New Year's Eve & Park Capacity

[MrKnight]

1) Is this true based on past experiences?

MK normally does, Epcot is the larger park and hence normally does not.

2) How early should we get to our final park of the day (Epcot) to ensure we can get in to see the fireworks that night?

We are currently planning on heading to Epcot after our 3:30 FOP FP.

I would recommend heading to Epcot immediately after you are finished with FOP. I recommend taking the WDW bus from AK to Epcot (or AK to BC and walk to IG as an alternate entrance). Most of the NYE entertainment at Epcot starts immediately after the 6:30pm (early bird) showing of Illuminations so you definitely want to be inside the park BEFORE 6:30pm, the NYE entertainment includes DJ dance parties and live bands throughout the park, extra bars with specialty drinks, and distribution points of complimentary party hats and noisemakers (note that this starts as early as 4:00pm until supplies runs out)...

I should mention that our friends are staying on property and have 9:00 dining reservations at Epcot. Essentially, if I understand the process correctly, it would take a phase four closure for us to be kept out of the park - has this ever happened?

As an AP holder with ADRs you would get priority to enter the park even if there is a phased closure. Just keep in mind that regardless of whether the park reaches capacity or not, the entire park will be EXTREMELY crowded and it will be slow and difficult to get around quickly due to heavy crowds.. I would recommend that you allow ample time to get to your ADR restaurant, plan to be in the general vicinity of where the restaurant is located at least one hour before your ADR..

Hope this helps! Epcot is super fun during NYE! You will have a BLAST!

 

[zdad59]

OH wise DIS Board experts (and I mean that in all seriousness....you all are great). Anything wrong with our NYEE and NYE plans?

Dec 30
--- At MK for rope drop.
--- Straight to Space Mountain & Buzz Light Year
--- Two FP+ in the late morning for BTMRR and Pirates
--- Counter Lunch wherever line isn't stupidly long maybe back at hotel
--- Back to Hotel around 2 for a rest
--- Back to MK for a 5:20 FP for 7DMT
--- Boat to WL for 7:30 ADR at Whispering Canyon (stupid gags there but we love the place)
--- Boat back to MK for NYEE fireworks.
--- Return to All Star Movies by bus or UBER

Dec 31
--- Arrive at HS by 8:30 for 9am Rope Drop
--- Straight to RNRR for a non FP ride.
--- Morning FP+ for ToT, Toy Story, and Star Tours
--- Back to hotel for a short rest
--- Bus to EPCOT around 4:30-5:00
--- Try at have an extra FP+ for something....anything.
--- ADR at 8:00 for 9 dragons.
--- Get a drink and find a place to view fireworks (any suggestions)
--- Bus or UBER back to All Star Movies

We have lived in Orlando and were AP holders. Been on honeymoon and with kids many time. Never been there for NYE. We know crowds will be insane be we love it. We may find a bench and just people watch for a while.

 

[Keels]

--- Bus or UBER back to All Star Movies

The bus to All-Stars from Epcot will take FOREVER, and you likely won't be able to get an Uber (I speak from personal experience trying to get to AoA two years ago ... NEVER. AGAIN).

I would walk out through International Gateway (maybe stop at a lounge at BW/YC/BC, Abracadabar or ESPN for a walking drink) and then stroll over to Hollywood Studios and catch a bus there. DHS closes at midnight (compared to 1 a.m. at Epcot, which will have WAY more people), and the bus line will be considerably shorter.

Uber will be hard to come by, if not impossible as it's NYE and larger fares are to be had for drivers off-property and throughout the rest of Orlando.

 

[Pete W.]

Gosh, there's been numerous posts about NYE at Disney and I think every single Dis'er that is going is doing MK on the 30th and Epcot on the 31st. Not a surprise mind you just that one would begin to think, based on reading here, if you did the opposite you'd find no one in each of the parks, LOL

So true, but one thing I've learned is you can always count on the masses to behave predictably. That's why rush hour is always rush hour no matter how much advice is given about traveling during off peak times, and why massive throngs of people will be streaming into MK after 11am on Christmas Eve and NYE and wondering why it's so darn crowded.

 

[Lost Yeti]

I definitely didn't even think about parking being an issue until some of you recommended to take the bus. Will the parking lots fill up?

Our day will go like so: DHS to DAK to Epcot. After parking at DHS, would it be best to just take the bus the rest of the day?

 

[AngiTN]

I definitely didn't even think about parking being an issue until some of you recommended to take the bus. Will the parking lots fill up?

Our day will go like so: DHS to DAK to Epcot. After parking at DHS, would it be best to just take the bus the rest of the day?

Yes, parking lots will reach capacity well before any phased closure on the parks. They'll reroute cars as needed

 

[North of Mouse]

Don't know what 'capacity' is for Disney, but from friends going there, and pictures I've seen, shoulder to shoulder, and barely shuffling to get anywhere is 'beyond' capacity for me! Not my cup of tea - came close enough for me the second week of Dec. No More!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Gosh, there's been numerous posts about NYE at Disney and I think every single Dis'er that is going is doing MK on the 30th and Epcot on the 31st. Not a surprise mind you just that one would begin to think, based on reading here, if you did the opposite you'd find no one in each of the parks, LOL

It is crazy at MK on the 30th! We book BLT just so we can see the fireworks from TTOTW Lounge!

However, yes, we are in EPCOT on the 31st.

 

[elaine amj]

I definitely didn't even think about parking being an issue until some of you recommended to take the bus. Will the parking lots fill up?

Our day will go like so: DHS to DAK to Epcot. After parking at DHS, would it be best to just take the bus the rest of the day?

Ooo...that route should work pretty well. Park at DHS, bus to AK, then bus to Epcot, then stroll out through IG and walk over to DHS parking lot (longish walk but could be better than waiting in endless lines).

 

[SaintsManiac]

Don't know what 'capacity' is for Disney, but from friends going there, and pictures I've seen, shoulder to shoulder, and barely shuffling to get anywhere is 'beyond' capacity for me! Not my cup of tea - came close enough for me the second week of Dec. No More!!

Other than Main St/Hub area before HEA, we did not witness this at all during Thanksgiving. There was plenty of walking room everywhere.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

OH wise DIS Board experts (and I mean that in all seriousness....you all are great). Anything wrong with our NYEE and NYE plans?

Dec 30
--- At MK for rope drop.
--- Straight to Space Mountain & Buzz Light Year
--- Two FP+ in the late morning for BTMRR and Pirates
--- Counter Lunch wherever line isn't stupidly long maybe back at hotel
--- Back to Hotel around 2 for a rest
--- Back to MK for a 5:20 FP for 7DMT
--- Boat to WL for 7:30 ADR at Whispering Canyon (stupid gags there but we love the place)
--- Boat back to MK for NYEE fireworks.
--- Return to All Star Movies by bus or UBER

I'm going to be at MK on the 30th as well. This plan looks fine, but you are risking it by coming to the MK around 9. Last year, it didn't reach any phased closure on the 30th though. It was also like 40 degrees that day last year so I'm sure the cold scared some people away.

If you want though...They are doing the NYE firework show at 6:30 p.m. You might get lucky after your 7DMT and be able to find a spot for that showing. They are doing two showings of Fantasy in the Sky this year on the 30th and 31st. Usually they do the Christmas Fireworks for the first show, but that isn't happening this year.

My plan is to see the first show in the MK then see the 2nd show from the Polynesian Beach.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

We are currently planning on heading to Epcot after our 3:30 FOP FP.

If you head to EPCOT right after your FOP FP, you should be able to get in. I was at EPCOT on NYE last year and will be there again this year. I don't think EPCOT ever reached any phased closures last year. It was rediculously crowded though. I went in knowing that it would be so the crowds didn't effect my experience. I waited 45 minutes to use my FP for Test Track around 5 p.m. The stand-by queue was 3 hours long. That is to give you an idea.

 

[anomamatt]

Gosh, there's been numerous posts about NYE at Disney and I think every single Dis'er that is going is doing MK on the 30th and Epcot on the 31st. Not a surprise mind you just that one would begin to think, based on reading here, if you did the opposite you'd find no one in each of the parks, LOL

Add me to the list of Dis'ers going to MK on Dec 30. =)

 

[GADisneyDad14]

See you all there!

(Side note, we are all nuts)

 

[AngiTN]

I'm going to be at MK on the 30th as well. This plan looks fine, but you are risking it by coming to the MK around 9. Last year, it didn't reach any phased closure on the 30th though. It was also like 40 degrees that day last year so I'm sure the cold scared some people away.

If you want though...They are doing the NYE firework show at 6:30 p.m. You might get lucky after your 7DMT and be able to find a spot for that showing. They are doing two showings of Fantasy in the Sky this year on the 30th and 31st. Usually they do the Christmas Fireworks for the first show, but that isn't happening this year.

My plan is to see the first show in the MK then see the 2nd show from the Polynesian Beach.

Do you have some sort of confirmation of this or just basing it off Disney's published calendar?

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

See you all there!

(Side note, we are all nuts)

We might walk past each other...and...Yes we are!!!

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Do you have some sort of confirmation of this or just basing it off Disney's published calendar?

I'm going based on that Happily Ever After is performing every night between Christmas Eve-Dec. 29th. The only days Happily Ever After is not on the schedule is the 30th and 31st where 2 performances of Fantasy in the Sky are each night. Normally the Christmas Fireworks run that entire week. I realize that it can change, but it is getting really close for them to change it now.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We might walk past each other...and...Yes we are!!!

I will probably be on the Poly beach for the late 12/30 show as well. Hoping for a little less there!

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I will probably be on the Poly beach for the late 12/30 show as well. Hoping for a little less there!

Do you know if they restrict the beach to other resort guests? I've heard they have closed it before to just Poly guests. I'm not staying there this year.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Do you have some sort of confirmation of this or just basing it off Disney's published calendar?

Funny the number of times this topic has come up now.

I can’t remember if I posted this just on the CL thread or in one of the other ones, but FWIW, I asked DSS last week what the fireworks shows would be and they said it would be Fantasy in the Sky both times, both nights (so, the opposite answer from what another DISer was told by them!).

I think I said it before but I’m still in your camp of thinking we won’t truly know until the first boom!