Traveling around WDW on NYE - problems?

[lenshanem]

Anyone have opinions on our best route?

We check in at BCV NYE morning, have Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique booked at 1 and then wanted to go to Epcot that afternoon. (We have Garden Grill booked for dinner.)

Would our best bet be to drive to DTD or take a bus?

Will we have a hard time getting to BCV that morning to check in? (We are staying off US-27 the night before and plan to go to 192 to get to WDW.)

Thanks so much!

 

[Traveliz]

I have been out on the roads on NYE -- actually leaving property to go shop and it is busy but I think you will be fine coming in in the morning.

I personally would drive to DTD but only because the DTD buses typically share with a water park and have sooooo many stops. I just avoid the bus to DTD if at all possible!

Liz

 

[Scratch42]

From What I've been told, you'll have more problems trying to get into Epcot!

j

 

[leslieh]

We did this 3 years ago, it was so crowded in EPCOT that we did 3 things/rides in 10 hours, the crowd around the world was packed, we got stuck with people coming both ways I would not want to be there again. Then in 1999 we were at MGM for the big one, and not bad at all ?? I think EPCOT is the big place on NYE, Good luck

 

[lenshanem]

I'm starting to seriously doubt all my plans!

I'm now worried about even getting to BCV that morning to check in! I'm thinking about canceling BBB (My girls have already been there anyway and my youngest's birthday is the week we get back and she is having her party at Libby Lu - similar enough to BBB.)

I'm now thinking BCV check in and get DDP card, go to Epcot and have CS. Hit at least Wonders of Life and El Rio del Tiempo since they'll be closing that week, see early Illuminations then have dinner at our GG ADR and go back on to the BCV and unpack.

I don't think my girls will miss seeing the later Illuminations that night.

I was actually at Epcot for 1999/2000, but I was thinking it wouldn't be as crazy on a "normal" NYE. I dunno!!!

 

[Traveliz]

I think you will be ok - yes it will be crowded but you will be walking in from the Epcot resort area - that area is not often closed off -- yes the signs on the road might say Epcot is closed but chances are walk ups from the resorts will still be ok.

We have entered Epcot at all different hours on NYE by bus or foot.

Liz

 

[lenshanem]

The earlier Illuminations that night will be the usual, correct? How much more elaborate is the midnight showing?

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I think you will be ok - yes it will be crowded but you will be walking in from the Epcot resort area - that area is not often closed off -- yes the signs on the road might say Epcot is closed but chances are walk ups from the resorts will still be ok.

We have entered Epcot at all different hours on NYE by bus or foot.

Liz

Disney will only guarentee resort guests entry to a park on NYE, not necessarily the park of your choice. I have been to epcot on NYE whilst staying at Boardwalk. Around 8pm I wanted to use the mens room and went to the one at International Gateway. I was told epcot was full and if I went out (mens room is outside the turnstyles) in theory, they couldn't let me back in. They made a special exception for me.

Walking in from Yacht Club ought to be OK, but it will close, even to resort guests, eventually. I would talk to concierge staff for their advice before you set off for Downtown.

The year I was there, by mid morning when I headed over, there were CMs on the pathway outside International Gateway, checking resort room keys, turning back non resort guests who had parked at one of the resorts and were trying to sneak in the 'back door'. Make sure everyone in your party is properly checked in and has their room key before you head over to epcot.

Andrew

 

[disneydiz]

This past NYE (2005) we were staying at BWV and went to EPCOT that morning to wait for friends who were coming from Coronado Springs Resort. The bus they were on was over an hour late, because the bus had to by-pass major traffic jams for people driving to EPCOT. All the resort buses were driving thru backways to get past the long, long, long lines of cars going to EPCOT. When they finally arrived around 11:30, we went over to MK by monorail, and had no trouble at MK. We did go back to EPCOT later that day for dinner and the midnight fireworks show.
The early showing of Illuminations will have an added "ending" geared for the holidays. The 11:40 show starts with Illuminations and then at midnight they have a pretty spectacular show.