New Year's Eve at the parks ???????

[coffman6]

I've heard that the parks will close to capacity on New Year's eve early....Has anyone been there on this day when this happens?? What time can you still get in?? We are mainly thinking of Magic Kingdom or Epcot....Are the crowds unbearable???? Thank you

 

[Mary Anne]

Listen I do crowds and yes they are unbearable. I have spent 3 NYEve in the MK and I doubt I will do one more. MK is usually closed by 10 to both on site and off site guests. Not sure what time Epcot closes but the crowds should be a little better there.

I would not even think about doing any park unless I was onsite. Plan on 3 hours to get to your car otherwise.

 

[coffman6]

We are staying on site but we are starting to think watching the fireworks from the poly might be a better idea?!?!?!? I also remember reading that they practice the New Year's Eve show on 12/30 evening at the magic Kingdom. Does that sound right? Thank you.

 

[KCMiller]

There are lots of threads on this board about New Year's Eve in the parks, and if you are planning on going, I would do a search and read them - it's REALLY crowded. NP, for me, but I feel really bad for people who go unprepared for the insane amount of people. At the very least, MAKE ADR'S. If you don't have reservations for at least one sit down meal, you will deeply regret it, believe me.

And yes, the parks do reach capacity - and even if they don't close them, it's wall to wall people and 3 hours in the parking lot, and I'm not exaggerating. On NYE, failing to plan IS planning to fail.


KC

 

[kaelarad]

DH and I have spent NYE at WDW for 8 years and this year we are going home .before NYE. Last year Epcot went to phase one closure, meaning the parking lot was full by 11:30 am. As big as Epcot is, it was a miserable day. And I do crowds. I would go to Downtown Disney or enjoy the resort.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Eventhough my family & I have stayed at the Contemporary for New Years Eve we would not want to do any of the parks that day. Yes I know we could get up early & walk to the Magic Kingdom, but if by 10:00 AM every attraction is 90 minutes or more & chances are Fast Passes would all be gone very early, what would the fun be of staying at the park until 12:00 AM? Instead we like to relax in the morning & in the afternoon go on out to Downtown Disney & head back in time for the fireworks.

 

[CindyAnn]

We've spent two NYE's at WDW, and will be spending another one there this year. I guess we're different from lots of WDW visitors, but being stuck with that many other people would drive us nuts!

We have a different strategy. We spend the day at AK (not overly crowded since there aren't any evening celebrations) and then we have a nice dinner in one of the hotels (Boma this year). It's pretty relaxed, but SSHHHH! don't tell anybody else!

Have fun!

 

[peter pan217]

we went to the capital one bowl in 2003.On new years we went to MK we could barely move. Space mountain's line was backed up to rocket tower plaza.It was a nightmare!

 

[robinb]

We always go into the park of our choice when it opens and get as much done as possible by lunch. We then go back to our resort and relax until late afternoon or early evening. We then return to the park for dinner and the fireworks. We couldn't stay they the whole day! It's too way too crowded. I always feel sorry for the people just getting to the park as we are leaving between noon and 2PM. All the fastpasses are gone by then and the lines are literally hours long. We have never been denied re-entry at either Epcot or the MK but we always stay on-site. If you are staying off-site that's different. Parking will close before the parks do. You may be able to leave the park with your car but you may not be able to return.

FWIW, I already have my ADR at Teppanyaki for NYE. I booked the first week I could and I still didn't get the exact time I wanted!

 

[coffman6]

I have searched the boards for this and could not find it....You are saying that because we are onsite guests we will be readmitted later in the evening on New Years Eve?? we do have ADR's for 7 p.m. and I was worried that my DH would make us arrive at 9 A.M. and stay all day just to see the New Year's Eve fireworks. Has anyone staying on site ever been denied entrance to the parks due to high crowds? Thank you so much for the info.

 

[tink1978]

You could still be denied entrance...I suggest going early and staying there if you have ADR's. I spent NYE 2 years ago at Epcot. The day was fine, but around 6:00pm it started to get really crowded. We left around 8:30pm because my son got sick and it took us two hours to get from Canada to the entrance (with me praying my son wouldn't get sick on anyone). The traffic of people was at a complete standstill and CM's had to literally scream at people and give them directions for moving. I still stick to what I said, get there early and stay there, if you go.

 

[robinb]

I have searched the boards for this and could not find it....You are saying that because we are onsite guests we will be readmitted later in the evening on New Years Eve?? we do have ADR's for 7 p.m. and I was worried that my DH would make us arrive at 9 A.M. and stay all day just to see the New Year's Eve fireworks. Has anyone staying on site ever been denied entrance to the parks due to high crowds? Thank you so much for the info.

I read this many years ago on rec.arts.disney.parks:

Defcon 0: normal operations
Defcon 1: (not used)
Defcon 2: parking lot closes
Defcon 3: ticket sales alerted not to sell for today's entry
Defcon 4: park hoppers re-entering at MK & resort guests only
Defcon 5: re-entering MK guests & resort guests only
Defcon 6: re-entering MK guests only
Defcon 7: closed

I have heard that some parks do go to Defcon 7 (or whatever it's called now) on very busy days like July 4th, Christmas and NYE. I know that the MK hits Defcon 2 by 10:00 AM which makes staying off-site on NYE problematic. I do know that just because the MK is closed at 2PM doesn't mean it will be closed at 6:00PM. I think that many people think they can stick it out and end up leaving in the afternoon, opening up the gates for more guests.

There is no guarentee that you will be able to re-enter when you return. HOWEVER ... I have never had a problem re-entering the MK in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 or Epcot on 1999/2000, 2001/2002, 2002/2003 or 2005/2006.

BTW, you will want to be at the park well before 9:00 AM. You want to be there as soon as the gates open to be able to do anything at all during the day. I think we get to the park between 7:30 and 8:00.

 

[Connears]

We have been there for 2 NYE's 2003-4 and 2004-5. We have learned to avoid MK that day as it closes to all guests-even resorts guests by 10am and really no chance to park hop(this happened both years).We started at MGM and toured with FP until 4pm 2003-4 then hit epcot for ADR at Teppanyaki. Epcot was crowded and crazy(they hand out noise makers and hats around 6pm), but very fun. There is also a large party with dinner music and activities for all ages at the old millenium village, but that was extra cost from park admission so we did not do it. Then 2004-5 we started and stayed at MGM with dinner at Brown Derby and then did fantasmic and watched the midnight fireworks from our room at the Swan. They had radio disney at MGM and live bands and lots of stuff to entertain all ages. Epcot has outdoor music venues also. We had 2 adult couples and 2 12 and 13 year-old boys and everyone had a great time. I suggest picking where you want to eat dinner and make ADR asap (we did is as soon as allowed). If you want to go to MK, go early and plan to stay all day..if you leave and park is at max you will not be readmittted even if you have ADR in the park(this happened to our friends who had adr at LLT and could not get back into MK for them).

Connears

 

[robinb]

We have been there for 2 NYE's 2003-4 and 2004-5. We have learned to avoid MK that day as it closes to all guests-even resorts guests by 10am and really no chance to park hop(this happened both years).

I was at the MK both those years and we were readmitted with no problems after 5PM. We had ADRs at 7:00-ish both times.

If you want to go to MK, go early and plan to stay all day..if you leave and park is at max you will not be readmittted even if you have ADR in the park(this happened to our friends who had adr at LLT and could not get back into MK for them).

Were their reservations in the evening or in the afternoon? The MK usually opens back up after the afternoon parade. I wouldn't be surprised if they were turned away before the end of the parade.

 

[Ariel413]

How about the crowds just during the early part of the day? We are planning on going to Epcot at opening (8am--really 7am with early entry). We want to stay only until about 2:00 of 3:00. We have an ADR at the Coral Reef for 11:30 for lunch. We only want to stay at Epcot for the first half of the day and then we are going to the 7:15 HDDR. This will be our last day at WDW. Our kids are age 3 and 6.

We were in WDW during the same week last year and we had a great time. But we did not go to any parks on NYE-- I just want to make sure that what I have planned will be good.

Thanks!

 

[KCMiller]

Just to clarify...

Some DISers say that the parks DO close on NYE due to capacity, and some DISers say they don't. Well, they're both right. They do rolling closures. So, for instance, MK might be closed to more guests at 4pm, but then later, the attendance is re-evaluated, and the park re-opens. An hour or so later, it closes again. And like anything else at Disney, the information you get depends on who you ask. Ask a bus driver "Is the Magic Kingdom closed to more guests?", and depending on what they know from the last time they checked, you'll get a yes or a no. They are both right, depending on whats happening at the parks.

That being said, do you really want to be the party that tips the scale and closes the park ?

KC

 

[coffman6]

Thank you all for your input....it looks as though DH will be at the parks and I will be enjoying umbrella drinks at the poly!! Truley I do thank you for all of your input to help us plan what sounds to be one CRAZY yet memorable day!!

 

[msgrimm23]

i go to mgm for new years and it is a blast. They have a stage with a dj and live bands and if you stand in the main street toward the exit the fire works are all around you. last year was very crowded but the year before that it was not that bad. they also do the osborne lights in the back in new york. epcot was mayhem and was so crowd the one year we went we left and went back to the hotel. we go at around 6 and stay and dance drink and have a great time