I Need help on what to do on New Year's eve! please help me!

[marconat]

Hi! I'm going to WDW and I will be there on Dec. 31. 2006, We were not suppose to be there until the 1 or 2 of Jan 2007, but got a really good deal on airfaire so here we go... Where should I go and what to do... it's all new for me... I love to hear from you guys and your plans, maybe that would give me some ideas on what or what not to do... Thank you for your suggestions

 

[marconat]

Is anybody going during that time that can help me? or any suggestions?

 

[PKK/MJK]

Well, I'm not sure if this will be of any help but...after being in WDW for New Years Eve several times and battling the incredible crowds (literally elbow to elbow gridlock--one year CMs in Epcot were hanging out of a tree trying to direct the traffic), last year we booked New Year's Eve at the Poly Concierge. It's not cheap--but we were able to manage one night. The Poly concierge has a most incredible lounge with floor to ceiling glass windows. You can see all of the midnight fireworks from the Magic Kingdom and not fight the crowds. They serve wonderful and plentiful food, give out hats and noise makers, champagne etc. You can also sit on the beach and watch all of the festivities. Of course, I don't know your exact situation--so I'm not sure you'd like this--but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Whatever you do, be sure to make your dining ressies early. I believe the 180 day window is coming soon. Having priority seating is essential for that evening. By the way, in the parks the lines for the restrooms are mind-boggling--so if you do enter the parks--don't drink too many fluids. LOL!

 

[SusanDK]

My sister was at WDW last July and she said that they showed the 4th of July fireworks show also on July 3rd.

Does anyone know if this is also done with the New Year's Eve fireworks, that they are also shown on December 30th?

We already have plans for NYE but would love to catch the NYE fireworks somewhere the night before if possible.

Susan

 

[dixiedizfan]

Our family is arriving late afternoon on December 31st, and staying one night at Pop Century before checking in early at AKL the next morning for the rest of the week. Since we know that New Years Eve is THE most crowded evening at WDW (and that's saying something), we plan on staying put at the resort; eating dinner and strolling the grounds. There is no way we would even think of battling the masses of people on the buses, monorail, etc., just getting TO the parks, or even to the resorts near the parks.

 

[marconat]

dixiedizfan That's what were doing too, arriving on the 31 (afternoon) and staying one night at an other hotel before and then going to OKW for the rest of the week ha! Unfortunatly we will not be on site for the 31st of Dec... I guess we could make reservations at a restaurant and then get out of there and watch the fireworks from somewhere else.... Where do you suggest to have diner... at MK or Epcot??? or at a resort?

 

[dixiedizfan]

If you want to have dinner on New Years Eve at one of the parks or resorts, you WILL need a reservation, which you would need to make as soon as possible. It's up to you whether to try a restaurant inside a park or at a resort, keeping in mind that the parks will be jam-packed. Good luck!

 

[cortegro]

We will be arriving late afternoon/evening on 12/31 as well. We are staying at the WL concierge. I think we are leaning toward staying put at the lodge and trying for ADR at Whispering Canyon for dinner. I would love to check out the fireworks from the beach (can you do that from WL?) or maybe try for a fireworks cruise? That would be a nice start to the vacation!

The waiting is killing me already!!!

-cortegro

 

[Harambe]

We were at WDW on Dec. 31, 1999. Holy Teledo! The parks filled to capacity early, we had chosen to be a MK. We got to the park by 7am, and by 4:40pm, we could not weather the storm!

We went back to our resort, and hung by the pool (holding the flashlight Disney supplied in every room just in case Y2K came true. Imagine?). The whole of WDW exploded with fireworks. So even if we couldn't see them, we heard them.

And the best part of not going out on New Years Eve? You will have the parks to yourselves in the early morning of New Years Day.

 

[cortegro]

That's exactly my thought. If I can keep the excitement of getting to a park right away squelched, the next morning should be wonderful! I also will not have to use a park ticket that day either. I think I am settled into just dinner and wander the resort, or tour other MK resorts for the holiday decorations.

Has anyone got New Years Day experiences to share? How early you got there, crowds, CM's awake? etc.....

 

[vsimeone]

This year will be our third trip to WDW for Christmas/New Years. I am really hoping that this is not your first time ever going to WDW because you do not want NYE to be your very first experience with the parks! We have been MANY MANY times so for us - we spend NYE at MK and just hang out. We do some attractions first thing in the morning - get there early because they start closing procedures around 10:30 - and then we people watch and wander around. We might grab a couple of fast passes here and there but we really don't try to PLAN to do anything!

We have ADRs for LTT at 6:35 for dinner and then we'll fight the crowds to get our hats and horns. Our last trip in 04, we signed our lives away to be with the "televised" group on the rose garden lawn. It was fun. We never were on TV (to the best of my knowlege) but it was a great "out of the way" place to watch the fireworks from.

The one thing that I will do differently this year is to go back and ride rides after the fireworks. The crowd leaving is just incredible and I have recently heard that most attractions stay operating until around 2am so this year - we're just staying put until the crowds die down! Last trip, I wandered up to the train station and took some pictures. They're really dark but maybe you can get some idea of the crowd:

As for New Year's Day, this past time, we left on NYD but the previous trip (1996) we had MK completely to ourselves all morning. We didn't leave until later in the day that trip so we ventured over and got TONS of GREAT pictures!

No matter what you decide, have a marvelous time!!!!

 

[cortegro]

I am not sure about the OP, but we have been to WDW 3 times in the last few years. (never during the Holidays, though!) That is why I am so excited about this trip. I can't wait to see the Christmas decorations and the 'lesser' crowds than the summer months or the spring break crowds. I can't imagine what a 1st timer would think about WDW if they saw it jammed up on a major holiday like that! I actually know of someone who will be going for their 1st time just after MLK weekend right after we get back. Besides the weather being unpredictable, I think they will experience perfect Disney touring conditions.

-cortegro

 

[poppinspal]

I see there are many people who aren't into being in the parks on NYE. I'll put my opinion out there for as to why I enjoy it. We've done it two years(the most recent was the past NYE) and I really enjoyed myself.

Both times we went to MGM for the day and I'm not sure how early we got there but I can tell you it wasn't super early. We had ADRs for Prime Time Cafe and did have to wait a little to get seated. The first year we hung out and saw the "Teen Idol" concert. When they say teen idol well... Davy Jones was the head liner. This past trip we spent time just walking around and enjoying the sights. We went and saw the Osbourn family lights. My sis and I bought light up crowns. We really took more time to poke around and see the little things. We did ride a few rides(mostly just before mid night.) And then MGM had one of the best fireworks shows I've seen in a long time. (And that's saying something considering Boston's 4th of July show is HUGE.) They show was put to famous music from popular movies. Both Disney movies and non-dis movies. They had a DJ counting down and people went simply wild when the clock struck 12. It was so much funny and people went crazy. It was such a great feeling because it seemed like everyone in the park was that much happier that night. Even my brother who is the party pooper of the group was up and dancing.

I think if you can kick back and not worry about the rides for a night then NYE in the parks is a special time. I know the two times I celebrated NYE at Disney rank in my top three NYE ever. And I've celebrated in a number of different ways.

 

[dixiedizfan]

And the best part of not going out on New Years Eve? You will have the parks to yourselves in the early morning of New Years Day.

That's what we're hoping!

 

[marconat]

Yes, I've been to WDW before, just not on a holiday... That's why I needed some help. I was thinking about doing Aloha diner show! and then just chill out on the beach and watch the fireworks... But I will be in the park early in the morning and enjoy myself... maybe I'll see you there!!!!! Thank's for all the tips... any more?

 

[marconat]

Well I just booked a room a Coronado Springs... I'm so excited. It's just for one night, then I'm going to OKW for 7 nights and hopefully an other 7 nights at WL or BC... So I guess I'll enjoy myself on a quiet night at CS on NYE.

 

[Harambe]

Coronado Springs is supposed to be gorgeous at night! You could walk over to the Mayan Temple pool and have a margerieta - oh, it's good to be you!!!!

 

[marconat]

Harambe, I'm going to have a margueritta for sure (it's my fav. drink) and just soak in the beauty of the resort... hey I'll have one for you!!!!

 

[Dopey420]

I have been on New Years Eve before. When you enter in the morning, they tell you that the admissions gate will likely be closed at 1 pm, and if you leave, you cannot come back in.

It will be the most crowded day you have ever been there.

Your plan should be to get there early...and don't leave. You won't get back in.

 

[KinderTchr]

I will be there this New Years Eve. When I was making ADRs I asked about the possibility of parks closing due to capacity and the CM with whom I was speaking suggested that we be inside the park no later than 10 am. We plan on spending the day at MGM. We have reservations for Prime Time Cafe. We will have visited MGM earlier in the week and done the rides that we want and I have a Fantasmic dinner scheduled earlier in the week. We plan to just enjoy the park and the crowd on New Years Eve.

We don't fly out until late on New Years Day so I plan on spending that last morning visiting fav. rides in the MK.

I was at the MK many, many years ago on NYE. That year the park was practically empty, you could walk on any ride (and this was before fastpass) until about 2:00. Then it was body to body.