New Years Eve Question

[Rpsemont]

HI All!

I need some advise from seasoned NYE visitors to WDW.
We are planning to be there 12/16-1/1. We will be staying at BWV 12/16-12/24, and then with friends 12/24-12/31, then back at BWV for 12/31-1/1.
We are 3 time a year visitors, AP holders, but have never been during "Christmas WeeK" We plan to see all the park sights 12/16-12/24.
I was thrilled to see that they do a NYE preview at the MK on 12/30, so I figure we'll drive down and attend that. Do you think there will be any issues with getting into the park around 9PM on 12/30?

But I'm really trying to decide where to go 12/31. We really hate crowds, so our preference is to again, not enter a park until 9 or 10PM - or even later!. What do you think? DHS or EPCOT? Which do you think has the better show? If it turns out both are closed to capacity, which fireworks can you see better from "outside the park" We've never seen fireworks at DHS before so I'm not sure what the better vantage points are. But I imagine, because of the set up, Epcot should be easier to find a spot.
Please, share your thoughts and experiences.

Thanks
Anne

 

[vicki_c]

We did the 12/30 MK preview in 2008. I don't know if the park ever closed, but it was packed in the evening by around 8 PM. They opened up the back walkway behind the stores because Main St was absolute gridlock. We arrived around 4:30 or 5 and it was no problem at that time.

On 12/31 we went to DHS, again arrived around 5 PM with no issues. Same thing - I don't think DHS closed to capacity, but I don't know for sure. We ended up watching the midnight fireworks from the walkway back to BWV to escape the crowds - we were the only ones watching from the walkway!

If you're really crowd-averse, you might be best to avoid ANY park on NYE and get to MK earlier on 12/30 - you can avoid the crowds at MK if you stay away from Main Street.

 

[tgropp]

HI All!

I need some advise from seasoned NYE visitors to WDW.
We are planning to be there 12/16-1/1. We will be staying at BWV 12/16-12/24, and then with friends 12/24-12/31, then back at BWV for 12/31-1/1.
We are 3 time a year visitors, AP holders, but have never been during "Christmas WeeK" We plan to see all the park sights 12/16-12/24.

My favorite time to visit WDW is the 4-5 days leading up to Christmas day. It is so magical and is quite managable until the 25'th


But I'm really trying to decide where to go 12/31. We really hate crowds, so our preference is to again, not enter a park until 9 or 10PM - or even later!. What do you think? DHS or EPCOT? Which do you think has the better show?

NYE is very crowded. I have only been to WDW on NYE 3 times and did all 3 parks but we enjoyed Epcot the best. It took us 2 hours to walk around World Showcase but we just grabbed some drinks and enjoyed the atmosphere. The fireworks that "encircle) Epcot were so neat

 

[bobbiwoz]

On 12/30/08 we first went to the last showing of the CP at Epcot and then used the monorails to get to the MK and we got in! We didn't stay at Epcot for Illuminations, and I suppose the show ended around 9ish.

That year, we went to Epcot for their NYE fireworks. They started around 11:40. We watched from the bridge in the International Gateway and France. After Epcot's were finished, we turned around and there was still at least 5 minutes worth of firewors coming from DHS.

I think for simplicity sake, we're going to Epcot again this year. We have more family members with us and getting back to BWV from Epcot will be easier than getting back from DHS I think.

Have a great time!

Bobbi

 

[DESTTVL]

As a resident of Celebration, I suggest you find something fun to do without going to a park! They are very overcrowded, it's hard to find something to eat and basically not alot of fun.

We went to DHS on 12/26 last year to see the Osborne Xmas lights and it was basically empty. January 2nd was dead everywhere.

We usually find a nice restaurant on the Boardwalk and watch the fireworks from there.

I would suggest visiting Clebration however they cancelled the fireworks to save $. We do have great restaurants.

 

[Rpsemont]

On 12/31 we went to DHS, again arrived around 5 PM with no issues. Same thing - I don't think DHS closed to capacity, but I don't know for sure. We ended up watching the midnight fireworks from the walkway back to BWV to escape the crowds - we were the only ones watching from the walkway!

Vicki_c - how was watching them from the walkway? still a pretty good view?

My favorite time to visit WDW is the 4-5 days leading up to Christmas day. It is so magical and is quite managable until the 25'th

tgropp - nice to know, that's what we're hoping for. We figure if do venture to WDW between 12/24-12/30, that we'll plan to just visit the resorts and see their decorations.

bobbiwoz, thanks for sharing your info. That might just be our plan.

DESTTVL - actually, I'm thinking we'll try to do a very big late lunch somewhere, maybe some to go food for the room to eat later and ideally not venture to a park until around 11PM, if we can . BUt since I've NEVER been to WDW for NYE, we have to watch the fireworks there. Any suggestions for an off site late lunch or very early dinner?

 

[jekjones1558]

Dec. 30 at MK is a great idea. We watched the 2nd parade and fireworks in Frontierland and it was crowded but manageable.
We left well before fireworks at EPCOT on NYE. It was just too crowded for us to really enjoy it so we went back to BW. They had a DJ on the Village Green and gave everyone party hats and noisemakers. People danced and enjoyed themselves without being trampled. We watched the fireworks from our BW view balcony but if you don't have a BW view you can still see a lot from the bridge over the canal just before you get to the IG entrance.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Another nice thing about going to the MK on the 30th is that, at least that year, it was opened much later. Yes, it was crowded as we left, but more stayed in the park for the "NYE party" that was going strong. We were back in BWV way before 1AM, it was more like 12:30. The bus area was not crazy crowded at all!

On the 31st Epcot had a showing of Illuminations around 8:30, so even if you didn't stay to midnight, you got to see the normal show.

We will have the DGC with us this year, and DH and I are planning to watch that early Illuminations with them and then take them back to the hotel so their parents can have the night to themselves. We'll see if that "works!" The party on the Village Green looked like fun! We were just too tired to party any more. 2 nights of being up for midnight fireworks wore us out!

 

[robinb]

You shouldn't have a lot of issues with getting into the MK at 8-10 pm on 12/30 EXCEPT the parking lot will be completely filled. So, you will need to find somewhere else to park. There is also a small possibility that the park may actually be closed to off-site guests. In that case if you park at Epcot you may only ride the monorail if you have a resort key. I have seen them checking keys in the afternoon during that week at the base of the monorail ramp at Epcot and I assume they also check at the park gate like at morning EMH. Speaking of EMH, there is an evening EMH that night at the MK which is open until 3 a.m.. You will be able to walk around and hang out but you have to flash your resort key to get on the rides.

If you don't like crowds, I would stay out of the parks on 12/31. They are a complete zoo. If you want to brave the crowds you may enter Epcot via the International Gate just about anytime. The party at Boardwalk always looks pretty fun ... we often see the end of it on our way back to the room.

 

[allshookup]

DESTTVL - actually, I'm thinking we'll try to do a very big late lunch somewhere, maybe some to go food for the room to eat later and ideally not venture to a park until around 11PM, if we can . BUt since I've NEVER been to WDW for NYE, we have to watch the fireworks there. Any suggestions for an off site late lunch or very early dinner?

I think it's a good idea to eat somewhere first or make an ADR for a sit down restaurant. The counter service places are packed with well over an hour wait in line before you can even order! If you want to avoid the parks, you could try Ohana & then watch the fireworks from the Poly beach either on the 30th or 31st.

We made dinner reservations at Nine Dragons in Epcot for 8pm last NYE. We ventured in around 7pm after a long afternoon nap & got in no problem. The crowds were building, but not unmanageable & we made it to China in no time. Even though it was crowded, I believe Nine Dragons was still taking walk-ups, but we had ADRs & had a nice window seat where we could sit & watch the crowd go by.

After dinner we walked around a bit, got our free hats & noisemakers & then found a nice area to watch the fireworks. We stayed there knowing we would lose our spot & it was starting to get too crowded to even move around. We sent the kids (both teens) to go check out the gift shops & get themselves something to drink.

By the time the midnight fireworks went off, we were packed in like sardines, but we had a good view & we stayed put after they were over. The great thing is Epcot stayed open an hour later so we let the crowd die down, grabbed a drink & then rode Maelstrom, which earlier had an 80 min wait, now had no line whatsoever!

It was great time, we planned it right by resting first & because we took our time leaving, there was hardly even a line for the bus!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you don't like crowds, I'd avoid the entire place while you are offsite with friends. It's wall to wall people during that time. And the parks will close from time to time during the day to any guests. Since you are offsite, you will be the first to be blocked.

 

[vicki_c]

Vicki_c - how was watching them from the walkway? still a pretty good view?

I'll send you a PM with a link to a video we have.

As for dining, we had a 5 PM or 5:30 PM at 50s Prime Time, then just hung around DHS all evening. We didn't get much accomplished, but just took in the atmosphere, had a few drinks, and did a few minor items.

 

[dgaston]

We watched the 30th MK fireworks from backstage! CMs had even moved benches and chairs, and we watched the show from behind the Plaza restaurant. Signs directed us to this area right after the tree in Town Square. After the fireworks we were able to go back into the park.

My favorite for NYE is DHS, simply because they only do fireworks 2x a year, 4th of July, and NYE. We watch from near the hat. And I'll be there again this year.

 

[Melynny]

I have done NYE at WDW several times. Once at EPCOT.. started there around 6:30pm, there were 1/2 hour waits for a beer, then it steadly got longer. I vowed to never do that again. It was wall to wall people. There were just little trails of moving ( single line) people that you had to just jump in and go with the flow.

Another time, we watched the fireworks from the dock at the Polynesian, we were staying at OKW and had a car, went over there for a late snack at Capatin Jacks and just happened to stay to watch the fireworks
there were lots of folks at the beach and on the dock, but is was much more fun that at Epcot.

Still another, I watched the fireworks from Pop Centrury ( the year they opened) We had a top floor room and I went out by one of the stairwells and watched from there. This may be my favorite! I saw ALL of the fireworks, MK, EPCOT, MGM (Then) DTD AND I think Seaworld... I really did not know where to look! It was great! DH missed it because he was so tired..

I am not sure I would go to a park again to celebrate... but then again you would have to try it just once!