New Years Eve?

[deanio101]

hi i was just wondering if the parks stay open later through new years eve and day?

 

[nativetxn]

Welcome to the DIS. I've never toured WDW on NYE so I can't answer your question but I'll bump this page to page one for you so that some of our veterans can offer advice.

Katholyn

 

[oogieboogie]

Dec 31:
MK - 8AM - 1AM
EP FW - 8AM - 1AM
EP WS - 10AM - 1AM
MGM - 8AM - 1AM
AK - 8AM - 8PM

Jan 1:
MK - 9AM - 10PM
EP FW - 9AM - 7PM
EP WS - 11AM - 9PM
MGM - 9AM - 7AM
AK - 9AM - 8PM

 

[Geoff_M]

The three parks open until past midnight will be mad-houses then. NYE is the single largest attendance day of the year. The rule is, if you're going that day, then get there ASAP after the parks open... othewise you may not be let in due to overcrowding. When we were there on 12/31/2002 they closed the turnstiles at MK around 10:30 AM.

 

[TeamMMouse]

We are arriving New Year's Eve. We are Disney regulars but have never been there on New Year's eve. I knew it would be busy but had never considred we might not be able to get in! Advice on where to go to be sure we can get in? Also, when will the park start to clear out? We are staying until 1/4.

 

[jmclester]

We've been in the park(s) once (last time ever!!!) on NYE (2001). I totally agree that it is a madhouse. Pick the park you want to be in all day and get there 30 min prior to opening and plan to stay there. You should be able to get in any one of the four as long as you're there before opening. Park hopping is not advisable because by 10-11am the parks will likely be filled to capacity and when we were there the buses were in gridlock. We ended up taking the boat from EPCOT to MGM where the crowds were backed up so far we decided to forfeit the day and make our way back to the hotel. This is not intended to intimidate you but you need to know that it will be crowded beyond your imagination! I would highly recommend that you not burn a ticket on NYE and just wait until the next day. You can look at the park hours and tell that the parks will have thinned out nicely by then. Since 1/1 is on Saturday there will be some travellers leaving and Sunday, 1/2 should be glorious as far as crowds. Have a great time however you decide to tour!

 

[Geoff_M]

The NYE we were there we actually used a reverse strategy and went to AK (not crowded at all due to the fact that it wasn't open late), went to bed early, and hit MK for EE when everybody else "slept it off". But reports are that the park that'll hit capacity last will be Epcot, as it has a lot more open spaces for people than does MK or MGM.

 

[kirkharrod]

We got there at 7 am in 2002 and they opened the gates at 7:15. It was totally empty for 2 hours. They told us if we leave, we may not get back in. It was more crowded than I had ever seen it. They stayed open until 1 am (probably later) but it poured rain at 8 pm and we left.

 

[TeamMMouse]

Are the other Disney properties (outside the parks) just as busy on New Year's Eve? such as Boardwalk area, Downtown Disney or Quest??