Help with New Year

[welshlamb]

As are holiday is getting closer i'm starting to think about New Year. After reading lots of threads on here i'm a bit unsure of what to do for New Years Eve.

What time would anyone recommmend that we aim to get to the parks for and what time should i make a dinner resevation for?

When you make a dinner reservation for the likes of New Years Eve do you book it through Disney direct and do you have to pay in full for it?
I've made a few breakfast/dinner/character reservations ,but i pay for those on the actual day?

 

[tashasmum]

We have reservations at Rose and Crown pub in Epcot, we booked through the normal disney dining number and we did not have to pay in advance.Not sure yet what time we are getting to Epcot, i have read that this park does not close it's doors and some say that it does.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Yes you book meals directly through Disney and you should do this soon cos you're already within 90 days.

As for what time to get there...the answer is early. Where are you staying? If you're off site you need to be at the park almost as it opens otherwise you may be disappointed. The car parks close earlier than the gates so that only Disney resort guests can get in.

Last ttime I went for NYE it was over the millennium so it was even more busy than usualbut Epcot car park was full by about 8am

 

[cheryl.UK]

sorry

 

[Camac]

Bear in mind that it is an awfully long time to be in a park from early morning until way past midnight on NYE. Remember that it will take quite a while to exit as the majority of people will leave after the midnight fireworks end.

I'm sure the atmosphere must be great on nights such as NYE, personally I couldn't stand being in such a large crowded place for so long.

Our plan for NYE is to have a relaxing day beside the pool or maybe a bit of shopping, in the evening we have reservations for the 8pm Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner show at the Poly Resort after which we plan to sit on the Poly beach and watch the MK midnight fireworks. This way we figure we will get some of the atmopshere without the big crowds.

Whatever you decide to do, you will no doubt have a great NY!

Camac

 

[Fiona R]

For NYE we are also avoiding the parks, partly because we have 10 day tickets with 14 day expiration over a 15 day holiday....I think we will be better using them our first day when it's less busy!! Also, I have an arthritic knee and know I won't be able to keep going all day, the thought of the crowds and no where to sit does not seem appealing. We have splashed out on 2 nights in the Dolphin at the end so we can have a final day in Epcot on the 30th and enjoy the pool on the 31st, mini golf etc and have an ADR for Cape May Cafe dinner and we will watch all the fireworks probably from our Epcot view balcony. I think by then the crowds will be getting to us.....and I will be creased up so it seems the best plan to us....

 

[Claire L]

Try and book asap as the 180 window was July 4th for NYE, you may find that there is not alot left now.

Claire

 

[gilld]

We too avoided the parks on MYE as they were frighteningly busy. Book a nice resort restaurant for dinner and then enjoy the celebrations they all put on.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We are planning to spend NYE in EPCOT as we have done a few times before, yes it is busy but not unbearable and it's great fun going from country to country as they celebrate the New Year.
Have fun.

Mick.

 

[Merylj]

We did Epcot for NYE two years ago, we enjoyed our afternoon there, though it wasn`t possible to do any rides as there were no fastpasses left and waits were for two hours. We shopped and generally enjoyed the World Showcase.
The fire works were great at 7 pm and thats when we should have left as after that we could not move and the walkways back to the World Showcase were gridlocked with people.
We had a reservation for Le Cellier for 9pm, so we just hung round for that and were seated at 10.30pm and after that we returned to our resort.
If we did it again we would stay for the afternoon and visit a resort for dinner - probably the Poly and watch the fireworks from there.
Sorry to sound negative!
When you phone to book they don`t want full payment and may say there are special menus available at a set price, however you could still get the regular menus.

 

[wayneg]

We have done 3 NYE in Epcot. Will be there for our 4th this year.
With it being so spread out it is the best park to be in for large crowds so even at capacity it is still bearable.
Personally I would not do a meal res in there, stories form past years have been, 1-2 hours late to be seated, food not as good because they cant cope and staff very stressed so not as pleasant as they should be.
Yes they definitely do close the gates the 1st year we did NYE they tried turning us away at the gate 30 mins after opening luckily it was the only year we were onsite so we got in. Even Onsite guests are not guaranteed admission. They only guarantee admission to a park so they could send you to another. A meal res also does not guarantee admission.
Last year we went in at opening round to Soarin got fast passes and went in standby line, had a 10 min wait, came off back round again to use fast pass. By the time we came off after 2 goes the standby line had got upto 90 mins.
We will be in "England" at 7pm (midnight UK) watch 7:30pm fireworks then out to Downtown Disney for fireworks at midnight.
A lot of people leave after these early fireworks and that is the time you realise how many are actually in the park its a sea of people trying to leave.
Having said all these negative things we still believe its the best place on Earth to be for NYE. Can't wait.