New Year's Eve/Day in Disney

[TinkerCourtney]

Help! I have a lot of questions. We've been to Disney several times, just not during NYE so I'm a little nervous about it!

We are staying at Pop Century from December 31-January 6. We will not be arriving in Orlando until about 2pm on New Year's Eve. I was really hoping to get into a park on December 31, but we wouldn't be able to head out to one until about 5pm-ish. I have a feeling we won't be able to get into MK or HS due to capacity that late in the day, but what are the chances we could get into Epcot? I plan on making my dining reservations as early as possible, so that requires me to figure out where we will be each day. Should we attempt to get into Epcot or would we be better off planning to spend NYE in Downtown Disney?

Also, is it crazy busy in MK on New Year's Day like it is on New Year's Eve? I'd like to spend our first full day in Disney there, but maybe not if it's going to be THAT busy. Would we be better off planning the day at AK? Which days would you visit the park between December 31-January 6? I'm trying to avoid the crowds as much as possible so here's my tentative idea:

Thursday evening: Epcot
Friday: MK
Saturday: AK in the a.m. and Downtown Disney p.m.
Sunday: Epcot
Monday: HS
Tuesday: MK

 

[supersnoop]

Magic Kingdom has not hit capacity on NYE since 2009, and they've added a lot of capacity since then. Getting in shouldn't be a problem. But, getting to the park might be difficult with all the traffic. Honestly, I'd budget three hours from resort to park, half in traffic and half in line to get in.

You'll have much better luck at Epcot.

 

[izzylovesmickey]

We were at Disney last year during that time but it was DD20, DS19 and myself so didn't have to worry about needing naps and meltdowns because someone might be tired (well, at least not too much!). I think your tolerance for crowd levels will in part depend on when you normally visit. It will be crowded but we were at the World last year the week of July 4th and didn't think the crowds were any worse. We went to HS NYE but were in the part with an early lunch ADR so I really don't know if the park reached a closing stage. It was crowded but we managed to do the things we wanted to do. Found a good spot to listen to the band and watch the fireworks. Hope to find the same spot again this year. NY Day we went to MK. Again was crowded but not anything we felt we hadn't seen before. We did some of the rides we wouldn't normally do and made a game of it because the headliners had looong waits at times. Still had a great time-enough so that we are repeating the trip again this year with the bonus of DH being able to go-yay!

 

[Dr Gunnie]

We were at Epcot on New Years Eve and MK on New Years Day last year.

Epcot on New Years Eve is one of the busiest parks - especially in the afternoon/evening. We got there at rope drop and stayed until about 2:00 (that was our plan all along). Once noon hit, it was pretty crowded. Before noon it was fine. I believe they stopped allowing guests in during the afternoon. I would be surprised if you got in coming in the afternoon.

MK on New Years Day wasn't too bad. We got there at rope drop because we thought most people would sleep in, and we were right. The park was empty for the first few hours. It started filling up after noon, but it still wasn't too bad - nothing like Epcot the day before.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[TinkerCourtney]

Magic Kingdom has not hit capacity on NYE since 2009, and they've added a lot of capacity since then. Getting in shouldn't be a problem. But, getting to the park might be difficult with all the traffic. Honestly, I'd budget three hours from resort to park, half in traffic and half in line to get in.

You'll have much better luck at Epcot.

3 hours using the disney bus transportation or 3 hours driving ourselves? We're staying at a disney resort so we'll be using that.

 

[supersnoop]

3 hours using the disney bus transportation or 3 hours driving ourselves? We're staying at a disney resort so we'll be using that.

I'm guessing three hours on using the bus. Longer if by car. It took us over two hours to get from Bay Lake Tower to Epcot at noon on NYE this past year.

 

[glassslippergirl]

Whatever park you choose, understand that all you'll really be able to do, getting there so late, is stake out a place for the fireworks. Main Street is pretty much impassable by 7:00, and I'd imagine the same is true in World Showcase. We finished eating at Crystal Palace at 9:00, and our only real option was to stand in CP porch until midnight to watch fireworks. If you plan to make a late dinner ADR, keep this in mind.

 

[kaybird]

DH surprised me last year with a spontaneous trip to WDW for NYE. We left the farm at 4 p.m. the 30th for the 24 hour drive. We made resort reservations when we hit Georgia for CBR. We pulled into CBR around 4:30-5 p.m., checked in got our Magic bands and hopped on a bus. We were in MK by 6 p.m. Crazy Crowds, Crazy fun!!! The fireworks were brilliant, watched from the bridge of Beasts Castle, and they were full 360* around us. The NYE tag lasted through the full singing of Auld Lang Signe led by the Fab 5. Totally one of our favorite memories. Bus back to the resort took about 3 hours, but watching the traffic, you could not have paid me enough to drive in that mess.

 

[Mkrop]

We were there this year for NYE's. We woke up late on 12/31 due to not feeling well. We left for Epcot around 10ish. We sat in awful traffic (we drove), we did not get into Epcot until after noon. We saw Disney buses stuck in traffic with us so I am not sure if they get there any sooner. Epcot had no FPs for anything by 2pm. It was chilly and rainy so I dont think it was as crowded as it could have been. We only made it until 7pm because of being sick. We felt sooooo much better on NY Day, we made rope drop at MK and it was empty. It started getting more crowded later in the day.