Getting in on NYE with an ADR???

[donaldsgal]

We are planning to be in a park on NYE this year. We are planning our day at MGM and originally had ADRs for Spoodles at 5:40 PM. We assumed we could re-enter MGM after dinner since we are staying on site and have park hoppers to allow us to re-enter on the same pass (having read in the past that on-site guests can still get in even if a park closes due to being at-capacity). I realized a few days ago after reading some threads here that that's not the case - re-entry is guaranteed to no one.

So, that being the case, here's our question: If we have ADRs for a park that has closed due to being at capacity, will we get in? I see both sides of this: potentially yes, since guests can enter a park before it officially opens for ADRs, but this is obviously different since the park isn't FULL at 8 in the morning. The reason I see this NOT working is because anyone could say they have ADRs to get into a closed-due-to-capacity park. We'd likely try to get into Epcot with ADRs at a restaurant in WS.

Thanks for your help on this one. Our party has several trips under our belts, but this is our first experience with traveling at this (incredibly busy!) time of year.

 

[Antonia]

I think Epcot MAY not usually reach full capacity on NYE, so there is more of a possibility that you would get in there than say MK.

If you're willing to take a gamble, it would probably be a good chance you could enter Epcot.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Disney will not guarantee that you can get into a park based solely on the fact you have an ADR. That said, I believe you would be fairly safe with MGM. I was asking this same type of question a year ago because I thought we would go to MGM or Epcot and I was told by many posters on my thread that neither of those parks is likely to fill for capacity for the long haul. Its MK that fills to capacity and seems to stay that way on NYE. Also, Epcot holds lots of people so it doesn't usually fill to capacity either but it certainly could. But again, its less likely for Epcot to fill up than MK. We were able to get into Epcot just fine last NYE about 8:30 p.m. From the bus (we were onsite) I could see a long, long line of cars stopped, not able to pass through the parking lot booths. I assume they were offsite guests. However, when we got up to the gate, we got in fine and they were not inquiring as to whether we were onsite or not. But it looked like cars were having some trouble entering. Once in, we didn't ride a thing, we just people watched and hung out waiting for the countdown and Illuminations. Still it was a lot of fun.

Also, onsite guests are guranteed to get into "A Park" not necessarily the park of their choice. Here is my advice, stay away from MK on NYE, arrive for your ADR at Epcot early so that if it is full, you can hang around waiting for them to open it up again. Also, WS is a human traffic jam on NYE so it takes a bit of time to navigate your way through it so allow plenty of time to make that ADR.

And last but not least, maybe consider Tour Guide Mike. Even though we had several trips under out belt, it was invaluable to have his holiday advice and it worked beautifully for us.

 

[donaldsgal]

Thanks! Amy&Dan, we are actually using TGM for the first time this trip. That's why we were planning on hitting MGM on NYE. In any event, it's encouraging to hear you were able to get into Epcot at such a late hour. Does MGM do NYE fireworks? If not, we'll probably head to Epcot.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yes MGM does fireworks too at midnight as well as Fantasmic. Also, I will tell you that last year, MK did their NYE fireworks on the 30th as well as the 31st. Not sure if that is the case this year or not. But it was very nice to see that display at MK on the 30th, then do EMH until 4:00 a.m. Thats why we were so late getting to Epcot, we were worn out from being at MK until 4:00! Also, if you should go to Epcot, we saw Illuminations from very close to the American Adventure. That was a great spot because off in the distance we could see MK's fireworks too. What a night! Its a great time to go even with the crowds!