New Years Eve question

[pit303]

DH and I are booked at SSR from 12/28 until 1/4/11. What is the best place for two 50 something adults to be on NYE to celebrate the New Year?

 

[pit303]

Well, unless you have a secret fantasy to be a Canadian goose, I would avoid the Magic Kingdom on New Year's Eve .... the free noisemakers can be pretty strident. (My wife says I am a curmudgeon .... we are usually there 12/31.)

Times like this I really wish Pleasure Island was still open!! Loved it there!!

 

[emacek]

My husband (59) and I (48) were at AKV last year on those dates.

On December 30, we did MK for riding in the AM, left the park around 2 and returned for dinner (w/ ADRs) around 8pm. They do a "dress rehearsal" of the NYE fireworks that night, complete with countdown and we stayed for that and into the Extra Magic hours until 3AM. It was wonderful.

New Years Eve we slept in. We were traveling with friends who have a 15 year old so she and I tried a park (Hollywood Studios). The other adults stayed at the resort....and had a wonderful time...kids in the lobby in the pajamas, the bar was open, music, etc. If I am there again during the NYE...that's what I'll do!

emacek

 

[pit303]

My husband (59) and I (48) were at AKV last year on those dates.

On December 30, we did MK for riding in the AM, left the park around 2 and returned for dinner (w/ ADRs) around 8pm. They do a "dress rehearsal" of the NYE fireworks that night, complete with countdown and we stayed for that and into the Extra Magic hours until 3AM. It was wonderful.

New Years Eve we slept in. We were traveling with friends who have a 15 year old so she and I tried a park (Hollywood Studios). The other adults stayed at the resort....and had a wonderful time...kids in the lobby in the pajamas, the bar was open, music, etc. If I am there again during the NYE...that's what I'll do!

emacek

If you are there again please PM me. I don't know if we will leave the area that night since we are so close to DTD and we can hang at the bar area at SSR. Joe and I love to meet new DVC members and new friends at any time can't wait for this vacation. I work for a school district that shuts down from XMAS eve until 1/3 so we will defintely be there that time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have done NYE several times, and our favorite is Epcot. You can celebrate with the countries at midnight THEIR time, and then again for our own midnight with Illuminations. We love it there! It's also much more adult.

 

[Crystal_27]

If I were in your shoes (and if (BIG IF) you can handle the crowds), I would celebrate NYE at Epcot. When I was in high school, our band celebrated NYE in Epcot and, even through a jaded teenager's eyes, it was quite impressive, and there was an incredible sense of fellowship. But, the crowds were insane and I don't know that as an adult, I could deal. We will also be celebrating NYE at Disney this year, and, for us, we will be celebrating NYE at the Top of the World Lounge at BLT.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If I were in your shoes (and if (BIG IF) you can handle the crowds), I would celebrate NYE at Epcot. When I was in high school, our band celebrated NYE in Epcot and, even through a jaded teenager's eyes, it was quite impressive, and there was an incredible sense of fellowship. But, the crowds were insane and I don't know that as an adult, I could deal. We will also be celebrating NYE at Disney this year, and, for us, we will be celebrating NYE at the Top of the World Lounge at BLT.

We only had insane crowds at Epcot for the millenium celebration NYE. That is the most crowded I have ever been ANYWHERE! The last few at Epcot have been manageable though.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We enjoyed the MK's rehersal fireworks on the 30th! They were wonderful, and since we didn't stay for the EMH, leaving the park was so easy. We were back at BWV way before 1AM with no hassle getting a bus.(Well, we missed the BWV bus, and took one to the YC, we even got seats)! On NYE we did Epcot mostly because we could walk home from there.

Around 8:30, on NYE Epcot did it's regular Illuminations with just the holiday tag. There was an announcement that it was for families with children. So, if you wanted to leave after those and enjoy whatever parties were at your hotel (There was a NYE party at the Boardwalk, on the Village Green area) I'm guessing that the roads weren't bad after those fireworks. They began the other firework display around 11:40 with some fireworks for each of the countries and it was magnificent. Epcot was very crowded, you waited in long lines to use the rest rooms, and many people did have loud noisemakers, but that's what NYE is about!

We enjoyed ourselves so much in '08 that we're doing it again with our DS's family this year!

I'm torn between having the super easy walk back to BWV from Epcot, and going to DHS for their fireworks.

Bobbi

 

[tomandrobin]

We have been the past 5 New Years and will be going back again this year. We arrive on the 27th every year and stay until the Monday after NYE.

There are lots of places to ring in the New Years. From the parks to dinner at Cali Grille to just sitting at the resort. There are celebrations everywhere.

We go to MK on the 30th, then head over to DHS on the 31st. We use to stay at SSR for NYE and watch the DTD fireworks. But Disney eliminated those a few years back.

Let me know what you are looking for and I can certainly point you in the right direction.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I seem to recall others posting a while back of a NYE celebration at SSR down by Congress Park. Perhaps anyone who may have been there can chime in..

 

[parlay]

Like many others, we have done MK on the 30th, and DHS on the 31st for the Rock-n-Roll fireworks. We were at the GF earlier in the day and saw that they had balloons in netting for their balloon drop New Years Eve Party. We also heard that there was a party at SSR (I thought for DVC members, can't quite remember).

So many choices, I would definitely ask your front desk what your resort is planning, but definitely stay away from the MK on New Years Eve!

 

[tomandrobin]

I seem to recall others posting a while back of a NYE celebration at SSR down by Congress Park. Perhaps anyone who may have been there can chime in..

All of the resorts will have a celebration for NYE. SSR does hold a party at the Congress Park pool. But 3 years ago, they stopped the DTD NYE fireworks, so the party is only so-so now.

Some of the resorts, like Grand Floridian, have a much better party to ring in the New Years.

 

[tomandrobin]

So many choices, I would definitely ask your front desk what your resort is planning, but definitely stay away from the MK on New Years Eve!

We have done MK on NYE. The crowds are insane, worse then you can imagine. That said, the park is electric with excitement and celebration of the New Years.

 

[Rpsemont]

On December 30, we did MK for riding in the AM, left the park around 2 and returned for dinner (w/ ADRs) around 8pm. They do a "dress rehearsal" of the NYE fireworks that night, complete with countdown and we stayed for that and into the Extra Magic hours until 3AM. It was wonderful.

Do they do this every year? If so, that might be perfect for us. We'll be down there beginning 12/16 and I can't find a cheap arifare home AFTER 12/31. It would be great to see the fireworks and then fly home on 12/31.

 

[pit303]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Lots to think about.

 

[tomandrobin]

Do they do this every year? If so, that might be perfect for us. We'll be down there beginning 12/16 and I can't find a cheap arifare home AFTER 12/31. It would be great to see the fireworks and then fly home on 12/31.

Yes, they do that every year.

 

[emacek]

Re: NYE at Hollywood Studios.
It's a small park without a lot of places to put bodies and (at least last year) it was an EMH park on New Years Eve.

What that meant....we were able to get in at 4, no problem. Of course, all the fast passes were out which we expected. We had dinner reservations at SciFi DI for 8pm and that was a nice respite from the crowds.

BUT...afterwards was a zoo. The band and show was good but it was sitting on the asphalt crammed together crowded. Rather than forego using FastPasses during the EMHs or restarting the machine, they had given them out into the EMH all day so all the rides were FP'ed out with things like 2AM return times by the time we got there. And it took over an hour to get a bus out. Made sense since I think they were running every bus they had and HS was open later than MK or Epcot but still was long.

My bottom line....I'd go to HS for NYE again BUT I'd book a late dinner, come out see the Fireworks and leave and only if I were staying at a walking distance resort.

My next NYE--if we park, we'll try Epcot!

emacek

 

[cricketjamest]

My wife and I, also 50 somethings, celebrated our 25th Anniversary at Epcot last NYE and had a fantastic time.

We wined & dined in France and Morocco, took a flight to Mars in Future World, drank Glühwein in Germany, tipped a "Pint" with the Brits while listening to Beatles music, and felt great the next day, even after having danced to Techno music in Italy.

But the highlight of the day was bringing in New Years and our Anniversay while sipping champagne and watching the unbelievable light show and fireworks display!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Okay, you people have made me feel like I must go to Disney on NYE. We have talked about it forever, but have never done it. We usually go the week after Thanksgiving. This year, however, we are going to Disneyland in September. What do you think my chances are of getting a room for New Years weekend. Slim and none?

 

[pit303]

Okay, you people have made me feel like I must go to Disney on NYE. We have talked about it forever, but have never done it. We usually go the week after Thanksgiving. This year, however, we are going to Disneyland in September. What do you think my chances are of getting a room for New Years weekend. Slim and none?

I only called about 2 weeks ago and than called back to add on didn't have a problem at SSR. I am going to call back at my 7 month window to see what else is available can't hurt to ask.