New Year's Festivities

[kimbamickey]

I am planning a new year's trip next year (staying at my home resort SS). I will have a group of friends in their mid to late 20's. Any suggestions on fun activites going on during that time (Dec. 30th - Jan. 2nd)? Any advice on what not to miss and what to skip. THis will be my first time here during the holidays. Thanks!

 

[Connears]

We have been there at the same time for the past 2 years and are returning next year. You can probably attend the last night of Candlelight processional in Epcot on 12/30(use the dinner package and get 15% discount for the whole day or is it 20%-can't remember);MK still has the christmas parade thru NY; NYE we did Epcot first year-many live band venues and 2 shows of fireworks(also a rock n roll dinner party in old Millenium Village); we were at MGM this year and they had DJ all afternoon then live bands(cover bands) for the whole nite and everyone was dancing!-we had dinner at Brown Derby and caught last show of Fantasmic- Fireworks there were amazing!; our friends kids (20 somethin) went to special party at PI cost $79 and they liked it but didn't get the free champayne-too many folks. Make a PS for late New Year's Day breakfast/brunch at 1900 PF. New Year's day is usually pretty quiet at the parks and you can tour without the craziness.
Connears

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

The best advice is to plan in advance as you are doing. We have gone the last two years too and planning makes a difference. Making a PS at the 90 day mark for lunch and dinner for New Year's eve is the best thing you can do. We wanted to ride Mission Space at midnight so we went over to EPCOT in the morning to get a fast pass. The line for the fast pass was as long as some regular lines and they were sold out by around 10:30 A.M but we did get the FP for it and that was a lot of fun.

HBC

 

[kimbamickey]

Thank you for the helpful info!

What is the weather like during this time of year?

 

[Deemarch]

(You can probably attend the last night of Candlelight processional in Epcot on 12/30(use the dinner package and get 15% discount for the whole day or is it 20%-can't remember)quote

connears, what do you mean? 15% or 20% discount for the day for what?

We will be going from 12/25 - 1/1/05. Love getting all of your ideas.

 

[RCM]

I was there this year and it was unusually warm. 80-82 degrees. I believe average would be 70-72 degrees. Definately book the processional and dinner! My favorite of the trip!

 

[bluecdr]

For info on temperature look at www.weather.com for Orlando. 10 day forecast also has tab for averages each month.
Average high is 72 with average low of 50 at night. Record high is
87 with record low of only 19. Average rainfall in the month is 2.4 inches.

 

[caskar]

We were there this year Dec 29 - Jan. 2. A mass of people everywhere, hard to get through some areas of Epcot New Year's Eve, MK closed to non resort quest a few days and WHAT A TIME WE HAD! IT WAS GREAT! I wish we could do it again. If you go with the right mind set (I will not be able to do everything), take your time, enjoy the beautiful Christmas decorations, and definitely go to the Candlelight Processional(dinner package-treat yourself) this performance will put you in the right mind set. Enjoy the moment together with your loved ones, it is the most magical time of the year.

I was with my family wife, 2 young daughters and my parents, but at Epcot on New Year's Eve there many groups of what appeared to be 20 to young 30 year olds partying together. We watched the fireworks surounded by them. Very nice people yet having a what appeared to me as a great time. The fireworks were the best and most intense I have ever seen(I usuallygo to MK on July 4th). My brother (mid 30's),who lives in Florida, said PI is known for their party on New Year's Eve. He doesn't like WDW(hard for me to type that) but he and his friends frequently go to PI that night.

Have fun!

 

[BarbR-Atlanta]

We were at BWV December 28th through January 2nd this year. The crowds on New Year's Eve were incredible! We got Fast Passes for what we could, and forgot about the rest for that day. The Magic Kingdom closed to non-resort guests at 10:0am, as did Animal Kingdom. We were lucky to be staying in the Boardwalk-side Grand Villa, one level up from the stores. We had 6 adjoining balconies, so plenty of room for all of our guests and family. My husband tried to take our 11 yr old, and his best friend to Epcot to use the Fast Track FP on New Year's Eve, and promptly lost the boys in the swelling (and rowdy) crowd. Lucky for us, the WDW Security Dept., is unparalleled!
We gave up, and watched the festivities from the Villa. What a view! We could see the Epcot fireworks, the MGM fireworks, and I think the Animal Kingdom ones, all at once! What a sight!

I think you definitely need to prepare for a crowd, don't expect to do everything, and go with the flow. That being said, I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by BarbR-Atlanta
We gave up, and watched the festivities from the Villa. What a view! We could see the Epcot fireworks, the MGM fireworks, and I think the Animal Kingdom ones, all at once!

DH and I were part of the Epcot mob, and it wasn't too bad. Just had to note that you couldn't have seen AK fireworks as they don't do them there (too traumatic for the animals) and the park closed at 6 that night. You probably saw the Downtown Disney fireworks.

 

[Connears]

Deemarch
When we booked the CP dinner package, one of the perks was that you got a discount for all purchases made at Epcot that day(your badge is dated). I can't remember if it was 15 or 20 % and it was dec 2002 not this past trip so I don;t know if they continued it, but I beleive they did. We did some serious purchasing that day! Shipped it off to resort!
Connears

 

[Lollipop Mom]

we were there 12/29 to 1/3 this year and had a great time! I'd HIGHLY recommend getting the electronic planner at www.tourguidemike.com He had a "Christmas and New Years week survival guide" that included what parks he recommended for day and evening each day based on crowd level as well as how he would modify his normal suggestions for the large crowds. He also has LOTS of other planning advice and advertises that if you follow his advice, you can limit wait times for most attractions to 15 minutes or so. The only day we didn't follow his advice was our first day and it was the worst crowd wise. We went to the MK and couldn't get there till 10:00 because of other things that had to be done but we knew my oldest son would recognize more things as "Disney World" in this park than in others and we had PSs for breakfast w/ Pooh. On the other days, we used his suggestions and honestly, the longest line I stood in was to get lunch at Epcot one day! I waited for almost 40 minutes b/c we were wanting to get lunch when there was only 1 place open in the food court area of the Land pavillion. The longest ride line we stood in was for the Safari ride at the AK; that was about 20 minutes. Other than that, we did GREAT. Well worth the $15 or so. When you are spending thousands on a vacation, it's worth it to add that $15 in and get the most out of it!

If you are interested in it, go to either www.mousesavers.com or www.disneydollarless.com and follow their links to get to his site and get a discount on the purchase price. I haven't looked to see if the holiday survival guide is still there, but I wouldn't expect next year's to be up till at least early November.