New Years visit days before, during and after: Experiences/advice.

[disneybirds]

Is there a difference between the 6:30 and 11:40 shows at Epcot on the 31st?

 

[robinb]

Is there a difference between the 6:30 and 11:40 shows at Epcot on the 31st?

Yes. The early one is the regular Holiday IllumiNations and the later one is the special NYE countdown.

 

[fairygagamother]

The only issue I encountered last NYE was traffic!! But it shouldn't be a problem if you're not driving. Some main roads were blocked off for the races & I couldn't even get to Magic Kingdom during the day. I went to Epcot by default, but left well before evening. We spent the evening at our hotel(Port Orleans), ate a delicious meal at Boatwrights, & partied with Mickey. The resort was giving out hats & noisemakers & had special activities planned. And we hit the uncrowded parks first thing the next morning!
PS- for anyone driving, the resort parking lots are FULL during this time!!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

The fireworks are on MDX right now. I think they are scheduled to start at 11:50 and the countdown. There are NO projections as this is the "old school" pre-wishes Fantasy in the Sky fireworks. Nevertheless, it is VERY important to be somewhere between the train station and the castle to see the full effect of the fireworks the ending fireworks go on a LONG time. I don't want to spoil them here, you can PM me if you're truly interested why you need to be there. Epcot fireworks are at 11:40, with the countdown at the end.

I am trying to pm you but am on my phone and am not having luck. We are doing mk Nye and 1900 PF at 5pm so would love the spoiler on y i need to be there please. Still on fence about our plans!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

The only issue I encountered last NYE was traffic!! But it shouldn't be a problem if you're not driving. Some main roads were blocked off for the races & I couldn't even get to Magic Kingdom during the day. I went to Epcot by default, but left well before evening. We spent the evening at our hotel(Port Orleans), ate a delicious meal at Boatwrights, & partied with Mickey. The resort was giving out hats & noisemakers & had special activities planned. And we hit the uncrowded parks first thing the next morning!
PS- for anyone driving, the resort parking lots are FULL during this time!!

Would love to hear more abour resort goings on! We are staying at POFQ

 

[AngiTN]

The only issue I encountered last NYE was traffic!! But it shouldn't be a problem if you're not driving. Some main roads were blocked off for the races & I couldn't even get to Magic Kingdom during the day. I went to Epcot by default, but left well before evening. We spent the evening at our hotel(Port Orleans), ate a delicious meal at Boatwrights, & partied with Mickey. The resort was giving out hats & noisemakers & had special activities planned. And we hit the uncrowded parks first thing the next morning!
PS- for anyone driving, the resort parking lots are FULL during this time!!

Main reason we are paying the bucks to stay at resorts so we can walk to the parks of choice
CR to MK on 30th
BWI to Epcot on 31st
I want nothing to do with traffic or transportation either day but I'm determined to spend the days at Disney parks instead of watching on TV this year

 

[mickeymom22]

We have stayed at POR over New Year's. They handed out hats and noisemakers. They had music playing and the big screen blown up with videos playing. We hung out for awhile...we didn't make it to midnight.

Like the above poster said, we got up early on New Year's Day and made rope drop at Epcot...and enjoyed the low crowd level!

 

[Disneylover99]

Would love to hear more abour resort goings on! We are staying at POFQ

This was from last year at POFQ.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

View attachment 281813
This was from last year at POFQ.

Awesome! Am really thinking we go back to resort after 630p fireworks (will watch fr gf) should be just on time for some characters and prizes!

So far parks open at 9 next day. We will be there by 8!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

View attachment 281813
This was from last year at POFQ.

Do you know who the characters were last time?

 

[Disneylover99]

Do you know who the characters were last time?

Sorry. I have no idea. We headed out to Epcot just as they were setting up and didn't make it back til about 2am. We even asked around cause I was curious about the party. I never did speak with anyone who was actually at the party though.

 

[fairygagamother]

Mickey was there for sure! He was the first one out & we got to spend some quality time with him. We left shortly after Micke y came out because the rest of my family had just flown in that day. I think the party consisted of meeting character(s) & maybe dancing with them. I believe there was a DJ, but as mentioned, we left right after we saw the mouse. I had planned, in my mind, to have a carriage ride that night, but they were all cancelled because the NYE party was held in that area. But I do highly recommend eating at Boatwrights. It was one of our very best meals of the trip.

 

[fairygagamother]

Main reason we are paying the bucks to stay at resorts so we can walk to the parks of choice
CR to MK on 30th
BWI to Epcot on 31st
I want nothing to do with traffic or transportation either day but I'm determined to spend the days at Disney parks instead of watching on TV this year

Most definitely agree! That's how we usually plan,too. We stayed only one night at PO since the family arrived late that day. And I also knew we weren't going to any parks that night.