What are your Disney New Year's plans?

[Boardwalk Tigger]

We will be in Disney for New Year's for the first time although we are Disney veterans. There are four of us including a "tween" and a young teen. Would love to hear your plans for a Disney New Year's and what would be fun to do and what to avoid. I need help from those of you that have done this before. Do I really need to stay in the parks all day to be there for the celebration at midnight? I am too oldddd to do this. OK I'm not, but I don't want to be there all day. Thanks to anyone who can help me plan a great night.

 

[tampafan]

We spent 12/31 2000, and 1231/2001 at Disneyworld. Both trips we arrived on about 12/29 and stayed through 1/01. The first year we spent at MGM. The second year at Epcot. Both times, the parks filled up by about 11am and no one else was admitted. This would also prevent you from leaving. We had a great time at MGM, but after that experience, our Epcot New Year's Eve went a little more smoothly. The biggest advice I have is to plan your day around your meals. We arrived in Epcot at 8:45. Just as a point of reference, the Test Track Fast Pass was already out to 3pm. We had made ps for Garden Grille for lunch. This is a great place to "chill out" in the middle of the day. We love this restaurant for the atmosphere and the food. It was really nice to take a long lunch break while revolving around The Land. We then spent the afternoon walking around the world showcase. It was really crowded, but most everyone was festive. We had ps for dinner at the Rose and Crown for 7pm. This happens to be midnight in England, so we celebrated early! Keep in mind, that all the countrys celebrate the New Year at the appropriate time if you choose Epcot.

To wrap up, pick a park and make priorty seatings for maximum rest times. Have fun!!!!

 

[Connears]

We will be at OKW from 12/28-1/02/04. We were there last year and started NY eve day at MGM and then went to Epcot for PS at Teppanyaki(still waited about an hour for dinner, didn't help that it was pouring!). It was very crowded and they handed out hat and noise makers(around 5-6pm). If it hadn't poured , we would have stayed until 12 but we did leave after our meal around 10pm and went to BW (thye also handed out noise makers in the lobby of BW)while DH retrieved car from MGM. Then home to OKW to watch ball drop and see some of the fireworks from Epcot from our patio. Hope no repeat of the rain this year. We had new year's breakfast at 1900 PF and then toured MK. Very quiet! Alot of folks had holiday lights up at OKW along with the resort decorations, it was very festive. Can't wait to return.
Connears

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I thought if you had a priority seating in one of the parks that you could leave the park and come back later? If not I wonder if there are any great celebrations in one of the hotels. I just can't stay in the park all day. It just isn't feasible for our family

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

How was the Boardwalk celebration? Was it fun? Sounds like you switched parks and they let you in later!

 

[pennylynn]

We were at Epcot two years ago for New Years Eve and it was great. The parks did fill up and were "closed". The way it was explained to us is that if your staying on property and have a multiday park pass that you have already been using then they will always let you in the parks. We were at the Animal Kingdom in the morning and some one told us that Epcot was already closed so we asked before we left the park and that was what we were told. We didn't go to Epcot until about 1:00 in the afternoon and had no problems getting in. Maybe a cast member could confirm this. Hope someone has a good answer for you.

 

[funhouse8]

We will also be in WDW for NYE this year. My kids are all teens & I've been doing some research and came up with this plan. They have a party going on in Epcot called "The rock and Roll buffet. It has a dance floor and DJ and seemed like a fun place to be to bring in the New year. here is a great web page. It is from last year but I think they should have the same activities ----http://wdwig.com/nyeve.htm Good luck- Maybe we will ring in the New Year together.

 

[diznee25]

I thought if you had a priority seating in one of the parks that you could leave the park and come back later? If not I wonder if there are any great celebrations in one of the hotels. I just can't stay in the park all day. It just isn't feasible for our family

Unfortunately, priority seating arrangements don't guarantee re-entry into a closed park. If you have a PS on a holiday, it's best to get to the park in the morning and don't leave! If you leave and come back when the park is closed, then you're out of luck.


Diznee25

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We won't be there New Years this year- but wow there is a lot to do there on New Years Eve! We were there last year- but FORTUNATELY we decided to change our plans- all of them- and just take in a movie with the kids (instead of the babysitter/go out by ourselves as planned). Because we obviously chose right... we came out to find it was pouring rain! Guess we started out the year right.

I have heard if the parks are closed, you can't get in- even if you are passholders, staying onsite, have PSs, etc. I'm not sure if there is NO chance of getting in, but that's what I have heard!

 

[Muffy]

Were in the parks this NYE and did not have trouble getting into MGM and Epcot. We took a break at the Dolphin midday and got back into Epcot through the international walkway. Yes, it was crowded but we had alot of fun. Defiantly make PS's for that day and it will require a CC. We are going back to the Dolphin for this NYE, 12/27-1/11. NYE is hectic at WDW but alot fo fun with the proper planning.