New Year's Eve - MGM

[On the Lake]

What is the lastest you could go to the park and not be turned away? Is 2:00 to late?

If the park is full can you still get in if you are staying at a Disney resort?

 

[disnut8]

Our Kids and the mother-in-law went there after we did Animal Kingdom last year for New Year's Eve. I'm sure it was after 2:00. They didn't have any problems and remarked that it seemed relatively uncrowded. If they didn't have the six year old and the mother-in-law with them, they would have easily stayed for the festivities. My son thought with the coverage on ABC of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, MGM got ignored. But he loved the party atmosphere at the Sorcerer's Hat. Said it just seemed to be themed for the evening. They were also given party hats and noise makers. You shouldn't have a problem.

 

[On the Lake]

Thanks!

 

[robinb]

Why would you wait so long? My NYE recommendation for people staying on-site is to get in very early, leave after lunch and return for dinner/fireworks. For people staying off-site it's harder since the parking lots at the MK close before noon. I'm not sure about MGM's, but the Epoct parking should be open all day.

 

[On the Lake]

Can you still get in at dinner time?

Some of the posts say to get to the park early and stay till midnight because the parks fill up and close. MGM seems to be the least busy of the 3 open on New Year's eve so I was wondering how late I could go and still get in.

There's no way my DD will last from noon till midnight in wall to wall people but she would love to see the fireworks. So I'm just trying to find out how late I could go or if I even have to worry about not getting in as I'm staying on site.

 

[robinb]

There's no way my DD will last from noon till midnight in wall to wall people but she would love to see the fireworks. So I'm just trying to find out how late I could go or if I even have to worry about not getting in as I'm staying on site.

Neither can I, LOL! I always go early when the gates open (7:30-8:00) and stay until after lunch. Then, we go back to our resort for a nap and swim. We usually return to the park we started at between 5:00 and 7:00 for dinner, some aimless milling and the fireworks. I have used this plan in 99/00, 01/02, 02/03, 03/04 and 04/05 at both Epcot and the MK. We'll be using it again this NYE at Epcot.

If you enter MGM in the mid-afternoon you will do nothing but run smack into the peak crowd. You might be able to see a show or two, but there will be long lines for everything. If you get there at park opening you have a chance of getting a few things done before the throngs hit, plus you can pick up a Fast Pass to use when you come back.

ETA: I would also recommend having an AR for a table-service meal. First of all, it can be pretty cold on NYE and who wants to eat outside at a Counter Service place? Secondly, if you wait until NYE itself to get a reservation they will be all gone. If you don't have one yet, make one today!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We didn't arrive at Disney Studios until about 4:30 or 5PM on NYE two years ago and it was fine. Wasn't close to being full at that time. Don't know about MK or Epcot, though. We just decide to head to the Studios and had a wonderful time. We're going there again this year and we won't arrive in town until mid-afternoon.

They did have three Fantasmic showings that night, so we did the second one. We did several other attractions, but mostly we were there for the party.

 

[mariethecat]

We were at MGM last year for NYE. We went in the morning,left for the afternoon and went back at 4pm for the Fantasmic dinner package. We had no problem getting back in and I don't think it ever gets to capacity. We were able to see the fireworks from Epcot at the front entrance of MGM at around 11:40 and then the fireworks at MGM at midnight. It is the least crowded park for NYE but it is more crowded than normal. If you are willing to get up early New Years Day MK is almost empty for the first few hours. We went on the rides with no line ups compared to waits of 1 to 1 1/2 hours for the week prior to Jan 1st.

 

[robinb]

We went on the rides with no line ups compared to waits of 1 to 1 1/2 hours for the week prior to Jan 1st.

Wow! Really?!? We went the earlier week and tried to go to MGM EE. Twenty-Five minutes into EE the place was a zoo!

Hmmm ....