Disappointing New Year's at OKW

[carlbarry]

I know we weren't going to get the elaborate events that were provided in previous years, and yet . . .
No pool party during the day; it was moved to night instead.
We were given cardboard New Year's top hats. At night, by the pool, those thin glow rods that bend into a circle were given out.
And then the big event: at 9 pm and midnight, a flag was raised on the Sand Castle.
I would have expected to at least give out Mickey ice cream bars, popcorn, anything. Anyway, I was very disappointed as I extended the start of my vacation to encompass New Year's, as I had never been to WDW during that day, and thought it would be great fun even during a pandemic. Which is when a festive occasion would be most welcome.
I'm curious as to what was done at other resorts.
And oddly, we could see a 12 minute fireworks show in the distance and low on the horizon. It was south-east of OKW. I have no idea where it was staged.

 

[Durrantl]

We are at Caribbean Beach. They also had a pool party and a beach ball drop at midnight. We had the same New Years top hats. We bought a bottle of once upon a vine champagne from the gift shop, a pizza from the food court and celebrated a quiet New Years on a hammock on Jamaica beach, it was perfect for us. We also saw the fireworks. We wondered if they were being staged at Hollywood Studios because they were so close and seemed the right distance; but not sure.

 

[carlbarry]

We also saw the fireworks. We wondered if they were being staged at Hollywood Studios because they were so close and seemed the right distance; but not sure.

It's great you had a good time!
Now, if you were looking towards HS, that would be westerly. The fireworks I saw were coming from the east, which would also be east from Caribbean Beach.

 

[Durrantl]

It's great you had a good time!
Now, if you were looking towards HS, that would be westerly. The fireworks I saw were coming from the east, which would also be east from Caribbean Beach.

I must admit ,I am directionally challenged at Disney. The fireworks we were watching must have been West. They appeared to come from the direction of Hollywood Studios (using sky liner direction as point of reference.). Have a great day!

 

[DebbieB]

I wouldn’t have expected food.

 

[carlbarry]

I must admit ,I am directionally challenged at Disney. The fireworks we were watching must have been West. They appeared to come from the direction of Hollywood Studios (using sky liner direction as point of reference.). Have a great day!

So there were two sets of fireworks. The mystery deepens! Enjoy your stay.

 

[carlbarry]

I wouldn’t have expected food.

I received an email a few weeks ago saying: "Your Disney Resort hotel will offer fun and festive activities. Full details will be provided upon arrival. "
I guess I read too much into that. But in my defense, there really was nothing different, other than moving the pool party to night time and running up a flag. "Fun and festive" I would say is puffery.
I've been at AKL where for no particular reason they gave out bags of popcorn or packages of apple sauce.

 

[Disneylover99]

So there were two sets of fireworks. The mystery deepens! Enjoy your stay.

They were talking about last night’s NYE fireworks a bit on this thread below.
It sounds like it may have been area hotels or residents in the area, but not Disney parks or hotels.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...-updates-due-to-coronavirus.3796390/page-3349

 

[carlbarry]

They were talking about last night’s NYE fireworks a bit on this thread below.
It sounds like it may have been area hotels or residents in the area, but not Disney parks or hotels.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...-updates-due-to-coronavirus.3796390/page-3349

Sheesh, if that was a resident setting off 12 minutes of huge fireworks, that is very, very strange.
But thanks for the link!

 

[Dizney73]

I saw on a youtube video that SeaWorld had a fireworks display for New Year's Eve.

 

[carlbarry]

I saw on a youtube video that SeaWorld had a fireworks display for New Year's Eve.

I don't doubt it. But the fireworks visible from OKW were in the wrong direction for SeaWorld. I also highly doubt that fireworks at SeaWorld would be visible in WDW.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I don't doubt it. But the fireworks visible from OKW were in the wrong direction for SeaWorld. I also highly doubt that fireworks at SeaWorld would be visible in WDW.

FL is flat and Sea World isn't really that far away.

As far as the disappointing New Years I'm afraid you just expected too much. It's a pandemic, money is tight at Disney and free food is not something often given out at pool parties and such.

 

[skeeter31]

There were no on property fireworks shows. There are tons of residential areas around property, as well as resorts that do put on fireworks shows. It wouldn’t surprise me to have had a few residents near property that bought a large quantity of fireworks to shoot off, knowing Disney wasn’t doing there’s.

 

[cristen72]

We were at the GF. The gave out the paper hats. Had a pool party involving music and limbo for the kids. The pool bar was open to purchase drinks. They had a countdown starting at 10 seconds then we all screamed happy new year.

I thought it was fun

 

[carlbarry]

We were at the GF. The gave out the paper hats. Had a pool party involving music and limbo for the kids. The pool bar was open to purchase drinks. They had a countdown starting at 10 seconds then we all screamed happy new year.

I thought it was fun

They were still giving out the paper hats today here at OKW. They have loads left.
New Year's was fun, but compared to what I have read was done in the past, it was very little.

 

[DL1WDW2]

The Sunset Walk at Margaritaville had a special NYE Party with fireworks. They also were the only nearby location that had fireworks for July 4, 2020. Maybe that is what you saw.
I was at BLT for NYE and they had special NYE Activies posted in lobby .I remember one event was a special scavenger hunt described as “monorail colors to search for or something like that, with a surprise gift for completion.
They also had NYE Video streaming on the resort TVs beginning about 11:45 with finale at Midnight .It was previous highlights of NYE at MK over the years... And the Electrical Water Pageant was at 10 that night as it completed the voyage.
We decided to go to the BLT Bridge just in case Disney gave a special final countdown or whatever. Lots of guests on their balconies with MK View and guests on Contemprary stairs and those benches w/ monorail view...
So we all started our own loud countdown and hollered
Happy New Year to the World!
It was fun !

 

[EM Lawrence]

We set off 25 minutes of massive fireworks in our backyard. My husband went a little pyro this year. So I can easily believe it came from residential areas

 

[carlbarry]

The Sunset Walk at Margaritaville had a special NYE Party with fireworks. They also were the only nearby location that had fireworks for July 4, 2020. Maybe that is what you saw.

They also had NYE Video streaming on the resort TVs beginning about 11:45 with finale at Midnight .It was previous highlights of NYE at MK over the years... And the Electrical Water Pageant was at 10 that night as it completed the voyage.

Happy New Year to the World!
It was fun !

Margaritaville is in the wrong direction for the fireworks visible from OKW.
The TV fireworks channel was resort-wide.

 

[carlbarry]

We set off 25 minutes of massive fireworks in our backyard. My husband went a little pyro this year. So I can easily believe it came from residential areas

Wow. What I saw was pretty close to the horizon, so maybe not professional. If that was people setting off HUGE displays near their houses, all I can say is don't try that in my hometown of NYC.

 

[Heather07438]

Sounds disappointing.

It would've been nice for WDW to be a little more imaginative in regards to NYE. It's usually a big deal. Guests are paying double for rooms and the highest ticket prices all year. The pandemic made it necessary to change plans but they could've brainstormed something for guests to get an extra smile or feel special or celebratory.

Even a print up keepsake slipped under the doors with Happy New Year! Or having a character come out at each resort that last hour. They're Disney, it shouldn't be hard to come up with a creative little something or other that guests could remember the unique pandemic year they spent at WDW in a sweet way. WDW dropped the ball here.