Disneyland for NYE

[supersally]

Hi, I am considering Disneyland for NYE this year and was hoping for some advice. I know it will be unbelievably busy but we did NYC a few years back and survived (just) so we should be ok.

*Do we buy tickets in advance (as in special NYE tickets) or is it just the usual and purchase off the website?
*Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations?
*What's the next morning like? Busy or quiet?

We are a family of 4 travelling from Australia and although this is our first trip to Disneyland we have been to Disneyworld before so we are willing to accept that it will be more about the atmosphere and not the rides (which I'm assuming the queues will be huge for). Would you do it?

 

[Nonsuch]

This will be my first NYE at DLR
I will likely be in DCA at midnight, since the crowds are smaller and I'm a WOC fan

You might want to search the board for "NYE"
This recent post is very helpful

 

[Geemo]

If you're going to do it.... Better be booking all your needs in the DLR area. Space is limited for a popular time.

Geemo

 

[AussieCaribou]

G'Day Supersally,

We are heading to DLR for NYE as well. I haven't been before but I have been doing as much research as I can. From what I can glean, we don't need special tickets, we can just get the normal ones. However, it's crazy busy so if you want to be in Disneyland for NYE, you need to get to the park early and just hang out. Lines are likely to be measured by the hour rather than the minute. Things over at DCA are a bit better but not completely 'easy'.

Note on crowds at DLR vs WDW. I have never experienced crowds like I have at DLR. WDW (Magic Kingdom) is so much larger than Disneyland and so large crowds don't seem as out of control claustrophobic. We went on 5 May 05 to see the first day of the 50th season...and OH MY GOODNESS! it was wall to wall people. We were waiting for the fireworks and as it got closer to time, people started to step on us and push into us (we were in front of the castle). It was so bad that the three adults had to create a human cage for the kids and we ended up climbing over a fence to leave the area we had been waiting at for 2 hours! It just wasn't what I could call safe. Now, I understand that the NYE fireworks aren't that crazy but I think that we will be doing DCA instead. lol

Make reservations for any place you want to sit down and eat...or else you won't be eating there.

As for the next day? Haven't a clue. Some people say it's totally dead (which I just can't see happening) or that it's crowded.

Regards,
AussieCaribou

 

[Plutos Mommy]

Just be prepared for large crowds, I think you are going in with the right attitude that its about the experience, you know it will be crowded and have long lines. It's something you can add to your life experience list...you spent New Year's Eve at Disneyland.

I went with my kids in 2005 and it was wall to wall crowds down Main Street, especially when it was almost the New Year. They were routing people through the backstage areas on Main Street just so they could keep people moving. In addition we got caught in a downpour, which we were unprepared for so we were soaking wet and miserable (along with a drama queen teen that went with us). I'm also not a huge crowd person, so I can say I have done it but I'm thinking I probably won't do it again.

One thing to keep in mind is when it is that crowded and the park reaches capacity they do stop letting people in. They had big road signs up saying the park was full, so pick a park and stay put (worth renting a locker in my opinion).

I would definitely make dinner reservations as it may be hard to find a place to eat if you don't. I would do it soon too.

I'm glad that I did take the time to experience it, and was able to check that off my bucket list.

As for the day after I don't have any idea what the crowds are like as we took the train home that day.

 

[cmpeter]

We went last year for NYE, but chose to spend it at DCA vs. DL for a few reasons:

1 - Dh had never been on RSR and I really wanted him to ride it.
2 - Even when packed, DCA feels less crowded than DL. Walkways are wider.
3 - We aren't huge drinkers, but it was nice to get a drink or two at DCA.
4 - Screamin', RSR and TOT are my favorite rides.

It was a lot of fun. Nice party atmosphere, lots of music. They passed out hats and blowers.

We thought we had dressed warmly enough, but totally missed the mark. We had planned on staying to see WOC, but got way too cold and headed back to the hotel to ring in the new year. That's my one regret. I would totally do it again.

 

[ArchOwl]

Hi, I am considering Disneyland for NYE this year and was hoping for some advice. I know it will be unbelievably busy but we did NYC a few years back and survived (just) so we should be ok.

*Do we buy tickets in advance (as in special NYE tickets) or is it just the usual and purchase off the website?
*Is it a good idea to make dinner reservations?
*What's the next morning like? Busy or quiet?

We are a family of 4 travelling from Australia and although this is our first trip to Disneyland we have been to Disneyworld before so we are willing to accept that it will be more about the atmosphere and not the rides (which I'm assuming the queues will be huge for). Would you do it?

I think if you survived NYC, you should be good.

I would pre-purchase tickets in advance, although they are just regular tickets. The reason being that one of the first methods of crowd control attempted by Disney is to stop selling one-day tickets at the booths. So I would have my tickets in hand for NYE.

Another consideration is that the lines for everything on NYE are LONG, including ticket lines. I would avoid that whole mess entirely.

I encourage everyone who is going to be at the Resort for NYE to make their dining reservations early. The lines for counter service and snacks can be extremely long. It is so much nicer to have a reservation and a space to sit down and be waited on. There have been times we could barely find any seating at all on NYE for places like the Golden Horseshoe, etc. It just great to walk up and have a guaranteed place to eat. I definitely recommend having those reservations ready to go.

New Year's Day in the morning is actually quite nice for the first few hours. If possible, I definitely recommend being at the gates prior to rope drop. We get a LOT done that morning for sure.

The morning of NYE isn't bad either. I have pictures of New Orleans Square NYE morning and there is no one there yet! Of course, that changes between about 11am and noon. It starts getting very crowded around that time. We usually bail from DL and head over to DCA. Last year wait times at DCA weren't bad at all. Totally doable with good planning and use of FP.

I expect you could get a fair amount of rides done in DL and DCA on NYE and New Year's Day if you are ready at rope drop. If you show up later in the day, expect longer waits.

Here are pics and a short little write up about NYE in 2013. I didn't write one up for 2014 because our experience was very similar. This should give you an idea on how to avoid the lines and have a good time.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3040808

Let me know if you have more questions!

 

[HappiestHaunt]

Thank you, that was a terrific report! We are doing NYE this year as well because I am the only who has every done it in the past. But after reading your report, it really makes me want to head over and finish the night at DCA. It sounds like you guys had such a great time and the crowds there were super manageable. (great pics by the way!)