Just back --12/24 thru 1/1/18

[constanze]

Did you visit any parks on the 1st?

Yes, we visited MK on the 1st as our flight didn’t leave until that evening. We arrived around 11am and did our 3 fast passes then lunch, some B type attractions...then found out our flight was delayed a few hours, so took a short break at the POLY club (we were staying there club level) then hopped over to epcot where I scored a few more fast passes for “soarin”, test track and spaceship earth.

 

[TeresaWen]

If you're looking to stay out of the crowds it's amazing! We arrived at Epcot around 8:45 pm, for a 4th fastpass for Frozen, then checked it an 9:15 at La Hacienda. Epcot did a fantastic job for managing foot traffic through the park. We had not issues getting from the entrance of future world to the Frozen ride. World Showcase was SO crowded when we got out, we were happy we just had a short walk to La Hacienda. They do a 5 course meal pairing it with drinks, and you can ask for more of whatever you'd like. They pass out noisemakers, hats and such, have a live mariachi band, and then do the fireworks that you watch through their HUGE windows overlooking the lake. AMAZING views of everything. It was a fun evening. It was me, my husband, DD 17 and DS 20.

Thank you! This sounds interesting. We can enjoy Epcot all afternoon and evening.

Do you remember when reservations became available for this. Guessing not open at the 180 mark.

 

[Imamom2]

We are hoping for a Disney Christmas at some point - wonderful tips! I never thought of La Hacienda at NYE. It sounds so fun. We usually stay at BWV so Epcot would be our NYE choice. Thank you for sharing.

 

[constanze]

I booked our reservation in August, but had to be diligent. It appeared on the WDW website sometime I believe in July advertising the event and said to call to book—but when I called they said they weren’t taking bookings yet and I’d be able to book online once they were accepting reservations.—however I read somewhere on the boards that someone was able to book in late July—-so I emailed Disney Signature services and they did get me a reservation. If you’re staying club level I’d recommend booking through them. If not, make sure to call often to see when reservations are being accepted.

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you! This sounds interesting. We can enjoy Epcot all afternoon and evening.

Do you remember when reservations became available for this. Guessing not open at the 180 mark.

It didn't book fast. We didn't plan our trip till late October and could have book the dining event at La Haceienda. I don't think it was terribly popular as those who went would miss all the "parties" throughout the countries. Most guest come to Epcot for that and to country hop, so to speak. I don't think the folks who want to stay in one place are many. I briefly considered it but realized I'd be hating that we were missing out on the party. After seeing the dance parties I know for sure I would now and wouldn't ever book a sit down meal instead. Being out in the crowds is part of why we picked to go to Epcot that night. It wasn't really bad at all, CM kept the crowds going and other than waiting in bathroom lines, I had nothing to complain about. Heck, we still had a bathroom line when we did have a sit down meal (at Via Napoli).

 

[FastPasser.]

I had nothing to complain about.

That's amazing considering when you were there.

 

[AngiTN]

That's amazing considering when you were there.

Well, it was because I knew what I was in for. I went expecting wall to wall people. I did continually feel very sorry for anyone I saw wearing a First Visit button. I would have been so disappointed if that was a first trip. First, the weather was far from perfect and the crowds were so heavy. You didn't get to do nearly as much as you can during a trip any other time.

As to the temps, they played in to our favor in the end. It encouraged us to do shows that we often pass on. What better way to get in from the cold than in a show? So we traded in FP for coasters for FP for shows, in many cases. FP usually wasted/not needed. But in our case, we used them so we could know we'd get in to a certain show and not have to stand in the line waiting to get in.

But if we weren't frequent visitors I do think I'd probably have a lot to complain about

 

[TeresaWen]

It didn't book fast. We didn't plan our trip till late October and could have book the dining event at La Haceienda. I don't think it was terribly popular as those who went would miss all the "parties" throughout the countries. Most guest come to Epcot for that and to country hop, so to speak. I don't think the folks who want to stay in one place are many. I briefly considered it but realized I'd be hating that we were missing out on the party. After seeing the dance parties I know for sure I would now and wouldn't ever book a sit down meal instead. Being out in the crowds is part of why we picked to go to Epcot that night. It wasn't really bad at all, CM kept the crowds going and other than waiting in bathroom lines, I had nothing to complain about. Heck, we still had a bathroom line when we did have a sit down meal (at Via Napoli).

Thank you! I really went to experience each country. When I was planning the trip we had to cancel I thought the same when I looked at whet the contemporary offered. I could go to a hotel party at home.

Is there a "schedule" I can reference from this past Nye in Epcot? Want to gather as much info as possible while fresh

 

[Shanti]

Did you encounter a lot of situations where there were wall-to-wall crowds of people in the parks?

We visited Animal Kingdom on December 26th, and did not experience that at all. It was a busy day, but physical crowding was never bad. Plenty of space to very comfortably move around & not have someone in your way all the time. We didn't visit Pandora, though.

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you! I really went to experience each country. When I was planning the trip we had to cancel I thought the same when I looked at whet the contemporary offered. I could go to a hotel party at home.

Is there a "schedule" I can reference from this past Nye in Epcot? Want to gather as much info as possible while fresh

They did give out a schedule but I foolishly said I didn't need one. At that moment I didn't, I knew what we were going to do and when. I thought later that it would have been nice to have had a time guide just to have

 

[GADisneyDad14]

They did give out a schedule but I foolishly said I didn't need one. At that moment I didn't, I knew what we were going to do and when. I thought later that it would have been nice to have had a time guide just to have

I'm so mad I misplaced mine. I ended up washing something in one of my jackets in the post-trip laundry that didn't survive the wash... I'm afraid that's what it was!

 

[TeresaWen]

They did give out a schedule but I foolishly said I didn't need one. At that moment I didn't, I knew what we were going to do and when. I thought later that it would have been nice to have had a time guide just to have

Ha! That will be me!

Our New Years resolution for 2018 is to have more fun and to stop worrying about logistics. All things work out. Although we had to cancel WDW for NYE, we went to a local celebration. Kennett Square Mushroom Drop. Had a great day, stopped for appetizers and drinks, enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and yes you heard right, watched a lighted mushroom drop. It all worked out and we had a blast. Life is meant to be fun!

 

[AngiTN]

Ha! That will be me!

Our New Years resolution for 2018 is to have more fun and to stop worrying about logistics. All things work out. Although we had to cancel WDW for NYE, we went to a local celebration. Kennett Square Mushroom Drop. Had a great day, stopped for appetizers and drinks, enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and yes you heard right, watched a lighted mushroom drop. It all worked out and we had a blast. Life is meant to be fun!

I did find this, which matches what we saw, the DJ's in both China and Italy, and the live band in America (though I don't know that this is the name of the band in America, this may be old names of the acts) The times to seem accurate to what we saw. I know one not listed is the Silent Disco which was in Future World. I thought there was a website that posted a photo of all the times guides but I've forgotten what it is, if it exists

• America Gardens Theatre - Latin Band Papo's Groove at 7:51, 9:00 & 10:15pm, 12:10am
• America Gardens Theatre - Latin DJ Indio Davila at 8:20, 9:30 & 11:00pm, 12:40am
• Italy Courtyard - Techno, laser dance party featuring DJ Mark Sanchez from 7:51pm, 12:05am
• China Courtyard - World beat dance party featuring pyro effects and DJ Dominic Morrison at 7:51pm, 12:05am

 

[BlueFairy]

is it http://www.wdwent.com/ ?

 

[brave321]

We did the VOID. I haven't seen any of the Star Wars movies for years, but the rest of my family are big fans. It's honestly a lot of fun whether you're a fan or not. I only wish it lasted longer, but then they'd probably charge more.

I was at Epcot as well NYE but did not book La Hacienda. We walked around all the different parties and spent some time at each one. It was crowded at times inside each pavilion, but the walk around WS wasn't bad with all the CMs directing traffic. There also weren't massive amounts of people camped out for the fireworks and most people stopped to wait for them about a half hour before they started. We stopped on the bridge between France and the UK and the view was fantastic!

 

[TeresaWen]

I did find this, which matches what we saw, the DJ's in both China and Italy, and the live band in America (though I don't know that this is the name of the band in America, this may be old names of the acts) The times to seem accurate to what we saw. I know one not listed is the Silent Disco which was in Future World. I thought there was a website that posted a photo of all the times guides but I've forgotten what it is, if it exists

• America Gardens Theatre - Latin Band Papo's Groove at 7:51, 9:00 & 10:15pm, 12:10am
• America Gardens Theatre - Latin DJ Indio Davila at 8:20, 9:30 & 11:00pm, 12:40am
• Italy Courtyard - Techno, laser dance party featuring DJ Mark Sanchez from 7:51pm, 12:05am
• China Courtyard - World beat dance party featuring pyro effects and DJ Dominic Morrison at 7:51pm, 12:05am

Thank you! Just what I was looking for

 

[TeresaWen]

is it http://www.wdwent.com/ ?

That's it!

It lists the first illuminations at 7:30. Is that correct. Thought it was 6:30.

thank you!

 

[AngiTN]

That's it!

It lists the first illuminations at 7:30. Is that correct. Thought it was 6:30.

thank you!

It was actually scheduled for 6:30 but they ended up starting before 6:30, I think they did it early for some reason