New Years Eve at Disneyland!

[Tiffanyjb]

Ok All,
I am so excited to spend New Years Eve at the Happiest Place on Earth without my 3 children! I booked my hotel through Priceline at the Red Lion Hotel (3 1/2 stars) for $55 per night! I am expecting huge crowds but I would like any words of advice or maybe wisdom is the right word! Also how early should I get there? I can't get there until about 2.

 

[Sherry E]

Ok All,
I am so excited to spend New Years Eve at the Happiest Place on Earth without my 3 children! I booked my hotel through Priceline at the Red Lion Hotel (3 1/2 stars) for $55 per night! I am expecting huge crowds but I would like any words of advice or maybe wisdom is the right word! Also how early should I get there? I can't get there until about 2.

I am going to move you to the main Disneyland forum. By the way, New Year's Eve is insanely crowded (scary crowded!) and I will never do it again!

 

[bumbershoot]

If you can't get there until 2....I hate to say it, but you might not get into Disneyland. That day/night gets packed, and packed early from what I've heard...thoughts of the crowds makes experienced CMs shudder and get far-away looks in their eyes while suggesting that guests NOT go... When the park hits full capacity, no one is getting in until someone goes out, and on a night like NYE, no one is going to leave until after midnight.

If I were to go that day, I would move heaven and earth to get there in the morning or expect to spend that evening at the resort or DTD.

 

[fairycat]

I agree with the above. The only reason we got in was because we had premium passes and earlier this year I heard they changed the rule on that.

Typically when we have done NYE we spent time in DCA and did countdown there (or in Napa Rose for their special event). Then after the countdown headed to DL where people are heading out like rats leaving at sinking ship. Last year was incredibly foggy so more left then usual but still everything had long lines. It can be a blast if you understand what the crowds are really going to be like and are ok with spending a lot of time in DCA.

 

[Disney Dreams]

New Year's Eve is one of the absolute busiest nights of the entire year at Disneyland, if not THE busiest. You can count on the Park filling to capacity (meaning, no re-entry). It's only a question of what time that will happen. 2pm could be too late, but that is anyone's guess.

There is a stage, countdown, characters, etc on Main Street. There are hats and blowers given out at various locations in the Park. Fun time!

Now, visualize with me:
Imagine Main Street. Now imagine standing shoulder to shoulder with someone. Now imagine standing on Main Street with every inch of Main Street filled with people. You are standing shoulder to shoulder with your new best friends that you just met who are waiting with you to ring in the New Year, amazed that so many people could possibly be there.

Then add a few people.

Every inch of Main Street, shoulder to shoulder with people. More than you can possibly imagine.

You are now probably thinking, "Okay, it's crowded, Dreams just doesn't have the tolerance for crowds that I do. She's also probably not a big Disney fan." I do. And I am. Big time. And I thought the same thing from the person who told me about NYE at DL.

That said, you will do it. Once. You will be sure it's an exaggeration. You will be sure this year will be different. And then you will know. It really is that crowded. And you will never do it again. But you will have to do it once. It's a Disneyland fan's badge of honor. Trust me. I've done it. Once. I loved it. And I doubt I will ever do it again, but I had to do it once... because, well, it couldn't be THAT crowded.

Have a great New Year's Eve on Main Street! It's a once in a lifetime experience.

- Dreams

 

[Gisele]

I have not been to Disneyland for NYE, however, between what I have read about crowd levels in the past, and from a photo, that I believe it was Sherry that shared it, well OMG! OK so maybe one time I will visit on that day. However, it will not be anytime soon. In that photograph, I would worry about crowd control, breathing room, and being trampled if just one emergency might occur. Anyway, those are my sentiments, and I have not even been yet.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...I would worry about crowd control, breathing room, and being trampled if just one emergency might occur. Anyway, those are my sentiments, and I have not even been yet.

That's why Disney CMs work closely with the FD, to make sure everything is safe. We were not concerned for our safety, but we were not getting anywhere in a hurry for sure.

 

[Howry]

I hope it all works out for you. =)

I would push to get in earlier if possible. You may get shutout getting in that late.

 

[SSRJen]

I did it once and loved it, but won't do it again. We did not plan on riding anything and just did activities that would not be packed like Innoventions". We ended up watching the midnight activities on top space mountain and ran into the empty line right after it was over. We waiting about 5 minutes for the ride. That part was magical! This was back probably 8-10 years now, so not sure you could have the same experience with the queue being outside the mountain now.

Now, I hang out over at DCA...a lot more fun (outside dance clubs, fewer crowds and the ability to grab a drink) in a safe environment.

 

[Sherry E]

Gisele - No, I was not the one who posted the scary New Year's Eve crowds photo, but I vaguely remember what you are talking about. Sometime in the past on the DIS when this subject came up, somewhere lost in the archives, someone did post a photo of a crowd scene on New Year's Eve, I think. When I was there for my one and only NYE, we were SO smooshed into the crowds on Main Street (or as DisneyDreams said, "our new best friends") that I would not have even been able to reach into my bag to get the camera out!

I remember my two friends and I were eating at Carnation Cafe. As we sat there, we watched the people pile into the street, one by one by one, and they were not moving!! By the time we paid the bill and stood up to leave the restaurant, at probably about 8 p.m. or so, we could barely get out onto the sidewalk, and then once we did get there, we could not walk across the street because there were too many people, elbow to elbow, just standing there, and we were stuck! One of my friends had "suddenly" developed a "sore throat" a few minutes prior and decided to go back to the hotel to sleep and miss the midnight festivities, so she was only stuck for a few minutes. I think she just got scared by the crowds, and I couldn't blame her. So my remaining friend and I just stood there for a while in the middle of Main Street, in this claustrophobic sea of people, until my friend said, "Well, this ridiculous! We have to get out of here! There must be a way! Grab on, Sherry!" Somehow she attached herself to me and we formed a human chain, barreling through the people who would not or could not move until we got to some kind of space that had air in it!! From there, the only place we could go that was not congested with thick crowds was Fantasyland. I recall standing in lines for rides at night and I was SO tired that I was alternately zoning out and getting quiet, then getting cranky and cursing and grumbling to myself that I had agreed to stay up until midnight! Then, Fantasyland started to get crazy so we moseyed over to Tomorrowland, where we hunkered down for the rest of the time until midnight. Absolute madness!

 

[Gisele]

OMG! Sherry! I have a tendency toward feeling claustrophobic, so a thick crowd like that would have bothered me, even more so, I beleive.

 

[SueTGGR]

OK, so how crazy are we getting priority/dessert seats for F! for that night? The later of the 2 shows, too. We wanted to do something for the 2 of us as we typically don't do much on any NYE. Are we crazy thinking we can get back there? We drop off our DS at Pinocchio's Workshop at 6pm.
Suggestions? Ideas? Tell me I am not crazy?

 

[Disney Dreams]

OK, so how crazy are we getting priority/dessert seats for F! for that night? The later of the 2 shows, too. We wanted to do something for the 2 of us as we typically don't do much on any NYE. Are we crazy thinking we can get back there? We drop off our DS at Pinocchio's Workshop at 6pm.
Suggestions? Ideas? Tell me I am not crazy?

This raises an interesting question. I would call Disneyland and ask for Guest Relations. I would then ask the following, "If I purchase dessert seating for Fantasmic! on NYE, leave the Park earlier in the day and re-entry is not being allowed due to capacity, would I be allowed in because I have paid for Fantasmic! seating?" If the answer is no, my follow-up question would be, "Woud I be able to get a refund."

This is an interesting sceneario.

- Dreams

 

[SueTGGR]

As we all know an answer can change from CM to CM but when I bought the tickets I asked the question. The answer was that I would be allowed in. I will follow up as we move closer to the day (it is so close isn't it?). My problem with all of this is that if it is so packed on Main St., how will we get from point a to point B? We are hoping to get the Monorail but will that be jam-packed with a mile long line? Is the train running? Any other ideas out there?
We aren't looking to squeeze into Main St. for the fireworks. We are content with stopping where ever we are and seeing what we see. I have given up on seeing fireworks there years ago. But I also remember reading somewhere that people were welcome to stay in their seats @ F! afterwards to catch fireworks. That would be just fine for us.
What do you think?

 

[SSRJen]

I would suggest hoping on the train on Main Street and getting off at the New Orleans stop. This should have things somewhat. There may be a long line for the train, but it will probably still be better than attempting Main Street!

 

[TBLaube]

I am insane and am going for NYE also. I figure we will go to DCA for NYE. Does anyone know if DCA will fill to capacity? Usually it is always open...
I concur with a previous post....wewant to enjoy a few alcoholic beverages.

 

[fairycat]

DCA is way more manageable. We stayed there one year and didn't think it was too bad. I don't remember when or if that one hit max, but I would say with all the open walk ways and the set up it is a better place to ring in the new year. Also remember after the ring in you can always go back over to DL as everyone leaves.

 

[NWT]

I am hoping to get in on NYE, too. With all the above advice, I think we will head over to DCA. I don't mind which park I am in, I will just be happy to be there.

We land at the LAX around 10:30am, so by the time we take the Express to our hotel and drop off luggage I think we can get in line at the entrance around 12:30 depending on traffic, etc

This trip is a surprise for our DD10 for christmas. I am bursting!!! NYE is our first day, so I hope we get in

If not, we will relax and beat the crowds the next morning.

 

[SueTGGR]

I was online looking at the calendar while we will be there (only a few days more!) and I noticed nothing for DL but a random kind of looking entry for DCA

DCA NYE 2009 Event Install
2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
DCA NYE 2009
7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 11:45 p.m.

What do you think?

 

[Disney Dreams]

I was online looking at the calendar while we will be there (only a few days more!) and I noticed nothing for DL but a random kind of looking entry for DCA

DCA NYE 2009 Event Install
2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
DCA NYE 2009
7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 11:45 p.m.

What do you think?

Interesting calendar entry. All I can tell you is that NYE at Disneyland is a HUGE gathering. They do a countdown on Main Street. There are stations where horns and hats are given out. Massive amounts of people willl be there. It is a B I G.

- Dreams