Epcot NYE

brave321

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 5, 2017
Messages
224
We will be in Epcot for NYE. Any last minute advice before we go?

Here’s our schedule
9:00 Leave POR for Epcot via bus
10:15-11:15 Test Track FP
11:20-12:20 Mission Space FP
12:50 Tokyo Dining Lunch
3:05-4:05 Spaceship Earth FP (may or may not do this)
5:55 Via Napoli Dinner
After dinner, find a spot for the fireworks and chill out there
After the fireworks wait for some of the crowds to leave then get a bus at IG
 
Braver than I!
POFq to Ohanas for 855am
Then to MK. Hoping to be in by noon
Fp Jungle cruise 1145-1245
Fp space mtn 1-2
Fp buzz 2-3

Dinner at 1900 PF.
Hopefully see the 630p fireworks
Back to POFQ
At mk shortly after 7am Jan 1
 
Only change that you might want to consider is if you can swap your Mission Space and Spaceship Earth fastpasses. The reason I say this is that in mid afternoon, Mission Space might be a walk-on with no fastpass necessary, while Spaceship Earth is more likely to still be crowded. This way you can come back anytime after your lunch and ride Mission Space without your fastpass (or with if it hits the timeframe). Or...just schedule the Mission Space fastpass earlier, even while you're eating lunch, then maybe you'll get lucky and be able to schedule a more useful 4th FP (which likely won't happen on NYE, but you never know...)
 
We will be in Epcot for NYE. Any last minute advice before we go?

Here’s our schedule
9:00 Leave POR for Epcot via bus
10:15-11:15 Test Track FP
11:20-12:20 Mission Space FP
12:50 Tokyo Dining Lunch
3:05-4:05 Spaceship Earth FP (may or may not do this)
5:55 Via Napoli Dinner
After dinner, find a spot for the fireworks and chill out there
After the fireworks wait for some of the crowds to leave then get a bus at IG

I have TT FPs for a similar window that day!

One thing that has backfired on me a couple of times in Epcot touring (regular day, not NYE) is the idea of going "back to the front of the park" for a later in the day SSE FP. Just never seems to work out all that well as we seem to always be on the opposite side of the park and don't feel like heading back to the front of the park. Plus I've had the worst luck with the FP line on that ride later in the day (can get really long).

Obviously those are just anecdotal experiences, nothing worth changing your FPs over, just a thought that came to mind reading your plans.

Have fun, and GOOD LUCK!
 

After the fireworks wait for some of the crowds to leave then get a bus at IG

There are no buses at the IG. The IG has walkway and boats the go to the EC area resorts (BWI, YC/BC, S&D) and DHS. Unless this is something new that I have missed, you'll have to head to the front of the park to catch a bus back to POR.

I also agree with others about switching MS and SSE. We are not huge fans of having to walk all the way back to the front of the park for a FP.
 
We will be in Epcot for NYE. Any last minute advice before we go?

Here’s our schedule
9:00 Leave POR for Epcot via bus
10:15-11:15 Test Track FP
11:20-12:20 Mission Space FP
12:50 Tokyo Dining Lunch
3:05-4:05 Spaceship Earth FP (may or may not do this)
5:55 Via Napoli Dinner
After dinner, find a spot for the fireworks and chill out there
After the fireworks wait for some of the crowds to leave then get a bus at IG

The only thing I might change is the time of your Spaceship Earth FP+.

If you are on the fence about it maybe move the time to before your Test Track FP+. You could do it when you arrive at the park rather than wlaking back to the front of the park and then when you get with Mission Space it will allow you to start looking for additional FP+ while you're sitting at Tokyo Dining for lunch.

If you decide you don't want to do Spaceship Earth, just tap your band and go (without actually doing the attraction).
 
Is anything available early?...If you're there at 9:45 or so you should be able to do Spaceship Earth via standby with not very much of a wait.

I guess my main point is I'd prefer that my last FP+ is a ride you might not even do...you're essentially delaying getting another FP+ for something you're not even sold on. I'd prefer to make my last FP+ of the day something I know I want to do so I'd either swap attractions in the current time slot or move the time slot to something first thing in the morning.
 
I have TT FPs for a similar window that day!

One thing that has backfired on me a couple of times in Epcot touring (regular day, not NYE) is the idea of going "back to the front of the park" for a later in the day SSE FP. Just never seems to work out all that well as we seem to always be on the opposite side of the park and don't feel like heading back to the front of the park. Plus I've had the worst luck with the FP line on that ride later in the day (can get really long).

Obviously those are just anecdotal experiences, nothing worth changing your FPs over, just a thought that came to mind reading your plans.

Have fun, and GOOD LUCK!
That's why we might not end up doing that FP. We heard that on NYE they might open up the tunnel between Japan and Future World which might make it easier for us to go back and forth. We mainly put that one there because we had an extra FP and no other time to use it. I guess it'll depend on how things work out that day if we end up using it or not
 
Is anything available early?...If you're there at 9:45 or so you should be able to do Spaceship Earth via standby with not very much of a wait.

I guess my main point is I'd prefer that my last FP+ is a ride you might not even do...you're essentially delaying getting another FP+ for something you're not even sold on. I'd prefer to make my last FP+ of the day something I know I want to do so I'd either swap attractions in the current time slot or move the time slot to something first thing in the morning.
It's NYE so we don't expect there to be many, if any at all, extra FPs available. We're ok if we don't even end up using all three. But thanks for the advice! Definitely something we would do if it were any other day with less crowds
 
I was just going to start a thread about what everyone has planned for NYE, and NYEE (New Years Eve Eve, at MK) because so many Dis'ers are braving the zoo that will be Epcot and MK on those days.
So this is as good a place as any to put it, if you don't mind a piggy back. Maybe we'll cross paths with others along the way. I realize how bonkers it will be and unlikely it will be to spot another but you never know.

Anyway, our plans on the 31st at Epcot
We will be out at MK late on the 30th so no early start here.
We'll be moving over from CR to BWI, though we'll send our bags to BWI and we'll do monorail to Epcot, unless we have a room already. If the lines are already excessive, then we'll do Uber to BWI and walk over
We have
Soarin' FP 11:40-12:40
Living w/Land, 12:40-1:40
Mission Space 1:40, 2:40
If there's any FP left after those, we may try for one but not counting or planning on it
Then we're heading to WS, with lunch at Spice Road Table at 2:30
By the time we are done with lunch, I figure we'll have a room (if not before) so we are heading over to the resort for a couple hours napping. Return to Epcot sometime, no certain time.
Rest of the evening will be spent in WS just soaking it all in.
Dinner ADR at Via Napoli at 9:00
 
I was just going to start a thread about what everyone has planned for NYE, and NYEE (New Years Eve Eve, at MK) because so many Dis'ers are braving the zoo that will be Epcot and MK on those days.
So this is as good a place as any to put it, if you don't mind a piggy back. Maybe we'll cross paths with others along the way. I realize how bonkers it will be and unlikely it will be to spot another but you never know.

Same on the 30th as you and others here. MK and we have the late Dessert party booked for some sanity and relief from the crowds. We will *try* to make it out late that night. We don't get in on Saturday until 3ish, assuming our flight is on time. So we won't be up early at least, but I'm also not sure if I can make it until 3AM regardless!

On the 31st, we will likely sleep in and do lunch at the resort. We have FP+ at the Characters at 2 (I don't care if we miss it), Living with the land at 3 and Soarin' at 4. Figured we could hit those two rides back to back because even Living with the Land has long lines on New Years Eve. Dinner is at Le Chefs de France at 7, so we plan on watching the first fireworks show near France. Then it's WS for the next few hours. We'll likely hang around until 1 and might try to take a bus from DHS since we don't mind that walk.
 
My question is this: From your 5:55 Via Napoli (which will end around 7:30 or earlier), you plan to get a spot for the fireworks and just chill. I assumed the fireworks are around midnight for New Years (but maybe they have the 9 o'clock Illuminations too?). Is it reasonable to try to hold a spot for 4.5 hours? I'm not sure I could do that without losing my mind.

One nice thing about Illuminations to me - unless you want to be front row to see the globe, then the back of the walkway works just as well. Even on a crazy day, you will still see the fireworks fine.
 
Since we will also be at MK on the 30th and attempting a 3am finish, we won't be heading to Epcot on NYE until around 4-4:30. We will be walking in through IG since we are staying at BCV. FP begins @ 4:40 for Disney pals, 5:40 for MS, and will squeeze in an anytime FP at TT around these. (got these many months ago for an issue). Dinner will be at 6:50 Teppan Edo, followed by very slow meandering towards Norway. Final FP begins at 8:35 for FEA, and then more meandering and dance parties. Fireworks will be watched from wherever we are at the time, and our final anytime FP will be a spur of the moment decision. Hopefully the only significant lines we will have to wait for, are for drinks and restrooms. Walk back to our villa through IG around 1am.
 
My question is this: From your 5:55 Via Napoli (which will end around 7:30 or earlier), you plan to get a spot for the fireworks and just chill. I assumed the fireworks are around midnight for New Years (but maybe they have the 9 o'clock Illuminations too?). Is it reasonable to try to hold a spot for 4.5 hours? I'm not sure I could do that without losing my mind.

One nice thing about Illuminations to me - unless you want to be front row to see the globe, then the back of the walkway works just as well. Even on a crazy day, you will still see the fireworks fine.

For Epcot, I am under the impression that Illuminations (regular Illuminations) runs at 6:30PM that night and the NY fireworks are at 11:40PM. Someone correct me if I have that wrong.
 
My rough NYE plans are below. It's just me and DS7 so I can't stay up late with you cool kids, but we're going to make the most of it! Fortunately staying at Poly so I can still get in some late fireworks there both nights.

12/30 (arrival)
Late Morning FPs
Lunch at Skipper Canteen
Afternoon MK time
Dessert party for 6:30PM MK show (which I sure as heck hope is Fantasy in the Sky!) :goodvibes:goodvibes:goodvibes
Goal is to be in bed at a reasonable time so we can 'maybe' make it to midnight the next day

12/31
AM Epcot FPs
Lunch at Biergarten (odd choice but slim pickens when I finally sat down to book, plus DS loves the music/entertainment)
Head back to resort early/mid afternoon
More than likely watch early and late show from Poly (purposely kept my plans pretty loose here so we can just go with the flow, both in terms of crowds and our own spirits, using Poly as a safety net)

Obviously the schedule is more about DS than what I'd do with an older crew, but should be awesome just to be around both the resort and parks.

Have fun all!
 
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We are changing our traditional New Years plans a little from years past.
Usually we stay at the poly or bay lake to watch the MK fireworks from our room on the 30th then change resorts (beach club) and do New Years Eve at Epcot.
This year we are going to actually go into Mk for the first time (I know it will be busy but still looking forward to the excitement)

Here are our plans ...
MK Dec. 30th
The Wave at noon
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 2:00
Peter Pan's Flight 3:05
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 4:30
The Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen at 510
Epcot Dec. 31th
Day Cruise around Epcot Lagoon (wine and apps)
Soarin' 2:00
Spaceship Earth 3:00
The Seas with Nemo & Friends 4:00
Tutto Italia Ristorante Dinner at 530
Hitting all the parties esp. Italy and Japan !!!!
 
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4 more days!!
NYE eve: we get into MCO around 1 this day. Fingers crossed we get to see DD before she has to head to work at 3:30 (at CBR) We are staying at CSR 30-2
MK FP on 30th:
HM 5:25,
Splash 6:30,
PP 7:45.
Late dessert party this night. Snagged this just the other day! Hoping to still be up for the 1-3am EMH!

Epcot FP NYE
:
Soarin 12:35-1:35;
Spaceship earth 2:15;
LWtL 3:25
Teppan Edo @ 6:40. Hoping we are up to make the Soarin FP LOL.

Anyone have any thoughts on having DME take luggage vs us just grabbing it on the 30th? I plan to pack essentials into carryon and we aren't going to be back into room before 1 am at earliest anyway...but in October it took until 10 pm to get our luggage (got in 2 hours earlier too).
 
My question is this: From your 5:55 Via Napoli (which will end around 7:30 or earlier), you plan to get a spot for the fireworks and just chill. I assumed the fireworks are around midnight for New Years (but maybe they have the 9 o'clock Illuminations too?). Is it reasonable to try to hold a spot for 4.5 hours? I'm not sure I could do that without losing my mind.

One nice thing about Illuminations to me - unless you want to be front row to see the globe, then the back of the walkway works just as well. Even on a crazy day, you will still see the fireworks fine.
We might not spend that whole time waiting in a spot, we’ll probably walk around a little bit. My dad can’t walk for hours on end so I thought it’d be good to block out time to just sit and take in the atmosphere. We were planning on bringing a blanket and playing card games while we wait
 


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