NEW YEAR - tips please

[Hodkys]

I'm at home with a cold - cheering myself up with some Disney planning. We are off to the World on Thurs 29 Dec - returning on Sat 7 Jan. We're staying at the Dolphin (first time here).

We are thinking of going to Seaworld on Fri 30th Dec and EPCOT for New Years Eve, but not until the afternoon so we can stay through to the evening. (We have a 4 year but this is his 3rd visit and we'll be taking his pram). We are thinking of visiting Universal on 1 Jan.

Our thinking is - that Seaworld and Universal will be 'quieter' than the Disney parks in between Christmas and New Year. We will then visit the 4 Disney parks between the 2nd and 6th Jan.

Has anyone been at this time of year and can offer some advise. We're coming up to the 90 day mark and would like to book some PSs and we'd like to take advantage of the EMH . (Oh gosh - so many thinkgs to coordinate!!)
Which parks are open until midnight on New Years Eve and are there fireworks to see in the New Year?

Thanks

 

[Jackie H.]

I can't advise you on SW & US for this time of year...we haven't been to those parks during this holiday.

But I can tell you that there are fireworks EVERYWHERE on NYE!

Also know that EPCOT will be packed to the brims on NYE. MK will be over flowing and usually closes to new visitors on NYE by mid-morning (all new visitors including on-site guests). So going to MK in late afternoon is NOT an option - you probably already know that. I don't think EPCOT usually gets to capacity.....it holds a lot more people. But it will be wall to wall people.

Maybe you won't mind the crowds, if so that is your choice - just know that they will be there.

If you do mind the crowds, you could try Animal Kingdom on NYE. It doesn't have fireworks and is usually the least crowded of any of the parks on that day. It will close about 5 or 6pm if the past is any guide and then you can go back to the boardwalk area and have dinner or something. You will be able to see the EPCOT fireworks from there and maybe even the Studios fireworks. We had a room in the dolphin for the 12/31/03...I can't remember our room number, but I requested and got a room on an upper floor facing EPCOT. From our room we could see the ECPOT fireworks, the MK fireworks, the fireworks from US (a long way off, of course) and the fireworks from DTD! They also have fireworks at the Studios but they were behind us. It felt like the whole world was shooting off fireworks! (I guess they were!) Then we went to bed and were up around 8am and walked to EPCOT and there was absolutely NOBODY in that park!!!! Just a thought if you want to avoid getting swept up in the crowds.

As far as ADRs (PSs), WDW used to have a policy of getting a credit card number for ressies on such busy holidays. And they WILL charge your card if you do not make it. This is not the policy for most of the year, so be aware of the difference.

You will have a great time! Maybe I will see you there...we are arriving on January 1st and staying through the 8th!

 

[Hodkys]

Thanks Jackie. If we go to EPCOT in the morning and have our hands stamped - will this mean we can get in later?

We thought of EPCOT cos it was a bit bigger and we would just chill, walk round and soak up the atmosphere rather than 'do the rides/shows'. And then take the advantage of the walk back to the Dolphin. We've asked for a high floor/resort view at the Dolphin so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

 

[Jackie H.]

If we go to EPCOT in the morning and have our hands stamped - will this mean we can get in later?

Not if it is closed due to capacity crowds. BUT! That doesn't happen at EPCOT very often. EPCOT is huge and can hold many more folks than the other parks. I can't say that it has never happened, but it hasn't happened much. MK, on the other hand, does it every NYE and usually on other holidays like July 4th.

When it does close to new guests, no one can get in unless others leave. Fire codes, you know. There was a great post from Tyler (a WDW bus driver) about how all this works. I will try to find it for you and post a link.

 

[Jackie H.]

Here is the info I was talking about....but it is a couple of years old, so you may want to PM Chip 'n Dale Express and ask his advice for the upcoming NYE.

Posted by Chip 'N Dale Express:

There are different levels of park capacity.

1st stage - MK Parking lot closes, guests are diverted to Epcot parking lot.
2nd stage - MK is limited to those who already have a ticket.
3rd stage - MK is closed off to all except Disney Resort Guests. (Also called Yellow Flag)
4th stage - MK is closed off to ALL. (Also called Red Flag)

It should be noted that these are general stages, and it's not a one-for-one thing. Also, once you leave the park, you may not be allowed back in.

During busy holiday weeks, it's not uncommon to reach the 3rd stage. During this stage, guests will be asked to show Disney Resort ID's when boarding any Disney transportation. (Monorail, Bus, or Watercraft)

During Christmas and Easter week, its not unheard of to reach the 4th stage. Typically this will happen sometime in the late morning, and will extend to the early afternoon. Usually by mid-afternoon, enough people have left so that they will go down in levels.

Night times are typically less crowded, but still remain VERY crowded overall. For New Years Eve, the advice to find a park, and stick with it is correct. On this particular day, parks will reach capacity and stay there. Typically MK and Epcot will fill to capacity, Studios might still stay open.

Here is a link to the thread:

Capacity Thread

 

[Hodkys]

Thanks for the link.

Looks like we will be best placed to go to EPCOT and stay there. If it all gets a bit much we can always go back to the hotel and come out onto the Boardwalk to see the fireworks cos it's gonna be a long day!!!

But we wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

 

[whacked]

On really crowded days, if you go to the park with the attitude that you will enjoy the entertainment and people watching, without worrying about rides, you'll do fine.

Disney generally adds a TON of extra entertainment (street preformers, stage shows, etc.) when they know the parks will be really crowded. These alone are worth the price of admission if you don't bother with the ride lines.

Plan to NOT have your meals at traditonal times either. Have meals early. Otherwise you can spend an hour in line for counter service.

 

[lpizzuro123]

We ususally spend NYE in Epcot. Last year we arrived around 10:30 am and headed to MS - all the FP were out for the day. We then went to TT and the FP return time was 10:30 pm. We rode TT using the singles line and probably had no more than a 30 minute wait. My boyfriends son really wanted to ride MS and the single line was about an hour. We waited with him as long as we could outside and when he went inside we said we would meet him at the store at the end in a little while. I don't remember what other rides we did but just love being there and experiencing all the other things going on.

We spent the day in Epcot. It was very very crowded. We did not have PS (or whatever they are called now) because we were not sure where we were going to be and you need to prepay for NYE and you have 24 or 48 hours to cancel (can't remember right now). I waited on line for lunch at the counter service in Mexico for over 45 minutes.

They have two showings of IllumiNations on NYE. I believe the first one was around 7:30. We had just been to Epcot in October and had watched IllumiNations from Rose and Crown and my boyfriend wanted to do this again. We got to R&C around 5:30 and asked about eating there that night. They gave us a vibrating beeper and were actually able to get us an outside table around 7:00. This worked out great. We had wonderful seats for the early show of IllumiNations.

We checked out the rest of the countries after dinner and then sat near the boat docks on the Future World side of the lake (by around 10:30 pm) to wait for the 12:00 showing of IllumiNations. There is a McDonalds place near there and we kept going there to get Hot Chocolate. My boyfriends son went over and rode TT again with his FP that he had gotten at 11:00 am that morning and then met us back where we were waiting.

WDW is doable during the holidays, you just have to go with the attitude that it will be busy and you probably will not ride many rides but you need to enjoy all the other things going on.

Linda

 

[Hodkys]

Thanks for the info Ipizzuro123.

We phoned up for our PSs for NYE on Sunday (luckily we phoned at 12noon GMT) and we have booked the Biergarten for lunch (not been before but have read some good reviews) and a 6.30pm PS for the Rose & Crown. You had mentioned that there is an earlier Illuminations show c.7.30pm so we are hoping for a waterside table to really enjoy those fireworks. DH has said he is definitely going to buy the CD of the music this trip.

We think we may get to the park for opening - grab FPs for Soarin' and then just take it easy and soak up the atmosphere. (Only 86 days til we're on that plane heading to Disney)! Yippee!!

 

[lpizzuro123]

Hope you have a wonderful trip. It sounds like you have made some great plans. As it gets closer and they release the December hours, just check on the time for the early IllumiNations. I would imagine they would have it this year also but I would hate you to be disapointed if things changed.

Linda

 

[pmcue]

We have been a number of times on NYE and actually prefer going to MGM. They have actual events (bands (names you will know), DJ, Dancing), where MK just had the fireworks. Also, they had a huge display of lights (not sure if that is still there) It is less crowded. I would get a dinner reservation at MGM and enjoy.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Hey! We will also be arriving on the 29th of December...and we leave the 4th of January. We have ADRs for Ohana's at around 6pm. On these busy days....we are going to get up EARLY so we will be able to enjoy our day.