NYE - Who was at MK

[SweetPeasMom2]

Curious who was at MK on NYE. I know they closed early on but in reality, how crazy crowded was it? Was it can't move unbelievable? Not too too bad but crowded? Since they reopened later in the evening, did it really thin out (relatively speaking)?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Know someone who went. Had fun but left at 12:30 and it took them 3 hours to get back to their hotel.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

12:30pm or am?

 

[johnnyr]

Curious who was at MK on NYE. I know they closed early on but in reality, how crazy crowded was it? Was it can't move unbelievable? Not too too bad but crowded? Since they reopened later in the evening, did it really thin out (relatively speaking)?

I was there. I heard they closed MK at around 10:45 AM. We rode the train around MK and saw no one coming in the front gate at that time. Also heard they re-opened at 5:30 or 6:00 PM. It was very busy but not impossible to get around until around 8:00 PM. Fastpass+ and dining reservations are a must if anyone is considering going next year. The HUB was total gridlock. People were yelling at the CM's trying to direct traffic but it was a lost cause. No one was getting through. We were in front of the castle 3 hours before the fireworks and it was crazy! People were pushing and stepping over small children and wheelchairs trying to find a spot. When the music started, the DJ announced there were 80,000 people in the park. Getting out was another story. They didn't have buses coming steady and the lines were super long waiting for transportation. We had relatives staying off site and they said it took them 2 1/2 hours to get back to their hotel which was only 5 miles away. It took us an hour and 10 minutes just to get back to CSR only because they were not sending buses. We saw countless buses coming in empty and turning around and leaving without stopping to pick-up people. Every bus stop was the same issue.

 

[siskaren]

All I can say is, I'm glad I watched the fireworks on the live stream from Disney Parks Blog!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We arrived at MK about 7 pm on NYE and they directed us from Main Street to the backstage area that lets out in Tomorrowland near Buzz. It was crowded, but we still managed to have an AMAZING time. After the fireworks and countdown to 2016 the parks emptied out considerably and most rides were walk-ons. The only ride we waited a bit for was 7DMT and that was only about 25 minutes. We spent more time waiting to get out of the parking lot than we did waiting in line for rides.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

Thanks for these descriptions. A friend is wanting to do this for NYE this year and I will probably have a hard time convincing DH of this. I have a bit to work on him though.

 

[DSLRuser]

we went 97-98 and 99-00.

97-98 was not bad, did that at the studios. the 99-00 one was the worst disney memory ever. shoulder to shoulder at epcot from 7am to 1am. didnt ride a single attraction. spent the day just looking for some place to not get trampled on. ultimately saw illuminations from the steps of canada.

after that, we vowed never to try a new years eve again.

 

[johnnyr]

Thanks for these descriptions. A friend is wanting to do this for NYE this year and I will probably have a hard time convincing DH of this. I have a bit to work on him though.

Don't let NYE discourage you from a trip to WDW. We have gone many times during Christmas week and celebrated NYE outside the parks. Each resort has something going on to ring in the new year. This year we chose to celebrate it in MK. Two years ago it was EPCOT (Not as bad as MK). Would I do it next year again...probably not but would go to WDW again the same time in a heart beat! The parks are busy, but doable the rest of the week. If you are not a go with the flow type of person, I wouldn't even attempt going. If you plan well in advance you will be able to do 80% of what you want to see. Dining reservations and Fastpass+ are a must.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

We got there around 10am, rode our FP rides, and left by 1:30. It was busy, but not "omg I can't move" busy. We even got lunch at Pinocchio's and had a window seat over Small World.

We were there the night before, too, and THAT was insane. We spent NYE in Epcot and it was awesome. I'd go back there before MK.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

This has gone from "bucket list" to "nah...probably won't ever do that" in the past few years.

 

[CAS239]

So glad that we went to MK Dec 30th and saw the New Years Eve fireworks then instead of dealing with the crowds on the 31st. Leaving MK on a normal day is a night mare, I couldn't imagine doing it New Years Eve.

So to anyone thinking about doing NYE at Disney. I STRONGLY recommend doing MK on the 30th and Epcot on NYE.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

So glad that we went to MK Dec 30th and saw the New Years Eve fireworks then instead of dealing with the crowds on the 31st. Leaving MK on a normal day is a night mare, I couldn't imagine doing it New Years Eve.

So to anyone thinking about doing NYE at Disney. I STRONGLY recommend doing MK on the 30th and Epcot on NYE.

Thanks for this tip. Mentioned it to DH and he isn't totally against it. Money is more his drive vs the crowds at this point.

Spoke with my friend about it. We will probably do a hopper that day, go to HS or Epcot and make dinner res in MK. We'll see. Still lots of time to plan.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

So glad that we went to MK Dec 30th and saw the New Years Eve fireworks then instead of dealing with the crowds on the 31st. Leaving MK on a normal day is a night mare, I couldn't imagine doing it New Years Eve.

So to anyone thinking about doing NYE at Disney. I STRONGLY recommend doing MK on the 30th and Epcot on NYE.

That's our plan for next year. I noticed that MK had evening EMH on the 30th. Did you stay for them? How were the crowds after the fireworks? I'm hoping they have evening EMH on the 30th at MK this year too.

 

[disBEAST]

I was at NYE in 2014. MK closed at 11:00am on Dec 31st. We saw the fireworks on Dec 30th and stayed til park close. After the fireworks the park emptied out, but the fireworks were at midnight and I don't believe the park was open to 1 or 2am.

On the 31st we hit MK for morning EMH and did some attractions, but when I encountered a line for the Starbucks that snaked down Main Street, into the little side street, past backstage door there, and ended in front of the SotMK window there I figured we should get the heck out of MK, so we hopped to DHS for evening festivities and champagne. We had a blast there, but taking the bus back at 2am was crazy.

 

[JimmyV]

Funny how the brain works. When I saw the title of the thread, I wasn't thinking of New Year's Eve. Instead, my mind immediately went to:
"There must be some confusion, because NYE is at Epcot, not the MK."

http://www.**************.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/bill-nye-epcot.jpg

 

[AngiTN]

Just a word about the MK park closing. It only got to a Phase 1B or 2 (depending on which list you use) closing, It only closed to guests with single day tickets and CM tickets.
Anyone staying on site, anyone with an AP, anyone hopping, and anyone with an ADR, were allowed in. Plus a few others.

That said we went to AK on NYE and it was not bad at all.

 

[jeepnjudy]

We were staying on property and heading out to catch the Dream for a NYE cruise and all I can say is Thank God we were not at MK. The line of cars just to get in looked like a nightmare!