New Years Eve

[armdave]

wondering what everyone thinks is the best park to go to for New Years Eve.

Thanks

 

[AuburnJen92]

if you can avoid all of them, do it

too much humanity

 

[SandrA9810]

Magic Kingdom always does their July 4th and New Years celebration a day early as well.

So on the 30th, hit up MK. And on the 31st, hit up Epcot. Studios isn't all that fabulous and too small for the amount of people. Plus getting out is A LOT harder than getting out of Epcot. That park was designed for a crowd.

But always expect shoulder to shoulder crowds. And people sitting in prime spots for the entire day. Like at MK a family member will reserve a seat on Main Street early on, at Epcot some where around the Lagoon.

For july 4th, I always recommend seeing the MK fireworks from outside the park, Poly being the best. But on New Years, they do a cute little stage show with the countdown. So it's hard to tell you which is better, being in the lesser of the crowds of the Poly or in the hubbub of the mess in the park.

One thing is for sure, once you enter the park DO NOT LEAVE. The parks fill to capacity very easily, and while you do get priority over day visitors, you don't want to be turned down at the gate.

There's four closings to the Parks
closing 1 - all day guests (CMs using their IDs to enter are considered day guests as well)
closing 2 - all resort guests/people previously in the park
closing 3 - all passholders
closing 4 - no one is allowed in.

I'm not a 100% sure on the closing order, but it reaches closing 1 early on, usually by 11am and that's when they close off the parking lot.

 

[BradyBz12]

Good advice from Sandra about staying in the park you want to be in at midnight once you get there. Here's the nitty gritty on park closings...

The turnstile master computer at each park keeps track of both entries and exits. When a park capacity closes (which is done in stages) there has to be a certain number of people exiting, with the total "in park" below a certain number, before they start allowing people in again.

I am low enough on the totem pole that I have no idea what these numbers are.

There are four stages to park closing:

Stage 1 - The parking lot entrance is closed. You can only access the park if you are using Disney Transportation.

Stage 2 - The ticket windows are all closed (and the automated Ticket Vending Machines are turned off). Unless you already have a ticket you cannot get in.

Stage 3 - Only people with Annual Passes or current Resort IDs will be allowed in.

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

Note - having restaurant reservations in a park, even with written proof, will not override a stage closing for you.

Also, if you are staying at a Disney owned and operated Resort and have a ticket, you are guaranteed entry into A park. Not necessarily the one you want (unless you want to go into AK). And if you have entered and left a park and do not have a hopper you may not get into anything.

 

[LarryJ]

if you can avoid all of them, do it

too much humanity

I agree and why would you want to face what I saw in the MK at high noon on 31 Dec 2007 ...

Larry

 

[Millermouseketeers]

Epcot! Did Epcot last year and the fireworks were fantastic. Something to experience at least once. Yes the crowds were bad but we just waited until it thinned out to leave and this worked well.

 

[dblr]

We did the MK and had a great time, yes plan to spend all day in the park, and plan on very large crowds and a long time to get out, but it is something you have to try at least once. We chose MK because we had kids and wanted to avoid any alchol related issues with a large crowd, would have liked to seen NYE @ Epcot maybe next time. Go and have a great time wherever you pick.