Last minute NYE trip - no park tix?

[ascardino]

We got a pretty good deal staying offsite with round trip air 12/29 - 1/2 considering it is a holiday weekend. Going To surprise my 3 kids - 15, 11, 5 with it as a Xmas present.

Not really sure I want to buy Park tickets since the crowds will be heavy and we are offsite. But trying to figure out how to "sell" that to the kids, esp the 5 year old.

This would be one of those times where I would pay for one of those "extra hours" tickets or the MVMCP but don't think either are available.

We promised to take them to Universal in the summer since we did a long WDW trip last summer so I was not looking to buy an AP which is really the best value for us as we go to FL on average twice a year.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions??

 

[Accident]

What is the surprise itself? you can't really skip disney with a surprise holiday trip to disney. You might actually get a pretty good morning being that new years eve is a late night thing but you'll also see some of the largest crowds there are..

Honestly, if your ok with all rides having lines or just being there and enjoy the place I'd go into the park unless this surprise trip is something else and disney would just be an extra.

 

[AndiSlamberg]

I agree with PP unless Disney is an extra, I would still find a way to make at least 1 day in the park work. I think I would be really disappointed if someone got me a surprise trip to Orlando but then told me we didn't have time/couldn't go to Disney.

 

[ascardino]

Yes I agree that it would be near impossible not to go to at least one park one day. I am just trying to decide which park and the most cost efficient way of doing so.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Then why go if you are not going to Disney. I would try to go to the park in the morning of Dec 31 as evening will be crowded.

 

[sam_gordon]

Then why go if you are not going to Disney. I would try to go to the park in the morning of Dec 31 as evening will be crowded.

Nope. Morning of January 1 as everyone will still be sleeping. Trust me, it works!

 

[ascardino]

Getting away from the cold in NJ is a good enough reason! My kids will still love R&R at the pool, seeing the decorations, going to Disney Springs and just the festive atmosphere of "celebrating" NYE there instead of sitting at home probably not doing anything much at all.

I was just looking for ideas to round out the short trip on a budget. As I said as an example, this would be a great trip to pay "extra" for park entrance associated with an event which never seems to make much financial sense when you already have an AP (prior trips).

Just want to make sure I wasn't missing something as I didn't think we were going so we have done zero research for this trip.

 

[ascardino]

Nope. Morning of January 1 as everyone will still be sleeping. Trust me, it works!

Any park in particular?

 

[sam_gordon]

We went to MK. Granted, it will get crowded by ~1pm, but if you can get there by 8am (or rope drop), you can get a lot done.

 

[AndiSlamberg]

I think if you can only do one park it depends on what your family's favourite is! If it's MK then I would just tell them ahead of time that it will be crowded and they will have to expect not to do as much as they normally would, go early take lots of breaks.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Getting away from the cold in NJ is a good enough reason! My kids will still love R&R at the pool, seeing the decorations, going to Disney Springs and just the festive atmosphere of "celebrating" NYE there instead of sitting at home probably not doing anything much at all.

I was just looking for ideas to round out the short trip on a budget. As I said as an example, this would be a great trip to pay "extra" for park entrance associated with an event which never seems to make much financial sense when you already have an AP (prior trips).

Just want to make sure I wasn't missing something as I didn't think we were going so we have done zero research for this trip.

I would not do the trip and save the money to do a trip when you don't have to fight the crowds and actually go to a park. The other thing to think about is the unpredicable weather. What if the weather is such that you can get a flight back to NJ. There were 1000's of flights cancelled just yesterday. Just something to think about. Because if you can't get a flight out you will end up spending more money in hotel cost especially if it happens to be that the next flight the airline can get all of you on is 2-3 days later. Southwest was telling people yesterday it would be Mon before they could get on another flight.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

No naysayers here...
Go to whichever park is your children's favorite, get there early early, have FPs in hand and get out by 1 pm for some pool and resort time.
I would nix DS. We were there last week, on a weekday, it was jammed. (Even though the parks were not!) There was an hour wait for Earl if Sandwich to order your food! (we declined) and the Tree Trail and drone show were not all that and a bag of chips.
I believe all the parks will be super busy, but MK and Epcot the worst. HS seems more crowded as there is not a lot of room to spread out.
But IF you can rouse yourselves out of bed to be at RD by 7:30 latest for and 8 am opening, you should be good to go. Just be aware, getting OUT is almost as tough as getting in!
Those folks who have never experienced or don't remember the gray, icky, cloudless, cold, damp slushy, dark days of January honestly don't realize what a bit of sun and warm weather will do for the psyche!
Have a magical trip!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Or.....
Don't sell it to the family as a "Disney" trip...
Plan it just for the pool, resort amenities, and sunshine! No reason to darken the doors of the parks at all. Plenty to do without visiting the mouse.
Especially for pool lovers!
Again enjoy!

 

[ascardino]

Or.....
Don't sell it to the family as a "Disney" trip...
Plan it just for the pool, resort amenities, and sunshine! No reason to darken the doors of the parks at all. Plenty to do without visiting the mouse.
Especially for pool lovers!
Again enjoy!

Thanks!

 

[gap2368]

You could do the Orlando eye and the thing they have there (if it is open) sea world is cheaper and fun