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

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

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

If you are staying in an Epcot area resort you can see the fireworks from there. Maybe even be in the pool and see the fireworks. Plus if the park is at absolute capacity it will be very crowded, obviously.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

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

If you are staying in an Epcot area resort you can see the fireworks from there. Maybe even be in the pool and see the fireworks. Plus if the park is at absolute capacity it will be very crowded, obviously.

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.

The difference with NYE is most of the cast members (college program) never worked a New Year’s Eve so don’t understand the unique dynamics it brings. So while they know the crowd pattern and everything on a day to day basis, they never worked a NYE which is a different type of beast than the every day crowd dynamics. If that make sense plus with all the difference music and stages.

 

[AustinTink]

If you are staying in an Epcot area resort you can see the fireworks from there. Maybe even be in the pool and see the fireworks. Plus if the park is at absolute capacity it will be very crowded, obviously.

I’m assuming it will be too cold for the pool that time of year. Also, we don’t mind crowds at all.

 

[Disneylover99]

The difference with NYE is most of the cast members (college program) never worked a New Year’s Eve so don’t understand the unique dynamics it brings. So while they know the crowd pattern and everything on a day to day basis, they never worked a NYE which is a different type of beast than the every day crowd dynamics. If that make sense plus with all the difference music and stages.

All I can tell you, is after attending multiple New Years Eve celebrations in Epcot, we’ve never had any issues with disorganizion before midnight. I’ve never seen so many CM’s working in my life to make pathways/dance parties, etc…. as smooth flowing as they do.

The bottlenecks we’ve been in are right after the fireworks when the bulk of people are trying to quickly head out of World Showcase to beat the crowds. Which is much too late for that. Lol.

At the same time, some people are trying to head back into World Showcase. There are spots that come to an absolute standstill. You just have to pack your patience.

We’re usually somewhere between Mexico and Canada at midnight, and we try to let the crowds thin out a bit before heading back into World Showcase. By the time we leave after 1am, it’s relatively peaceful and easier to catch a bus without too much of a wait.

 

[AustinTink]

We’re usually somewhere between Mexico and Canada at midnight

We were thinking somewhere in either France or UK at midnight to be near the international gateway. I’m going to assume those two areas would be the most full though.

 

[Disneylover99]

We were thinking somewhere in either France or UK at midnight to be near the international gateway. I’m going to assume those two areas would be the most full though.

All areas around WS will be pretty packed, but if you’re staying at an Epcot resort, and you do want to leave right after fireworks, just know, you’ll be walking with the sea of humanity out the International gateway. Most of the people watching in this area will be going the same way anyways and crowds will begin to thin out once you get through the exit.

As long as you don’t mind crowds, and don’t get claustrophobic if there is a back up of people trying to leave, you’ll be fine. If you’re taking the bus, I’d advise you to hang back, relax and people watch.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

I’m assuming it will be too cold for the pool that time of year. Also, we don’t mind crowds at all.

It depends tbh. It may or may not be

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

All I can tell you, is after attending multiple New Years Eve celebrations in Epcot, we’ve never had any issues with disorganizion before midnight. I’ve never seen so many CM’s working in my life to make pathways/dance parties, etc…. as smooth flowing as they do.

The bottlenecks we’ve been in are right after the fireworks when the bulk of people are trying to quickly head out of World Showcase to beat the crowds. Which is much too late for that. Lol.

At the same time, some people are trying to head back into World Showcase. There are spots that come to an absolute standstill. You just have to pack your patience.

We’re usually somewhere between Mexico and Canada at midnight, and we try to let the crowds thin out a bit before heading back into World Showcase. By the time we leave after 1am, it’s relatively peaceful and easier to catch a bus without too much of a wait.

Way too late. At that point just soak in the new year.

 

[kj2mom]

Are we talking puffer jacket, hat and scarf kind of cold?

Yes, it was like a winter day in Mass. We wore the hats/gloves/winter jackets that we had worn to the airport. I just looked up the temperature (Jan 1999) and it looks like the day I remember the most was just about freezing (like actual 32 degrees freezing). We had booked the Luau and it was cancelled due to temperatures the night we were going to go and the night we rescheduled to go it was still too cold (much of our trip was in the 30s according to the history)

I know it's not the norm but it did happen and we were glad we were prepared.

 

[AustinTink]

Yes, it was like a winter day in Mass. We wore the hats/gloves/winter jackets that we had worn to the airport. I just looked up the temperature (Jan 1999) and it looks like the day I remember the most was just about freezing (like actual 32 degrees freezing). We had booked the Luau and it was cancelled due to temperatures the night we were going to go and the night we rescheduled to go it was still too cold (much of our trip was in the 30s according to the history)

I know it's not the norm but it did happen and we were glad we were prepared.

We will definitely keep a close eye on the forecast.

 

[elvispursley]

aren’t there blackout dates for the majority of APs over New Years? I wouldn’t think a ton of would fork out $$$ for an Incrdipass

 

[mom-2-3]

We’ve done the lead up to Christmas several times and would leave 26/27th. In 2023 we did post Christmas through NYE (HS Sr, 3rd yr post HS & 28 yo) 1st oldest & youngest were really able to “hang out” they had a blast working their way around WS to the dance parties and celebrating NY multiple times w each country. It’s definitely busier than the lead up. After first day I bought LLMP and LLSP for everything I could - lol! I’d suggest not under estimating time to find food, there are not fast oasses for that! And how cold it can get in Florida. This was the only trip I ever remember being cold and were from the Great Lakes region! We usually swim, but it was so cold I didn’t even want to catch the spray from a fountain. Enjoy, I think it’s a great place for your age group to spend NYE

 

[Alicatt]

We didn't go to the parks on NYE and just celebrated at the resorts because my kids were young when we did it back in 2016. I will agree that the parks are quiet on the 1st. Everything at MK was walk on in the morning. We met with Mickey and Tinkerbell and spent so much time with them! Tink wouldn't let us leave. She was SO chatty. We were there for like 30 min. I think she was bored...
We were lucky and had perfect weather. It was in the 70's in the daytime. We need sweatshirts at night. My kids swam anyway. 70 is swimming weather if you're from the Northeast
I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Disneylover99]

aren’t there blackout dates for the majority of APs over New Years? I wouldn’t think a ton of would fork out $$$ for an Incrdipass

Yes.
Only the most expensive AP is not blacked out, and you still need to make park reservations.

Last year AP reservations for New Year’s Eve at Epcot sold out on November 1st. But if I remember correctly, AP holders could still make reservations for AK or HS leading up to New Year’s and then hop over to Epcot New Year’s Eve.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

aren’t there blackout dates for the majority of APs over New Years? I wouldn’t think a ton of would fork out $$$ for an Incrdipass

Yes vast majority of locals are blacked out and it does make a difference actually it makes a huge difference.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

Yes.
Only the most expensive AP is not blacked out, and you still need to make park reservations.

Last year AP reservations for New Year’s Eve at Epcot sold out on November 1st. But if I remember correctly, AP holders could still make reservations for AK or HS leading up to New Year’s and then hop over to Epcot New Year’s Eve.

That is also the only pass people outside Florida can get unless they have DVC