I Will Not Go To A WDW Theme Park On NYE Again!

[Feralpeg]

DD and I went to Epcot today. Why? I don't know. Maybe I have some sort of wish to be tortured. We got there about 10:30 am. I knew it would be crowded and really didn't expect to do any rides. It was a good thing. By 10:30am, the fast passes for Test Track were for 10:30 to 11:30 pm. The standby line was 90 minutes. We decided to go over to The Land around 1pm to see Circle Of Life. No problem there. We got right in. As we entered The Land pavilion, the CMs were standing out front yelling to the crowd that all fastpasses for Soarin were gone and the wait for the standby line was four hours. Why would anyone wait in a line for four hours?

After Circle Of Life, we went over to the Wonders Of Life pavilion. We got to see Cranium Command. That was the highlight of the day. After that, we started walking around World Showcase. We had to walk single file through the crowd. We dodged people continuously. I thought for sure, I was going to lose a few toes to an EVC. It was just miserable. People were laying all over the grass areas. Some were sitting. Some were eating. Some were smoking. The smoking was a real problem. I would imagine it was hard getting into a smoking area. Therefore, people were smoking everywhere. Nothing like lit cigarettes in a crowd!

At one point, we got to see a couple have a rather large fight in front of their children and a great many other people. Nice!

It was finally time for our ADR at LeCellier. While waiting to check in, we got to hear another argument. A family had made an ADR for six people. At some point, they decided to invite an additional four people to dine with them. The CM at LeCellier told them they could not accommodate another four people. The guy got irritated. The CM explained to them that they had already over-booked the restaurant tonight by 200 people to cover the no-shows. Unfortunately, many people were showing up. They were turning people away in droves. They guy got really bent out of shape and asked for a manager. It turned out that he was talking to the manager. She told him that his original party of six could dine or they could leave. That was the way it was going to be. Good for her!

Dinner was great. When we came out of the restaurant, they had started handing out hats and horns. I swear I may never hear properly again. People were blowing those stupid things non-stop right next to other people's ears.

We left the park about 6:30 pm and came home. I will not be going back next year on NYE. It wasn't worth it.

 

[bettyann29]

wow-- Wdw would be the best place in the world though to spend NYE.. After hearing all that, I still wish I lived closeby that I could visit WDW for just one day..

 

[rcraw45425]

Peggy, WS sounds like it was when we were there the first of November, the last weekend of F&W. We had to wait 20 minutes for the yakitori CS place, no other food to be had. THe lines for the F&W booths were ridiculous. I have never seen WS that bad, I'm glad we weren't there. WE had to make a quick trip to Central Florida on Thursday to pick up a boat. There were no decent accomodations around there, DH suggested driving over to WDW till I reminded him it was approaching NYE weekend. That would have ruined any further trip for us if he experienced that.

 

[Feralpeg]

Getting anything to drink or eat was horrible. Every drink stand had a line of at least 20 people. Many people were sitting outside on the grass, sidewalks, etc. eating because there were no tables available in the fastfood places.

I told DD we should just go home and go back over in a week. We'll have the place practically to ourselves!

 

[unbroken chain]

My sympathy!!

My sister and I made this mistake in the 80's. We had free tickets that expired at year end, so we decided to use them. It took us 4 hours to make the 1 hour drive, and when we got there we found out why: the parks were so crowded, they were closed and they were turning each and every person around at the parking booths and sending them home. But lucky us, with our special tickets, we were admitted. What a nightmare!

It was like the Star Trek episode where the people on the planet live shoulder-to-shoulder, never able to sit or lie down. I not only couldn't ride the rides, I couldn't even see the rides! I couldn't even see the buildings! We were at MK & sounds like Epcot was not any better for you!

 

[MinnyGranny62]

: : I'm with YOU BettyAnn29, wish I lived closer to WDW I would love to be there today and enjoy the lovely weather.
Smile and be Happy.

 

[Allison]

As much as I would love to be at WDW-no waaaaay. That sounds terrible. I wouldn't enjoy myself at all. How nice you can easily go back when the crowds aren't there.

 

[znjmom]

Wow!! We were talking about going and activating our new Florida Resident passes today. Glad we decided to skip it!!! We too will go next week after everyone goes home. On the other hand it was a gorgeous day today!!!

 

[Kaye]

Wow. DH went when he was in college with his cousins. They were in MK on NYE. Said he was actually afraid because the crowd was so big. The crowd moved en masse. You couldn't go where you wanted to go--only where the crowd took you. Unfortunately, as our kids get older, we will have to start dealing with the crowds. But I don't think we will go at Christmas.

 

[GalDisney]

The Mk and EPCOT should make all day at NYE a special event ticket like they do MNSSHP and MVMCP, or just have a special party in the evening, limit ticket sales so people can attend the parks and have a good time..and not have to endure elbow to elbow crowds, which is NOT fun and can be dangerous. Precisely the reason I stay away. I went to Disneyland for NYE once ..against my better judgemnt, and will never do that again, either.

 

[Angelgirl13202]

why christmas wasnt a problem I just got back THe only day we had a problem with crowds was the day after XMas we got their the friday before and right through xmas was great

 

[ztbz]

Glad I don't have to work today, as there will be many Grumpy people when they come out to ride the Buses.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Yeah, my mom has the day off but opted to NOT hit the park today =) She did think of heading to Celebration, though. Evidently they still have snow and maybe something for NYE? I think she learned her NYE lesson a couple years back, her first in Orlando.

 

[brady961]

I went over to AK today around 1:30p thinking it too would be so crowded I would barely be able to get around. Boy was I wrong. It was great. MK was full and soundsd like Epcot was close to that as well. They were even telling ppl no need to get in line for "Lion King" until 20 min prior to show. The safari line was only 20 min and it really didn't take that long to get on.

I guess everyone had gone to MK and Epcot. Not sure about MGM. But AK was great today and enjoyable. I have tried Epcot on NYE but didn't arrive until around 6p and left by 7p <G>

So maybe try AK next year unless others figure it out how few were there this year.

 

[blueroses]

...we went over to the Wonders Of Life pavilion. We got to see Cranium Command.

Really? That's so cool. I thought Wonders of Life was ONLY open for private events. Is it actually seasonal?

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

You should take advantage of the EMH...last night at 2am...there was barely anyone! I know...that's really late. But hey...if it allows us to wait in shorter lines and do more things, then we will take it! We did not go to the parks today for that reason...

 

[webray]

This certainly couldn't have been a surprise to you..you do live in Florida..you must have heard how busy the parks are during peak times.

 

[Feralpeg]

This certainly couldn't have been a surprise to you..you do live in Florida..you must have heard how busy the parks are during peak times.

I knew it would be busy. I was at Epcot last year and it wasn't nearly as bad.

 

[Allison]

This certainly couldn't have been a surprise to you..you do live in Florida..you must have heard how busy the parks are during peak times.

I don't think there was an expression of being surprised. It was a description of what was happening. Why make a comment like this?

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Its definately busy...but not as bad as I imagined. I am sure the park crowds will thin over the next few days while people return to school and work.