Parking @ MK TC for NYE Fireworks

[Disxuni]

I do not get off of work until 5:30PM and was planning on taking off the minute I get off work to go to Disney for the fireworks for NYE. I am expecting it to be beyond busy and do not expect to actually get into MK, but would it be possible to get to park in the MK parking lot (meaning there is enough room) to at least see them from the ticket center, or walk to Poly? It typically takes about an hour and half-40 minutes to get to Disney without traffic for me. So, being the beyond traffic, could we still be likely to manage doing this by firework time at midnight?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Maybe, maybe not. It would depend what degree of closure MK is at. The first level is closing the parking lot. Maybe drive to Epcot and take the monorail?

 

[Disxuni]

Maybe, maybe not. It would depend what degree of closure MK is at. The first level is closing the parking lot. Maybe drive to Epcot and take the monorail?

I didn't think about them closing the parking lot if they're closing MK down. I think Epcot has their own fireworks show as well too though. Are you implying more people would be likely going to MK rather than Epcot?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Epcot has lots of guest space and rarely closes. This chart might help https://wdwprepschool.com/disney-world-closure-phases-when-they-occur-and-what-they-mean/

 

[trubgerg]

I think it’s important to note that when a park reaches a phase of closure that it’s still very possible that it will back out of that phase and be fully open later. Four years ago I went to MK for New Year’s Eve... it had been in a Phase 1 closure around mid afternoon and then was fully open by the time I headed in after I ate dinner.

 

[RememberWhoYouAre]

We did epcot last NYE, didn't arrive until 6:30pm and had no problem at all parking and getting in. It was packed once inside, but no big lines at security or park entrance tapstiles.
MK will be more crowded than MK on NYE.
We actually liked epcot's NYE tag ending better than MK's NYE fireworks (we see MK's on the 30th).

If I remember correctly, MK typically has a phased closing in morning or early afternoon on NYE but then re-opens to all guests late afternoon.

 

[Disxuni]

Might have a chance then as I'll definitely be getting there late rather than early. I was even thinking about parking at Disney Springs. It's less space for parking than both and while I know it'd be a cool spot for people to hang I was hoping it'd be less traffic (due to there being no fireworks) enough to park somewhere there (although it might take awhile to find a spot) and take a bus to that if not MK, but a resort. As my main goal is simply to just watch from a distance.

 

[keishashadow]

No personal experience, but my extended family recommends Sea World for NYE as far less crowded/easier to navigate.

From this site’s sponsor

https://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/new-years-eve.htm
Roadways at the Walt Disney World Resort are extremely busy on New Year's Eve. It is important to plan extra travel time and to pay close attention to road signs, as road closures and redirects will be in place across the entire property on December 31. Roadway impacts will begin at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, December 31, and last until about 2:30 a.m. See below for details:

All Magic Kingdom guests will be routed to exit property via southbound World Drive. The southbound World Drive exit onto Epcot Center Drive will be restricted to authorized vehicles ONLY.

Traffic exiting Epcot will be split between World Drive and Epcot Center Drive. Guests will exit the Wonder lot via Woodpecker Lane onto Overpass Road to access Epcot Center Drive outbound. The exit from Epcot Center Drive onto Backstage Lane will be authorized vehicles ONLY.

All guests exiting Disney's Hollywood Studios will exit onto Osceola Parkway using the new exit ramps, servicing Osceola Parkway in both directions.

Guest traffic from Disney Springs will be directed to exit in both directions onto Buena Vista Drive. Eastbound Buena Vista Drive traffic will operate as normal. Westbound Buena Vista Drive traffic will be directed toward the Epcot Center Drive access ram

 

[RememberWhoYouAre]

Might have a chance then as I'll definitely be getting there late rather than early. I was even thinking about parking at Disney Springs. It's less space for parking than both and while I know it'd be a cool spot for people to hang I was hoping it'd be less traffic (due to there being no fireworks) enough to park somewhere there (although it might take awhile to find a spot) and take a bus to that if not MK, but a resort. As my main goal is simply to just watch from a distance.

I don't think I'd bother with parking at DS and then traveling elsewhere. It sounds like a bigger hassle and a lot more time consuming (with crowds and traffic) than just driving to epcot or Ticket&Transportation Center. I do think it's very likely that you'll get into MK (remember, many people will leave after the 6:30 fireworks), but if you'd rather watch from a distance, we watched Happily Ever After fireworks once from the ferryboat dock at TTC once and it was a great view.
Have lots of patience. Epcot was open tp 1am, so we took our time walking around WS after the fireworks (I wanted to see the different parties) and taking more pics. Didn't get to our car until 1:30am and still had to sit in our car for an hour. The parking lot was at standstill with so many people leaving at the same time.

 

[Disxuni]

I'll be going back and forth between going to MK vs DS probably in my head for the next few days. I just didn't want to wait all that time only to be rejected at the gate (since I feel as if it'll take forever just to get to point A) so I thought DS would be an easier alternative. However, I forgot about there being an earlier NYE fireworks showing. Regardless of whether I go to Epcot, or DS there is the concept of hoping on a monorail, or bus to get to TTC. However, I'll keep thinking about just going straight to MK and hope for the best.

Also, @keishashadow I would take that route of SW, but I've never done NYE at Disney before and I am going with a friend of mine who is a AP too who also never did the NYE at Disney, but always wanted to. So, I do not think she'd want to change course now.

From reading the different sets of closures above on the website referenced from @kaytieeldr and what not, I'm thinking it might be possible to get into MK as it says that if you're an AP that increases your chances of getting in during certain closure phases. Also, if it does usually re-open later in the afternoon then that increases my hope a little too.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm thinking it might be possible to get into MK as it says that if you're an AP that increases your chances of getting in during certain closure phases. Also, if it does usually re-open later in the afternoon then that increases my hope a little too.

Good luck! APH parking complimentary too.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Regardless of whether I go to Epcot, or DS there is the concept of hoping on a monorail, or bus to get to TTC. However, I'll keep thinking about just going straight to MK and hope for the best.

No bus to TTC. Monorail from Epcot to TTC, or bus from DHS to MK. The chart I linked provides no indication that Epcot will be at any stage of closure.

 

[RememberWhoYouAre]

If you and your friend are passholders, you really shouldn't have a problem getting into MK NYE. Even more so since you're not arriving until evening.
Good luck and have fun. You will be in awe of the crowd sizes and length of ride lines at MK. Take pics! lol. There is a different type of energy at MK and epcot on NYE. Everyone is so happy and cheery. It's an amazing time to be in the parks. They do give out party hats and noise makers on NYE, but those will likely be gone by the time you get there. You may want to bring your own if you're into that sort of that.

 

[Disxuni]

No bus to TTC. Monorail from Epcot to TTC, or bus from DHS to MK. The chart I linked provides no indication that Epcot will be at any stage of closure.

Sorry, I meant a bus (starting at DS) to a resort.

 

[Disxuni]

If you and your friend are passholders, you really shouldn't have a problem getting into MK NYE. Even more so since you're not arriving until evening.
Good luck and have fun. You will be in awe of the crowd sizes and length of ride lines at MK. Take pics! lol. There is a different type of energy at MK and epcot on NYE. Everyone is so happy and cheery. It's an amazing time to be in the parks. They do give out party hats and noise makers on NYE, but those will likely be gone by the time you get there. You may want to bring your own if you're into that sort of that.

I'll probably just head to MK directly from what you and everyone is saying. I'd rather try the source if it seems possible to get in. That way there is less mess trying to get to another location, especially since getting to anywhere, or back will be crazy once you get to one location. Essentially all I was aiming to do is watch from TTC, or Poly, so if it's possible to go straight to MK if that's possible that would be nice to do.