Disney and New Years Eve ?

[pixie Mom]

We have been to Disney many times but never for a Holiday.

This year we will be IN Disney for NYE.. We were thinking Magic Kingdom.. Any Info or advice would be helpful..

 

[Bob P]

My advice would be: get there early and be prepared for the biggest crowd you've seen in your life! It will be wall to wall people!

Having said that, thousands of people do it every year and have a great time, so enjoy!

Bob

 

[pixie Mom]

BUMP up


Help please

 

[Geoff_M]

Like Bob said, expect mad house crowds. MK usually reaches full capacity for the day before noon. Don't plan on park hopping. The general concensus is that Epcot can "handle" the crowds better than the other parks. Since ride opertunities are limited due to the crowds, extra entertainment is added for the benefit of the masses. Many people go and report they loved it. Others, particularly if wall-to-wall people (and some of them having had a bit too much to drink... except for MK which is a "dry" park) isn't your idea of fun, you may want to skip it.

 

[MIKE101067]

I was in EPCOT to ring in Y2K and will be back again this year. Get there early, I was surprised at how much I was able to get done. The crowds will be huge, mind boggling huge especially as the day/evening wears on. At one point , in Mexico, we could't move there were so many people going in oppoiste directions, it actually got scary for a few minutes. I made PS for lunch and dinner to be sure I had a place to hide, eat, and rest.

Don't forget, if you like to have a sip of the bubbly for NYE you can't get it at MK.

If you have it your mind that the crowds will be huge, expect to hit some rides early, set up your PS and just enjoy the festive atmosphere you will have a great time. It's all about manageing expectations.

 

[crusin'minnie]

My family and I went on a spur of the moment trip 2 years ago for NYE. MK reached capacity by 10:30am. We figured that Epcot was our best bet. I have NEVER seen crowds like that. We did a few attractions, but it was wall to wall people. We found an out of the way spot for Illuminations and almost left. But I had heard how fantastic the fireworks were at midnight so we stayed. I cannot tell you how fabulous those fireworks were! DH and I both had tears in our eyes watching our DD's watching the show.

They had live entertainment near the fountains with great music. They had stations where you could get free hats and noisemakers. And neatest of all in the WS whenever it was midnight in a particular country there was a celebration. We saw 2 different ones. I wish I had done my homework and gotten a schedule.

We only have experience with Epcot, but I don't think I would want to try to navigate MK at capacity. Epcot was bad enough and it is sooo much more spread out. Also DH could get beer in Epcot (albeit the lines were incredible) He would not have made it otherwise.

Tips-
1. Make PS for meals and bring snacks and drinks into the park with you. Counterservice and the carts had UNBELIEVABLE lines.

2. Get to your chosen park at opening and get as many fast passes as you can. They will run out quickly. Remember you can use them after the time has passed on the ticket.

3. If you have a small child the babycare station was very nice and not crowded. The bathroom lines were awful.

4. Really look at the park schedule. We experienced some really neat things, but I wish I had been better prepared.

5. Whatever you do watch the midnight fireworks!!!!

My entire family agrees that was the best NYE we have ever had!!!

Have a great time.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Just wanted to add the MK does NYE on December 30 and 31st (this is a few years old now) to help alleviate the crowd on the 31st. If you are going because you want to see the NYE fireworks and entertainement offerings I would do MK on the 30th and Epcot or MGM on the 31st. As others have said the 31st will be jam packed either way, but if going to MK on the 30th is something you can do, I would suggest it... Have fun either way

 

[pixie Mom]

crusin'minnie

I did not know you could use your fast pass after it expired !!!

anyone else know about this?

How does it work.

 

[disneydiz]

We have always been able to use FastPasses AFTER the time on the ticket. Quite often people are waiting in line or on a ride during their time slot, and show up later to enter. We have never had a CM turn us away -- and we always go during the busy Easter week.

 

[pixie Mom]

Any great secrets for how to manage the crowds?

 

[MissBubbles]

We were planning on going to MGM on NYE. Any advise/crowds?

 

[cleophus12]

Last year was our first Disney holiday. Every park was crowded the week after Christmas, but nothing like NYE! We chose Epcot because we felt the size would make it seem less claustrophobic. It was a good decision. We got to the park at opening that day and got in all the must-do attractions before the crowds became too terrible. We had a PS for dinner--get one ASAP if you haven't already. We found our seat for the midnight fireworks about 9:30 and my husband and 11-year-old daughter actually got in a nap in spite of all the noise (it had been a long day!). But the fireworks were worth the wait. They were unbelievable and unforgettable. It was a great day.

 

[vamassey1]

We plan on being at Epcot. We have an ADR for Living Seas at 7. We're thinking about catching a nap in American Adventure. I love the show but when we're really tired I just can't help it.

 

[pixie Mom]

ok now it is a little closer to Jan.. We are going to MK !!!! NYE!!!! then off on our DCL trip YEA.. Any advise would be great

 

[robinb]

We have been at WDW for NYE every year since 1999/2000. Will you be staying onsite? That is the key. We always get to the parks when they open (around 7:30 AM) and ride what we can and snag Fast Passes for those E-rides we want to do later. We have been known to use a 9:00 AM FP at 9:00 PM. We make a reservation for lunch somewhere and then dinner somewhere. Inbetween lunch and dinner, we go back to our Disney resort to rest/nap/swim. We have never had a problem re-entering the parks (the MK or Epcot) at around 5-6PM. Never. We walk or take the bus and they let us in. Many people will say that Disney closes the parks, but that has not been the case with us in the early evening. Yes, the parking lots do close ... which makes this plan unreasonable for off-site guests.

All the parks are packed. I have pictures of a line at the Tomorrowland Transit Authority! But ... the MK fireworks are great. They surround you behind the castle and in the lagoon. The fireworks at Epcot are also very nice. They do the holiday add-on at the end. Unfortunately, Epcot can be "wilder" than the MK because the the alcolhol consumption. The World Showcase can get very crowded and the crowd is more adult.

Here is my trip report from 2003/2004:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=490243

FWIW, my friends want to return to Epcot for NYE after 2 years at the MK. We'll be at Rose and Crown for the first IllimiNations , then off to Soarin' and Mission Space for the last couple rides of the year.

 

[Jon99]

We are staying ay VWL that week and planning on MK for NYE.. Should we head to the park early that morning, giving us a better shot for rentry around noon???

 

[robinb]

We are staying ay VWL that week and planning on MK for NYE.. Should we head to the park early that morning, giving us a better shot for rentry around noon???

No. Noon will be too crowded and you will not have a good rest. Aim for a reentry around 4:00 or 5:00 and an exit from the MK around noon. Aftter about noon you will not be able to move in the MK.

 

[ctp365]

We will be arriving in Orlando from Australia on Dec 28 at 5.30pm. We are planning on spending NYE in MK, but are also thinking of going on the 28th, arriving at the park at about 7.30 and staying till closing at midnight.

What will the crowds be like in the evenings during that week? We are hoping to take advantage of the late closing, and going on some rides.

Carmen

 

[pixie Mom]

It is getting closer so I thought I would bump this one up

 

[photonut]

we have not been over new years before...this will be our first time.

We are planning on having a late start so we are well rested then hanging out at MGM studios for the day and enjoying the Osborne lights, Fantasmic and then midnight fireworks.
We have an ADR at 50s Prime Time Cafe for 6pm.