Danauk
<font color=green>I would be sitting on the patio
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
- Messages
- 14,597
We just returned in the early hours of this morning from our New Years Eve trip so thought I would post a few observations and thoughts.
The highs
I couldn't believe that New Years Eve and New years Day were not that busy.
* On NYE we got a great spot to watch an afternoon show of Dreams near the castle 25 minutes before it started.
* We went to the Studios for midnight as they had a firework display whilst the Disneyland park just had Dreams on again. We watched the parade at 8:30 then went on the Backlot Tour (5 minute wait) and RC Racer (20 minute wait).
* A few of the restaurants had special NYE menus, along with a huge price tag! We made reservations at Restaurant de Stars, it was slightly more expensive than usual (49 Euros per person) but they did have entertainment in there.
* The fireworks in the Studios were great. They had a Blues band on a stage outside RnRC who entertained the crowd before the fireworks.
* NYD we made early entry, hardly any people in the parks at all! We managed to do all the rides we wanted to and were able to get fast passes until into the late afternoon. We got a great spot for Dreams right in front of the castle at the front 40 minutes before it began.
* NYD we had a lunch reservation at Walts and were given a window table overlooking Main Street so we were able to get some nice pictures of the Cavalcade as it went past.
The lows
* 2nd January. Oh that is where the crowds are!! We made early entry again so did Buzz and Space Mountain before heading over to the Studios for 9:15. The gates opened at 9:30 so we went straight to Crush. They opened the ride early so we were actually just getting off the ride at 10am. The line when we got off was a 70 minute wait. We went straight to RC racer which had a 10 minute line, but had increased to 30 when we were getting off. Then we headed over to RnRC to get fast passes for later. As we passed the ToT we noticed the wait time was 80 minutes and fast pass return was already at 3pm. By lunch time there were no ToT fast passes left!
* Back in the Disneyland Park, by mid afternoon most rides had lines over an hour long. We went to see Captain EO as in all our trips we had never seen it, the theatre was about 3/4 full!!
* Restaurants - why on the 2nd January, when the parks were so full were counter service locations shutting before dinner time? I will never understand this one!!
Overall we had a great trip. The park looked great, the atmosphere was great too. We are planning on going back next year, but I think we will leave after lunch on the 2nd as the crowds by then were just too much.
The highs
I couldn't believe that New Years Eve and New years Day were not that busy.
* On NYE we got a great spot to watch an afternoon show of Dreams near the castle 25 minutes before it started.
* We went to the Studios for midnight as they had a firework display whilst the Disneyland park just had Dreams on again. We watched the parade at 8:30 then went on the Backlot Tour (5 minute wait) and RC Racer (20 minute wait).
* A few of the restaurants had special NYE menus, along with a huge price tag! We made reservations at Restaurant de Stars, it was slightly more expensive than usual (49 Euros per person) but they did have entertainment in there.
* The fireworks in the Studios were great. They had a Blues band on a stage outside RnRC who entertained the crowd before the fireworks.
* NYD we made early entry, hardly any people in the parks at all! We managed to do all the rides we wanted to and were able to get fast passes until into the late afternoon. We got a great spot for Dreams right in front of the castle at the front 40 minutes before it began.
* NYD we had a lunch reservation at Walts and were given a window table overlooking Main Street so we were able to get some nice pictures of the Cavalcade as it went past.
The lows
* 2nd January. Oh that is where the crowds are!! We made early entry again so did Buzz and Space Mountain before heading over to the Studios for 9:15. The gates opened at 9:30 so we went straight to Crush. They opened the ride early so we were actually just getting off the ride at 10am. The line when we got off was a 70 minute wait. We went straight to RC racer which had a 10 minute line, but had increased to 30 when we were getting off. Then we headed over to RnRC to get fast passes for later. As we passed the ToT we noticed the wait time was 80 minutes and fast pass return was already at 3pm. By lunch time there were no ToT fast passes left!
* Back in the Disneyland Park, by mid afternoon most rides had lines over an hour long. We went to see Captain EO as in all our trips we had never seen it, the theatre was about 3/4 full!!
* Restaurants - why on the 2nd January, when the parks were so full were counter service locations shutting before dinner time? I will never understand this one!!
Overall we had a great trip. The park looked great, the atmosphere was great too. We are planning on going back next year, but I think we will leave after lunch on the 2nd as the crowds by then were just too much.
sounds like you had a fantastic time. Happy New Year! 
