NYE is it really that crazy?

[foofanella]

We're coming in from S. Floriday on 12/31 and staying until 1/3. How insanely busy are the parks going to be? My kids are little - 18 mos and 4, and therefore not-so-great at standing in line (not to mention my husband!). We're staying at VWL and thought that we might not even venture into the parks until new year's day.

Thanks for any advice!!!

 

[CarolMN]

IMHO, since your children are so young, your plan to stay out of the parks until New Year's Day is a good one. Bet the parks will be reasonably empty early on New Year's Day morning, LOL.

IIRC, NYE is one of the times when one or more of the parks may close due to reaching capacity. (If that happens, you'll have trouble just getting from place to place, never mind standing in the lines, LOL). If it were me, I'd definitely find something else to do that day/evening.

If you do go to a park, go very early and be prepared to leave by noon.

Best wishes -

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with Carol. When we were at WDW for NY 1999/2000, the crowds on Dec. 31 were unbelieveable! I'll bet you can see fireworks from the dock at VWL if you must. The parks were very empty on NY day when we were there. I don't believe we went into the MK though. I think we spent NY Day at Epcot and AK. From that point on, the crowds just kept getting smaller each day. This year, NY Day is on a Saturday, so Sunday might still be crowded, but I can almost guarantee Monday will be like a ghost town!

 

[Deemarch]

Carol,

Can I ask why you would get to the park early only to leave by noon? DH & I are planning NYE at MK this year.

Denise

 

[rocketriter]

Weather willing, you can also spend New Years Eve on the Boardwalk.

 

[pod2314]

DW, DS (16 yo), and I have ressies for BWV from 12/29 through 01/01. We really had not planned on going to any of the parks for NYE, planning instead of hanging out at the Boardwalk.

Is there enough going on there to satisfy or should we plan on doing one of the parks?

 

[dianeschlicht]

If I was staying at BWV for NYE, I would probably try to watch the Epcot fireworks from the bridge between Y&B and International Gateway. Trees will interfere, but you should be able to see a lot.

For what it is worth, we LOVED the activity of NYE in World Showcase! Just be prepared to move in baby steps when it is time to leave! The Epcot NYE show is WELL worth it!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Deemarch
Carol,

Can I ask why you would get to the park early only to leave by noon? DH & I are planning NYE at MK this year.

Denise

Noon is just my estimate of when the park will be too crowded for young children (and a DH who hates crowds) to tolerate the lines and congestion.

With two adults who expect crowds, I would just suggest you go early enough to get in and then enjoy the day. If you expect the crowds, don't have little ones to worry about and care mostly about the festive atmosphere, you can still have a great time, even though it will be very crowded. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[dvc guy]

We were at Epcot last year for NYE. Got to the park about noon. Fast pass for Test Track were gone for the rest of the day. Lockers were sold out( however guest service did take packages ). As the day went on it got more and more crowded.
My advise with littlel ones is to bag the parks NYE and hit them bright and early on New years day, they should be quite very early in the mornig. We have been at WDW for the past 6 years over the Christmas holiday, they will be crowded, so don't expect to see everything. AS posted the crowds will lessen after 1/1.
A great time of year to be at WDW. Slow down and enjoy all the holiday stuff

 

[PamOKW]

Think about what crowded would mean -- then double it. Cell phones may have helped but there used to be lines for pay phones for people calling "home" around the world.

NYE is a Friday this year which may play into how many Floridians head there to celebrate as well. You also have lots of people who are there to attend the area Bowl games and the bands in the parades, etc., etc., etc. A lot of these "groups" leave on 1/1 but since it's a weekend I bet the crowds will stay pretty busy all weekend. The one factor that effects the crowd is cold and rain -- and it can get real cold, especially at night.

 

[BarbR-Atlanta]

We stayed in a BWV Grand Villa last year on New Years Eve. We were right above the General Store, and had a 6 balcony view of all the festivities. I was very happy NOT to be ground level, because the Boardwalk was crazy. My husband tried taking the boys (2 11-yr-olds) to EPCOT for a last ride about 8:00pm, and lost them in the crowd. He said you couldn't move. Luckily, they were found in about 3 minutes, but he gave up, and left the parks. We had been told earlier in the day, that the parks were in "Stage 2", going to "Stage 3", meaning that the parking lots were closed to new cars, and only Disney buses were allowed.
Like other posters have said, the parks were empty the next morning.
The best thing about our Villa that night? Seeing the fireworks from 3 different parks, including Universal Studios, at the same time!