New Years DAY at DCA

[soyukamaru]

Hello guys,
Long time lurker, new poster here. I'm planning to go to DCA on New Years Day with my big family.
It was the only day my parents can join us in the park. We came from Asia (20 hour flight).
My question is how bad is the crowd going to be? Will it hit max capacity on that day?
I heard the morning will be much more managable due to the people still sleeping in from the party the night before.

So far, this is our plan:
Quick breakfast at hotel.
Be at the park around 8.30 for rope drop.
Soaring + Cars land area.
Princess Lunch @ Ariel's Grotto (reserved)
ToT via FP (if possible) and bug's land for the little ones
Frozen 3:30 pm show <-- How soon must we start queueing? 1 hour in advanced enough?
WoC dinner @ Carthay Circle (reserved)
WoC Show

In the afternoon - evening we are planning to take things slow and relaxed as we will have 4 children.
Perhaps a nap in the Animation building if necessary.
Do you guys think this plan is reasonable?
I will have 4 more park days, but only have 1 day with my extended family... so we hope it will not be too crazy crowded. Thank you in advance. =)

 

[SMD]

DCA rarely fills to capacity, but January 1st is typically a crowded day, and with no Rose Parade or bowl games that day it might be a little bot moreso in the morning. There is also the holiday festival happening this year, which reduces walkways and draws crowds. I think that if Frozen is a priority, 90 minutes is a better time to line up. I don't think you're going to find a place for 4 children to nap in the Animation Building, nor is that really what it's there for. You may want to rearrange you schedule for a hotel nap if that's a major part of your plan.

 

[ParkHopper1]

With two meal reservations later and if you get a WOC FP...your plan is VERY manageable. NY Day is indeed slower the first half of the day but will become stupid busy by mid day.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We did DCA on New Year's Day this year, and the crowds weren't too bad. DCA rarely hits capacity, so I don't think you'll have to worry about that. It was crowded, more so as the day went on, but not unbearably so. All your preparation and organization will pay off. We met large family groups who had missed out on so many things because they were either unaware or were really unorganized. Just make sure to have a back up plan in case you have to change plans on the fly.

 

[soyukamaru]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Happy to hear it will not be maxed out.

@SMD Yes, I will keep napping needs in mind. We will have strollers, so I guess I will just need to find a quiet shaded area for some down time. I do not think they will nap (they never nap anymore) but they will need to rest a bit, as us adults will too

One more question, Frozen show has no more FP right? So everyone will just have to queue together? Can we sit down while waiting (on a small blanket for the kids only)? Or is it like a line for rides, here everybody stand up and queue? While waiting, can 1 person leave to buy snack or to to toilet?

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Happy to hear it will not be maxed out.

@SMD Yes, I will keep napping needs in mind. We will have strollers, so I guess I will just need to find a quiet shaded area for some down time. I do not think they will nap (they never nap anymore) but they will need to rest a bit, as us adults will too

One more question, Frozen show has no more FP right? So everyone will just have to queue together? Can we sit down while waiting (on a small blanket for the kids only)? Or is it like a line for rides, here everybody stand up and queue? While waiting, can 1 person leave to buy snack or to to toilet?

Yes, to one person snack running and toileting.

As far as how crowded it will be, with Jan 1st falling on a Sunday, which means the Rose Bowl Parade and Game will be played a day late, all bets are off on crowds. The last time this happened it was extremely crowded in the afternoon with everyone trying to get one last day in before the game and travel home. Normally, the Rose Bowl crowds disperse after 12/31.