NYE Crowds Smaller Than Expected?

[Christin82]

Based on the current wait times posted in the DL app, it looks like DL is much less packed the morning of NYE than everyone predicted it would be. Many predicted the park would be at capacity by 10 am, but I don’t see this happening. Shortly after MM opening at 7 am, the wait for Peter Pan was only 10 minutes, which is the shortest I’ve seen it in a long time. Anyone else notice this?

I wonder if all the horror stories of historically huge crowds on this day have deterred people from visiting, not to mention that the discounted ticket promotion starting in January may have caused people to postpone their trips until the start of the promotion.

Is there anyone on-site who can comment on the crowd level?

 

[dina444444]

Based on the current wait times posted in the DL app, it looks like DL is much less packed the morning of NYE than everyone predicted it would be. Many predicted the park would be at capacity by 10 am, but I don’t see this happening. Shortly after MM opening at 7 am, the wait for Peter Pan was only 10 minutes, which is the shortest I’ve seen it in a long time. Anyone else notice this?

I wonder if all the horror stories of historically huge crowds on this day have deterred people from visiting, not to mention that the discounted ticket promotion starting in January may have caused people to postpone their trips until the start of the promotion.

Is there anyone on-site who can comment on the crowd level?

I’ll be down later today for New Years for my 4th NYE in the last 5. The park never reached capacity on any of the NYE’s I’ve gone so far. It usually the 26-29 where the capacity issues typically hit.

 

[Christin82]

I’ll be down later today for New Years for my 4th NYE in the last 5. The park never reached capacity on any of the NYE’s I’ve gone so far. It usually the 26-29 where the capacity issues typically hit.

Have a great time! And yes, I noticed this past weekend was insane crowd-wise. I know years ago NYE used to be crazy busy, but maybe now that people are aware of it, fewer are choosing to go on the actual holiday itself in favor of the days prior and after.

 

[dina444444]

Have a great time! And yes, I noticed this past weekend was insane crowd-wise. I know years ago NYE used to be crazy busy, but maybe now that people are aware of it, fewer are choosing to go on the actual holiday itself in favor of the days prior and after.

The fireworks are also not as long tonight as the usual holiday fireworks so I don’t know if that makes any difference as well.

 

[ArchOwl]

In the past when I was at the parks for NYE, the mornings were fine at DL. I don’t remember DL hitting capacity at 10am when I was there. The lines were actually better in the morning because a lot of people started camping out in the hub and so fewer people seemed to be riding the rides. It started getting busier around 11am or so. That’s usually when I would hop to DCA.

I see right now (at about 10:30am) Pirates is an hour, Space is 105 minutes, Star Tours is 75 minutes. These are right in line with what I would expect for NYE. By mid-afternoon it will be quite busy I think. Will it hit capacity? Maybe for a few hours here and there.
I generally remember closures of a few hours around late afternoon/early evening.

 

[Christin82]

Thanks. I’ve never been on NYE myself, so this is good info. On various forums and fb groups, it’s common for people to warn everyone to get to the park super early on NYE because it reaches capacity early, but based on what people who’ve actually been on that day have said, the threat of the park reaching capacity may be less of an issue than people make it out to be.

 

[dina444444]

Thanks. I’ve never been on NYE myself, so this is good info. On various forums and fb groups, it’s common for people to warn everyone to get to the park super early on NYE because it reaches capacity early, but based on what people who’ve actually been on that day have said, the threat of the park reaching capacity may be less of an issue than people make it out to be.

I think it was more of an issue in the past when dca didn’t celebrate NYE as well.

 

[Christin82]

I think it was more of an issue in the past when dca didn’t celebrate NYE as well.

Good point! Thanks! I’m not a major expert on DL like some people on here, so I’m learning a lot from these forums. I’m a CA resident who visits the parks about once a year since childhood, but I’m not a true local and have never had an AP. There is still a TON I don’t know.

 

[ArchOwl]

Definitely think it helped too when all APs except the most expensive were blocked from visiting on NYE. I haven’t been back since then. Not worth it for me to pay more just for those two weeks.

 

[dina444444]

Just parked in the structure. No wait to get through the toll booth or to park. And minimal wait at security and trams.

Edit: now in the esplanade and no lines to get into either park.

 

[Christin82]

Just parked in the structure. No wait to get through the toll booth or to park. And minimal wait at security and trams.

Edit: now in the esplanade and no lines to get into either park.

Awesome!! Have a lovely night!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I was really surprised when I saw the wait times as well! Doesn’t look all that bad tbh. (Magic Kingdom in FL however looks like a nightmare and is closed due to capacity. West Coast Best Coast for NYE?...)

 

[dina444444]

I was really surprised when I saw the wait times as well! Doesn’t look all that bad tbh. (Magic Kingdom in FL however looks like a nightmare and is closed due to capacity. West Coast Best Coast for NYE?...)

Magic kingdom only got to a phase b closure and is now reopened.