Suggestions for New Years Eve

[bensonburns]

I've been to WDW several times but never on New Years Eve. Going to be there on NYE this year with DH and 11 yr old twin boys. We'd really like to go to Magic Kingdom but I've read you have to be there early and stay all day bc of park closures. We'll have APs by then (yay!). With APs will we be able to enter later in the day or early evening if being dropped off by cab?

 

[Keels]

APs can get in to any park and parking lot up to a Phase 3 closure, which is recently the highest closure level. Phase 4 means nobody in that isn't already in, but that hasn't happened in a few years.

That said, even just later in the day, people will already be staking out spots for fireworks, lines will be out of control and you will pretty much be limited to whatever you have FP+ for (if you can make any). I would make sure you have an ADR for dinner, or be prepared to wait in insane lines for CS.

We've done NYE at EPCOT recently and I vastly prefer it to NYE at Magic Kingdom (we did Magic Kingdom in 2012, which ended up being a Phase 3 closure and ... never again). The fireworks are better, there are DJs and dance parties in various countries around the WS and it just feels more "New Year's Eve" to me, like shooting off small fireworks as WS countries hit Midnight. Honestly, I would put it up there with celebrating NYE in Times Square as far as "experience" goes. We don't have kiddos, though, so there's that to consider.

Good luck! NYE is fun, but definitely not for the faint of heart! Be prepared for a lot of standing around and waiting, packed amongst LOTS of people.

 

[bensonburns]

Thanks so much! From the sound of it, I think I would prefer Epcot too but don't know if I can convince the rest of the family I've warned them we won't be able to ride much except for whatever FP's I can get and we do have an ADR for Tony's. The other thing I'm wondering about is traffic leaving the park, as my husband is not a patient driver. Would it be crazy to watch the midnight fireworks from the TTC so we can leave as soon as fireworks are over? Or would we be better off staying in the park for an hour or so? You think the traffic will thin at all by 1 or 130?

 

[Keels]

If you're taking a cab to the parks, you'll find it nearly impossible to find a cab at any hour right after midnight.

As far as driving? It would be best to wait until after 1:30 a.m. or so. Things will definitely start clearing out, driving wise, after that.

This year, we're doing Rope Drop to close at EPCOT on NYE. I have an 8 p.m. ADR for Chefs and a 10 p.m. ADR at Biergarten. I also went ahead and made a reservation at the Swolphin, even though we stay with my parents less than 2 miles from Disney. Trying to get a cab last year took us nearly 2 hours and cost almost $100 (again - for basically 2 miles!), and we left before the park closed. Never again.

I don't know about watching fireworks from the TTC. My gut feeling tells me it wouldn't be worth the effort and I'd skip the park entirely and try to watch after an ADR at Poly.

 

[minniegirl19]

If your in the area id go to mk the 30th ( they do the same nye show) and then epcot on actual new years… thats what we did this passed year and loved it

 

[ct7878]

It sounds like you are looking for a park experience so this may not be of interest- but our favorite place for NYE is Fort Wilderness! It may sound crazy, but we have done the MK, EP and HS and a couple of other resorts and this continues to be our favorIte. Dinner at hoop de Doo and then we spend the rest of the night checking out all of Christmas decorations- some campers go all out! Then around 11 pm, we head down the beach to watch MK fireworks. There is a DJ and it really makes foR a fun night, with very little crowds (as compared to the parks) and a really fun laid back atmosphere. Just something to consider if you want something out of the box...

 

[bensonburns]

Thanks so much for all the great info! Wow good to know about the cabs I was wondering how bad they'd be. If we do go to MK sounds like we'll need to take our car and just wait until the worst of the traffic clears. MK on the 30th sounds good maybe not quite as crazy and leaves the 31st open for Epcot or a resort. I didn't know you could rent golf carts at Fort Wilderness that sounds like something my boys would love! Do you know if you can do that any night during the holiday season? Do you have to be a resort guest for that?

 

[tdg1128]

New Year's, while super crowded, is my absolute favorite time of year to go to Disney. You can still see all the holiday decorations and the atmosphere on the 31st is fantastic. Have rung in the New Year 5 or 6 times, both at Epcot and Studios. Tried Magic Kingdom once when I was a little younger with my family and left around 2:00 to go somewhere else. While we ofcourse expect crowds, MK on New Years is just a whole other beast. And this was about 10-12 years ago.

My favorite park is Studios for New Year's. The DJ/Mulch,Sweat and Tears that rotate on the main stage in front of the Chinese Theater is a blast and you can find a great spot around 10 or 10:30. Always great to take a stroll through the Osborne Lights (if they are still around this December...) and really just enjoy everything. And at least for the past two years Studios has had Extra Magic Hours on NYE so we've had the chance to do TSMM well after midnight with little wait. Whatever park you decide, just be prepared for crowds. But if you do MK, be prepared for absolute insanity.

 

[bensonburns]

New Year's, while super crowded, is my absolute favorite time of year to go to Disney. You can still see all the holiday decorations and the atmosphere on the 31st is fantastic. Have rung in the New Year 5 or 6 times, both at Epcot and Studios. Tried Magic Kingdom once when I was a little younger with my family and left around 2:00 to go somewhere else. While we ofcourse expect crowds, MK on New Years is just a whole other beast. And this was about 10-12 years ago.

My favorite park is Studios for New Year's. The DJ/Mulch,Sweat and Tears that rotate on the main stage in front of the Chinese Theater is a blast and you can find a great spot around 10 or 10:30. Always great to take a stroll through the Osborne Lights (if they are still around this December...) and really just enjoy everything. And at least for the past two years Studios has had Extra Magic Hours on NYE so we've had the chance to do TSMM well after midnight with little wait. Whatever park you decide, just be prepared for crowds. But if you do MK, be prepared for absolute insanity.

Wow the Studios sound like fun too! Can't wait!!!!

 

[bsblady01]

leave your car at your resort and take the bus to the parks on new year's eve. are you staying on site.

 

[Keels]

New Year's, while super crowded, is my absolute favorite time of year to go to Disney. You can still see all the holiday decorations and the atmosphere on the 31st is fantastic. Have rung in the New Year 5 or 6 times, both at Epcot and Studios. Tried Magic Kingdom once when I was a little younger with my family and left around 2:00 to go somewhere else. While we ofcourse expect crowds, MK on New Years is just a whole other beast. And this was about 10-12 years ago.

My favorite park is Studios for New Year's. The DJ/Mulch,Sweat and Tears that rotate on the main stage in front of the Chinese Theater is a blast and you can find a great spot around 10 or 10:30. Always great to take a stroll through the Osborne Lights (if they are still around this December...) and really just enjoy everything. And at least for the past two years Studios has had Extra Magic Hours on NYE so we've had the chance to do TSMM well after midnight with little wait. Whatever park you decide, just be prepared for crowds. But if you do MK, be prepared for absolute insanity.

Love this!!

And Studios is the only park open until 2.

MK closes at Midnight

Epcot closes at 1.

 

[Keels]

I think I may have a solution for you, @bensonburns! Send me a message if you can!

 

[bensonburns]

leave your car at your resort and take the bus to the parks on new year's eve. are you staying on site.

No we are staying at Windsor Hills from Dec 26 to Jan 2, then 3 nights at AKV (on site prices drop drastically after the 2nd). I've thought about paying for a room on site just for that one night but the prices are just crazy expensive on the 31st and we're already spending a good chunk of money on APs so trying to keep the remaining expenses within reason. I've read the MK parking lot can get full on NYE so we thought about going to MK for a while that morning, leaving our car there (so we'll have it later that night to drive home) and using a cab to get to Windsor and back for a midday break but sounds like the cab situation on NYE is crazy too. Maybe I can convince the family to go for an option other than MK on NYE. Crowds don't scare us but getting in and out could be the deal breaker. How bad are the resort buses on NYE after the fireworks?

 

[Keels]

Since you're an AP and if you're interested in Magic Kingdom for NYE, I would:

1. Cancel/Move Back you Tony's ADR
2. Get a midday ADR at Chef Mickey's. There's a 2:15 reservation sitting out there right now, for a party of four.
3. WITH that ADR, you get to valet your car at the Contemporary for the same price of parking at TTC, if not a few dollars more.
4. Eat late lunch, have fun with characters
5. Walk across the street to MK.
6. Get in the parks and enjoy.

The park closes after midnight fireworks, and you will dodge the TTC traffic because your car is valet parked at the Contemporary, which is only a short walk away.

 

[bsblady01]

No we are staying at Windsor Hills from Dec 26 to Jan 2, then 3 nights at AKV (on site prices drop drastically after the 2nd). I've thought about paying for a room on site just for that one night but the prices are just crazy expensive on the 31st and we're already spending a good chunk of money on APs so trying to keep the remaining expenses within reason. I've read the MK parking lot can get full on NYE so we thought about going to MK for a while that morning, leaving our car there (so we'll have it later that night to drive home) and using a cab to get to Windsor and back for a midday break but sounds like the cab situation on NYE is crazy too. Maybe I can convince the family to go for an option other than MK on NYE. Crowds don't scare us but getting in and out could be the deal breaker. How bad are the resort buses on NYE after the fireworks?

don't plan to leave the parks because you may not get back in.

 

[bensonburns]

I think I may have a solution for you, @bensonburns! Send me a message if you can!

I'm new to dis boards and can't figure out how to send a message :0

 

[bsblady01]

Since you're an AP and if you're interested in Magic Kingdom for NYE, I would:

1. Cancel/Move Back you Tony's ADR
2. Get a midday ADR at Chef Mickey's. There's a 2:15 reservation sitting out there right now, for a party of four.
3. WITH that ADR, you get to valet your car at the Contemporary for the same price of parking at TTC, if not a few dollars more.
4. Eat late lunch, have fun with characters
5. Walk across the street to MK.
6. Get in the parks and enjoy.

The park closes after midnight fireworks, and you will dodge the TTC traffic because your car is valet parked at the Contemporary, which is only a short walk away.

the parks are open till 3am during the holidays. and no you should not leave the park because you may not get back in

 

[Keels]

the parks are open till 3am during the holidays. and no you should not leave the park because you may not get ba

Cool story, but ... no.

APs are some of the special people that CAN get in if a park starts a phased close.

Also, feel free to look at park hours. DHS is open until 2 on NYE. MK closes at Midnight. EPCOT has closed at 1 a.m. on the past NYEs I've been at, which I suspect are more than you have.

 

[bsblady01]

Cool story, but ... no.

APs are some of the special people that CAN get in if a park starts a phased close.

Also, feel free to look at park hours. DHS is open until 2 on NYE. MK closes at Midnight. EPCOT has closed at 1 a.m. on the past NYEs I've been at, which I suspect are more than you have.

we did new years last year and magic kingdom was open till 3am

 

[Keels]

we did new years last year and magic kingdom was open till 3am

Again, cool for you ... but check the hours this year. Closes at midnight. No Extra Hours. Nothing.