New Years Eve

[jdkdorn]

I Am planning a special one night stay for NYE before our cruise and wonder how the parks work that night. Do they all have fireworks at midnight or do they close at their regualr time. We were thinking of a Magic kingdom or Illuminations cruise but were wondering if they do a special one for midnight. Any and all info you can give me about this night would be appreciated.

We have never gone during high season and this will be a surprise for the family. We are staying at the villas at Wilderness lodge.

Thanks
Judy

 

[Connears]

We have been to WDW for the past 2 NYE. It is very crowded!!!! we have chosen not to go to MK that day and it has been closed to any guest/visitors by 10am both years, so if you want to go there go early and plan to stay all day. We went to mgm in am and epcot at 4pm for 2002-3. they hand out noise makers and hats around 5pm at both parks. Epcot has live bands and two shows of illuminations with special fireworks. Last year we went to mgm and stayed all day. It was crowded, but we did attractions with FP and it only got crazy around 7:30. we ate at Brown Derby and did the last Fantasmic show without the package and had fine seats. At 11:30, we went back to Swan to beat the crowds and watched Fantasy in the Sky from our room and it was amazing, also caught illuminations fireworks from our room(only a side view. If you go there knowing the crowds are very high and go with the flow, it is a wonderful time. It you go thinking you can tour WDW as usual, you will be disappointed. If you go, make PS for NYE at 90 day mark or else resign yourself to fast food. They will charge your credit card because it is a holiday. We are returning again this year for post christmas week. It is beautiful and fun!
Connears

 

[metus]

We were there for NYE this past year ('04). It was very, very crowded, but we saw some of the best fireworks we ever saw that night. We spent a looooooong day at MK and stayed until the midnight show. There was a regular fireworks show at 9ish then a special show at midnight with fireworks being shot off all around the perimiter of MK. It was amazing. Despite being a ong day and the severe crowds (long lines for even the TTA), I would do it again in a minute!

 

[Deb & Bill]

They did have a special NYE Illuminations Cruise and it was very expensive because they provided food and beverage (including champagne if I remember correctly). You could not get the cruise for less by requesting no food and beverages. I think it was about $400, plus if you added more people than 4 or 5, you started to increase the rate by an additional $30-50/person. We thought about it and decided that we did not want to do it with just the three of us.

 

[chyam]

As posted above the parks are very crowded I would compare it to the 4th of July except with out the heat and humidity
The fireworks are awesome. I wasn't able to stay onsite....waited to long to make reservations, IT TOOK ME 3 HOURS to get out of the parking lot, so good thing you are staying at the WL and can just grab a boat back to the lodge.