WDW NYE Veterans-Tips Wanted

[BelleinPA]

Happy Holidays! My family leaves in 9 days to spend a week in Disney. We plan to head to MK on 12/30 to see their fireworks. We will be spending NYE in Epcot. Our family is myself, DH, DS (21), DD (19) and DS (15). We know to expect insane crowds. For those of you that have spent NYE in Disney, could you pass along any tips or advice?? By the way, we have our 3 fast passes for Epcot and an ADR for Rose and Crown at 4:30.

Thanks!!

 

[Keels]

I usually book more than one ADR on NYE (usually 11 a.m. , 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Are your FP+s later in the day? Also, without a true dinner-time reservation, you need to be willing to wait an obscene amount of time for CS food with no possibility of somewhere to sit.

Otherwise, plan to bring a book/tablet - and maybe a throwaway blanket - they'll open up the grass spaces facing the World Showcase around 4-5 p.m. for people to start sitting on for NYE fireworks.

 

[CAS239]

Plan your fast passes for 1pm or later, not in the morning. Bring portable chargers if you'll need them and comfortable shoes. The innovations building over by Nemo has nice A/C, chairs, and outlets..so it's a good place to relax.

And obviously be prepared for ridiculous lines. Living with the land was 50 minutes last year around 11am. And the best fireworks you'll see

 

[wonderlandaddict]

Get a place that you want to watch the NYE fireworks several hours early and just get settled in! We found a great spot near France and took turns getting drinks and snacks . As it gets closer to midnight the crowds will move in. We had low expectations, but really got to ride several rides early in the day then just enjoyed the ambience of the park. We had the best NYE we have ever had!

 

[Keels]

If you plan effectively, it's possible to get QUITE a bit done before 5-6 or so. It didn't really start getting crowded this past NYE until around 7. Yes, lines were still long, but you could still move around and whatnot.

The bands and DJs are awesome and great entertainment once the "party" starts. Also, they'll honor the countries that hit midnight before us before and during the first run of Illuminations.

The midnight fireworks and Illuminations? Better than the Ball Drop in NYC. The sky is SO FULL OF FIREWORKS you'd think it's midday. It's amazing.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Happy Holidays! My family leaves in 9 days to spend a week in Disney. We plan to head to MK on 12/30 to see their fireworks. We will be spending NYE in Epcot. Our family is myself, DH, DS (21), DD (19) and DS (15). We know to expect insane crowds. For those of you that have spent NYE in Disney, could you pass along any tips or advice?? By the way, we have our 3 fast passes for Epcot and an ADR for Rose and Crown at 4:30.

Thanks!!

We were there 2014/15 and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and we had a great time.

The lines for the ladies room are really long especially as the night goes on. So don't wait until the last minute if you know what I mean. Bring something to put on the ground. People started claiming spots hours before the fireworks went off and there are very few places to sit in Epcot so you might have to resort to sitting on the pavement by the end of the night.

We watched the fireworks over by Canada. It was less crowded and better lit and less rowdy than it was over by Mexico. : )

We stayed at the Swan so it was easy for us to leave at the end and walk back to the resort. I can't imagine what it was like for those having to take transportation back to the resorts.

They had MGM opened until 3 am that year. Some in our group headed there after Epcot (I headed to bed).

Have fun.

 

[TeresaWen]

Going NEXT year so very excited to read everyone's tips! We are staying at the dolphin and are planning to make 3 ADRs as well. So looking forward to reading this year's trip reports!

 

[Cait]

Also, pace yourselves. My husband and I probably walked all over Epcot 5 times over the trip we celebrated NYE there; we just kept going, we have time, why not go here? Even though "here" meant all the way on the other side!!

 

[yulilin3]

Happy Holidays! My family leaves in 9 days to spend a week in Disney. We plan to head to MK on 12/30 to see their fireworks. We will be spending NYE in Epcot. Our family is myself, DH, DS (21), DD (19) and DS (15). We know to expect insane crowds. For those of you that have spent NYE in Disney, could you pass along any tips or advice?? By the way, we have our 3 fast passes for Epcot and an ADR for Rose and Crown at 4:30.

Thanks!!

After Illuminations at 6:00pm they open backstage walkways, one behind Test Track that leads to the gate between Norway and China and the other behind the Imagination pavilion that leads to the UK. take them to avoid the bottlenecks, especially in Mexico. Don't plan on leaving right after the NYE fireworks, you will be sitting in traffic for about an hour, stay inside until about 1:30pm and the congestion will be much much better.
Don't wait to go to the restrooms, some of the longest lines will be for them
Have fun!!