Nye 2009 !!

[PatMcDuck]

I never stayed at WDW for New Years, but we will be there this year, at BLT.

I have NO idea how this works, we arrive on Dec 30, leave Jan 3rd. i KNOW MK will be a zoo on Dec 31, so no thanks, we will not be going to MK Are ALL the parks completely packed though? I planned for (some of) us to go to AK on Dec 31, I figure this will be our best bet (?), since it closes early, no NYE activities to speak of.... I aim to be back at the room by 5 pm, and maybe walk around the resort, relax in our room etc.

2 of the teens think they may go to the Studios, but they were not going to arrive until mid afternoon. Will that work? Do they close early due to crowds, or is it really just MK that is completely packed?

 

[bobbiwoz]

NYE timeframe 2008. We went to the last CP at Epcot (This was on the 30th. The same couple is scheduled to do the show this year and we enjoyed them very much), then monorailed over to the MK where there were parties galore going on. It was not overly crowded, but it was packed! We found a place to stay and saw fantastic fireworks at midnight. It was a late night at MK, so most people did not leave after the fireworks, but we did. We were back in our BWV studio before 1 PM. When we go back for NYE at WDW, we would try to do the same thing. For "real" NYE we went to Epcot and just walked back to our villa after the midnight fireworks.

On NYE, Epcot was packed. They had an earlier version of Illuminations "for families with children" and we saw those. After that the park got more crowded than you can imagine. Lines for the rest rooms were very long and there were parties going on everywhere it seemed. We went to the world showcase movies, to sit and take up time. The fireworks began around 11:40 and they were great!

So, if anyone wants to see Illuminations before the real NYE display, go to Epcot for the first show. It wasn't THAT crazy then, and then they can be back at BLT for midnight.

At BLT, you won't have to fight the crowds for the MK on the 31st, so you're lucky!!!

Bobbi

 

[allshookup]

We also arrive on the 30th & are staying at BLT to the 4th! (Of course BLT is not our home resort & we never did get NYE, so we also have a little detour to ASMu for that one night, but that's okay.) Our flight arrives around 10am so our plan is to check in & head to MK. It's my birthday so I'm also hoping to get my Birthday gift card, since we'll already have our tickets. We are then planning to stay at MK just till the castle lighting & then leave, before it gets to the point that you can't move on Main St. (I hope). We are going to CG for a 9pm birthday dinner & our plan is to see the special showing of the fireworks at 11:50 from there. Thought about going to the TOTW, but figured that would be packed solid.

For NYE we are going to Epcot, but not till around dinner time. We've done the early route, because CMs insisted it may close, but it makes for a looooong & tiring day so we said never again! The term "packed" really does describe the parks on NYE, because as the evening wears on, you absolutely can NOT move in places.

Our plan is to just make our 9pm ADR at Nine Dragons & if we can push through the crowds for that & then somewhere to view the late Illuminations, we'll be happy! I have no illusions of getting too close to the lagoon, since people stake out their spots sometimes first thing in the morning, but I did stand on the fountain in France for the Millenium & that was fine.

I did hear that MK closed on the 31st for a while last year but then reopened. I'm not sure about DHS, but from what I understand, Epcot did not close to capacity, but even if it does, I hope it reopens later as well. If you are staying at the resort for NYE, hopefully you'll have a fantastic view of the fireworks from your room or TOTW. Have fun!

 

[mcrabeck]

We too are doing our first NYE at WDW and were thinking of going to the Studios to try and avoid the large Epcot and MK crowds we have read about. It looks like the Studios have EMH that night though- so I am worried it may be extra crowded there as well..... really appreciate hearing everyone's experiences!

 

[chipper10]

We will be in WDW for our first NYE. DH and DS will arrive on Dec. 31st around 11am. I won't fly into MCO until 8 almost 9pm. We are staying at the Poly on NYE night, then moving over to the VWL. The plan is for DH and DS to check out the monorail resorts and just hang out. When I get there, we hope to be able to watch the fireworks from the beach at the Poly.
I would like to plan to go to a park, but I'm worried that we won't be able to get into one.

 

[dgaston]

We are staying at Windsor Hills except for NYE at SSR (waitlist came through ). We will see MK's fireworks on the 30th, and go to the Studios for the 31st. I don't know that i will stay late for EMH at the Studios, but DS21 and DH are talking about it!

 

[natt]

First NYE timers here as well! We will be staying at BCV and plan to arrive midafternoon and have ADR's for late lunch at Nine Dragons. We're sort of just winging it after that. If the crowds just seem to much, we may just go back and hang out at the Epcot resorts.
My question is, does anyone know if the Boardwalk has some decent activity going on?.. (beside the Atlantic Dance party). Just thinking maybe it would be nicer to just be away from the crowds and see whatever fireworks we can in the background.

 

[allshookup]

First NYE timers here as well! We will be staying at BCV and plan to arrive midafternoon and have ADR's for late lunch at Nine Dragons. We're sort of just winging it after that. If the crowds just seem to much, we may just go back and hang out at the Epcot resorts.
My question is, does anyone know if the Boardwalk has some decent activity going on?.. (beside the Atlantic Dance party). Just thinking maybe it would be nicer to just be away from the crowds and see whatever fireworks we can in the background.

I heard that they put on a little celebration on the lawn of the Boardwalk Resort. Not sure exactly what goes on, but I'm sure they'd have some entertainment, noisemakers, etc. You can go view the fireworks from the BW porch, but I imagine that will be packed. Might be a better viewing area over by the bridge to WS I think.

 

[habg1]

BWV here for NYE! Yay us! 1st time & we can't wait.

 

[bobbiwoz]

First NYE timers here as well! We will be staying at BCV and plan to arrive midafternoon and have ADR's for late lunch at Nine Dragons. We're sort of just winging it after that. If the crowds just seem to much, we may just go back and hang out at the Epcot resorts.
My question is, does anyone know if the Boardwalk has some decent activity going on?.. (beside the Atlantic Dance party). Just thinking maybe it would be nicer to just be away from the crowds and see whatever fireworks we can in the background.

We went to Epcot for NYE last year, but stayed at BWV and when we came out of Epcot there was a party still going on on the Village Green at BW. There was music, dancing, a DJ. We were too tired to stay, but there were plenty of people having fun.

Bobbi

 

[cinderella97]

First timers here too! We are staying at BCV, checking in NYE and going to epcot. We have dinner ressies at Rose and Crown.

 

[dblr]

We were there lasy NYE @ SSR we spent the 31st @ Mkgot there early to do breakfast with Pooh and friends and packed a light lunch to snack on later. We had made plans to not leave the park for fear we would not get back in so we knew we had a long day. It did work out and we felt it was the best day of our weeks stay, NYE with 60,000 of your closest freinds what more can you ask for. My oldest som found us a great spot to see the fireworks from, like having our own private viewing booth. The only problem was leaving the park, but we knew there would be large crowds so there was no surprise.
Just take your time with the crowds and you will do fine. Enjoy & Happy New Year

 

[jade1]

I never stayed at WDW for New Years, but we will be there this year, at BLT.

I have NO idea how this works, we arrive on Dec 30, leave Jan 3rd. i KNOW MK will be a zoo on Dec 31, so no thanks, we will not be going to MK Are ALL the parks completely packed though? I planned for (some of) us to go to AK on Dec 31, I figure this will be our best bet (?), since it closes early, no NYE activities to speak of.... I aim to be back at the room by 5 pm, and maybe walk around the resort, relax in our room etc.

2 of the teens think they may go to the Studios, but they were not going to arrive until mid afternoon. Will that work? Do they close early due to crowds, or is it really just MK that is completely packed?

Lucky, would 100% do Dec 30th at MK for the midnight fireworks preview test run, especially if its just a walk over from BLT. We went in to MK on the 30th last year in the afternoon and got in fine. Who knows this year but it should be OK. Then for NYE we went to EPCOT for dinner at Japan, entered Int Gateway around 4PM after checking into BCV, not a problem. So you should be able to sleep in and still go to EPCOT later. We never thought it was so busy for NYE really. I mean it's really spread out-we never did any attractions though, just toured the countries and went up to the party near SE. Plus we did just walk back to BCV in 5 min, BLT will be a different story.

NYE last year.

 

[PatMcDuck]

What a photo! It is my new laptop wall paper!

I would love to see MK fireworks on the 30th. We are going to the studios, and I think we will poop out after that, since it is travel day.

We have 2 nights in a BLT Bay view 1 BR, then 2 nights in a BLT MK view 2 BR. The first 2 nights are on cash, 2nd 2 on points. (Dec 30-Jan 3)

I think we will still do AK on Dec 31, then return to BLT, and perhaps tour the other monorail resort lobbies to see their decorations in the early evening. Then back to room..... maybe we can see some fireworks from BLT.

3 weeks away!

 

[ScubaCat]

We're doing BCV for NYE 2009. I haven't been for NYE since I was a kid so this should be an experience. Just myself and DW for 2 nights. I think we're going to "comfortably" dress up, too, with nice clothes but warm and with comfortable shoes; no high heels (for either of us! )

Hopefully doing dinner at Le Cellier won't be too difficult. We will see!!