Stressed out about New Years Eve

[Whipperwhirl]

Im stressed out about NYE - I had no idea the week we are going is so crazy - does anyone have specific advice for a family of four - What dining reservations would you make using the DDP - Deluxe. I read you shouldnt plan on leaving the park you are at - what park should we go to? Perhaps we just stay at the hotel all day and skip it - I dont know. I thought perhaps doing Fantasmic that day but now Im concerned if we dont go to the magic kingdom we will miss out on the special fireworks. I get to start making our dining reservations 06/29 so Im trying to figure this out. Your response is deeply appreciated.

 

[jjk1107]

You can actually see the Magic Kingdom NYE's fireworks on December 30 as well. It is not nearly as crowded and it is the exact same show done at midnight with a countdown. I highly recommend trying that at. In regards to the dining, you could think about doing a Fantasmic dinner package if you really want to see that on December 31.

 

[Whipperwhirl]

Thats an excellent tip - thanks!

 

[Luv2Roam]

NYE is something that needs to be planned as well as possible and make your ADR as soon as you can -- esp with kids.
Where to make an ADR all depends on what your plans and needs are.
You may want a nice meal at a resort and forego the parks. You can figure once the midnight fireworks are over it will be 1+ hours just to get out of the park and to your transportation. Depends on if your kids (and you) can handle a long, tiring day into the early morning.

 

[gigi1313]

i was just advising a friend on what to do NYE and after playing many scenarios, she decided that they would go for an early dinner and watch the early illuminations at epcot followed by a rest in their room and then grab a cooler and hit the beach at the poly (where they're staying) to watch the midnight fireworks... that way they have no commute back to their resort at the end of the night!

where are you staying? that would definitely enter into the decision on what to do... also, what ages are the children? how is their late night staying power?

 

[Whipperwhirl]

Thanks for your reply - We are staying at CBR 12/26 - 01/03 - My kids will be DS=4 and DD=8/9 (she turns 9 during trip). I would say two of us have staying power - so we will probably split up - DH/DS - going back to hotel while DD and I stay up.

Ive been contemplating upgrading to WDL because the transportation scares me but I talked myself out of it thinking we can just take Cabs for ADRs that are at AKL, WDL. Now Im scared again.

I like that we can see the same MK fireworks on 12/30 - I think we will definately do that then Hollywood studios late am on 12/31. When do the parks typically not allow more people - if we got there at 10 am would we be too late? Thanks again

 

[gigi1313]

at 10am you should be fine...

i like the idea of doing HDDR on NYE... and then maybe watch the fireworks from the beach at the campground?

 

[Luv2Roam]

The last few years we have even taken our chances and arrived late afternoon to early evening and gotten into a park of our choice. (However MK has not been one of them we have attempted. 2004 we did stay ALL day in MK on NYE.)
By bus, expect it to still take you and 45 minutes to an hour to get out of the park and get on a bus.
Seriously if it were me I would see about having a cab set up to take me back to the resort. But it would be hard to judge when you can get outside the park.
The Studios would be the easiest to leave probably.
I have had friends say they linger for about an hour in the park and have no issues leaving. They figure either way an hour will be shot and staying and relaxing is more enjoyable.
NYE is the one day if I did this again I would take food in with me -- just in case. They won't run out. But there will be a long line for EVERYTHING.
Once we saw a 4 stand-by hour wait on NYE for Soarin'.
No restaurants will be available. So the only options will be counter service or food carts. And good luck finding a place to sit once you get your food.
On site guests will get into a park. It may not be the one of their choice. But they will get in. There are stages of park closures. And on site guests are the best off.

And it was a few NYE ago that DH was leaving (then) MGM by car. They only allowed drivers to turn a certain direction onto the main road. Of course it was not the way he needed to go. That took hm a long time to get through all the traffic. Even by cab may not be a good choice after rethinking.
Not a pretty sight any way you look at it. I would probably next time try our friend's suggestion of just hanging out in the park a little longer.