NYE Fast Passes

[FSU Girl]

I have a trip planned for NYE in a year, but I know that the fast pass window has opened for people going this year. I was curious what strategy people are using for these crowded days. I'll be in the parks 29, 30, 31, 1, and 2.

Since these days are really crowded is it possible to pick up 4th and 5th fast passes? Normally I make mine 10,11,and 12 so take advantage of the slow morning and then get rid of my fast passes quickly to pick up more. Is this a bad idea?

It looks like I'll be in Magic Kingdom on the 30th to see their fireworks and Epcot on the 31st for the NYE fireworks. I don't really want to be in a park from early morning until midnight. For Magic Kingdom is it realistic to go into the park around 3pm, or could the park be closed to entry by then? We will probably have an annual pass, dining reservations and staying on site.

I'd like to hear people's plans for this NYE to get an idea of what I should do.

 

[Eastern]

I wouldn't count on getting additional FP on the 30, 31. Wait times are astronomical on those days because everyone is there. It's a different style of touring on those days. You just have to be prepared to enjoy the ambiance.

I don't see you having a problem with NYE at Epcot as the park is huge; you can go later in the afternoon.

MK is much smaller so it will have various stage closings throughout the day. The closings tend to fluctuate as people arrive and depart the park, but count on it getting near capacity as the afternoon goes on. I would try to be there by early afternoon. I have been there twice on Dec 30th and I remember initial park closings starting around 10-11am but they did vary throughout the day. Only take the Disney transportation as driving/parking will be miserable.

google crowd pictures from prior years. It's really hard to imagine what the crowds are like unless you have been there. I was asking people in the park about closures during the day but no one really seemed to know exactly what was going on at any one time. No idea if MK ever got to the point of not letting anyone in.

 

[Eastern]

This was posted by someone last year for NYE at around noon for ride wait times:

Here’s a few current wait times at Walt Disney World:

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain 65
• Haunted Mansion 70
• Jingle Cruise 85
• Cinderella and Elena 100
• Meet Mickey 115
• Peter Pan’s Flight 115
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 180
• Space Mountain 170
• Splash Mountain 120
• Under the Sea 75

Epcot

• Frozen Ever After 135
• Living with the Land 70
• Meet Mickey 100
• Mission: Space 120
• Soarin’ 120
• Spaceship Earth 110
• Test Track 180
• Seas with Nemo 70

Animal Kingdom is very light and Hollywood Studios is pretty light as well.

***I would expect AK to be more crowded this year with Pandora

ps Jan 1 had light crowds up until about noon (people are sleeping off NYE) but got very crowded as the day progressed.

 

[AngiTN]

I have a trip planned for NYE in a year, but I know that the fast pass window has opened for people going this year. I was curious what strategy people are using for these crowded days. I'll be in the parks 29, 30, 31, 1, and 2.

Since these days are really crowded is it possible to pick up 4th and 5th fast passes? Normally I make mine 10,11,and 12 so take advantage of the slow morning and then get rid of my fast passes quickly to pick up more. Is this a bad idea?

It looks like I'll be in Magic Kingdom on the 30th to see their fireworks and Epcot on the 31st for the NYE fireworks. I don't really want to be in a park from early morning until midnight. For Magic Kingdom is it realistic to go into the park around 3pm, or could the park be closed to entry by then? We will probably have an annual pass, dining reservations and staying on site.

I'd like to hear people's plans for this NYE to get an idea of what I should do.

MK is much smaller so it will have various stage closings throughout the day. The closings tend to fluctuate as people arrive and depart the park, but count on it getting near capacity as the afternoon goes on. I would try to be there by early afternoon. I have been there twice on Dec 30th and I remember initial park closings starting around 10-11am but they did vary throughout the day. Only take the Disney transportation as driving/parking will be miserable

No idea if MK ever got to the point of not letting anyone in

There is practically no chance you'd be prevented from entering MK on the 30th. They haven't closed to the point where you'd be denied entry in nearly a decade, and that was before the park expanded. I don't suggest anyone plan to walk up and buy 1 day tickets and get in that day but anyone else will be fine.
In recent years, the one day tickets are the only ones who haven't gotten in. And they'd get in if they had FP or ADR.

We are not counting on additional FP any of those days. We are currently arriving at MK about noon, may or may not stay till after EMH. We are at CR so we can walk back and forth (paying $$$ for this option)
Doing similar for EP on 31st, though staying at Boardwalk for that night, so we can walk back and forth (paying $$$ again, for this option)

 

[FSU Girl]

I wouldn't count on getting additional FP on the 30, 31. Wait times are astronomical on those days because everyone is there. It's a different style of touring on those days. You just have to be prepared to enjoy the ambiance.

I don't see you having a problem with NYE at Epcot as the park is huge; you can go later in the afternoon.

MK is much smaller so it will have various stage closings throughout the day. The closings tend to fluctuate as people arrive and depart the park, but count on it getting near capacity as the afternoon goes on. I would try to be there by early afternoon. I have been there twice on Dec 30th and I remember initial park closings starting around 10-11am but they did vary throughout the day. Only take the Disney transportation as driving/parking will be miserable.

google crowd pictures from prior years. It's really hard to imagine what the crowds are like unless you have been there. I was asking people in the park about closures during the day but no one really seemed to know exactly what was going on at any one time. No idea if MK ever got to the point of not letting anyone in.

I'm afraid to look at crowd pictures lol. I'd be fine, but I know my boyfriend gets stressed with really bad crowds. We have a room at the Contemporary theme park view so the plan is to watch the fireworks from our balcony. Maybe I should switch our day around and go early and then leave for a later dinner. For Epcot we will be watching the fireworks from inside the park. That one I definitely don't want to go into until later in the afternoon, or I'll fall asleep before midnight.

This was posted by someone last year for NYE at around noon for ride wait times:

Here’s a few current wait times at Walt Disney World:

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain 65
• Haunted Mansion 70
• Jingle Cruise 85
• Cinderella and Elena 100
• Meet Mickey 115
• Peter Pan’s Flight 115
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 180
• Space Mountain 170
• Splash Mountain 120
• Under the Sea 75

Epcot

• Frozen Ever After 135
• Living with the Land 70
• Meet Mickey 100
• Mission: Space 120
• Soarin’ 120
• Spaceship Earth 110
• Test Track 180
• Seas with Nemo 70

Animal Kingdom is very light and Hollywood Studios is pretty light as well.

***I would expect AK to be more crowded this year with Pandora

ps Jan 1 had light crowds up until about noon (people are sleeping off NYE) but got very crowded as the day progressed.

These wait times are helpful, I kind of figured the waits would be long. We'd probably only do our fast passes there's no way I'm waiting three hours for a ride. We'd probably do Animal Kingdom our first day and Hollywood studios and Epcot the 1st and 2nd. We'll be at an Epcot resort then so we won't have to drive anywhere.

There is practically no chance you'd be prevented from entering MK on the 30th. They haven't closed to the point where you'd be denied entry in nearly a decade, and that was before the park expanded. I don't suggest anyone plan to walk up and buy 1 day tickets and get in that day but anyone else will be fine.
In recent years, the one day tickets are the only ones who haven't gotten in. And they'd get in if they had FP or ADR.

We are not counting on additional FP any of those days. We are currently arriving at MK about noon, may or may not stay till after EMH. We are at CR so we can walk back and forth (paying $$$ for this option)
Doing similar for EP on 31st, though staying at Boardwalk for that night, so we can walk back and forth (paying $$$ again, for this option)

That's good to know I won't have to worry about being kept out of the parks. I think that would make me really sad. I agree with you that CR is worth the money so you don't have to rely on Disney transportation. On a good day it can be exhausting lol. For your fast passes do you have them 12,1,and 2? Or do you have them a little more spread out to do other rides in between?

 

[Eastern]

I'm afraid to look at crowd pictures lol. I'd be fine, but I know my boyfriend gets stressed with really bad crowds. We have a room at the Contemporary theme park view so the plan is to watch the fireworks from our balcony. Maybe I should switch our day around and go early and then leave for a later dinner. For Epcot we will be watching the fireworks from inside the park. That one I definitely don't want to go into until later in the afternoon, or I'll fall asleep before midnight.

If I could watch MK Dec 30th fireworks from my room, that is what I would do. Crowds are horrendous.

 

[FSU Girl]

If I could watch MK Dec 30th fireworks from my room, that is what I would do. Crowds are horrendous.

I would love to experience from in front of the castle because I LOVED watching HEA that way. But just normal night crowds for those fireworks stressed my boyfriend out so I can't do that again unless I book a dessert party. I think watching from our room will be good so we can go to bed two seconds later instead of fighting the crowd to leave. The fireworks in MK on the 30th are they also at midnight since it's a practice of the NYE firework the next night or are they earlier?

 

[AngiTN]

I'm afraid to look at crowd pictures lol. I'd be fine, but I know my boyfriend gets stressed with really bad crowds. We have a room at the Contemporary theme park view so the plan is to watch the fireworks from our balcony. Maybe I should switch our day around and go early and then leave for a later dinner. For Epcot we will be watching the fireworks from inside the park. That one I definitely don't want to go into until later in the afternoon, or I'll fall asleep before midnight.
That's good to know I won't have to worry about being kept out of the parks. I think that would make me really sad. I agree with you that CR is worth the money so you don't have to rely on Disney transportation. On a good day it can be exhausting lol. For your fast passes do you have them 12,1,and 2? Or do you have them a little more spread out to do other rides in between?

If I could watch MK Dec 30th fireworks from my room, that is what I would do. Crowds are horrendous.

No way are we going to watch from our room. Part of the reason I want to go this year is we've been watching from home for several years (the live stream) and I always think, I would LOVE to be there one year. Well, this year is the year it fell in to place and we are going. And we'll be watching from the park, along with millions of others. Crowds be darned. At least when we leave we can walk. And it's open till 2 AM so we won't have to rush out.

I would love to experience from in front of the castle because I LOVED watching HEA that way. But just normal night crowds for those fireworks stressed my boyfriend out so I can't do that again unless I book a dessert party. I think watching from our room will be good so we can go to bed two seconds later instead of fighting the crowd to leave. The fireworks in MK on the 30th are they also at midnight since it's a practice of the NYE firework the next night or are they earlier?

They do them at midnight on the 30th too

 

[FSU Girl]

No way are we going to watch from our room. Part of the reason I want to go this year is we've been watching from home for several years (the live stream) and I always think, I would LOVE to be there one year. Well, this year is the year it fell in to place and we are going. And we'll be watching from the park, along with millions of others. Crowds be darned. At least when we leave we can walk. And it's open till 2 AM so we won't have to rush out.

I would like to watch from inside the park, but I can't do that to my boyfriend it would make him miserable. For Epcot we will because you can't view the fireworks from any hotel and it's more spread out so it'll be more doable.

They do them at midnight on the 30th too

No sleep for me I guess lol

 

[AngiTN]

Forgot to answer about our FP. I have them early enough just in case we can find 2 random FP for afternoons *just not planning on it
If we want to go grab a brief nap about 4:00 each day we will. Mostly going to depend on how we feel and how we are finding dealing with the crowds
We move resorts each of these mornings too, but we'll sleep in till 10:00 both days, check out and send bags and head to the parks.

For MK on the 30th I have
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
12:05 PM - 1:05 PM
ADR at Skipper's at 12:30
Splash Mountain
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

For Epcot on 31st I have
Soarin'
11:40 AM - 12:40 PM
Living with the Land
12:40 PM - 1:40 PM
ETA - Plan to try TT single rider, if it's not crazy long wait
RELAUNCHED! Mission: SPACE
1:40 PM - 2:40 PM
ADR at Spice Road Table at 2:45

 

[FSU Girl]

Forgot to answer about our FP. I have them early enough just in case we can find 2 random FP for afternoons *just not planning on it
If we want to go grab a brief nap about 4:00 each day we will. Mostly going to depend on how we feel and how we are finding dealing with the crowds
We move resorts each of these mornings too, but we'll sleep in till 10:00 both days, check out and send bags and head to the parks.

For MK on the 30th I have
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
12:05 PM - 1:05 PM
ADR at Skipper's at 12:30
Splash Mountain
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

For Epcot on 31st I have
Soarin'
11:40 AM - 12:40 PM
Living with the Land
12:40 PM - 1:40 PM
RELAUNCHED! Mission: SPACE
1:40 PM - 2:40 PM
ADR at Spice Road Table at 2:45

Looks like great fast passes. Did you find getting the dining when you have split stays was difficult for such a popular time? I'm worried about that when it's time to make everything that the second half of the trip will be all booked up.

 

[AngiTN]

Looks like great fast passes. Did you find getting the dining when you have split stays was difficult for such a popular time? I'm worried about that when it's time to make everything that the second half of the trip will be all booked up.

No, not at all. I didn't even book our trip till about 2 weeks ago

 

[FSU Girl]

No, not at all. I didn't even book our trip till about 2 weeks ago

oh that's interesting. I would have thought everything would be hard to get for such a busy time. Good to know

 

[Eastern]

I would love to experience from in front of the castle because I LOVED watching HEA that way. But just normal night crowds for those fireworks stressed my boyfriend out so I can't do that again unless I book a dessert party. I think watching from our room will be good so we can go to bed two seconds later instead of fighting the crowd to leave.

A wise decision, grasshopper.

 

[AngiTN]

oh that's interesting. I would have thought everything would be hard to get for such a busy time. Good to know

Well, depends on where you want to eat. There are numerous ADR available but not for every restaurant. Or even every time.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hey @AngiTN - We have some pretty similar plans. We’re going to do MK on the 30th and ‘try’ to watch the first fireworks from the park (currently have the dessert party booked but not committed on keeping it), then the second fireworks later back at the Poly (I’m a bit jealous you’re at CR and can walk!). I also have lunch at Skipper as well.

For 12/31 I think we’re going to hit up Epcot early and then bail shortly after lunch. Crowds don’t bother me in the least and I’m used to most times of the year,, but I’m scared to stay too much later that day!

Hope you have fun!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

oh that's interesting. I would have thought everything would be hard to get for such a busy time. Good to know

FWIW, my 60 day was a few days ago and I thought FP availability was fine then, and even now when I’m tinkering with things. No FOP or very limited 7DMT, but everything else was sort of ‘normal.’ Also just booked my ADRs too and seemed to find plenty that fit our needs. Certainly not everything, but enough to make a solid plan.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Gehrig1B]

We are park hopping the 31st. We always do this and without problem. Staying at Wilderness Lodge. We were able to get a dessert party reservation at MK for NYE fireworks (Epcot on the 30th) so decided to try the Magic Kingdom crowds. We have been going to Epcot for NYE although we had a nice experience at HS for NYE a few years ago.

This years' plan is to go to HS for our FP+'s, then Ohana for early 5:00 dinner, then to MK for the evening revelry. We will eschew rides at MK unless we can get FP+4 and so on, which we doubt.

 

[AngiTN]

FWIW, my 60 day was a few days ago and I thought FP availability was fine then, and even now when I’m tinkering with things. No FOP or very limited 7DMT, but everything else was sort of ‘normal.’ Also just booked my ADRs too and seemed to find plenty that fit our needs. Certainly not everything, but enough to make a solid plan.

GOOD LUCK!

Same here. We moved our flight for Friday up just yesterday, so we can get over to HS to see the new Seasonal stuff. Our other flight landed late and we'd have been very hard pressed to make it over there. Now we have half the day at HS. I made FP for it yesterday, all we wanted were there, most still had AM times too

 

[AngiTN]

Hey @AngiTN - We have some pretty similar plans. We’re going to do MK on the 30th and ‘try’ to watch the first fireworks from the park (currently have the dessert party booked but not committed on keeping it), then the second fireworks later back at the Poly (I’m a bit jealous you’re at CR and can walk!). I also have lunch at Skipper as well.

For 12/31 I think we’re going to hit up Epcot early and then bail shortly after lunch. Crowds don’t bother me in the least and I’m used to most times of the year,, but I’m scared to stay too much later that day!

Hope you have fun!

We just were able to move our room on the 30th from a more expensive BLT to the Garden wing. Ends up costing less than Poly would (I'd been looking at the rooms there too but am stuck on being able to walk)
Saved enough on that to cover our room on the 29th