MK NYE WWYD?

[Aggiegrl]

I can't decide on our NYE plans for Magic Kingdom. I'd appreciate thoughts, insights, anything you've got.

3 adults, 3 kids. This is our first day at WDW. We are bringing our RV and staying for 1.5 months to avoid the New England winter. We've never been at Christmas/NYE before.

Option 1: 4:10 pm LTT, then FP+ rides around the two firework shows, one of which is 7DMT (kids favorite ride).

Option 2: 5:30 pm Holiday wishes dessert party. Same fastpasses as above.

Option 3: 9:15 pm Crystal Palace. FP for rides around that, but not 7DMT as it conflicts with the ADR.

We've done the dessert party before and liked it fine. We've done Crystal Palace many times but never dinner. We've never eaten at LTT.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Hey there. That's AWESOME that you can pickup and go for that long! Are you staying on-site? If you're not, you'll want to get to the park very early and stay put. It's gonna get extremely packed and those staying off-site have a greater risk of being turned away due to phased closures.

It's so tough to say. On one hand, I'd recommend AGAINST Option 3. You should be securing a spot for the fireworks and New Year by 9-10pm. If finding a spot to countdown the New Year is not that important to you, then eating around 9:15pm can be a nice break from the crowds and give you an opportunity to sit down (which is much needed at that point.)

Option 1: Eating at 4:10pm can do you a disservice. It's early in the afternoon and you're in for a late night. You'll be hungry again by 8-9pm and there will be lines for every quick service. Some may be longer than the attractions themselves!

Option 2: I like this one, but what about dinner? Again - you're missing a dinner and you're going to wait a while for a QS location.

Personally - we're an older family. We did a later dinner (8ish) at Rose & Crown last year and didn't find a spot for the fireworks until 10pm. My only regret was missing out on all the fun around EPCOT. I've been to MK on 12/30 when they do the "dress rehearsal" for NYE. It's the exact same show, but I can't remember when they start the DJs up. People dance in Main Street and around the park. It's one giant party. I'd hate to miss that - and hate for you to miss that - so I'd recommend NOT doing option 3.

Option 1 is too early, so I'd recommend doing Option 2 (since it's tried and true for your family.) You're gonna get stuck waiting for a QS, but you'll have to have your cake and eat it too (no pun intended). That way, you secure a great spot for the fireworks (during the dessert party), you get your FP+'s in, and you get to enjoy the festivities during the nighttime. I think Option 3 will break up your night too much.

Hope that helps!

 

[minnie mum]

You don't say how young your children are, but I'm assuming that since you will be away from home for that long, they must be preschoolers. And that they aren't used to eating late in the evening. Given the NYE crowds, and how early you will have to stake out spots for the parade and fireworks, I'd go with Option 1. It's probably closer to the kids normal dinner time, which can help stave off meltdowns. And then the evening is yours to enjoy. Since you'll be out in the December weather, you'll probably be looking for hearty snacks later in the evening; maybe before the NYE fireworks. Option 3 is just too late, and will mean missing some of the events going on. Option 2 still doesn't address what you are going to do for dinner, so I'd skip it unless the kids really need the sugar overdose to make it until midnight.

 

[Aggiegrl]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, we are offsite. Fort Wilderness prices are just too much for such a long trip. We have AP though, which I thought would allow us the same entry privledges as in site. Is that wrong?

 

[Aggiegrl]

Sorry, hit send by accident.

My kids are Pre-K and 1st grade. We drag them everywhere, they are troopers at adjusting, and I'm not concerned with what we normally do as far as eating times go. We tend to travel with heavy snacks, and I don't see NYE being any different. If we did the dessert party, we'd have a snack later like cheese and beef jerky, nuts, protein bars, etc.

Help me understand the craziness that is this night...if we walk out of Crystal Palace at 11 pm, where would we likely get to stand for the 11:50 fireworks? I'm not concerned with having "the perfect spot." We have no desire to watch the electrical parade, and I just can't see us setting up shop at 9 pm for 11:50 fireworks.

 

[disneymom06]

Having been to MK on NYE with little ones, the craziness is beyond anything you can imagine. It is shoulder to shoulder. Spots are taken VERY early. You mention not being concern with the perfect spot but you may not be able to find any spot at that time because it is soooooooo packed.
My children are much older now but they still remember that night. I found a cast member and asked her to help me get out because we couldn't even turn around. She was a live saver that night.

 

[Aggiegrl]

I guess I'm wondering what the situation is like exiting Crystal Palace at that time. I mean, we have to be able to get out the front doors, right? Or will people be pushed all the way back there? I'm having a hard time picturing it with the new hub.

 

[supersnoop]

I guess I'm wondering what the situation is like exiting Crystal Palace at that time. I mean, we have to be able to get out the front doors, right? Or will people be pushed all the way back there? I'm having a hard time picturing it with the new hub.

There's a back-stage exit near Crystal Palace, so you should be able to get out.

 

[Aggiegrl]

i just picked up Fort Wilderness for the 30th and 31st, so I think that makes the logistics a little less complicated.

Still have no idea what we should do about ADRs. Having the RV close by does help with other meals though.

I think I can eliminate LTT. I just don't see it as a special experience worthy of the price. We can eat there later in the month when the crowds and prices drop.