planning new year's trip for hubby

[ministrychick77]

going to try to get in for the new year. his birthday is dec. 19th, and since we had to cancel our trip for halloween, i would like to make it up to him. does anyone know if new year's requires a special ticket of any sorts or any tips i should use? i'd like this to be a late birthday present. i'd like to arrive on the 29th, and then leave on january 2nd. 4 full days in the park. is it really going to be that crowded?


if anyone has any info they could share, i would really appreciate it.

 

[iceskatejen]

The week after Christmas through New Years is incredibly crowded. Last year, they were closing the gates just about every day (meaning, the park was reaching capacity).

 

[ministrychick77]

do you know if fantasmic will be playing?

 

[luckcooky]

Event schedule isn't fixed yet for December, but based on previous year experience, Fantasmic should be playing at least once Friday and Saturday.

Prepare yourself for huge crowds on those days you're planning to visit. Since you're planning on staying for 4 days, you should be okay. But prepare yourself for long lines. You'll need lots of patience. The Disney magic can wear thin when it comes to dealing with capacity crowd.

I assume you're a DL expert. Just be sure to stick to the following rules to help make your trip a little easier on your nerves:

- Be sure to have your tickets ready, don't wait to buy them at the ticket booth! Last year I had an out of town guest who decided she wanted to visist DL at the last minute on Xmas Day. It was 1hr wait just to buy tickets. New Years will be must worse.

- Be at the front gate before opening. Ride the major attractions early before the crowds builds. Use the afternoon to relax when the lines are at their worst.

- Optimize use of Fastpass

 

[Minderbinder5]

My partner and I love to go to the park for New Years! It is extremely crowded on New Year's Eve (probably the most crowded you will ever see the park) and we always make sure to get in line outside the gates with pleanty of time to spare before opening. They can close the park due to capacity by 10AM...
And, once inside on New Year's Eve, you need to just relax. With your 3 other days, plan on sort of kissing off NYE as far as rides go because the lines will be rediculous. But, there is still plenty of other magic to enjoy in the park. I like sitting on the balcony outside the Disney Gallery and watching all the crowds go by. Then, around dinner time, head over to the hub and stake out your place right in front of the castle. The NYE nighttime shows are fantastic fun. Several fireworks displays, live singers, tons of Mickey appearances, and usually huge beach balls to bat around above the crowd! The hub turns into Times Square as it gets dark, and it gets almost impossible to move. So running to get food or bathroom breaks takes longer than normal.
Also, if you get a chance, they usually have small stages and parties set up all over the park. The stage back by It's a Small World is usually a lot of fun.
Then, the best news of all! New Year's Day, the park is dead! It is such a breath of fresh air to be able to go on every ride you want to after such a stressful day of crowds. Enjoy Jan. 1, and good luck. Feel free to private message me if you have any specific questions because I've done New Years several times.

 

[Hollyster2]

We are going to be down there at the same time this year! We have gone for New Year's twice before. YES it is crowded, and YES do get in the Parks early if you plan to see the New Year in.

As for lines on New Year's Eve, early in the day we seem to get on every ride we want to without much problem! Later in the day it gets very crowded, and eventually it gets shoulder to shoulder as you stake out your place to watch the New Year come in BUT the energy in the air is incredible! We didn't go last year, and boy did we feel like we were missing out!

Lines on New Year's day are short early in the morning, and the crowds increase during the day but are in no way as bad as the previous night.

The main thing besides the two previous crowd and early entry warnings is that it can be very very COLD in the evenings...and since we stayed past midnight we found out how cold it can really really get. Be prepared for that!

Have a Wonderful Time!!