait 7 hours in Florida then stand in that ice box!

 

[AngiTN]

Service is so slow, even without WiFi pics will probably have to wait till morning. PM me for Facebook and what pics I can manage I'll post there

 

[AngiTN]

Bathroom lines are longer than drink lines thus far

 

[Keels]

Go to the bathroom when you can.

And the Holiday Kitchens being “open” is deceiving ... none of the specialty food is there, but lots of hot dogs and more fun drinks.

 

[AngiTN]

Yeah, the kitchens are already switching over to arts festival mode.

And yes. Totally find bathroom before it's time. At my age you better LOL

 

[constanze]

SO excited! Will be there soon!!

 

[HopperFan]

Try over 12 hours. The NYE I pulled a shift at the Disney Store in Times Square, the section in front of the store was already closed to capacity when we opened at 9am.

Went a few years ago. The corrals around the stage area were full and closed at noon. They slowly closed them moving out as they filled. We were having highs of 19 in the sun all week so it was COLD. We were in a hotel overlooking Times Square. DH took the two kids (21 and 17) out at 5 pm with a "he knew someone high up pass" to the main coral and the police let them in. They couldn't believe all the folks who where there for so long, drinking etc. They made sure to consume nothing since they had 7 hours to go. It was certainly an experience for them. Due to the crowds, the cold isn't that bad as they were all so close.

We went out at about 10:30 pm with our other DS (disabled) and found a coral north of the "square" but still a view of the ball. It was "full" but a police officer let us in. One good thing is so many pushed forward towards the ball that the back part of the coral was not crowded, good for DS. We were layered and bundled and it was at that point around 10 degrees and snowing.

I'm originally from the area, I'd never been ... this was a bucket list item so we went up for a week. The ball was cool and all, the fireworks demure compared to Disney .... the WOW was all the confetti floating down off all those buildings. Afterwards was a cluster - sea of humanity of folks trying to go everywhere. We were in visual sight of our hotel door but it probably took us 30 minutes to get there. YES you have to wear special bracelets, have room keys etc or you won't get past the doorman.

It was awesome but I know staying on the square, having the "pass" and being able to walk out just before surely impacted our experience.

Bathroom lines are longer than drink lines thus far

Went last year. The bathroom just outside the International Gateway was DEAD EMPTY. We would go to gate, ask if we will be able to come back in each time and they said no problem. One of us would stay inside the gate and wait, just in case as a reminder. We would be in and out right up until the end.

I went with a very hefty drink budget, we were staying on property with our Disney Designated Bus Driver .... but drink lines were so long we ended up consuming mostly water.

 

[AngiTN]

Went a few years ago. The corrals around the stage area were full and closed at noon. They slowly closed them moving out as they filled. We were having highs of 19 in the sun all week so it was COLD. We were in a hotel overlooking Times Square. DH took the two kids (21 and 17) out at 5 pm with a "he knew someone high up pass" to the main coral and the police let them in. They couldn't believe all the folks who where there for so long, drinking etc. They made sure to consume nothing since they had 7 hours to go. It was certainly an experience for them. Due to the crowds, the cold isn't that bad as they were all so close.

We went out at about 10:30 pm with our other DS (disabled) and found a coral north of the "square" but still a view of the ball. It was "full" but a police officer let us in. One good thing is so many pushed forward towards the ball that the back part of the coral was not crowded, good for DS. We were layered and bundled and it was at that point around 10 degrees and snowing.

I'm originally from the area, I'd never been ... this was a bucket list item so we went up for a week. The ball was cool and all, the fireworks demure compared to Disney .... the WOW was all the confetti floating down off all those buildings. Afterwards was a cluster - sea of humanity of folks trying to go everywhere. We were in visual sight of our hotel door but it probably took us 30 minutes to get there. YES you have to wear special bracelets, have room keys etc or you won't get past the doorman.

It was awesome but I know staying on the square, having the "pass" and being able to walk out just before surely impacted our experience.



Went last year. The bathroom just outside the International Gateway was DEAD EMPTY. We would go to gate, ask if we will be able to come back in each time and they said no problem. One of us would stay inside the gate and wait, just in case as a reminder. We would be in and out right up until the end.

I went with a very heft drink budget, we were staying on property with our Disney Designated Bus Driver .... but drink lines were so long we ended up consuming mostly water.

I'm not surprised they're short there. Maybe we will work our way that direction

I gotta say the party on Italy. A BLAST!

 

[Disney Khi]

Thanks for the updates, everyone! I just saw on Twitter that there are bathrooms with no lines in that big building between Canada and the U.K. (Maybe it's called the Millenium Pavilion or something like that.) The person said it's lit up in blue lights. Maybe this will help someone out!

 

[HopperFan]

I'm not surprised they're short there. Maybe we will work our way that direction

I gotta say the party on Italy. A BLAST!

Was my absolute favorite last year, could have stayed there all night long!

 

[Disneylover99]

And the Holiday Kitchens being “open” is deceiving ... none of the specialty food is there, but lots of hot dogs and more fun drinks.

Aw, that's too bad. We ate the turkey at the holiday booth in America last NYE. There was no line, so that's where we ended up.

 

[otten]

I’m going to do this one year. Going for Christmas/NYE is a bucket list thing for me but not until my kids are older.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’m going to do this one year. Going for Christmas/NYE is a bucket list thing for me but not until my kids are older.

Definitely worth it! Highly recommend it!