New Year's Eve - Family of Four, Kids 18 and 22

[js]

Hi.

We are staying in THVs between Christmas and New Years Day.

Can a family of four, with my ds-18 celebrate NYE somewhere where the
rest of us can have some drinks. If there are any parties at an actual location for under $500 I would be interested in this too or do I just need to book
a late dinner somewhere? We want to be able to celebrate NYE.
Does DTD celebrate NYE in the "streets"?

Thanks.

 

[baler31]

For under $500 per person you could do Narcoossee's or Citricos and enjoy the balloon drop/party at GF. Additional drinks can be purchased at Mizners. We did Narcoossee's last seating and it was all inclusive for around $300 pp. California Grill is more and we have not enjoyed it as much since the chef/menu/refurb change.

You could also have dinner at the Poly, watch fireworks and have drinks at Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace.

 

[Skywise]

For under $500 per person you could do Narcoossee's or Citricos and enjoy the balloon drop/party at GF. Additional drinks can be purchased at Mizners. We did Narcoossee's last seating and it was all inclusive for around $300 pp. California Grill is more and we have not enjoyed it as much since the chef/menu/refurb change.

You could also have dinner at the Poly, watch fireworks and have drinks at Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace.

What's the party at California Grill like? Is it just a buffet style service for about 4 hours with some character meets?

 

[robinb]

Here is a list of what was offered last year:
http://www.allears.net/tp/nyeve.htm

We usually just book dinner in Epcot and enjoy the World Showcase parties and then the fireworks.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

We usually just book dinner in Epcot and enjoy the World Showcase parties and then the fireworks.

Ditto. Eat dinner at your fav Epcot restaurant and enjoy the parties all around the World Showcase. We were at Epcot this past NYE and LOVED it.

 

[baler31]

What's the party at California Grill like? Is it just a buffet style service for about 4 hours with some character meets?

The last time we did this was 2009 and it was not a buffet exactly but different stations set up with the food (lots of options: caviar, sushi etc.) open bar, music, characters and games like you would see at a casino night theme. I have not done is since then and would not as we have been very disappointed in CG since the refurb.

Conversely, we were previously disappointed in Narcoossee's the last few years but have been twice in the last 6 months and had really great meals again.

We prefer the atmosphere of the resorts on NYE, less chaos. We also usually stay at GF so it is easier to just do something there. We have also stayed at Poly and CR and I would do either of those again. For CL at the Poly they had a nice area set up on the beach roped off for CL guests with seating, it was easy to slip back into the lounge to get drinks etc or you could walk to Tiki Terrace.

 

[robinb]

Here's a video that shows some of the parties around the WS:

. My teen DD loves them!

 

[philharmagic fan]

Don't know if you know this, but they have a "dress rehearsal" for NYE at MK on 12/30, complete with countdown to midnight and perimeter fireworks. Crowds are thick but not quite as insane as on 12/31. Our favorite park for 12/31 is Studios, as it is a bit less congested than EPCOT and the crowd seems a bit less rowdy. On the downside, traffic is ridiculous and you should be prepared for at least a 1-2 hour trip from a park back to your hotel on Disney buses. I'd do Disney Springs, since you can walk or boat back to your villa. As far as drinks, I think all lounges admit even young kids if with their parents, but they'll "proof" yours and not serve alcohol to the 18-year-old.

 

[js]

Thank you all!

I think I want to keep my family at DTD since as philharmagic says we can walk/boat back. Poly sounds like a great
idea but I don't want to have to rely on the bus to get me anywhere that evening.

So, I'll just make a ressie at a DTD restaurant that evening. I think that may be our best bet. Do you agree?

 

[robinb]

Thank you all!

I think I want to keep my family at DTD since as philharmagic says we can walk/boat back. Poly sounds like a great
idea but I don't want to have to rely on the bus to get me anywhere that evening.

So, I'll just make a ressie at a DTD restaurant that evening. I think that may be our best bet. Do you agree?

No. DTD would be boring compared to Epcot for me. Go to Epcot, walk to DHS after the fireworks and enjoy EMH and then head home in the wee hours after traffic clears.

 

[Alesia]

Thank you all!

I think I want to keep my family at DTD since as philharmagic says we can walk/boat back. Poly sounds like a great
idea but I don't want to have to rely on the bus to get me anywhere that evening.

So, I'll just make a ressie at a DTD restaurant that evening. I think that may be our best bet. Do you agree?

Nope. I would go to Epcot. It'll be way more fun. Totally worth the bus trip.

 

[gmboy95]

Having done NYE many times...I echo having dinner in Epcot and just partying with everyone...they have different stages set up at the park for all tastes ...last year they had, dancing and salsa in Anerica pavilion, where u could get right up on the stage as the dance floor....Italy had techno music that the kids gravitated to, with a cool light show and DJ...China had a stage with dance music as well...there were older school dance DJ stuff set up at the stage behind the big fountain in future world....and the fireworks at midnight are incredible !!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Last Year NYE at Epcot was great. We did dinner at La Hacienda where we had great seats for Illuminations. After dinner they closed for a party...there were a couple of parties at Epcot. But all around World Showcase was a big party...Italy was ROCKING! It was crowded but not crazy can't move crowded.

We found Disney Springs to be the most crowded hard to get around in a bulk of people place this past year for all of our trip (Dec 18 thru Jan1) so I'd avoid that on NYE like the plague!

 

[yulilin3]

Another vote for Epcot, it's just has a great party atmosphere.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Wow, thank you @robinb for posting that. I've never been on NYE but now it sounds like a "must do".

 

[js]

WOW!!!! Thank you all!! Do I have to be in Epcot ALL day to be there the evening of NYE? Can I make a late ressie and then be where I want to be for midnight? If I dont have to be there all day, maybe we will do this now instead

Thank you!

 

[robinb]

WOW!!!! Thank you all!! Do I have to be in Epcot ALL day to be there the evening of NYE? Can I make a late ressie and then be where I want to be for midnight? If I dont have to be there all day, maybe we will do this now instead

Thank you!

Epcot is huge and you can enter at any time. There is no need to be there all day.

One more thing, each country celebrates their NYE when it's happening in their own country. It's pretty cool if you're there when it happens. For instance, I think that the UK and France both celebrate at 6:00 pm.

 

[yulilin3]

WOW!!!! Thank you all!! Do I have to be in Epcot ALL day to be there the evening of NYE? Can I make a late ressie and then be where I want to be for midnight? If I dont have to be there all day, maybe we will do this now instead

Thank you!

We usually get to epcot around 6pm, no problem. Last time Epcot closed for capacity was in the 90s.

 

[kmermaid]

This past NYE our family (Myself, DH, DD20 & DD18) did Epcot and the family said it was the best trip ever! We had a 8:30 adr at Napoli and the parties were the best (Loved the dragon in China). We didn't enter the park until 6:30 ish. Just make sure you make your ADR as soon as they come at 180 days. I'm already got a reminder on my phone for NYE 2018 for rooms at BCV booking!

 

[tabm01]

Epcot on NYE sounds like so much fun and I really want to do it, but would it be inappropriate for my kids (6,5,3). I'm sure they'd be entertained