New Year's Trip - What Should I Know??

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

We are not rope droppers but have spent several winter holidays at WDW.
Think about spending New Year’s Eve at Disney Springs. Never gets as crowded as the parks, has fireworks, music, dancing and always more than one exit when wanted.

Oh but plan to be there until at least 2:00 AM because the road traffic is insane!

MK on Christmas Day gives crowded a whole new meaning. If you are there for a few days, try to get in early and be out by early afternoon.The only day of the year I could get my party to the park by 9:00 AM, lol.

If you are staying on property no reason to go to Disney springs for NYE. Tons of locals there

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

My advice would be don't let the Internet scare you with commentary about NYE/the holidays. Yes crowds are stout, but you also generally have great weather and long park hours, so crowds can actually spread out, it's not blistering hot, less likely to have rain to avoid, etc. Don't underestimate AP blackouts in place during that time, in my opinion you do feel the impact on the margins.

Another piece of advice I'd suggest is being proactive about your 12/31 dinner plans when you can make reservations. Having a dinner plan to serve as an anchor for your plan for the evening can be helpful, it can be harder to dine on the fly during those peak days.

Lastly, have fun! It's a unique but also really fun time to be at WDW.

AP blackouts are hugeeeee. It really leads to a different type of crowd also. Yes if you want dinner reservation make it early because all the locals are flocking to be on property on NYE

 

[trishadono]

Are there long waits for the monorails as well?

No not really. It’s the locals on the roads that is the problem.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

No not really. It’s the locals on the roads that is the problem.

The buses too and from Disney springs though are insane from the resorts. Tbh all the MK resorts buses around that time have insane lines for Disney spring. That’s how a lot of locals get there without having to pay for parking. The monorail could also get some long lines especially on the weekends around that time. It’s mostly the locals causing the issue as the actual hotels are always at pretty high capacity.

A lot of locals don’t want to pay for parking and will book reservations or park at Disney springs.

 

[trishadono]

The buses too and from Disney springs though are insane from the resorts. Tbh all the MK resorts buses around that time have insane lines for Disney spring. That’s how a lot of locals get there without having to pay for parking. The monorail could also get some long lines especially on the weekends around that time. It’s mostly the locals causing the issue as the actual hotels are always at pretty high capacity.

A lot of locals don’t want to pay for parking and will book reservations or park at Disney springs.

Good to know! Thx

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

Good to know! Thx

Welcome! Disney is the place to be for New Year’s Eve. Don’t have to worry about random fireworks going off all night long too! But the prices are the most they all are year obviously

 

[AustinTink]

It will be so hard to choose between Epcot or MK on NYE. As far as capacity goes, do we have to get to whichever park early and stay all day and night to make sure we get in for New Year’s? We usually leave in the afternoon for a break. Idk if I can stay at the park all day and night.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

It will be so hard to choose between Epcot or MK on NYE. As far as capacity goes, do we have to get to whichever park early and stay all day and night to make sure we get in for New Year’s? We usually leave in the afternoon for a break. Idk if I can stay at the park all day and night.

Epcot sells alcohol so that’s a plus. Magic kingdom is completely dry soooooo if you drink that kind of sucks. They overhype the hitting capacity aspect.

Between which park a huge factor would come down to where I’m staying for obvious reasons. When it comes to Epcot it is one of the few times it’s open past like 9-9:30ish unlike magic kingdom.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

OP - where are you planning to stay? My biggest tip would be to be within walking distance of whichever park you’ll be on NYE if possible. Buses aren’t your friend on NYE.

For this reason, I would personally avoid DS.

We were at the MK last year - in fairness we left around 9 - as we had planned to hang out at the resort until midnight but I honestly did not find the crowds to be unbearable.

I do agree with a PP about booking dinner as soon as your 60-day window opens.

Enjoy!

 

[AustinTink]

Epcot sells alcohol so that’s a plus. Magic kingdom is completely dry soooooo if you drink that kind of sucks.

That’s a good point. Would want at least a little champagne on New Year’s.

They overhype the hitting capacity aspect.

I’m waiting to buy tickets but I don’t know if they will sell out for New Year’s?

Between which park a huge factor would come down to where I’m staying for obvious reasons. When it comes to Epcot it is one of the few times it’s open past like 9-9:30ish unlike magic kingdom.

Still working on where we want to stay but the Epcot area hotels are our favorite.

 

[Disneylover99]

It will be so hard to choose between Epcot or MK on NYE. As far as capacity goes, do we have to get to whichever park early and stay all day and night to make sure we get in for New Year’s? We usually leave in the afternoon for a break. Idk if I can stay at the park all day and night.

We always choose MK on Dec. 30th and Epcot on Dec. 31st.

I would not worry about capacity. There is always a possibility of phased closures during parts of the day at MK, but they are few and far between and they generally happen late morning and are lifted a few hours later. If you’re staying on property and/or have an ADR, you should be fine. I would not recommend getting to a park early (especially New Years Eve) or you’ll burn out by the evening. Sleep in, swim, have a nice lunch at your resort, and head over later.

We usually head to Epcot late afternoon/early evening on New Year’s Eve. We’ve never had any issues with buses or being stuck in traffic this time of year going from our resort to the parks. Some areas have dedicated bus lanes to bypass traffic. Our favourite Christmas/New Years resort to stay at is POFQ. It is my favourite time of year to be at DW.

 

[AustinTink]

We always choose MK on Dec. 30th and Epcot on Dec. 31st.

I would not worry about capacity. There is always a possibility of phased closures during parts of the day at MK, but they are few and far between and they generally happen late morning and are lifted a few hours later. If you’re staying on property and/or have an ADR, you should be fine. I would not recommend getting to a park early (especially New Years Eve) or you’ll burn out by the evening. Sleep in, swim, have a nice lunch at your resort, and head over later.

We usually head to Epcot late afternoon/early evening on New Year’s Eve. We’ve never had any issues with buses or being stuck in traffic this time of year going from our resort to the parks. Some areas have dedicated bus lanes to bypass traffic. Our favourite Christmas/New Years resort to stay at is POFQ. It is my favourite time of year to be at DW.

This is very helpful, thank you. My husband just said yesterday there is no way he can be at whichever park we choose from morning until midnight.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

That’s a good point. Would want at least a little champagne on New Year’s.

I’m waiting to buy tickets but I don’t know if they will sell out for New Year’s?

Still working on where we want to stay but the Epcot area hotels are our favorite.

I doubt they will sell out. I heard of some capacity issues at bottle neck places last year but I’m sure Disney will fix those issues. If staying in an Epcot area resort than like obvi Epcot is the choice.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

This is very helpful, thank you. My husband just said yesterday there is no way he can be at whichever park we choose from morning until midnight.

Also if you are staying at an Epcot area resort you still are on Disney property so not getting into the park isn’t the biggest deal in the world. All the main pools stay open until midnight also I believe. Disney will also compensate for the ticket most likely if they hit capacity or do something similar

 

[AustinTink]

I heard of some capacity issues at bottle neck places last year but I’m sure Disney will fix those issues.

I’m curious what/where those issues were.

 

[AustinTink]

Also if you are staying at an Epcot area resort you still are on Disney property so not getting into the park isn’t the biggest deal in the world. All the main pools stay open until midnight also I believe. Disney will also compensate for the ticket most likely if they hit capacity or do something similar

It would be a huge bummer to fly to Disney just to be in the park on NYE and not be able to enter.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’m curious what/where those issues were.

I’m not sure if that poster is referring to specific incidents that happened last year?

But generally speaking, with the large crowds, you’re always going to come across some bottleneck areas in the MK/Epcot that time of year. It’s often inevitable near popular areas, narrow pathways, and when there are long ride lines outside the regular queue. The CM’s do a pretty good job managing it though. It will mostly just slow you down a bit if you’re used to walking faster.

The Main Street bypass at MK is generally open in the evening after the fireworks to help with crowds.

 

[Disneylover99]

It would be a huge bummer to fly to Disney just to be in the park on NYE and not be able to enter.

The last time there was any type of phased closure at Epcot on New Year’s Eve was in 1999.
If you’re planning on staying on property, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

 

[AustinTink]

The last time there was any type of phased closure at Epcot on New Year’s Eve was in 1999.
If you’re planning on staying on property, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

This is so good to know. Our original plan was to rest up in the morning and early afternoon and head over about 4.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

I’m curious what/where those issues were.

By the UK area there was a huge bottle neck area but I think it was a fixable issue. I’m not too sure since I have no plans to go into the parks on NYE, someone was telling me about it the next day though