WDW - New Years Eve! Tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly!

[Miss Kelly]

I would love to be standing on Main Street at Midnight next December 31/January 1. I've been to WDW in 2002 and 2005 so I'm no newbie, but how is it really during New Years? Give me your experiences, good and bad. Any advice would be wonderful too.

Thanks!

 

[Miss Kelly]

*Bump

 

[palmtreegirl]

The bad- It's really, really crowded! So you won't get a lot done and the lines will be long. It was so packed just before Midnight in front of the castle that we used the "choo choo" method to get through the crowds, it was the only way to make it.

The good- everything else! We had a wonderful time at the MK this past New Years. The fireworks were AMAZING and after midnight everyone left. We rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 6 times in row after 12:30am. They had dance stations with DJ's set up throughoout the park, the kids loved them.

If you can deal with the crowds, I highly recommend it. We really had a blast!

 

[Miss Kelly]

The bad- It's really, really crowded! So you won't get a lot done and the lines will be long. It was so packed just before Midnight in front of the castle that we used the "choo choo" method to get through the crowds, it was the only way to make it.

The good- everything else! We had a wonderful time at the MK this past New Years. The fireworks were AMAZING and after midnight everyone left. We rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 6 times in row after 12:30am. They had dance stations with DJ's set up throughoout the park, the kids loved them.

If you can deal with the crowds, I highly recommend it. We really had a blast!

Thanks for the info! I'm prepared for the crowds, but I just didn't know about anything else.

 

[julielovestigger]

I agree with the above poster, especially with respect to the crowds.

Make sure you have a later dinner ADR for a good sit down restaurant like CRT or Crystal Palace. Ours was at CRT at 8:15, which allowed us to watch the 7:00 Spectro, see the 8:30 Wishes fireworks from inside the castle, then have plenty of time after dinner to secure a good midnight fireworks viewing spot. It will give you a break from the crowds.

Bring towels to sit on. We spent a good part of our time saving a good seat for Spectro and later for the fireworks. We enjoyed people watching while we sat and the time flew.

Do you have kids? Some have commented that Main Street is almost dangerous to navigate due to the crowds.

Go with the flow. Trying to navigate through crowds like that is exhausting. Just sit back and take in the atmosphere of it all. We rode the train around the park for 45 minutes straight. Many others on the train were doing the same thing.

The park may close due to capacity, so be in the park by 10:00 a.m. Plan for a long day.

Have fun. This was one of our best days at the World!

 

[disneyfanintn]

If you go with the mindset that it will be very very crowded and you might not get to do that many rides/shows, then you will be fine. We were there this year. We did not come into the park until around 2pm and yes it was crowded and continued to get crowded. One of the worst things were in Frontierland; they were handing out party hats and noise makers. That area was the worst as people were blowing their noise makers in peoples face all the time. Once we left that area, we were fine.

Also, there were alot of sloppy people there that night; meaning, people not picking up after themselves. Main Street looked like a dump after the 11:50pm fireworks when people left. I will say though, the CM and CM Managers were on the ball and were picking up the trash very quickly.

Now, with all that being said, would I go back next year...in a heart beat. The only thing I would do different would be NOT check out on New Years Day. I think I would have to stay another day if possible. It's not fun getting up on New's Year Day to check out by 11am when you didn't get in until 2am. But hey - it was very worth it!

 

[Miss Kelly]

Thank you all for the advice. No kids, just a couple of adults. Been there twice before and I just think it would be extra special to be in MK at Midnight.

BTW, how long does MK stay open on New Years Eve/New Years Day?

 

[LovePug]

Giving you a bump because I'm looking toward the future (2007) to be at Epcot on New Year's Eve.

 

[Miss Kelly]

*Another Bump for the Saturday Crowd.

 

[disneyfanintn]

Magic Kingdom was open till 1am. I believe MGM was open till 3 or 4 am, don't know if that was Extra Magic Hours or not. Not sure what time Epcot closed.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Magic Kingdom was open till 1am. I believe MGM was open till 3 or 4 am, don't know if that was Extra Magic Hours or not. Not sure what time Epcot closed.

Yep it was EMH at MGM. Epcot was open till 1am.

 

[wayneg]

Has anyone done both MK and Epcot NYE (different years obviously) We have done Epcot 3 times now and can't believe MK could be better. Being in England at 7pm(UK midnight) is superb then fireworks 30 mins later. Mybe we should try MK next year.