New Year's Eve?? Worth it???

[debm]

We are planning our trip again for the 2nd week of January. Now I'm wondering if it would be better to arrive on the 30th or 31st and enjoy the New Year's festivities. We love fireworks!! There are 6 of us (4 kids) so it is different than 2 adults partying. Would it be worth it? Any new excitment? We could still see some Christmas stuff too right? And the Osborne lights until the 2nd?? Don't know if I will regret missing it ---like we did this past January when we went the 2nd week. Just wanting to do a surprise week after the holiday letdown! Thanks for any tips!!

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I'm not sure when the decorations come down, but they are wonderful to see!
The Osbourne Lights are fantastic too.

We stayed @ the Royal Pacific in US the week between Christmas and New Years to take advantage of the FOTL on such a busy week. It worked out very well and we all had a great time, but we did miss being at WDW - just a different feeling...
I was concerned about the crowds on NYE at both US and WDW, so I called for the cruise that leaves from POR to DTD. We rafted up with the other boats and watched the MOST amazing fireworks! We were also celebrating my DS 13th bday. The captain brought out a cake and started singing Happy Birthday - with that, the hundreds of people lining the DTD lake joined in...very special!
Anyway, we went to EPCOT on NY day and found it very manageable, because of the size of the park.
If you can arrive on the 30th or 31st, and stay on after that, the crowds do thin out quite a bit..
(Sorry this is so long - got a little carried away )

Whenever you decide to go, have fun

 

[musicmama]

What cruise is that? Is it a specialty one? Sounds like it was a good time.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

What cruise is that? Is it a specialty one? Sounds like it was a good time.

Yes, you call the same number as you would for the Illuminations or Wishes cruise (407-WDW-PLAY - 90 days out, 7am sharp) and ask for the cruise that leaves from POR to DTD...Since the prices went up recently, not sure what it would run now but it was really worth it for us (I can't remember exactly what we paid - I think around $135.00). You feel as though you are right in the center of things yet don't have the crowds to contend with.
I liked this cruise more than the Illuminations cruise.
Hope this helps

 

[lpizzuro123]

We usually go down to WDW the week between Christmas and New Years. My boyfriends father lives in Orlando so this is a BIG help and savings for us. I will admit NYE is CROWDED but I would not miss it for anything. We usually spend the entire day in Epcot. Last year we arrived before 10:30 and my boyfriends son (who was 15 at the time) went to get FP for Mission Space - and they were gone for the entire day. He waited on the singles line (over 1.5 hours) but he really wanted to do this as he had never done it before. We also rode TT on the singles line - probably no more than 30 minutes and got FP for that ride also. I think the FP return time was 10:30 pm and we got these before 11:00 am. We ate outside at Rose and Crown (without PS but we had about a 45 minute wait) for the early IllumiNations - and got hats and horns. We spent the rest of the night listening to all the different DJ's and people watching. Around 10:30 we got a spot for the 12:00 IllumiNations (while my boyfriends son used his 10:30 FP for TT). The fireworks for IllumiNations at midnight are amazing and so worth it.

I would say as long as you are expecting crowds and do not expect to see everyting on NYE I would go for it. The holiday decorations are amazing. make sure you check out all the hotels (especially GF and WL) and just enjoy yourself. After NYE the crowds will leave and you can slow down and enjoy the quiet.
Linda

 

[debm]

So is there any special place to watch the fireworks at midnight? Is there ONE BIG show? Or is it the same as every night and there are fireworks at every park? We still don't know what we want to do but need to get reservations very soon if we want to go that night. Thanks!!