Disney World wait times for rides reach 5 hours on New Year's Eve

[Tonka's Skipper]

The parks have all been slowly increasing attendance since 2010 and all WDW parks are above 2008 the highest year I found. 2013 is expected to have a larger increases, Go check the TEA estimated figures.

We are yearly visitors and find the parks are much busier then years ago.

AKK

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Whew!

Very happy I do NOT visit WDW with you. I have outgrown boot camp, crowds and lines!

...as have most of us.
Disney world does not have the portfolio of attractions to warrant this tact...in my opinion.

Perhaps in the simpler days of the past. But the sheen has worn off for me when it comes to rides. I still love the environment...but have no desire to go during the nonsense that is described here.

That is largely a corporate decision on Disney's part, by the way. The have operated wdw on cruise control since AK opened...letting the throng just show up while putting minimal emphasis on reinventing the parks.
Their efforts have been at their other non-cash cow locations. I can see their point and it makes sense...but to not accept that this is the policy is a little out of touch.
Florida is suffering a bit from "dry rot" or "termite damage" in my opinion...not that noticeable now, but could be devastating later.

 

[JoWiJo]

Why anyone would want to go to the parks on New. Years Eve, or any major holiday for that matter, is beyond my comprehension. My New Year's Eve was spent in sweatpants by a comfy fireplace with close friends and family, wouldn't trade that for anything.

I totally understand why you'd rather be spending time in sweats relaxing with family. I suppose it could be a matter of what one is looking for. It's gotten boring just waiting for the ball drop on TV. So much so, I was in bed when 2014 arrived.

One of the few trips I made to WDW was to ring in 1990. Day One of our visit, if you can call it a "day," was simply to ring in the new year at the Magic Kingdom with the throng of people. We strolled into MK fairly late at night. No rides planned, just the fireworks. It was kinda neat to celebrate the new year among a crowd for a change, instead of with a few select people.

As fun as it was, hearing kids all over the place blowing noisemakers for a couple of hours was incredibly annoying. And there was a cloudcover that obscured the fireworks. Still, it was a pleasant, memorable event.

The next few days that we were there, the crowds were relatively thin, and the trip was enjoyable.

So to sum up, someone might want to be among many thousands of people to celebrate the New Year with a midnight firework show. That's why they might be there. But I'll agree, making it a planned park day would not be wise. I'd rather be relaxing in MY sweats somewhere.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Does anyone else just like to see how big the wait times get? I checked My Disney Experience every so often day just to double check how ridiculous they are

 

[North of Mouse]

Why anyone would want to go to the parks on New. Years Eve, or any major holiday for that matter, is beyond my comprehension. My New Year's Eve was spent in sweatpants by a comfy fireplace with close friends and family, wouldn't trade that for anything.

I agree!! You actually could not PAY us to be anywhere near there for the major holidays, but especially xmas, New Years.

I can't see ANY fun being jammed in with the masses, just trying to move from one place to another - what a nightmare!

To each their own though! We'll spend our precious $$'s at other times when we can actually enjoy the ambiance of the parks.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Does anyone else just like to see how big the wait times get? I checked My Disney Experience every so often day just to double check how ridiculous they are

I never thought of that...,

But I sure as heck be doing it from now on

 

[yitbos96bb]

I have serious doubts that the article is correct. What rides are 5 minutes and now 5 hours? News outlets get these kind of facts wrong as a matter of routine. 5 hours? Can this be confirmed as factual in any way? Who would see a line is 4 1/2 hours long and get in it to make it longer? Stand in a line for 5 hours!? 300 minutes?

Last year I did see Space Mountain and Test Track get to 220 mins. Not 5 hours but ridiculously long.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Now the crowds are terrible the first week of January. I think it's a combo of both Christmas Break shifts and people traveling to the various bowl games I and then extending. I've officially taken it off my travel list.

I agree!! You actually could not PAY us to be anywhere near there for the major holidays, but especially xmas, New Years.

I can't see ANY fun being jammed in with the masses, just trying to move from one place to another - what a nightmare!

To each their own though! We'll spend our precious $$'s at other times when we can actually enjoy the ambiance of the parks.

I totally understand why you'd rather be spending time in sweats relaxing with family. I suppose it could be a matter of what one is looking for. It's gotten boring just waiting for the ball drop on TV. So much so, I was in bed when 2014 arrived.

One of the few trips I made to WDW was to ring in 1990. Day One of our visit, if you can call it a "day," was simply to ring in the new year at the Magic Kingdom with the throng of people. We strolled into MK fairly late at night. No rides planned, just the fireworks. It was kinda neat to celebrate the new year among a crowd for a change, instead of with a few select people.

As fun as it was, hearing kids all over the place blowing noisemakers for a couple of hours was incredibly annoying. And there was a cloudcover that obscured the fireworks. Still, it was a pleasant, memorable event.

The next few days that we were there, the crowds were relatively thin, and the trip was enjoyable.

So to sum up, someone might want to be among many thousands of people to celebrate the New Year with a midnight firework show. That's why they might be there. But I'll agree, making it a planned park day would not be wise. I'd rather be relaxing in MY sweats somewhere.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I would argue there isn't a ride out there worth a 3 hour wait in line, or even a two hour wait at any park, Disney or Otherwise.

...as have most of us.
Disney world does not have the portfolio of attractions to warrant this tact...in my opinion.

Perhaps in the simpler days of the past. But the sheen has worn off for me when it comes to rides. I still love the environment...but have no desire to go during the nonsense that is described here.

That is largely a corporate decision on Disney's part, by the way. The have operated wdw on cruise control since AK opened...letting the throng just show up while putting minimal emphasis on reinventing the parks.
Their efforts have been at their other non-cash cow locations. I can see their point and it makes sense...but to not accept that this is the policy is a little out of touch.
Florida is suffering a bit from "dry rot" or "termite damage" in my opinion...not that noticeable now, but could be devastating later.

 

[yitbos96bb]

We have been to WDW 3 times since 2010 and have yet to get onto Toy Story Midway Mania. We won't wait longer than an hour for any ride.

Eh you aren't missing that much. It's one of the most overhyped rides at Disney. Like a slightly better version of Buzz Lightyear. I can recreate a similar experience on a Wii or Xbox.

 

[codysmom1990]

Why would someone wait that long for a ride? I woud never go to Disney at this time of year!!! I would want to be able to enjoy my time there n not be in all those crowds!!!!

 

[njpyro]

I would argue there isn't a ride out there worth a 3 hour wait in line, or even a two hour wait at any park, Disney or Otherwise.

I would happily wait 3 hours to go on Star Tours, but only if I could sit next to Harrison Ford...

 

[JoWiJo]

Now the crowds are terrible the first week of January. I think it's a combo of both Christmas Break shifts and people traveling to the various bowl games I and then extending. I've officially taken it off my travel list.

There are probably several factors involved, both within and without the control of Disney. Either way, it keeps the mouse happy.

I've browsed the forum long enough to know that these days, it would be busy this week. Of course, to keep things in perspective, that new year trip of mine was 24 years ago. They've added a couple of water parks and a new theme park since then, have built up more resorts, and bombarded TVs with ads.

 

[Marvindude]

I would happily wait 3 hours to go on Star Tours, but only if I could sit next to Harrison Ford...

I sat next to Gary Sinise and his family on two different trips at Hollywood Studios for Beauty and the Beast.

 

[maggiemayhem]

Whew! Very happy I do NOT visit WDW with you. I have outgrown boot camp, crowds and lines!

I was just thinking that I DO want to visit WDW with him. HA! I visit with family or friends and am the only boot camper. I'm not into crowds or lines (who actually is!) but I like to get up and get going. A big part of that is probably adrenaline from excitement.

On New Year's Eve I was enjoying looking at live reports on Twitter as well as at the wait times on MDE. I don't know how to post pictures using the app on my phone, but I screen capped a tweet from someone who posted a picture of a ride wait time board at Epcot - Test Track was at 300 minutes.