Really, how bad is DL over New Year's?

[Disneyland1084]

I went a few days before Christmas one time and it was a madhouse, but I enjoyed experiencing being there over the holiday. I thought in a few years I'd like to go to DL over New Year's. I have a few questions. Does the park always get filled to capacity on New Year's Eve and Day? How late are the parks open? I once read DL stays open until 3 am! Wow! Anything you can tell me about going to DL then would be great. Thanks!

 

[DisneyGeekz]

I'd love to know as well. We're going for the first time Dec 29-Jan 1. We've done WDW 3 times for NYE so I'm prepared for anything, but would love to hear reports from Disneyland.

 

[JH87]

I hear it's the busiest day of the year.
I always wanted to go to DLR for my bday, but my bday just so happens to be new years eve!
one of these days.....

 

[Disney Dreams]

Description A

The Scene: Disneyland
The Location: Main Street
The Time: 10pm - whenever

Picture the busiest you could possibly imagine Main Street. Then add a few more people so that there is shoulder to shoulder people in the street and the ONLY way to go anywhere is to walk on the crowded sidewalks.

Then, add more people.

Welcome to NYE on Main Street at Disneyland.

But you have to do it at least once so you can believe that it truly is THAT crowded, and never do it again.

Description B, in beautiful color



- Dreams

P.S. If you leave the Park anytime after (guesstimate) 8pm, do not be surprised if you cannot get back in due to the Park being at capacity.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Several years ago we went on Jan 1 and 2. I have never seen it so crowded there as on those days. However, that was before APs were blocked. (We had APs so that's how we went in. And the line for people activating the APs they got for Christmas was hours long.) I see now those days are blocked for APs so don't know if that will help or not. Mornings were nice and we did the holiday stuff first thing. But before noon even things like the Blue Sky Cellar had a long line. And trying to walk anywhere was nuts. You just shuffled along with the crowd and tried to keep your group together.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We did it once and will never do it again. We went Dec 29- Jan 1st a few years ago and it was INSANE on New Years Eve. You could barely move. My husband was so tired I was practically holding him up at the end of the night and we left at 1am. But there was nowhere to sit down for a minute (not even a curb) because it was so crowded. And on New Years Eve after about 3pm you couldn't really ride any rides without a several hour wait which we were not willing to do so once that time hit we just sort of ate and wandered around.

My Aunt goes about every other year, because she thinks of it as a night of fun and dancing. She goes around to all the bands and dance stations and just enjoys food and drinks etc. She doesn't look at it as a time to do things in the parks.

This was about 5 years ago so things may have changed- hopefully for the better. But on the other days the park was still very crowded- we waited I think an hour and a half for Small World and a long time for pretty much everything.

 

[Sherry E]

Count me in as another one who did it once and won't be doing it again, unless there is a very extreme circumstance (i.e., I won't be getting back to DLR for another 10 years and NYE is my only chance to go; someone I haven't seen in 100 years is in town and wants to do DLR on NYE and they can't go at any other time - that sort of thing). I can only speak for my experience back in Dec. 2000 - not sure if the crowds these days are worse or better (the whole AP holder dynamic has shifted over the years, and also now there is DCA, which can possibly eat up some of the crowds that would have been crammed into DL).

It was scary, scary crowded - especially on Main Street, because people stood there from something like 8 p.m. on until midnight, and wouldn't move. We were eating at Carnation, and we saw the crowds begin to build on Main Street, and by the time we left the restaurant, it was bad. It was really, really hard to even squeeze through the people to get onto the sidewalk, and then once we made it to the sidewalk no one was moving! One of my friends 'suddenly developed a sore throat' and had to head back to the hotel. I think she just panicked, and I couldn't blame her!! Finally, my other friend and I - who decided to stick it out - headed towards Tomorrowland, where we stayed at midnight.

 

[WonkaKid]

I was told by a CM last Saturday that they stop letting people in at noon on NYE. I wonder if that's in response to the massive crowds of years past.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Was anybody there for NYE last year??

 

[lapdwife]

We did it once and will never do it again.

DITTO! We thought for sure we'd lose a child. We spend every Christmas day in the park but will never do another New Years.

 

[smiley_face2]

Was anybody there for NYE last year??

We were there from Dec. 28th through to the 6th of January. We went into Disneyland early in the a.m. and rode several rides with minimal crowds. We had decided we were going to Storytellers for our New Years dinner, in part because there is no where in DL to have champagne or any other drink with your dinner! So about 2 ish it was getting CRAZY in DL and we headed back to our hotel for a nap and to change. We headed to Storytellers stopping for a lovely drink in the Hearthstone lounge first. When we entered DCA from the hotel, it was not terribly crowded and we walked all the way round the whole park taking some lovely pictures and video in Paradise Pier. We rode TOT and by about 11 ish got a place in the main hub for the countdown. We were positioned so we could see the stage and mini fireworks they had there, and turn around and see the big fireworks in DL looking through the bridge. The vibe there that night was awesome! a huge party of happy people. We really liked it and if we were going to be there for New Years again, would probably choose DCA again. Here are a few pics I took that day in both DL and DCA. I tried to select pics that would show the crowd level in the background.

here you can see the line into Small world is not full, this was in the a.m.

in front of castle, again, a.m. not crowded, but you can see people already have their patch of turf staked out with a blanket!

the rabbit statue, again a.m. you can see the crowd is not heavy!

Rivers of America, you can see Tiana et al on the river boat, we were having lunch at Riverbelle Terrace at a table beside the railing when Tiana's parade thingy happened to come by so it was nice to be able to see it so well. As you can see the crowd is getting heavy, although lot's were just there to see the riverboat show....

hubby and I with New Years hats on!

 

[Husker Mickey]

I hear it's the busiest day of the year.
I always wanted to go to DLR for my bday, but my bday just so happens to be new years eve!
one of these days.....

Me too! We will be there on Dec. 26-29. Maybe one of these years we will actually be in the parks for NYE/b-day.

 

[LisaCat]

We went on NYE in 1995. Now, granted, there was only the one park then, but it was SO. CROWDED. We couldn't MOVE. We couldn't ride ANYTHING except the train and the monorail. We would ride the monorail to the hotel (remember back at the dawn of time when the monorail went to the hotel? LOL!), get a drink in the bar, ride back to the park, get on the train, ride the train around the park and repeat. Oh, and about 11PM the Santa Ana winds kicked up BIG TIME and they said they might cancel the fireworks. Not that it mattered because the winds were so bad I kept getting dust in my eyes (I wear contacts) and so I ended up spending most of the last hour in and out of the restroom, rinsing my lenses.... LOL! New Year's DAY, on the other hand? We had the freakin park to OURSELVES in the morning. Indiana Jones was the brand new ride. The wait had been 3 hours the night before. We rode it 3 times without having to get off......

 

[DisneyHeather]

Was anybody there for NYE last year??

I've been there the last 3 years for New Year's and I love it. Yes it is more crowded but if you go in expecting that it's not too bad. I didn't think last year was nearly as crowded as the year before. I just think there is something magical about being in front of the castle for the countdown. And it's not too crowded in the morning if your wanting to do rides.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I don't know about DL, but we did one of the parks at WDW waaaay back ("MGM Studios", I think), and I swore I would never do another theme park on NYE ever again. I think it actually played a part in turning my dh off all things Disney!

DITTO! We thought for sure we'd lose a child. We spend every Christmas day in the park but will never do another New Years.

What is the Christmas crowd like throughout the day? We have an option to do that this year but I'd hate to send dh right over the edge.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Hmmm....I think I'm having second thoughts about going to DL over New Year's. BUT maybe I'll take a trip there some day on NYE when I can afford to spend money on a trip where I'll accomplish nothing. Thanks for your replies.

 

[Aladdin + Abu]

DL used to be open until 3am for New Years Eve earlier this millenium, but they have changed it so that DL closes a little earlier, 2am. DL is usually as packed as it can be. As far as what time they limit the entrance really depends on what the weather is like, as 12-31 has had a few rainy days over the last decade.

DCA Closes at 1am New Years Eve. DCA was really empty during it's first few years, but traffic has built up considerable and was very busy, last year.

On New Years Day the parks don't have early entrance, and the crowds are usually really light in the morning, as the day goes on the DL can become very busy, but not as bad as 12-31.

 

[DisneyGeekz]

Thank you all for the replies. I'm interestingly enough, more excited now then before. I guess knowing what it'll be like is better then just assuming.

Is there alcohol served at Disneyland?

 

[Disneyland 1951]

January 1 is a Magic Morning

In the past if you got up very early and went directly to Disneyland it has been nearly empty until around noon. Early afternoon and into the evening it then becomes crowded.

Reasons:
1) Most people have been up past 12:00 and will not get up early.
2) Locals watch the Rose Parade followed by the Rose bowl game.
3) Most assume it will be very crowded and stay away in the morning.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Is there alcohol served at Disneyland?

Only at Club 33. But you have to be a member or know a member to dine there.