Ringing in 2025, WDW Style! (New Year's Eve 2024-2025 PTR)

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

Back in June, I booked this year's New Year's Eve Adventure! But this time, I'll be back at Wilderness Lodge with a water view room! Even moreso, I'll be at Hollywood Studios on New Year's Day, plus Magic Kingdom and Epcot on New Year's Eve! Since ringing in 2020, New Year's Eve at WDW has turned into an annual tradition to me, even with heavy crowds. And yeah, I find it fun though. And some of my Facebook groups have told me that I am crazy to think that I could end up Park Hopping on New Year's Eve (and yes, I've park hopped on New Year's Eve, except for 2020 ringing in 2021). Well, let's just say that I find it easy to park hop on New Year's Eve. You just gotta have a strategy and ensure nothing falters.

The itinerary is as follows:
December 30, 2024 - Monday
I'll depart home for Lake Mary Station (via Sanford Seminole Center; using NeighborLink 851 and Link 45) at around 10:15am or so and grab lunch probably at Subway or KFC. Taking the 12:43pm Southbound from Lake Mary to LCS, in turn the 1:45 PM Lynx Link 300 to TTC and in turn the ferry or monorail to the Magic Kingdom and then the boat to Wilderness Lodge. I'll check-in, settle-in, and unpack, all before catching the bus to Disney Springs to shop and grab dinner somewhere. At this point I'm thinking about one of three ADRs:

• Chef Art Smith's Homecoming Kitchen
• Edison
• Summer House

I'll later head back to the hotel and get ready for the long day ahead.

December 31, 2024 - Tuesday
I'll be up early enough, probably around 5-5:30 or so, to grab the first boat of the day from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom. I'll take full advantage of Early Entry to knock down 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, and perhaps Pooh if time allows. I'll then knock down Space Mountain, or try to rope drop Big Thunder Mountain. Almost immediately after, my assumption will be that I'll need to quickly move to get the Monorail or Ferry to the TTC, and then transfer over to the Epcot Monorail. I'll have three LLMPs booked at Epcot at this point, likely Soarin', Mission Space, and one more attraction, and will keep looking for them during the course of the day, as well as for Magic Kingdom for after 7pm. I will most likely have an early lunch somewhere with an ADR (either Via Napoli or Nine Dragons). Dinner will be at Shiki Sai (with an ADR likely for around 30 mins prior to Luminous). Immediately after Luminous, I'll get back to Magic Kingdom via the TTC and knock down any LLs I have (fingers crossed for a Tiana LL, if not BTMRR or JC), I'll need to be near Cinderella's Castle at a reasonable hour (before MSUSA reaches capacity) so I can ring in 2025 by watching Fantasy in The Sky. I might book a LLSP for TRON (with a 12:00am return time). Then I'll get the boat back to Wilderness Lodge.

January 1, 2025 - Wednesday
I'll sleep in that day and pack for my trip home, before having breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe, dropping my suitcase off at bell services, and catching the bus to Disney's Hollywood Studios. My goal for today is to do, at very least...

• Smuggler's Run
• Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
• Tower of Terror
• Rise of The Resistance
• Toy Story Mania

Lunch may be either at ABC Commissary or I could try an ADR at Sci-Fi. I need to leave by 2:15pm to grab my bag, head back to the TTC to catch Lynx Link 56 and then the 6:06pm NB Amtrak Floridian from Kissimmee to Winter Park! As you know, Amtrak is about to change the Silver Star to become the Floridian and make it a Miami to Chicago train (via Washington DC).

Logistics

• Dates: December 30, 2024 through January 1, 2025
• Resort: Wilderness Lodge - Water View
• Ticket used: Florida Resident IncrediPass

 

[Disturbia]

MK does close down due to capacity on NYE. You want to be in the park by mid morning and stay until night (first year with no park pass reservations needed and park hopping allowed). 12/31 2022 we had park pass reservation system so we were allowed in. I believe the parks reach capacity mid morning? Even Main Street was closed down around 10 pm. You can’t watch fireworks from the Poly beach unless you are staying there and get the wristbands. Some LLs had 40 min waits (regular lines 150+).

We are going NYEE and plan on arriving around 9:30 am and watching the 6:30 pm Fantasy in the sky fireworks, eating dinner and splitting (teen and I stay until midnight) or we all go back to the Poly and watch the fireworks from the beach (room is over an hour to get back 2022 via monorail).

2019 might be a rough guide (capacity reached around 1 pm). I think I read somewhere that 10 am park was closed during 4th July

https://wdwnt.com/2019/12/magic-kin...capacity-closure-due-to-new-years-eve-crowds/

 

[Disturbia]

Spring break park hopping was paused

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2024...gic-kingdom-reaches-capacity-in-disney-world/

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

12/31 2022 we had park pass reservation system so we were allowed in. I believe the parks reach capacity mid morning? Even Main Street was closed down around 10 pm. You can’t watch fireworks from the Poly beach unless you are staying there and get the wristbands. Some LLs had 40 min waits (regular lines 150+).

From my personal experience, in 2021-2022, and 2023-2024, MK never hit capacity. Back in 2019, when we had FP+ and a 1-hour long AM EMH at MK, I started the day by knocking down Seven Dwarfs Mine Train during AM EMH, all before doing splash Mountain at rope drop and then almost immediately hopping over to Epcot. And I was able to get back in around 7 PM. Managed to secure a FP+ later in the evening for BTMRR and I think Splash. Main Street had a capacity around 10 PM or so that night, but I swear it could've been earlier. Ended up watching Fantasy in the Sky from Fantasyland from behind the castle.

 

[Disturbia]

We didn’t hit capacity due to the park pass reservation system. Once they allowed unlimited park hopping, the parks once again reach capacity. Now that no park reservations are needed for most guests, I wouldn’t risk it, esp if your entire trip is centered around ringing in the New Year at MK.

If we don’t, that’s great; but plan for the worst hope for the best.

 

[Disturbia]

2019 NYE MK did reach capacity and guests were turned away at 1 pm

 

[Disturbia]

At Epcot walkways were packed last year

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

2019 NYE MK did reach capacity and guests were turned away at 1 pm

View attachment 904834

That is exactly what I remember, though I remember hearing a voice message on the line saying it was at capacity at around 11:00am.

 

[Disturbia]

Maybe reevaluate two weeks before your trip. LLMP thrill data at least 8 days before your trip will probably be a good resource to see what’s available and if it’s better to do Epcot in the morning and hop to MK before noon.

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

Spring break park hopping was paused

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2024...gic-kingdom-reaches-capacity-in-disney-world/

I saw that, and they also paused hopping on 10/1/2021.

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

MK does close down due to capacity on NYE. You want to be in the park by mid morning and stay until night (first year with no park pass reservations needed and park hopping allowed). 12/31 2022 we had park pass reservation system so we were allowed in. I believe the parks reach capacity mid morning? Even Main Street was closed down around 10 pm. You can’t watch fireworks from the Poly beach unless you are staying there and get the wristbands. Some LLs had 40 min waits (regular lines 150+).

And FYI, reservations are still required for APs and I already have one for Magic Kingdom on NYE.

 

[Disturbia]

And FYI, reservations are still required for APs and I already have one for Magic Kingdom on NYE.

Park entry is still not guaranteed. Capacity closures are different vs park hopping suspensions. I would be back in the park around noon to avoid disappointment.

https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-planning/disney-world-park-closing-stages/

 

[Disturbia]

Not sure if you saw this (annual passholders are sold out of 12/25; resorts are sold out NYE (AP still has availability).

I’m still trying to figure out if parks will hit capacity on 12/30 (we will stay till noon and break; we do have Dessert party and CRT booked).

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/myma...ked-for-resort-guests-and-regular-tickets.htm

https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...asked-for-advice.3955934/page-2#post-65793571

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

Not sure if you saw this (annual passholders are sold out of 12/25; resorts are sold out NYE (AP still has availability).

I’m still trying to figure out if parks will hit capacity on 12/30 (we will stay till noon and break; we do have Dessert party and CRT booked).

https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/myma...ked-for-resort-guests-and-regular-tickets.htm

https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...asked-for-advice.3955934/page-2#post-65793571

I saw that already and thank God I have Magic Kingdom booked for 12/31.

 

[Disturbia]

I saw that already and thank God I have Magic Kingdom booked for 12/31.

I would try to stay at MK and not leave. It will hit capacity and then not even people with park passes will be allowed back in. It’s not too bad if you don’t rope drop (we did that in 2022).

And if a CM tells you something note down their name, what they said and where they are from and what time.

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

I'll be doing ADRs on Thursday on my way to WDW!

 

[Disturbia]

View attachment 907688
I'll be doing ADRs on Thursday on my way to WDW!

I completely forgot about cruise post adventures. I’ll be booking them while at WDW fortunately it’s our resort day and we won’t be booking anything that’s high demand (cabanas are never available anyway).

Also we’re silver CC members, otherwise it would have been NYE (check out day!).

Overall ADRs were much easier except for a table of 5 for STK71 on day 2 of our trip (ended up booking for 4; will ask to add a guest at the podium at opening). Sleigh ride availability is slim although some dessert parties were still available.

 

[Disturbia]

We booked Boathouse on open table. There were slim evening pickings on MDE.

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

Got my ADRs!

• Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming on 12/30
• Shiki Sai Lunch and Chefs Du France Dinner on 12/31 (going to keep looking for a Shiki Sai dinner reservation and may switch to Via Napoli Lunch)

 

[IanDLBZF from MCMagic]

Also while not mentioned yet, I have a breakfast reservation at Whispering Canyon on New Year's Day!