If any of you are going NYE and have small children...

[foofanella]

What are you doing for NYE? I was able to get a PS for Chef Mickey's at 6pm, but THEN what? We're staying at VWL, I've got DD (4) and DS (just about 2) with me - they're obviously not going to make it to midnight (DS will go to sleep by 8:30)

Any suggestions for an early night outing that won't be so crowded?

 

[swilshire]

We were at the MK last year for NYE. When it hit 4PM and they handed out the "blowers" and hats, I was ready to get out of there. What a racket!!!

Our previous NYE trip, all the parks reached capacity early in the day and we couldn't even get in. We wound up at Sea World instead.

Both times we've been there, we've wound up back at our resort trying to see fireworks around the trees. It's a little sad to miss the excitement, but our smallest one just can't handle the late hours.

Sheila

 

[Lollipop Mom]

We were there this past NYE with a then 21 month old and 3 year old. We had a FABULOUS day at the AK that day. We knew that everyone else would want to be somewhere with midnight festivities and that the MK and Epcot would close at capacity early in the day so we avoided those completely (well, we did go to Epcot first thing but we did Journey into the Imagination, Living Seas and Spaceship Earth then headed to the AK so we weren't there long and NO ONE was in those areas b/c they were all at Mission Space and Test Track ). AK closed at like 5 or 6 so not many people headed there. We pretty much walked on to everything that day. When we decided to do the safari ride at like 2:00 we waited in our longest line which was about 20 minutes. We had ridden it earlier with a less than 5 minute wait.

When we left AK we had a dinner PS at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. I had scheduled our PS to be at about 10 minutes after the start of Illuminations at Epcot (the first showing, which was an early one. I can't remember the exact time but we left AK at around 5:30 and had just enough time to catch a bus to the Beach Club, clean the kids up a bit, meet up with my parents and steak out a spot on the beach behind the resort to watch Illuminations). We watched the upper fireworks from the beach at the Beach Club. A better view would have been to walk around to the Boardwalk but we were pooped at that point! We had just enough time to was everyone's hands before we were seated. We took our time having a nice dinner and brought the kids back to go to bed. It was our only day we didn't head back for a nap mid day so they were tired too. They napped in the stroller for a bit but it's not the same. They got to bed relatively early which worked our perfectly b/c we were able to be up and out the door early in the morning New Years Day and get a BUNCH done at the parks while everyone else slept in after their late night!

DH and I had contemplated going to MGM after getting the kids to bed (my parents were with us so we had free babysitting) but we decided to crash early too so we could get that early start. We did MGM New Years morning and Epcot that evening. Doing that combo we saw the 3 big things the kids wanted to see at Epcot and all of AK with no waits on NYE, then did everything we wanted to see at MGM and the rest of Epcot with no waits on New Years Day. We couldn't have asked for a better plan!

We'll be back again this year and plan to do something similar again!

 

[CindyAnn]

We've been at WDW for the last 2 NYEs. Our children weren't so small (6 & 9 and then 7 & 10) but I have absolutely zero interest in keeping them up late, since we'd all end up suffering the next day. Both times, our strategy was to spend the day at AK, which wasn't very crowded at all, since there are no celebrations planned for the evening. (Someone else posted that they heard AK closed at some point in the day on NYE last year, which may well be the case, but it certainly didn't feel like it was close to capacity). Then we went to 'Ohana for dinner around 7:00 p.m. The children were in bed by 9:00, so we were all refreshed for the next morning at Epcot. We found that Epcot was a good NY day park, by the way - again not very crowded at all.

Have fun!

 

[foofanella]

I can't wait! My kids don't even know we're going!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I would just go with the CM reservation and then put the kids to bed normal time. After they are in bed, perhaps you and DH could share a little time on the balcony if it's not too cold. Perhaps get a specail desert or a bottle of wine. Just crack the door so you can hear the little one and celebrate on your on a little bit.


Jordnas' mom

 

[DaveCN]

We went to EPCOT on NYE a few years ago (1996, I think). NO WAY will I go back on NYE. It was literally wall-to-wall people throughout the park by 6pm. Unfortunately, much of the crowd was those RUDE Brazilian groups that have absolutely NO consideration for others.

I have to admit the extras they put on with entertainers and the like were great, but the crowd was overwhelming, and we had only one child at that point. Now with three, no chance you will find me anywhere near the parks on NYE.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

We have spent the past 4 NYE in Epcot and absolutely love it. That being said, it is me and my boyfriend (in our 40's) and his now 15 year old son. The park was packed and I know it closed early - I think it might have reopened later in the day. We always stay till midnight - even two years ago when the skys opened up at around 8:00. We hung out in the stores for a while and then watched IllumiNations and the midnight fireworks in the rain - standing under ponchos, taping the whole show.

I do not believe this would be good to do with young children - it was so packed sometimes you could not walk. I think doing AK is a great idea and then Chef Mickey's. If you want to watch some fireworks - they have two showing of IllumiNations at Epcot. The first one I beleive is at 7:30. You can catch this at The Boardwalk.

Linda

 

[northern michigan]

My two DD's were 3 and 7. I know we had a stroller for at least one of them, maybe a double for both. Yes, they both fell asleep before midnight. We just sat in the middle of Main Street with our hats and noise makers soaking up the crowd until the fireworks began. I snuggled with my girls and relaxed while they slept. It was great to see their reaction when the fireworks started and everyone began celebrating. There was nowhere else I would rather have been! It's a perfect memory!!!

However, you definitely want to be at a WDW resort! Not a DTD resort! The DTD resorts didn't have ques for people to line up in while waiting for the hotel bus transportation. Crowds of that sort get out of control. If you don't mind carrying little sleepers to the bus ques to wait for your (WDW resort) transportation, I wouldn't hesitate to enjoy the midnight fireworks at any of the parks. It's a perfect way to start the new year!!!