Disneyland New Years Eve 2015 - 2016 Thread!

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

Last year gates closed around 4pm for a few hours...but re opened later. Christmas day gates closed around 1:30p for a few hours.

DCA has yet to close the past few years non NYE

See I was there last year at around that arrival time and I was let in, so I don't exactly remember the gates being closed for a few hours because I got in....

 

[Metalliman98]

We just got back from the parks tonight (NYE)..........and I was totally surprised by how UNcrowded it seemed, relatively. We got to DL at 8 am, the bag check lines were orderly and quick, in stark contrast to our first day in the parks on Monday 12/28, when it took us 30 minutes to get through security and the line was halfway to Harbor. We got into DL at 8:30 (stuck behind like 20+ people at the gate who had to get their pictures taken) and it honestly seemed almost deserted for the first several hours. We got FP for Indy with a return time of 9:15, rode the train around completely, walked on to HMH, got FP for BTMRR for 10:20, rode Indy, went to Tom SAwyer's island, did BTMRR, then had lunch at Cafe Orleans. Only during lunch did it seem busy, but it wasn't any worse than the rest of the week. After reading posts and reviews of previous years, I was expecting a crush of people from bag check to gate to the park all day, but it was pretty much like a busy summer day IMO.

We did bail after lunch as we are at the end of our trip and had done pretty much what we wanted, left around 1:30, again it was crowded but the park had not restricted entry to my knowledge and it was not the sea of people I was expecting. After a couple hour break, we went to DCA, walked right in, had an early dinner at Ariel's, did TSMM twice with 30 min wait each time, Soarin with 15 minute wait, didn't do Tower but at times it said 10 minute wait.......no crowds, until about 9 when it started to get a little crowded. We hung out Carthay to see the 9 pm fireworks then headed back.

Was anyone else surprised by the relative lack of people? Does anyone know if they actually had to restrict entry?

 

[ParkHopper1]

On a quick break before heading back out to the parks.

Eerily quiet this year. At 5p there was ZERO traffic surrounding the parks...less then a typical weekend.

DCA is like an off season day...short lines on everything. No wait to get into DL or DCA gates at 5:30pm.

DL is busy but not stupid busy like pervious years. At 6:30p felt lighter than Christmas day. Still easy to walk around...but was only there for a short bit

Kinda weird. Cast members that I make comments to agree that it is unusually light crowds.

For all those that stayed away thinking it would be too crowded...THANKS!

 

[justgrace]

Did the fireworks go off as scheduled? We were looking at the MatterCam and it looked pretty windy throughout the day.

 

[94bruin]

Today went pretty smoothly for us UNTIL we tried to leave the park after Paint the Night.

We didn't get to the park until 10:30am. Security was a breeze, no difference than past visits. The FP for HSM was late afternoon, so opted for ST FP for 3-4pm.

Rode Dumbo, Autopia, Teacups, Small World - all less than 30 min waits. Got a great spot for first Xmas parade near Small World.

After Paint the Night, (we were near Small World again, but on the raised area), it was very tough to make our way to the exit. It was as a PP described - we shuffled our way towards the front of the park. There was no organization getting out of the park. In fact, as we were about to hit the hub, a CM stood on a planter and said that it was one way traffic back towards Matterhorn and everyone needed to turn back around. We (and most others) didn't listen and pressed forward. It took us over 30 mins to exit the park.

 

[94bruin]

Did the fireworks go off as scheduled? We were looking at the MatterCam and it looked pretty windy throughout the day.

It was definitely windy earlier, but I think I heard the fireworks. Not sure though as we were back at the hotel by then.

 

[Disney127]

Spent the morning at DL till noon - got in at 7:30 am - saw the rush for Hyoerspace FP. Got FP and got on a few rides before it got more crowded. Headed back to hotel for break until 4:30 pm. Walked into DCA and wasn't crowded at all. Had a nice dinner at Ariel's. Watched first WOC from Ariel's outdoor seating and then preferred area for second show. Rides are mostly walk ons. Waiting for midnight now - no crowds like what we were expecting.

 

[Malcon10t]

We entered DL at 310p. Was a little surprised at the crowds, much lighter at that point than I expected. But most people were on Main Street. We hit Star Tours, Hyper Space Mountain, visited with Chewie and Darth, hit Matterhorn and Big Thunder. Then decided to find food. No tables at either Rancho and River Belle. So we went to Hungry Bear. After burgers, we headed to Haunted Mansion. Coming off Mansion, we decided to head to Jingle Cruise. We were in one way traffic. Encountered people going against traffic. That is where is slowed to a crawl. 20 mins to get from Haunted Mansion to Pirates exit. (We were one way back by the train, and around by the exit to Pirates. It was 730-750p.) We made it to Jingle Cruise, and after the ride, opted to head to DCA. We found it odd coming out of Adventureland to hear the Disneyland Forever music, but no fireworks. We took the empty back alley, and exited quickly. Headed into DCA and stopped to relax in Carthay for an hour. Then headed out to Racers, Toy STory, Goofy's Sky Skool, then Ariels. It was 11, so we checked in for WOC. Very impressed by the fireworks show there. We had a great day, and really enjoyed the DCA night!

 

[Disney127]

We really enjoyed the fireworks at DCA too. We were in front King Triton's Carousel - cast members cleared the area between Toy Story Mania and Mickey's Fun Wheel due to the fireworks. It was a nice way to ring in 2016. Low crowds and walk on rides - not what we were expecting at all!

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

Our friends were able to get in around 5pm, so the gates must not have been closed - for long, anyway.

I was so expecting super long lines all day. We were there at rope drop. Peter Pan was our first ride, and that was the longest wait - about 35 minutes. After that, we walked right onto Snow White. We used fast passes for Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours. Walked right onto Indiana Jones, Pirates, Splash, Jingle Cruise, & Tea Cups. We got to Matterhorn just as they were about to open a single rider line and were at the front of that. Astro Blasters, Small World, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Ranch, Star Wars show (Path of the Jedi) were all a 5-15 minute wait.

I was so excited that we were able to hit all the rides at just the right time to have such short waits! Amazing! We were there until 2:30am - Best and Longest day at The Land EVER!

Yet, I don't know that I'll go for NYE again - hard too navigate the crowds from ride to ride and it was such a loooooonnng day! But an amazing day!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We did DCA all day for New Year's Eve, stayed until just after 12:30 am. It was great, what I imagine an off-season day to be like. Rode RSR three times, Tower and Screamin' each twice, and pretty much got to do everything else we wanted to do. It was so wonderful too to be able to have breathing room. The walkways were so uncrowded, especially in comparison to Disneyland on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1 & 2. We also enjoyed the DCA fireworks at midnight but didn't bother with the World of Color show. We did see the Winter Dreams one earlier in the evening.