New Year in WDW

[owl36]

I know it is a long way out but we have just returned from a fantastic week at BC and the parks. The kids are hooked on the characters and already asking about returning.

We did MK, MGM and EC. Also BB and had dinner at Chef Mickey. Everything was wonderful.

I thought that I can get time away for about 5 days from Dec 27 to Jan 2nd and am now planning again to go to WDW.

Can anyone advise me about things to do and plan for New Years Eve and New Years Day...such as priority dining, special festivities and parades and things at the parks not to be missed.

I am thinking about a couple of days Park Hopping. Should I avoid New Years Eve. Are the parks open New Years Day. How busy are they?? Also another character breakfast recommendation would be helpful

DS is 6 and DD is 3 so PI is not really suitable!!!!. We will be staying at BW.


Thank you all for your help

owl36

 

[LibertyBelle]

Definetly plan for somewhere to eat on New Years Eve. It is very crowded and a PS is a must (unless you want food court).

The parks will be wall to wall people. If you want to head into the parks that's up to you, but they will be PACKED, Epcot will feel the least crowded (in my opinion). Some options for you other than the parks are to do Mini golf, Disney Quest, things like that and then go to one of the hotels for the firerworks. For MK you could make a late PS at the Grand or Poly and watch the midnight fireworks on the beach (Califonia Grill usually has a special New Years Eve party that is kinda pricey but you could look into that if you are interested.) Or you could go to the Boardwalk Bridge by the Beach Club and watch Epcot and MGM. This is uasually what we do. If you go to that bridge that comes over from the Boardwalk (by ESPN) you can get a pretty good view of Epcot and MGM will be behind you. There are usally a lot of pepople there so you won't be alone All the parks also do an earlier fireworks show if you want to take the kids and head back to the hotel for bed (since they are small). They usually do a 9-9:30 fireworks display so the little kids get to see them to and then the New Years Eve display at midnight.

The parks are open on New Years Day and believe it or not they are "Ghost Town" compared to the night before Most people stay out and party for New Years and then sleep in or head home. New Years Day is starts to taper off and get into the slow season.

Have fun you your trip

 

[Geoff_M]

We were there for NYE 2002/2003. We're not "crowd people" and opted for a reverse pysch plan and it worked great. As LibertyBelle pointed out, NYE is the single busiest day in the WDW year. Expect MK to be the first to close their gates to new comers well before lunch. The general advice is if you're going to be in a park for NYE is to pick one and get there as early as possible... and stay there! Don't plan on doing more than a few rides due to the crowds.

Our plan was to hit MGM at opening, and then bug out to AK when MGM got too crowded for us. That happened a couple hours after MGM opened. We headed to AK because it's the only park what doesn't stay open until midnight. It closed at 6 PM. Not being a NYE party park, it was VERY lightly attended. It was almost like being there in mid January. Even though we were only there for around 5 hours we did everything at AK that we wanted to do. The last thing we did was go to the FOTLK show that started at the same time the park officially closed. When it was over, the park was empty and we had a beautiful leasurely stroll out to the car.

We went through a drive-thru and got supper and went back to our hotel and went to sleep before midnight. That was because we were moving on-site in the morning and wanted to do EE at MK. Our guess was right about Jan 1. It seemed like the rest of the park goers were "sleeping it off" from the night before. The crowds were VERY light until after lunch. We got on lots of rides that AM.

 

[Magickndm]

Stay away from the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

To give you an idea of how crowded it is on New Year's eve, last year our family wanted to ride Mission Space at mid-night. I timed it so I could get fast passes for us by being in line for the FP at 10:30 A.M. I did get them. I thought the FP line was the regular line at first, it was so long.

But it's also lots of fun to be there too. We love New Year's at WDW.

HBC

 

[owl36]

Thank you for your help and ideas

What do regulars think comparing New Years Day at the Magic Kingdom vs say 29th or 30th December.

Sounds like NYE at Boardwalk would be our best bet. Any recommendations for a family dinner in the EPCOT resort area.

Thanks again

Owl36

 

[Connears]

We have been to WDW last 2 NYE and New years day. 2002-3 we started NYE at MGM and toured without huge waits until 4:30;took boat to Epcot and arrived to large crowds in WS, got hats and noisemakers and just walked around shopping. We had PS at 7:30 at Teppanyaki and it started to pour around 7pm so went in early and had to wait until 8:15 to be seated. Most of the outdoor stuff set up was under puddles when we finished dinner and it was still pouring. Took boat to BW and DH went on to MGM to get car and DS and I enjoyed some indoor activites at BWV(juggler, balloons, noise-makers)until DH picked us up and we went back to OKW and watched the ball drop in NY and saw some of the fireworks from Epcot. 2003-4 we spent whole day at MGM, touured most of the day with some crowds, but FP worked really well. Saw the parade and most all attractions and live band set-up at 5pm or so. We ate at BD at 8:30 (called for PS right at 90 days-they will take CC# because of holiday) and saw last show of Fantasmic with wait of 20 min in line. Decided to leave around 11:30 and took boat back to Swan and watched the fireworks from MGM from our 11th floor window and they were amazing. We even caught the high ones from Epcot from the dock area. MK WAS CLOSED TO ALL GUESTS BY 10AM(even resort guests). so if you go, make a PS at 90 days, go early and plan to stay..if you leave, you may not get back in.
Connears

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

We will be at the Poly during NYE. Where do they give out hats and noisemakers in that area? Last year we got them in Epcot...but this year we will have transferred from BCV to the Poly for NYE. Thanks

 

[dgaston]

For NYE 2003, we spent the day at BB, ate dinner at our Windsor Palms villa and then went to MGM. My DSIL and DNephews and I were dropped off at MK, rode the monorail (with the driver) to Epcot,walked thru the International gateway, took the boat to MGM, met up with DH and DB then rode Star Wars and did other things until midnight. I was so impressed with the fireworks. I wished MGM showed them some other times. We watched from the ABC theater area to the left of the hat -- perfect! Lots of CMs were in the same area.

Hats and noise makers had been given out about 6 pm -- nothing left for us, but some *charming* guests had extras and shared.