New Year's Eve - need your advice....

[maleficent_man]

Okay folks

I need your help and advice.

I know that both MK and MGM run their New Year stuff on 30 Dec as well. I was thinking about doing MGM to enjoy the fireworks (is there anything else on, characters wise.....) - from what I understand the only difference for MK is that there are two spectro parades and two showings of Holiday wishes (is there anything else???)

So, with that in mind, I was thinking of Epcot on NYE....the different countries etc (again are there any characters around....).

I'm just trying to work out which one to miss out.....I am doing MK on Christmas Day so was thinking of giving it a miss on NYE....oh the decisions - need your help and opinions people!

 

[Mousema]

We did MGM on NYE. There were top hats, noise makers, etc. Only thing, it was cold that year and the "snow" was getting icy when it hit the ground. It was a great night

 

[photonut]

We were in Disney for this past New Years Eve.
This is what we did as we were travelling with our children.

We spent the afternoon and evening at MGM as we wanted to avoid the massive crowds at Magic Kingdom.

We enjoyed the beautiful Osborne Lights once it was dark, we watched Fantasmic and then waited for the fireworks to begin at midnight. The crowds were amazing! I have never been in such a crowded atmosphere before. MGM was a majority of young people as there was a DJ blaring the tunes and getting the crowds motivated for midnight. They past out hats and blowers. It was a very mild evening...unseasonable warm temperatures.

We ended up being a bit overwhelmed by the crowds of people and decided to watch the fireworks from right outside the entrance gates by the bus terminals. This worked really well for us because we just got on the bus and were back in our room quickly. I would suspect that it would have taken over an hour with the crowds we saw to get out of the park.

Besides the fireworks and DJ there was nothing additional planned. There were no characters out (the crowds would have swallowed them!) and we mostly saw CMs just trying to keep the flow of people moving.

We had our most memorable New Years Eve and would do it again in a heartbeat! We enjoyed Magic Kingdom on the 30th evening for the fireworks then too!

 

[maleficent_man]

Thanks for the replies folks...I'd still be interested to hear from others......

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

What do you mean that they run their stuff on the 30th?
I have been in Disney at New Years the past several years and have been at Epcot. We stay for the early show of Illuminations and then leave. The crowds are just too much for us. It is actually a little frightening near the UK as there are are so many people drinking and partying and it is wall to wall people. If you have children keep them close to you. We prefer watching the fireworks from our hotel. We don't do the MK at New Years so I can't comment on that but I hear you have to stay in the park all day there. I don't know if that is true but we would never do that. We come and go at Epcot on New years. We stay at the BCV's so this is very convenient for us. I would think it would be nice to do something different than what you did at Christmas. I would go to another park. JMO

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

bumpity bump

 

[Terk-1]

Did this a few years ago. Some suggestions, if I may:

1. Make ADR's for all TS meals as soon as your 180 window opens up. Can't tell you how many restaurants I went by and heard "Sorry. We are completely booked for the entire day." Lot's of grumpy ADR-less people heading to the CS restaurants.

2. Which ever park you decide on for NYE, plan on getting there at early entry and don't plan to leave until after midnight. The year I went, MGM & MK hit their capacity by 10am and the gates were closed to any new guests, until enough people left that park. It's a safety and fire rule. There is no guarentee that you will be able to get back into the park you left (or into another park), even if your hand is stamped or you are staying on Disney property. Now this rule may have changed, but it was like that at MGM the year I went. I wore layers, as it was cool in the early am and at night. After the fireworks at midnight, it took me over an hour & a half to get from The Great Movie Ride area back to my resort.

3. If there is a show or a special musical act (Kevin Bacon and his brother performed at MGM the year I went) and you want to be close (or somewhat close) to the stage, plan on getting to that area early. I was near the stage, but was there pretty early. I panned my camcorder around the area and all you saw was a sea of heads in every direction.

4. Also, plan on the lines for the attractions to be long on both of these days. Grab fast passes as much as you can, but don't be surprised at long, long wait times.

I wanted to do something different for one NYE and was glad I gave WDW a try, but it was just way, way too crowded for my taste.

 

[disnut8]

My son, his wife, our granddaughter, and my mother-in-law were in MGM for New Year's Eve last year. They had to leave to meet up with us and the rest of the family but my son said he would have preferred to stay right where they were. They met us with the top hats and noise makers. My son thought that since ABC puts so much focus on the Magic Kingdom and Epcot festivities that MGM is often overlooked.

All of us had gone to Animal Kingdom that day and then we split up when that park closed (we bailed and went back to the room). I thought any other park would be packed. The son said MGM was quite managable while they were there. And his wife does NOT like crowds.

 

[chipscinderelly]

We went to Epcot for NYE 2005 and it was a blast! I have never seen that many people in the parks in my life. It was festive, crowded, fun, humorous, exciting and a total experience!

We did as Terk-1 suggested and booked our dining early, many counter service locations ran out of some "favorites" so be prepared. To get a good spot for illuminations we camped out about 2 1/2 hours before hand on the lagoon and still had a partially obstructed view. We could see fireworks in the other parks. We entered Epcot around 11 am and stayed the rest of the day. The parks did reach capacity on and off during the day but I do not believe Epcot did a full capacity close where resort guests could not get in.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I am so glad that we stay in an Epcot resort and can walk in and out of Epcot as we wish. I don't think that any park is worth staying in all day for fireworks. I have had a great view from our hotel balcony. YEAH! There are plenty of other great spots out of the parks too.

Hopefully you don't have young children with you....too long day for them. JMHO

 

[photonut]

What do you mean that they run their stuff on the 30th?
I have been in Disney at New Years the past several years and have been at Epcot. We stay for the early show of Illuminations and then leave. The crowds are just too much for us. It is actually a little frightening near the UK as there are are so many people drinking and partying and it is wall to wall people. If you have children keep them close to you. We prefer watching the fireworks from our hotel. We don't do the MK at New Years so I can't comment on that but I hear you have to stay in the park all day there. I don't know if that is true but we would never do that. We come and go at Epcot on New years. We stay at the BCV's so this is very convenient for us. I would think it would be nice to do something different than what you did at Christmas. I would go to another park. JMO

Just a quick FYI....Magic Kingdom is a dry park so there is no alcohol served including on New Years Eve....so if you are considering bringing young children this may be a good option for you as there is little rowdiness brought on from drinking.
MGM was serving champagne from about 11pm on.....I indulged in a glass or two

But....heh....I wasnt driving!!! The shuttle brought me safely back to the comfort of my room!

 

[Al and Kate's Mom]

You guys now have me scared! DH, DD5 and I are arriving 12/30 - are we going to be shut out of the parks even if we are staying on-property? Where else can you see the MK fireworks show besides the park itself? HELP!!!!

 

[robinb]

Are you sure that MGM does Fantasy in the Sky on 12/30? I've never heard of that. Last year we went to the MK for the 12/30 360-degree fireworks and stayed until 3am. We got a bit of a late start into Epcot the next day, LOL! We made sure that we had two ADR's, one for lunch (Princess Buffet in Norway) and one for dinner (Rose and Crown). I already have my ADR for Teppanyaki for next NYE.

I happen to prefer the MK for NYE, but the people we go with have older kids and they like Epcot better. Fine, we'll go to Epcot and we're still happy. It can be a bit rowdy and a bit "drunk" with all the alcohol. The MK is more crowded than Epcot, but the crowd is more laid back.

I have never seen Fantasy in the Sky so maybe I'll skip the awesome MK fireworks on 12/30 and head over to MGM instead. (Note to self, make MGM ADRs soon)

FWIW, we never ever arrive early and stay late. We always enter the park of our choice in the morning and leave when things get really zoo-y around 2pm. We go back to our resort and relax until about 5-6pm when we go back in for our ADR. Our family has followed this plan for every NYE since 1999/2000 except for the one when we stayed home. We have never had a problem returning to the park of our choice, including the MK.

 

[momto2]

So there are fireworks on 12-30 and NYE in which parks? Also the Fantasy in the sky at MGM is only NYE? There was so much info I may print this post. We plan to arrive on 12-30 I wasn't going to go to the parks thinking one less day of major crowds. Now I am thinking of arriving earlier on 12-30 and at least entering a park for fireworks. This way if NYE is too crazy or we can't get in somewhere, we will have had the night before, right?????

 

[maleficent_man]

Thanks for the excellent replies folks....as for MGM on the 30th I read it somewhere and the park hours posted on www.wdwinfo.com seem to suggest the fireworks do take place at MGM on that date as well.

At the moment I going for Epcot for NYE and have made my ressie for Alfredo's in the evening....can't wait!

 

[Scratch42]

You guys now have me scared! DH, DD5 and I are arriving 12/30 - are we going to be shut out of the parks even if we are staying on-property? Where else can you see the MK fireworks show besides the park itself? HELP!!!!

You might want to try the beach area at the CR or the Poly

j

 

[Al and Kate's Mom]

You might want to try the beach area at the CR or the Poly

j

Thank you!!!

 

[photonut]

You guys now have me scared! DH, DD5 and I are arriving 12/30 - are we going to be shut out of the parks even if we are staying on-property? Where else can you see the MK fireworks show besides the park itself? HELP!!!!

Dont panic...its all good! Just plan ahead...that is the key. Make sure that you have all your ADRs made early and plan to arrive at the park of your choice sometime before midafternoon and you should be fine.
Enjoy your holidays at Disney...it is a truly magical time of year!