How early to wait for NYE Fireworks

[brave321]

We will be in MK on NYE (Crazy I know, but it's just how our schedules worked out). I was wondering how early we will need to stake out our fireworks spots if we want a good view. They have another fireworks show at 6:30 or 7 I think along with the ones at 11:50. Should we get out spots immediately after this one? Or do people typically stay and watch both meaning that we need to get out spots even before the first show? Also, how is saving spots perceived? If I hold the spots for the rest of my family until 9 will they be able to get to me or will it be too packed by then?

This isn't a normal park day by any means so it would really help if there is any holiday specific advice.

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

We will be in MK on NYE (Crazy I know, but it's just how our schedules worked out). I was
1. wondering how early we will need to stake out our fireworks spots if we want a good view.
2. They have another fireworks show at 6:30 or 7 I think along with the ones at 11:50.
3. Should we get out spots immediately after this one?
4. Or do people typically stay and watch both meaning that we need to get out spots even before the first show?
5. Also, how is saving spots perceived?
6. If I hold the spots for the rest of my family until 9 will they be able to get to me or will it be too packed by then?

1. There will be guests "camped out" 1-3 hours before the first show.
2. Yes. It's a different show. You don't want to see that one?
3. I don't know if you will be able to do that very well, as there will be thousands of guests
staying put after the first show.
4. Yup.
5. You can try. Just know that the best laid plans turn sour pretty quickly on a day like NYE.
6. "Packed to the point of gridlock" is not uncommon.
Safest plan... Keep your group together.

to the DISboards, brave321!

 

[FelisLachesis]

Just to add to Robo's answers, as mine would be the same, there will be people who will camp out the prime spots as early as noon!

Beyond that, just understand this is going to be an insanely busy day. This would be a day I'd seriously consider the dessert party, just so you can get a good spot without having to wait, quite literally, all day.

 

[CAS239]

A lot of people grab a spot early for the first fireworks, then keep that spot for the midnight show.

I wouldn't recommend at all trying to hold a spot for a big group of people. But if you want to try, I would bring a blanket to lay out or something to let people see you're holding that spot. If not then you'll be telling people every 5 min that you're holding a spot. If you do hold a spot I'd also recommend having your party come back to you 1-2 hours before midnight so their not trying to walk through wall to wall people

 

[brave321]

1. There will be guests "camped out" 1-3 hours before the first show.
2. Yes. It's a different show. You don't want to see that one?
3. I don't know if you will be able to do that very well, as there will be thousands of guests
staying put after the first show.
4. Yup.
5. You can try. Just know that the best laid plans turn sour pretty quickly on a day like NYE.
6. "Packed to the point of gridlock" is not uncommon.
Safest plan... Keep your group together.

to the DISboards, brave321!

Thanks! We have dinner reservations for BOG at 4:30. That's why we weren't planning on watching the first show. Do you think we won't be able to get a good spot if we wait until after the first show?

 

[brave321]

Just to add to Robo's answers, as mine would be the same, there will be people who will camp out the prime spots as early as noon!

Beyond that, just understand this is going to be an insanely busy day. This would be a day I'd seriously consider the dessert party, just so you can get a good spot without having to wait, quite literally, all day.

I've heard that they don't do the dessert party on NYE and I haven't seen anything about it on the dining page otherwise I think we might do that

 

[mbvisitor]

I've heard that they don't do the dessert party on NYE and I haven't seen anything about it on the dining page otherwise I think we might do that

There definitely is a Dessert Party at MK on NYE. I would look into that.

Unfortunately no NYE Dessert Party at Epcot, which is where we'll be!

 

[FelisLachesis]

I've heard that they don't do the dessert party on NYE and I haven't seen anything about it on the dining page otherwise I think we might do that

I paid for it ringing out 2014, and it was great! They only had the plaza view back then for Wishes with the NYE ending, and the view was spectacular. We got right on the corner railing, so nothing between us and a view of the castle.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...d-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party-plaza-view/

The garden version for December 31 is lit, but it looks to be unavailable, possibly sold out, and they're only doing it for the midnight fireworks. Keep checking for cancellations.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/

On December 31, the plaza view has the 6:00 viewing available for seating, but the midnight show is unavailable.

 

[FelisLachesis]

Unfortunately no NYE Dessert Party at Epcot, which is where we'll be!

When is Disney going to open the Frozen Dessert parties for January?

 

[zoo2tycoon]

We will be in MK on NYE (Crazy I know, but it's just how our schedules worked out).Also, how is saving spots perceived? If I hold the spots for the rest of my family until 9 will they be able to get to me or will it be too packed by then?

This isn't a normal park day by any means so it would really help if there is any holiday specific advice.

Thanks!

Holding spots-seriously?
I'm sorry my family all there and you have blanket saying these spots are saved for 8 invisible people?! I'm sorry our behinds be sitting there.

 

[FreeTime]

Holding spots-seriously?
I'm sorry my family all there and you have blanket saying these spots are saved for 8 invisible people?! I'm sorry our behinds be sitting there.

I agree. I would watch for a few minutes in case a few in the party left to grab food or a restroom break. If they weren't back in a few minutes, the spots free game. This is the same as line jumping to me. You want the spot with your entire family, then you all sit there.

 

[FelisLachesis]

Holding spots-seriously?
I'm sorry my family all there and you have blanket saying these spots are saved for 8 invisible people?! I'm sorry our behinds be sitting there.

I saw an empty ECV over a VERY large blanket right next to the partner's statue on NYE. I shrugged and moved along.

 

[mickey0624]

We will be in MK on NYE (Crazy I know, but it's just how our schedules worked out). I was wondering how early we will need to stake out our fireworks spots if we want a good view. They have another fireworks show at 6:30 or 7 I think along with the ones at 11:50. Should we get out spots immediately after this one? Or do people typically stay and watch both meaning that we need to get out spots even before the first show? Also, how is saving spots perceived? If I hold the spots for the rest of my family until 9 will they be able to get to me or will it be too packed by then?

This isn't a normal park day by any means so it would really help if there is any holiday specific advice.

Thanks!

Just me but I could never imagine sitting for 5 hours waiting for a fireworks show.

 

[BarbieGal457]

This may not be ideal for your family, but it worked for my party of two. We watched the midnight fireworks from New Fantasyland on NYE 2014 and it was amazing! Very few people comparatively and it was a great experience. Of course we couldn't see the front of the castle, but the mass of humanity out there was enough for me to not worry about missing it. That said, we had a dinner at Tony's Town Square for 8:30pm....walking to it was a NIGHTMARE, it took us over 45 minutes to cross the park from near Haunted Mansion. I would suggest your family get back to you way before 9pm. When I say it was a sea of bodies....it was unreal. People definitely camped out from the early afternoon hours and stayed all night. My suggestion is if fireworks are the priority, really plan to spend the later afternoon and night on it. We had only wanted to see those at midnight so it was less of a priority for us to get to Main Street.

You didn't mention how many are in the rest of your family, but I would think by 9pm you might have some less than favorable reactions from those you tell that you're saving X spot for someone. If it's just one spot, I'd think people will be more accepting of that than you trying to save many. Most guests (in all of my trips) seem to be generally cool with place holding when it involves bathroom trips or snack runs, but get less friendly as time passes and real estate sits empty as others have fun elsewhere. People definitely seemed to be testy by early evening that night. I described the walk to Tony's as the final scenes of Titanic! I have pretty severe anxiety and I must say it was the first time in a Disney Park I almost had a panic attack. This is not to scare you at all - just to give a picture of really how many people there will be.

 

[brave321]

Yeah we've pretty much abandoned the idea of saving spots... it was a pipe dream anyway. typically we wouldn't have even thought about being "those people" except I didn't realize how many people start saving spots so early.

Now we've got to figure out if it's worth it being in front of the castle. We haven't been there for a while and it'd be nice to see the projections, but if it's unlikely that we'll be able to find a spot after 6 then we might have to abandon that idea as well


By the way we're a party of four and the "kids" are 17 and 19