I'm apologizing in advance since I know this will be long, but I know that before we went last year, I had many questions about crowd management and other stuff, so hopefully this will help you, and anyone else who will be there for NYE.
We were there last year December 27-January 4 and though it was pretty crowded the whole time, some days weren't so bad. The 27th was not bad at all, but we found out when we checked into AKL around 5pm that a lot of people we leaving after having spent Christmas week there and many more people were checking in that night or the next day for NYE week. So we're guessing that since it was a big transportation day, that's why the parks weren't too crowded, since people probably didn't want to waste a pass on a few hours. We ate at Boma then went to MK and got there right before the 2nd Spectro, since we had APs so using a day didn't matter. Of course Main St. was mobbed, but the rest of the park was practically a walk on, even more so once Spectro ended and people left the park in hordes.
The other day we found to be the best was January 1. We went to Epcot and even though it was it's EE day (we didn't get there till around 10), the park was practically empty. It was the first time all week that we got seated for our lunch PS immediately and were one of about 5 tables in the restaurant. I guess people were checking out and/or tired after a late night, but even TT only had like a 45 min wait (compared to the over 2 hour wait most other days).
NYE, we went to MGM and got there at 7:45, 45 minutes after EE started, and it was pretty empty. RnRC and ToT had about 5 minute waits. CMs were handing out free FPs for various attractions, which was a nice surprise, and crowds were managable all morning. After we finished breakfast at H&V (we got out around 11:30), things were getting hectic though. We used the FPs we had, got a snack, and then went to check in at the GF for the rest of our stay around 3pm. By that time MGM was packed. We went to CG for NYE so we didn't try to get back in a park, we just stayed at the resort and rented water mice. When we left MGM, however, CMs were telling guests that MK wasn't accepting guests at that time and we saw signs on the roads back to the GF that said that MK parking lot was closed and not accepting new guests. I'm not sure how long that lasted though, since it did rain later that night so I'm sure lots of people left. AK was also just as bad on Dec 30, and when we left around 2pm a CM told us that they expected it to reach capacity in less than an hour. Things thinned out after January 1, though, and it wasn't much more crowded on the 2-4 than it was when we went in February (though it was President's Weekend).
Despite the crowds, we had a great time, and since we got up for EE everyday, took naps, then stayed out till park closing, we saw everything we wanted to at least twice. Of course it helped that we were there for 8.5 days, so we didn't feel rushed. But the best tool we had was EE. They did a good job of keeping out non-resort guests which was such a help so that you could actually get a lot done during that first hour, so that way when the rest of the park opened, you could do the 'less-popular" attractions while all the non-resort guests were rushing to the big rides. Also, we planned our meals so that we had either a late breakfast or early lunch around 10:45-11:15 everyday. Doing this also helped a lot since we got a break while people were busy with rides, and when we finished eating many people were heading for lunch, which helped the lines considerably. That plan worked well for us so you may want to try it out, but no matter what you'll have a great trip!
It is great to hear from someone who has actually been there at this time.
