Need advice with New Year's Eve Fireworks @ Magic Kingdom...

[dryoyo]

Hello All! This year we plan on spending New Year's Eve in Orlando with a family group of about 20 people total. We are undecided between trying to go to Magic Kingdom (expensive, crowded, have to get there early and stay all day or risk being left out) or just watching the fireworks from one of the nearby resorts (mainly the Polynesian Beach Resort). I wanted to now how feasible is it? Our idea is to park and visit Downtown Disney, then ride the bus to the resort for the fireworks, then head back to DD via bus. Is this doable? How early would we have to be in DD? on the bus? Any alternative suggestions? I assume that it gets equally crowded.. Any advice will be welcomed! Thanks!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Will they allow guests who are not staying at PVR to watch from the beach on NYE?

 

[Grumpy92]

MK will fill to capacity by 10am on NYE. If you want to see the fireworks I recommend you go in and stay, do not leave. Since you are not staying at a Disney resort you are not guaranteed entrance. So if you leave you probably wont be able to return.

Parking at DTD right now is a nightmare with all the construction and street congestion. There is one bus stop at the far end of the marketplace area at this time. If you choose this option I recommend parking at the Team Disney parking lot and walking across the street to DTD. It will be a long haul to the bus stop though.

I can tell you that the Poly beach is under major construction as well. It will also be very crowded. So dont know that will be a very good option.
If it were me I would go to FW, park at the front of the campground, take the bus to the marina area. You can enjoy cocktails on the porch at PH and then walk to the beach to view the fireworks.

Resort parking may be limited. I know in the past on particular dates, if you were not staying there they would not let you park there. Saying that one 4th of July they kept allowing guest into the Poly parking lot even though there were no parking spots and most were not Poly guests. Not when you bring coolers with you.

 

[Robo]

Will they allow guests who are not staying at PVR to watch from the beach on NYE?

I'd avoid the Poly Beach this year, due to the major construction.

Otherwise:

You can see the MK fireworks shows very well from the TTC
and they pipe-in clear, crisp audio from the show.)
Note: you are not allowed to stand directly in the actual Ferry loading area.

You can see them from the boat-dock and an outside
observation deck near Narcoossee's restaurant at the
Grand Floridian. Anyone can stand on Narcoossee's Deck.
The outside deck is not a part of the actual restaurant. (All serving is done inside.)
The deck is accessed from the sidewalk outside the restaurant.
Also, good viewing from the Patio overlooking the Marina.
The sound of the show is piped into these areas too.

At the Contemporary, there is viewing on an outdoor
observation area on the 4th floor.
The California Grill observation areas are reserved for patrons that day of the Grill or Bar.

(Fireworks shown above are simulated.)

At Wilderness Lodge, the "secret place" to watch the MK fireworks is from the northern area of the Cast Member (CM) Parking Lot.

At the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds Marina (angle shown on the map below,) some of the view (especially of the "Fantasyland" pyro) is blocked by the now unused Discovery Island in Bay Lake and by the high-rise buildings of the Contemporary Resort.
But, the view from the Ft. Wilderness' sand beach (farther north) is more open.
Still the tree-level can block the views of the lower-firing pyro.

Here are the angles of the views in the Bay Lake area.

Below are the angles of the views in the Seven Seas Lagoon area.

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[TDSAXX]

Thanks for all the info Robo. We will be down there for NYE next week and this gives us a lot of options for seeing the fireworks.

One question how crowded do these areas get for the fireworks?

 

[robinb]

MK will fill to capacity by 10am on NYE. If you want to see the fireworks I recommend you go in and stay, do not leave. Since you are not staying at a Disney resort you are not guaranteed entrance. So if you leave you probably wont be able to return. Parking at DTD right now is a nightmare with all the construction and street congestion.

it is unnecessary to stay the whole day. The MK will close of offsite guests early in the day around 10:00 and will probably close to park hoppers and returning guests later in the day but it will reopen to everyone around 8ish. It probably won't go to phase 4 so people who stay onsite will be able to enter all day. OP, will you be around for the 30th? The MK shows the same fireworks on the 30th.

 

[Robo]

it is unnecessary to stay the whole day. The MK will close of offsite guests early in the day around 10:00 and will probably close to park hoppers and returning guests later in the day but it will reopen to everyone around 8ish. It probably won't go to phase 4 so people who stay onsite will be able to enter all day. OP, will you be around for the 30th? The MK shows the same fireworks on the 30th.

I can't agree that this WILL be the case, for sure.
The crowds this year have been VERY high compared to previous years.

Better to err on the side of caution.

 

[robinb]

I can't agree that this WILL be the case, for sure. The crowds this year have been VERY high compared to previous years. Better to err on the side of caution.

I've been to Disney NYE 12 out of the last 15 years. I have always been able to take a break. Of course, the MK is a little harder to get back into before the parade.