New Year's Eve Dining in EPCOT ... where, when & how???

[hjvigz72]

We've booked our vacation for the days following Christmas and into the new year. (CRAZY!!) Personally we're not too interested in being in the MK on NYE, we're a family of 4 with 2 older kids (11&21 when we travel) and will likely be in EPCOT. We have hoppers and will be on the DDP, but if we're going to be in EPCOT at midnight, thinking a late dinner may be in order. We're not 5:00 dinner folks - typical dinner is 7:00 or later for us.

We started researching and noticed that there are reserved seating times at certain restaurants(ie - 4pm 6pm or 8pm) with Prix Fix type pricing. We're assuming that we probably can't use the DDP on those. We're looking for suggestions as we feel this night is going to be the hardest one to get what we want, or get anything at all.

Can't make our reservations until July, but are wondering where, when and how?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

No, you won't be able to use the DDP on those.

In general, you may not be able to access third party restaurants like La Hacienda or Monsieur Paul to get a fireworks view. Those will have prix fixe parties. I've never heard of Rose & Crown having one of those parties though. Anyplace else you should be able to grab if you book ASAP.

 

[js]

We've booked our vacation for the days following Christmas and into the new year. (CRAZY!!) Personally we're not too interested in being in the MK on NYE, we're a family of 4 with 2 older kids (11&21 when we travel) and will likely be in EPCOT. We have hoppers and will be on the DDP, but if we're going to be in EPCOT at midnight, thinking a late dinner may be in order. We're not 5:00 dinner folks - typical dinner is 7:00 or later for us.

We started researching and noticed that there are reserved seating times at certain restaurants(ie - 4pm 6pm or 8pm) with Prix Fix type pricing. We're assuming that we probably can't use the DDP on those. We're looking for suggestions as we feel this night is going to be the hardest one to get what we want, or get anything at all.

Can't make our reservations until July, but are wondering where, when and how?

Hi! I'll be there the same time! Can I please ask you what you started researching regarding the restaurants for NYE? I either want to be at Epcot or DTD. We are staying at SSR so thinking DTD may be easier to get back to since we can walk/take the boat (staying at Treehouse Villas). I would love to see what restaurants are offering pre-fixe menus for NYE. I want to be part of a party, anywhere, but I have two 22 year olds and one 18 year old with me so we can't be in a bar per se due to my 18 year old but want to be in a restaurant or somewhere counting down (perhaps a 9 or 10 pm dinner).

Thanks.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

To be honest, what you'll be able to see is what restaurants offered these menus LAST year. Most won't announce events for NYE this year until fall.

 

[akaler2010]

We have been a few times for NYE and are planning again this year. All of the prixe fix menu restaurants have been out of budget and so we have passed on doing those. Additionally, Aurora is right, they weren't announced until only a couple of months in advance, so I'd recommend getting an ADR where you want, then switching to the prixe fix after the menus are announced. I know the options are the signatures were all at least $200.

 

[tjmw2727]

We love Epcot for NYE and usually just do a regular ADR for that evening. For us the special offers didn't work as we like walking around and listening to all the different live offerings in each country more than sitting at dinner. In the past we have done Teppan Edo prior to the first set of fireworks and last year we did nine dragons after the first fireworks - IIRC around 10pm.

This year I think we will go back to an earlier dinner as we enjoy the festivities between the first Illuminations and the NYE fireworks.

Its crowded so bring your patience but it is also lots of fun - this will be our 4th or 5th year at Epcot for NYE - the only other WDW park we have done for NYE was the Studios and we do prefer Epcot (obviously!).

 

[gzmtlock]

Make your ADR for the area of the park you want to be in when you're done dining. That seems stupid as I type it - but the park is so crowded, it can easily take an hour or more to get from the back of WS to FW.

And a tip, should you need it. . .we had an ADR at Tutto for about 8 pm. Only about 6 pm, we decided that we had had it - the crowds were too much for us, it wasn't fun. (Not trying to dissuade you, TEHO.) We were so over it, we were willing to sacrifice the $40 to not show at Tutto and just eat elsewhere. We were staying at BWI, so walked back and made a reservation at Big River Brewing Co. I called to cancel the Tutto ADR, just 'cuz I knew that meant "our" table would be made available more quickly to someone else. The CM started to remind me of the fee, and I politely interrupted and told her why I called. She cancelled the no-show fee. I know others will say only the dining manager can do that, and I'm not saying that's not the case. All I can tell you is the no-show fee did not register on my card. It was a nice sprinkle of pixie dust!

 

[OhThePain]

My wife and I did an 8PM ADR at Biergarten a few NYE ago. The festiveness (and beer) of the restaurant added to the night. After dinner we set up camp in Germany on the lagoon and didn't do too much walking after. We would take turns going on beer and pretzel and water runs or walk around a little to see what was going on elsewhere. It worked out well for us. I think they also set off their NYE IllumiNations at around 7 or 7:30. It could have been the regular IllumiNations, but after the couple of beers before dinner, the liter and pint of beer at dinner and the few beers after dinner, my memory of the night is a little bit fuzzy.

Also, note that MK sets of their NYE Wishes the night before as well. It was nice to be able to see both.

 

[gzmtlock]

I think they also set off their NYE IllumiNations at around 7 or 7:30.

When we were there 2 NYE's ago, I believe the first show was at 6 pm. We had FP+. I didn't understand that it was the full NYE fireworks, thought it was only "regular" IllumiNations. DD needed a break, so we headed out to the Boardwalk while DH and DS stayed. They loved it! But heading out of the FP+ area and around WS towards the IG, they hit total gridlock. Literally did not take more than 15 steps in 15 minutes. People were jumping the barriers and walking through the gardens in England. It was this experience that caused us all to bail on spending the rest of the night inside of Epcot. It would have been better if they had just stayed put for 30 minutes or so, then headed around WS. You know what they say about hindsight!

As it was, we watched the fireworks from in front of Jelly Rolls. It was lovely and uncrowded! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

 

[hjvigz72]

My wife and I did an 8PM ADR at Biergarten a few NYE ago. The festiveness (and beer) of the restaurant added to the night. After dinner we set up camp in Germany on the lagoon and didn't do too much walking after. We would take turns going on beer and pretzel and water runs or walk around a little to see what was going on elsewhere. It worked out well for us. I think they also set off their NYE IllumiNations at around 7 or 7:30. It could have been the regular IllumiNations, but after the couple of beers before dinner, the liter and pint of beer at dinner and the few beers after dinner, my memory of the night is a little bit fuzzy.

Also, note that MK sets of their NYE Wishes the night before as well. It was nice to be able to see both.

^^^^^^^
GREAT TO KNOW!!!!

 

[hjvigz72]

Hi! I'll be there the same time! Can I please ask you what you started researching regarding the restaurants for NYE?

Thanks.

You'll have to tell me more about the Treehouses! I just started looking and snooping around the boards here with regard to restaurants. I was just looking for feedback/opinions on restaurants that we haven't had the opportunity to eat in yet and noticed the Prix Fixe style pricing from years prior. I'm a huge planner when it comes to our Disney vacations because there is SOOOOO much to see an do I want us to get the most out of the days we are there. I'm not really interested in the Prix Fixe myself, so my concern was that more restaurants would be providing that option. My kids are older as well so eating late and staying put is likely our plan.

 

[DisBuckMan]

One thing to keep in mind as well. You mentioned that you have hoppers. On the biggest crowd days of the year, NYE being one of them, many times the parks will fill to capacity and Disney will no longer allow more people into the park without people leaving. It would be terrible to leave a park with the plan to hop to another, then not be able to get into the park you're attempting to go to. Not only that, but you'd probably be shut out of all the parks at that point. Also, you'd be charged the no-show fee for your reservation.

NYE is definitely NOT a day I would depend on the ability to park hop.

 

[hjvigz72]

NYE is definitely NOT a day I would depend on the ability to park hop.[/QUOTE]

Thank you! This would definitely be a night we'd get in and stay in. I'm getting very nervous about the crowd situation though.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

usually the only park where there will be capacity issues is MK, and possibly DHS around fireworks time. Epcot's capacity is so large that it very rarely reaches capacity. Epcot may be the one you can actually get into all day long (other than AK), especially if you are not a day tripper. (No idea what effect the upcoming expanded hours at AK will have on this)

 

[hjvigz72]

I know it's off topic - but I'm totally psyched about the AK night life - long way off, so that may end up our park of choice.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

We did Epcot for New Year's Eve this past New Years. We started the day in Magic Kingdom around 10am and used our 3 fast passes there, had lunch in the park, and then went back to our Resort. Even though the park had reached a phase 1 closure we didn't think it was that bad we were able to walk around easily and get to the rides that we had already reserved and we even had a short wait for lunch at Pinocchio's Village Haus. After that we had dinner at 6 o'clock at Trail's End in Fort Wilderness just because we really like that restaurant. After that we took the boat over to the Contemporary and then the monorail into Epcot. We didn't even get to Epcot until maybe 8 o'clock and the world showcase wasn't that busy. There were already people set up around the Lagoon for the fireworks which I thought was crazy because the fireworks are in the sky. I mean I guess they wanted to see illuminations but it's the same show you would see on any other night no need to waste all of my New Year's Eve sitting on the grass. I have to say Epcot for New Year's Eve was fantastic! My husband who's been to Times Square said it was even better than that! There were so many people, but everyone was having a really good time. I wouldn't go there with my children just because I wouldn't be able to really enjoy myself-- it's definitely a more adult environment than the other parks. There was a decent amount of people who were dressed like they were going to a club, however my husband and I were in a regular park clothes . There was alcohol flowing everywhere and this is the first time at Disney I've ever seen really really drunk people stumbling around (no fights or anything) and I've been to food and wine for 4 years in a row.

To my recollection Epcot never experienced any kind of the phased closure so I would just eat dinner wherever you want to whether it's in the park or outside the park.

I hope we get to go again some time.

 

[gzmtlock]

IllumiNations on NYE is not the same as any other night, either the early or late showing. There are significantly more fireworks, from all around WS.

 

[csjordan]

NYE is definitely NOT a day I would depend on the ability to park hop.

Thank you! This would definitely be a night we'd get in and stay in. I'm getting very nervous about the crowd situation though. [/QUOTE]
This past NYE, we started the day in Epcot, walked/hopped to HS, then to AK, and back to Epcot. No problems doing so, at all. After seeing the line of traffic to get to MK on the way into Epcot NYE morning, I would not go near that place. We always watch the MK NYE fireworks on the 30th.