Let's Set the Record Straight on NYE

[AmyBWV99]

Posted on WDW Info's Park Information Section:

If you plan on visiting a Walt Disney World Theme park on New Year's Eve, you should arrive in the morning and be prepared to spend the entire day. The parks will reach capacity with no further admittance allowed. Park Hopping on New Years Eve is not recommended.

Is this right? We've never been for NYE before (we have battled the 4th of July, Easter and Christmas, though) and I've read conflicting reviews. Some say that staying at the park all day is not necessary. We're planning on ringing in the new year at Epcot.

Thoughts from the NYE veterans?

 

[cleo]

Depends on which park you are going to visit. Magic Kingdom is extremely likely to close due to capacity by mid-morning. Epcot is less likely. All the parks will be shoulder-to-shoulder. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve are the busiest days in Orlando and are insane in the theme parks.

I wouldn't even try park hopping, though I am certain there are people who do it and enjoy it those days. But imagine the chaos in the parking lots.

Just think of people packed like Spam in a can and you've got Disney during Christmas/New Year.

 

[AmyBWV99]

We're staying at the BWV, so we're planning to walk to International Gateway and into Epcot.

 

[cleo]

Ok. But the parks are still going to be massively busy.

Maybe I misunderstood your question. Are you asking if the parks are going to be busy and if you should or should not park hop? If so, the answer is Yes, and I Wouldn't (my opinion only).

If you're going to Epcot and aren't going to park hop, the second part of the information is irrelivent. If you're asking if Epcot will close to capacity, it's entirely possible but less likely than the Magic Kingdom closing.

 

[doombuggy3]

I was in WDW for NY 2002 and Epcot was at full capacity by 11am...MK was worse. A CM told us that they were full only an hour and a half after park opening! During the day, lines were LONNNNGGG, even for like Malestrom it was an hour and fifteen minutes. But after dinner time, everyone was just in Epcot to drink (I'm a college student and I don't think I've seen so many intoxicated people in one concentrated area at once, haha) and the rides really opened up. My dad and I went on TT four times in a row (it was definitely cold, but worth it!)! It was a really fun atmosphere to be in for NYE, just beware of areas where they have the stage set up because I found that some people were too busy dancing and having a great time to notice that some of the areas are designated walking areas too and I got my foot stepped on by a heel (ow!).

I would really like to go back to WDW for NYE again, it really was an unforgettable experience!

 

[doombuggy3]

And yeah, I would probably plan on staying all day. We did and I don't regret it all because if you leave there's always the possibility you won't be able to get back in!

 

[AmyBWV99]

What I'm asking is, if we're going to Epcot, do we need to stay all day or can we escape and come back? We don't plan to park hop (we've tried that late in the 4th of July and it was a NIGHTMARE).

Thanks!

 

[pongoperdigirl]

I saw the title and I thought you were setting people straight about Bill Nye the science guy.



Have a happy new year in WDW!

 

[HappyTrouble]

We were at MGM in 2003 for New Year's Eve. Got there right as it opened that morning because we were told all the parks fill to capacity by noon. I asked several castmembers that day and always got the same answer. Magic Kingdom, Epot and MGM were at capacity by 10:30 or 11:00 am!!! We walked toward the front of MGM around 5:00 and they were not letting anyone in......I was so glad we got there early in the day. We didn't make it to midnight but we had a blast!!!!!! We only lasted until about 10:30 and we headed back to our hotel, but it was FUN!!!!!!! Would love to do it again......

 

[wenpop]

Do you think MGM will be a good place to be on NYE?? We have to ride the RnRc before Rehab....

 

[eeyore.donkey]

Oh dear wish i hadn't read this thread.

We get off the Disney Cruise ship The Wonder on 31st December then by the time we drive back it won't be by midday.

We have dinner reservations in Epcot for New Years Eve, if it is at full capacity we won't get in and won't have anywhere to go

Am feeling sad now

 

[hniki234]

What I'm asking is, if we're going to Epcot, do we need to stay all day or can we escape and come back? We don't plan to park hop (we've tried that late in the 4th of July and it was a NIGHTMARE).

Thanks!

It sounds like you need to stay in the park because you might not get back in. Especially if the parks are filling that quickly! I imagine a lot of people will stay and others will be trying to get into the parks as soon as people leave so that they can be there that night.

 

[Daisie]

We are spending New Year's Eve at MGM. I plan on arriving early, around 9am and staying put the whole day.

 

[curiouser]

We were in the World last NYE and I'm pretty sure we took a break in the day to gather up our energy for NYE night. We got back into EPCOT at around 5ish through the IG and had no problems. Get in line early for the hats and noise makers, though, because those lines get massive!

Edited to add: EPCOT is a ZOO on NYE! I would not recommend it for small children unless you plan on staying out of WS or staying in one spot while in WS. Small children will get trampled on or, worse, puked on. (I saw both happen last year). There are a LOT of drunk people in WS by 11pm. People sit on the sidewalk for NYE Illuminations 10 deep. Its crazy insane. I'm glad I did it once, but never again!!

 

[AmyBWV99]

We were in the World last NYE and I'm pretty sure we took a break in the day to gather up our energy for NYE night. We got back into EPCOT at around 5ish through the IG and had no problems. Get in line early for the hats and noise makers, though, because those lines get massive!

Edited to add: EPCOT is a ZOO on NYE! I would not recommend it for small children unless you plan on staying out of WS or staying in one spot while in WS. Small children will get trampled on or, worse, puked on. (I saw both happen last year). There are a LOT of drunk people in WS by 11pm. People sit on the sidewalk for NYE Illuminations 10 deep. Its crazy insane. I'm glad I did it once, but never again!!

Super - we have a small child - 20 months. We've been to Epcot on the 4th of July, and it doesn't sound too much different. They were at least 10 deep for fireworks on the 4th. The lines for drinks were unbelievable - the outisde kiosk in Norway was going through a keg of beer every 20 minutes!

 

[mom2of2]

Oh dear wish i hadn't read this thread.

We get off the Disney Cruise ship The Wonder on 31st December then by the time we drive back it won't be by midday.

We have dinner reservations in Epcot for New Years Eve, if it is at full capacity we won't get in and won't have anywhere to go

Am feeling sad now

Will you have your own car? If so then you should be back in the Disney area by 9am. You should be able to get into EPCOT shortly thereafter.

 

[mickaholic4077]

I went to Disney for NYE 2003 into 2004. It was explained to me by a CM that there are different stages of closing to capacity. The 1st stage is when the parking lots are full. Disney resort guests who use Disney transportation are still let in then. My mother and i went from MK to MGM to Epcot and had no trouble getting in at all three places,as we were Pop guests.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

2003 was much quiter than the more recent years. I would recommend staying in the park once you enter it just to make sure you are able to see everything that night. We have seen several people taking naps in Innoventions, the Land, Journey into Imagination, Living Seas and the hallway behind Character Connection just to get a break during the day

 

[Scratch42]

Just from the amount of peeps planning on going that are part of the DIS, I wouldn't chance it!

We aren't! I've already warned DD that we are leaving in the morning and getting a locker to place stuff into and staying all day!

Epcot is Early Morning Hour and MGM has Late Entry Hour, or whatever they call it!

We were in WDW two NY's ago and we spent the day at DTD. We went back to BCV via BW and barely made it! Wall to Wall people waiting to watch Illuminations Fireworks, so I can imagine what it was like inside the park!

Be Prepared! just in case!

j

 

[CinderellaPug]

We are going to be there for NYE this year. My husband is nervously obsessing about getting from dinner in DTD to Epcot, where we want to be for the night. He is considering skipping dinner and just staying in the park. I remember a few years ago when we were there, we left and got back into Epcot with no problem, even though the park was jammed with people. We were told that resort guests can always get in, DH is still worried though, and talks about it every day!!