Help with dates for NYE trip

[Baxhappyplace]

We have two options.

1. Dec 29-Jan 4
2. Dec 31-Jan 6

(I know two day difference right?)

We are doing 5 days Disney and 2 days Universal. We saw that there is a marathon weekend at Disney on one of the crowd calendar websites and didn't know how busy it will be. We are trying to find at least a few days where it will not be sooooo busy at the parks.

Plus which place would be less crowded (if that is even possible) for NYE and NYD, Disney or Universal?

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

We have two options.

1. Dec 29-Jan 4
2. Dec 31-Jan 6

(I know two day difference right?)

We are doing 5 days Disney and 2 days Universal. We saw that there is a marathon weekend at Disney on one of the crowd calendar websites and didn't know how busy it will be. We are trying to find at least a few days where it will not be sooooo busy at the parks.

Plus which place would be less crowded (if that is even possible) for NYE and NYD, Disney or Universal?

I would personally do December 29th-Jan 4th.

If you arrive at Disney on December 31st, it'll be far too hectic. If you have ANY plans on going to the parks, they'll be packed by the time you even check in.

I'd arrive on December 29th.
On December 30th, Magic Kingdom does the same NYE show as 12/31. Go to this and enjoy the (slightly) lower crowds.
On December 31, go to EPCOT.

Honestly, the parks weren't too crowded on 1/1. I remember being amazed how less crowded it was on 1/1 than it was the day before. I mean, obviously it'll be far more crowded on 12/31 than 1/1, but it was almost empty!

I have a site and free ebook at survivedisxmas. Feel free to check it out and ask any questions! We've been doing it for 6 years now and going for our 7th trip in 8 years!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Plus which place would be less crowded (if that is even possible) for NYE and NYD, Disney or Universal?

Sorry, didn't see this question.

I think they'll both be pretty crowded. Are you staying on-site or off-site?

We always stay out of the parks on NYE Day (12/31.) We hang by the pool all day or head to Disney Springs (although Disney Springs has become more and more crowded now with the new additions) then eat dinner and go to EPCOT around 10pm. We always run the risk of being turned away due to capacity, but we've never had it happen. Those staying off-site (not at a Disney resort) have a much greater chance of being turned away due to phase closures than those staying on property.

 

[katdances]

I agree with PlutoTheDog89. Depending on crowd levels, parks could begin to close to new guests later in the day on NYE. By arriving that day, you are already putting yourself at a disadvantage.

I went this past year and really enjoyed Magic Kingdom on 12/30 versus braving the crowds on NYE. You get the same type of environment: there is party-like music, the cast members are all dancing, and they do the NYE fireworks show. I went to Epcot for actual NYE and it definitely was wall-to-wall people. However, if you go with the expectation of this ahead of time, it makes the experience a LOT more enjoyable. WS had so many special things going on in each country that it didn't matter that I wasn't riding a ton of attractions (Soarin' had around a 5 hour wait -- ummmm, no thanks!). Epcot definitely is a more "adult" park on NYE, but I definitely saw plenty of families with smaller children enjoying themselves as well. If you can manage to get going the morning of NYD, you will enjoy much lower crowds than the previous days. The crowd levels definitely go down during those days between NYD and before the marathoners start to arrive.

I have also done NYE at IOA at Universal. It just felt more crowded to me than at Disney. They have slightly narrower walkways and it's not as easy to maneuver around large amounts of people there. At WDW, there was always some tucked away spot that I could retreat to for a brief rest from the crowds. I wasn't able to really find anything like that at IOA. No matter which dates you choose, I'm sure you all will have a great time!