NYE exit strategy

[deedubb]

We are currently at Wilderness Lodge. I know conventional wisdom is MK on 30th, Epcot on NYE however...

If you are going to be at BLT I would reverse the two nights. We did that this year and it worked very well. We saw the 10:30 fireworks at Epcot on the 30th and used the Monorail to return to MK after without a problem. In fact, we went into MK at 11:30 and saw the midnight fireworks there as well while riding Big Thunder Mountain, then left about 1:00 am and there were minimal crowds exiting (there was EMH until 3:00 am).

Last night we booked a dessert party for NYE fireworks at MK and it was brilliant. We stayed after, until 1:00 am, and had little trouble getting to our WL boat. I imagine the walkway to Contemporary would be easy enough to negotiate. The later you stay the easier it will be getting out of MK. Just do not drive and do not use taxi. ride share, or buses!

My two cents!

I thought about that, but AFAIK, Epcot only does the NYE fireworks on the 31st, whereas MK does it on the 30th and 31st. I need to see both as fireworks are always the highlight of my trip.

We were at Epcot on 12/31. The bus line took 54 minutes but the Pop buses were constantly coming. One pulled up almost immediately after a full one departed. We got in line at 12:54 and pulled away on a full bus at 1:50.

One word for that. INSANE.

FYI, I wouldn’t take Kids <10 into World Showcase at night of the 31st. It was a crazy party that made F&W weekends seem like a nice, family picnic. DJ’s in different countries blasting music, looong lines for beverages, with longer lines for bathrooms .

They do open up lawns (like between Imagination and World Showcase) so you could bring a blanket and have somewhat easier family time.

My youngest will be 10 next year. I think she will survive as long as we can get back to the hotel in a timely manner. Thinking about BLT for 30th and BWV for 31st.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

Just back from our Xmas trip and thinking about a New Years trip for 2018. I really want to see the NYE fireworks but I'm worried about the possibility of a 2 hour trip back to the resort.

So, with it being fresh in everyone's mind who was just there, any tips to offer?

My plan is MK on the 30th and Epcot on the 31st. We'll probably be at Bay Lake so the MK night is easy, but I'm worried about the 31st. Is there anyone that did the 31st at Epcot who stayed at BLT or Contemporary? How were the monorails after the fireworks?

Id walk to beach club and take an uber from there to be honest.. lol seems like the easiest and fastest way

 

[deedubb]

Id walk to beach club and take an uber from there to be honest.. lol seems like the easiest and fastest way

I heard it can be difficult to get an Uber at that time.

 

[csjordan]

Just back from our Xmas trip and thinking about a New Years trip for 2018. I really want to see the NYE fireworks but I'm worried about the possibility of a 2 hour trip back to the resort.

So, with it being fresh in everyone's mind who was just there, any tips to offer?

My plan is MK on the 30th and Epcot on the 31st. We'll probably be at Bay Lake so the MK night is easy, but I'm worried about the 31st. Is there anyone that did the 31st at Epcot who stayed at BLT or Contemporary? How were the monorails after the fireworks?

We just returned yesterday. Went to Epcot on the 31st. Stayed at Grand Floridian. As soon as the fireworks were over, we headed to the monorail and was back to the resort within 30 minutes or so. Staying at Bay Lake, just take the monorail to the Contemporary. We have stayed at GF for 2 years now and the monorail is pretty quick. We have also stayed at resorts where you had to take the bus and that took FOREVER to get back to the resort.

 

[csjordan]

I heard it can be difficult to get an Uber at that time.

Taxi/Uber lines are dreadfully LONG!!!

 

[deedubb]

We just returned yesterday. Went to Epcot on the 31st. Stayed at Grand Floridian. As soon as the fireworks were over, we headed to the monorail and was back to the resort within 30 minutes or so. Staying at Bay Lake, just take the monorail to the Contemporary. We have stayed at GF for 2 years now and the monorail is pretty quick. We have also stayed at resorts where you had to take the bus and that took FOREVER to get back to the resort.

That's great to know. Thanks! Did you watch the fireworks from close to the entrance of World Showcase (ie. were you near the front of the pack of people exiting the park?)

 

[csjordan]

That's great to know. Thanks! Did you watch the fireworks from close to the entrance of World Showcase (ie. were you near the front of the pack of people exiting the park?)

We watched from Germany. It took a little while to walk from Germany to the monorail due to the crowd, but once we were at the monorail, it was probably about 30 minutes or so to the resort.

 

[deedubb]

So we had a change of plans and instead of BLT, we will be at BWV. Now I'm not worried about Epcot on NYE, but concerned about MK on the 30th. I'm wondering if after the midnight fireworks, whether it would be quicker to monorail to Epcot and then walk to Boardwalk, rather than wait for a bus back to Boardwalk. However, I'm assuming they wouldn't let us walk through Epcot after park close. Anyone know if that is possible? Not sure when Epcot usually closes on the 30th.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So we had a change of plans and instead of BLT, we will be at BWV. Now I'm not worried about Epcot on NYE, but concerned about MK on the 30th. I'm wondering if after the midnight fireworks, whether it would be quicker to monorail to Epcot and then walk to Boardwalk, rather than wait for a bus back to Boardwalk. However, I'm assuming they wouldn't let us walk through Epcot after park close. Anyone know if that is possible? Not sure when Epcot usually closes on the 30th.

Yeah, you can't do that. Epcot will be closed at that point so you can't walk through. It closed at 10:30PM 12/30 this past year.

 

[AJT607]

We had no problem bussing back to BWV on dec 30th last year after the fireworks. I was expecting a nightmare but we actually made really good time. A lot of the roadways are one way only so they can quickly get all of the traffic out of there.

 

[Monykalyn]

We stayed at CSR 12/30/17-1/2/18. Did MK the 30th (Dessert party was fabulous for this night). No issues going out after to bus back to CSR-however it was pretty chilly and I think some people with kids may have left earlier. We stayed until after midnight. The 31st we did in Epcot-crowds are NUTS, having a leisurely dinner at 6:30 made it bearable. Both DH and I said we would never take kids there on NYE (it was just us two) just because it was terribly crowded. If you do have younger kiddos have a back up plan if crowds get to be too much.
Also did the walk out IG over to DHS and bussed back to CSR pretty quick. BWI had a large party going on by it though on the Boardwalk-still going strong at 12:30ish-12:45 so beware rooms facing that way had music blasting at them.
Also-the bathrooms out of IG just past the exit were never crowded when I used them. Well worth the walk over to not wait in line at all the other restrooms! Plus these were still stocked and clean close to midnight.

 

[MainMom]

So we had a change of plans and instead of BLT, we will be at BWV. Now I'm not worried about Epcot on NYE, but concerned about MK on the 30th. I'm wondering if after the midnight fireworks, whether it would be quicker to monorail to Epcot and then walk to Boardwalk, rather than wait for a bus back to Boardwalk. However, I'm assuming they wouldn't let us walk through Epcot after park close. Anyone know if that is possible? Not sure when Epcot usually closes on the 30th.

Perhaps do what a previous poster suggested and look for any buses going to Boardwalk area hotels (YC/BC, Swan/Dolphin, Boardwalk) and take the one that is loading when you walk up.