New Year's Eve in Hollywood Studios

[bmiller954]

Hi! I've seen a lot of threads discussing New Year's Eve in Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but not much about Hollywood Studios. We're planning to spend NYE in HS, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience or tips for the evening.

Where should we stand for the fireworks? How early should we stake out a position?

Does HS usually reach capacity on NYE? I have a dinner reservation at Sci-Fi that night, so I know we'll be able to enter the park even if it's at capacity, but I wasn't sure how far in advance of our reservation we'd be able to enter.

Any help would be great. Thanks!

 

[Skywise]

Hi! I've seen a lot of threads discussing New Year's Eve in Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but not much about Hollywood Studios. We're planning to spend NYE in HS, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience or tips for the evening.

Where should we stand for the fireworks? How early should we stake out a position?

Does HS usually reach capacity on NYE? I have a dinner reservation at Sci-Fi that night, so I know we'll be able to enter the park even if it's at capacity, but I wasn't sure how far in advance of our reservation we'd be able to enter.

Any help would be great. Thanks!

Like the castle the fireworks will be centered around the Sorcerer's Hat. So the main street looking towards the hat or any reasonable area looking towards the hat. A good secondary place is just behind Echo Lake (you won't be able to see the hat but nobody will be in front of you so you'll get a pretty clear view of the fireworks)

 

[Grumpy92]

I have enjoyed NYE at HS. It is usually the 3rd park to fill to capacity. Around 11am. I would suggest making ADRs and then just staying in the park until after the countdown. Very good fireworks.

 

[Robo]

.

 

[pad406]

In 2010 we left HS at lunch and had no problem getting back in. Might have been unusual but...

We felt it was great on NYE. Big enough crowd for a great atmosphere but bot too crowded

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

My family has gone to DHS twice for NYE. I really enjoy it.

Obviously, MK is the most crowded park on NYE. It gets incredibly congested and hard to move around. Think of MK as the "Times Square" of Disney World.

EPCOT gets just as crowded. Because it's larger than MK, it seems to absorb the crowds much better. There's parties throughout the World Showcase. There are floods of people, but the CM's seem to keep people moving.

Animal Kingdom is closed at night, leaving DHS as the last choice. DHS is the least crowded of the three parks. We have entered DHS as late as ~9pm and never had a problem getting in.

Having a reservation works in your favor. Even if you're staying offsite, I BELIEVE you can enter the park up to a Phase 3 closure.

DHS is a lot more family friendly. For one, it's easier to move around. I feel like EPCOT is more of a big adult rave-type party. There's DJs, there's drinking, it gets pretty crazy over there. At DHS, though, people seem to do their own thing until around 10-10:30pm. Some people dance in front of the hat - as there's a band and DJ playing throughout the night.. but for the most part, it just feels like a very crowded night at the park.

Seeing as you have a dinner reservation, be on the lookout for noisemakers and hats. CMs will be hanging them out throughout the night - but they usually run out by 8 or 9pm.

THe best spot to watch the fireworks, as a PP said, is right in front of the hat. But it could be congested and there's not many spots to sit. You could grab a seat in front of Prime Time Cafe. It's slightly obstructed, but it has seats and there's a temporary pop-up bar right there. Grab an electric lemonade and countdown to the New Year. I'd recommend getting there around 11pm and saving a seat. Don't get up. If you need a drink or food, send a runner and save their spot. People are like vultures looking for a seat. They'll snatch it right up and won't think twice about joining your family.

For more info, read my book - there's an entire chapter on NYE at Disney: survivedisxmas.com

Join in on the Christmas DIScussion this Saturday, Nov. 1st at 12pm EST!

 

[bmiller954]

Thanks for all the responses! We are staying on property, so with that and the ADR, I feel a lot better about not being shut out of the park.

PlutoTheDog89, thanks for the great advice! I'll definitely be checking out your book!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

One last thing I forgot to add -

If you're staying at the Boardwalk, Swan, Dolphin, Yacht or Beach Club, getting home won't be a problem.

But it does get crazy leaving DHS, as it does with all of the parks. DHS is the only park with EMH, going until 2am. My sister and I love to stretch out the trip - as NYE is our last night at the parks. We normally stay until 2am.

One year, my parents refused to stay. THey left shortly after 12am (around 12:30.) My sister and I wanted to ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster one last time - so we waited. We wound up leaving the park around 1:30am. It took around 20 minutes to get home. By the time we left, there was barely a line for the bus. When we got back to the hotel (POFQ) my parents were frustrated, saying "they only got back 20 minutes ago..)

It's better to hang out at the park then fight the crowds. Enjoy the night and take advantage of the EMH to get in a ride or two.. then leave the parks. Of course, if you have little ones - this is a little difficult.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We spent this past NYE at Studios. We arrived that afternoon, checked in at OKW and got on the bus to DHS. We had no problem getting in. I had booked our FP+ for late afternoon; we had one for TSM at about 4:30 and we were in and out in less than 20 minutes. We had an ADR for 50's Prime Time Café and were seated early. We spent time walking around the Osbourne Lights, and it was pretty crowded. And VERY noisy - they handed out hats and horns to everyone and it was LOUD with thousands of people blowing their horns over and over. We actually didn't wait it out till midnight since we'd already had a pretty long day and wanted to do rope-drop at MK the next day. My advice is to book your FP+ as soon as you can, and get a dinner ADR.