NYE Epcot dining strategy?

[CindyIsMyFave]

While I'm still torn, I'm leaning towards MK on 12/30 and Epcot on 12/31. We did NYE 2 years ago at MK and loved it (and lucked out b/c we didn't arrive until 6 pm, but got into the parks just fine). I'd been monitoring closure times and re-openings all day during the drive.

This year, we'll be able to be in a park all day, so I figure it's safest not to leave Epcot! I'd like to book 3 TS meals for the day to give DH and I several breaks . . . so I'm interested in anyone's eating strategies who have done NYE in Epcot all day?

For ex., Akershus is my only TS breakfast choice right? I would love to go offsite to Cape May for instance at 11 am, but I'm sure that I'd have the worst chance of getting back in at midday . . . .

Also, will the restaurants stay open later at night and allow you to book later than their normal times?

Anyway, thanks in advance!

 

[OhThePain]

You will probably end up doing more "walking around" than riding rides. NYE 08-09 most of the big name rides had waits up to 6 hours (where they stuck all those people I will never know). I think we might have done 2 or 3 rides before we decided to just hang out.

Akershus is the only breakfast available in EC. However, I would eat breakfast at your resort before heading out and then maybe do Akershus for lunch. You don't want to lose time while the lines are smaller in the morning and by the time you walk from Akershus, to say Soarin', the FP time could be hours away and the line could be over an hour, even if you get into EC prior to it opening. Also, I wouldn't book a dinner any later than about 8 or 8:30. The WS can and will get jamb packed and a later ADR might make it difficult to find a spot for the NYE IllumiNations.

I forgot to mention, incase you didn't know MK runs their NYE Wishes on the 30th as well. It's a nice way to bring in the New Year twice. Also, EC runs their NYE IllumiNations twice on NYE, once at about 7:15 and once at midnight.

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

You will probably end up doing more "walking around" than riding rides. NYE 08-09 most of the big name rides had waits up to 6 hours.

Akershus is the only breakfast available in EC. However, I would eat breakfast at your resort before heading out You don't want to lose time while the lines are smaller in the morning Also, I wouldn't book a dinner any later than about 8 or 8:30. The WS can and will get jamb packed and a later ADR might make it difficult to find a spot for the NYE IllumiNations.

I forgot to mention, incase you didn't know MK runs their NYE Wishes on the 30th as well. It's a nice way to bring in the New Year twice. Also, EC runs their NYE IllumiNations twice on NYE, once at about 7:15 and once at midnight.

No, you're right. We plan to get there whenever Epcot opens and do as many rides as possible first, grab a FP or 2 for later, etc. I was thinking of Akershus for an 11 am thing as bf winds down and the park starts to get crowded. That and trying to keep DH happy with food! But - we are probably better off eating at our resort. He'll have to deal.

I'm hoping I won't be too picky about where we wind up standing . . . I was just hoping to eat late and then drift along with the crowd in the one and only walkway until we saw a spot for 2 people.

And yes - thanks for the MK tip! That is exactly our plan for 12/30, though I loved MK so much 2 years ago for NYE, I'm sort of struggling with the choice to try Epcot this year on 12/31. And we'll probably skip viewing #1 of Illuminations - we actually don't like it. So we hope the midnight post-Illuminations show is really worth it!

 

[OhThePain]

No, you're right. We plan to get there whenever Epcot opens and do as many rides as possible first, grab a FP or 2 for later, etc. I was thinking of Akershus for an 11 am thing as bf winds down and the park starts to get crowded. That and trying to keep DH happy with food! But - we are probably better off eating at our resort. He'll have to deal.

I'm hoping I won't be too picky about where we wind up standing . . . I was just hoping to eat late and then drift along with the crowd in the one and only walkway until we saw a spot for 2 people.

And yes - thanks for the MK tip! That is exactly our plan for 12/30, though I loved MK so much 2 years ago for NYE, I'm sort of struggling with the choice to try Epcot this year on 12/31. And we'll probably skip viewing #1 of Illuminations - we actually don't like it. So we hope the midnight post-Illuminations show is really worth it!

If your DH is a drinker, I think your comprimise for breakfast would be dinner at Biergarten. That's where my girlfriend and I ate on NYE. The festive atmosphere of the restaurant in general added to the feel of the night as a whole.

A bunch of the countries have DJ's and dance floors and stuff going on, WS basically turns into one big party. I don't remember exatly which countries had what going on (2 liters plus a pint of beer at Biergarten plus a few other beer stops that night will do that to you I guess ).

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

I would have to sell him on Biergarten potentially . . . he does like his beer. But I don't think he liked the food too much. Thanks!

Anyone else had any favorites on NYE?

 

[disneypolybride2008]

we got married on NYE at the Poly, in 2008. We did Epcot all day after the wedding. It was amazing how the TTC was a ghost town.. seriously nobody else there!! We walked from Poly to the TTC. It was a cool view though from the monorail seeing the sea of cars on the roads. We also went to Epcot on NYE 2009 for our anniversary . We did MK both times on the 30th, great show! Epcot's NYE 12am fireworks show is a lot different than their earlier one, at 7:30.. WAY better. As for food, yes i agree the 3TS will be necessary. A break from the crowd and also QS would be a nightmare. We didnt do breakfast b/c we got there around noon.. dont remember what we did last year though. The Beirgarten was fun and the food was good, that we did for lunch... then last year we did Teppan Edo for lunch which was my DH's favorite. We did France both times for dinner around 9:30pm. There was only a few seats in the waiting area for the mob of people. France is nice b/c you can see the street.. if seated in the front of the building.. so you feel part of the party still. As for firework viewing we planned to just wing it but it turned out that it was hard to see anything on the water level. There were trees everywhere and people everywhere. I was getting discouraged as we kept moving from Italy towards England, looking for any decent spot but not finding any. Then we were waved into some VIP place by a security guy w/ a clipboard and that gave us a perfect spot right on the water with just a few other people around. WOW that was so awesome. It must have been our mickey wedding ears and anniversary pins that got us that pixie dust. The show was amazing.

I would suggest looking up adr availability online and seeing how late they are booking. I wouldnt book past 10 though b/c you may wait awhile and then it takes longer to eat with the restaurants being packed. Last year i remember finishing up with dinner as the fireworks were just starting.

Have a great time. Wish i was there this year but we will have our new baby to celebrate at home with.