NYE at Epcot - help!

[lenshanem]

I have Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique booked for my girls on NYE at 1:00 and we plan on going to Epcot that afternoon. (I also have Garden Grill booked that night.)

Do you think we'll run into any problems? What time does Epcot typically close due to capacity on NYE?

Would it make any difference if we ran our APs thru the turnstiles earlier and then left? (We'll be at BCV so it would be easy.)

I'd really appreciate any opinions, I'm starting to question my plans.

Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would bet that at some point on New Years Eve Epcot will close because there will be to many people in the park. The only thing I can't say is what time would this be around. If I had to guess it would happen around 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Once they are closed, you can't go in until enough people leave. So eventhough you would have an ADR at Garden Grill, that does still not guarantee you entrance to Epcot if they are closed. Yes I know that sounds bad on paper, but that's WDW's rule.

 

[lenshanem]

Wow, that seems awfully early. I would expect MK to close that early, but Epcot? Now I'm worried about even checking into BCV that morning and making it over there even forgetting Bibbidi at this point.

 

[Connears]

We were at epcot for 2003-4 NYE and we arrived at 4pm after touring MGM the morning. It was very busy, but we had no problem getting in. Epcot has the ability to spread crowds out better than MK(MK had closed to ALL guests by 10am that day) and is easier to hold the masses. They hand out noise makers and hat around 6pm and it turns into a zoo, a fun zoo! 2004-5 we started in MGM and stayed whole time. This year we are spending Christmas day there but leaving before NYE. Have fun.
Connears

 

[Gymbomom]

We have been to Epcot before on NYE ( 3 years ago), and had no problem getting in. I would say you don't have to worry about it, and it doesn't matter about scanning your tickets.

Be prepared for CROWDS, 30 minute lines to the bathrooms, and a few tipsy adults.

 

[robinb]

While the MK closes for a time during NYE, I have never heard of Epcot closing. It just sucks people up and scatters them throughout the park. If you are feeling nervous, I would go in early with your APs. You might want to grab a couple of Fast Passes to use later on in the day while you are there.

I have never had a problem returning to Epcot in the 4-6 PM timeframe. I also have had no problem returning to the MK in the 6-7 PM timeframe.

 

[fAnnF]

Last year I was at MGM and around 6 we thought about going to a different park. I was talking to a CM and she told me that Epcot closed to all guests at around 4pm, 11am for Magic Kingdom, and I don't think it was until about 8 or 10pm for MGM. This year we're going to Epcot arriving around noon and then MGM for some rides after midnight.

 

[robinb]

Last year I was at MGM and around 6 we thought about going to a different park. I was talking to a CM and she told me that Epcot closed to all guests at around 4pm, 11am for Magic Kingdom, and I don't think it was until about 8 or 10pm for MGM. This year we're going to Epcot arriving around noon and then MGM for some rides after midnight.

I personally re-entered Epcot last year around 6:00 PM just as they were handing out hats and noise makers.

 

[lenshanem]

Thank you all for the advice. I've only been to WDW for NYE once - Epcot 1999/2000 so I wasn't sure.

I had been thinking about canceling the BBB. My girls have been there before and a week after we return home my youngest is having her birthday party at Club Libby Lu - similar enough to BBB.

I can't decide what to do! Now I'm worrying about traffic coming into BCV to check in that morning (We're staying off US-27 the night before.) and traffic getting over to DTD and back.

We could just skip BBB, check into BCV that morning, get our DDP, walk over to Epcot around lunch, eat CS, go to Wonders of Life and El Rio del Tiempo since they are both closing that week, plan on the early Illuminations, go to our GG ADR and then walk back over to BVC and unpack.
I'm starting to question that entire day. I know my oldest can hold out to midnight, but I doubt my youngest can. We'd have to take a stroller that night I'm sure.

 

[mickaholic4077]

The first stage of closing due to capacity is when the parking lot fills. I had no problem getting into MK NYE 2003 inyo 2004 a bit after noon because I was a resort guest. You should have no problem getting into Epcot in the afternoon.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you all for the advice. I've only been to WDW for NYE once - Epcot 1999/2000 so I wasn't sure.

I had been thinking about canceling the BBB. My girls have been there before and a week after we return home my youngest is having her birthday party at Club Libby Lu - similar enough to BBB.

I can't decide what to do! Now I'm worrying about traffic coming into BCV to check in that morning (We're staying off US-27 the night before.) and traffic getting over to DTD and back.

We could just skip BBB, check into BCV that morning, get our DDP, walk over to Epcot around lunch, eat CS, go to Wonders of Life and El Rio del Tiempo since they are both closing that week, plan on the early Illuminations, go to our GG ADR and then walk back over to BVC and unpack.
I'm starting to question that entire day. I know my oldest can hold out to midnight, but I doubt my youngest can. We'd have to take a stroller that night I'm sure.

I wasn't that impressed with the hair by BBB last week. Our friend's daughter got her hair done at Libby Lu in Sept and it turned out real cute. At BBB, they all had the same ratted look with the scraggley extensions added on.