What do you think of my park strategy for New Years stay? Dec 27 - Jan 3

[riddlemethis]

Okay, so we found a dedicated reservation for New Years!! So exciting - staying at CCV.

We have park hopper passes for the first time due to what I expect to be Hell of crowds.
Kids are 13 and 11

So far,
Dec 27 Drive down from NC
Dec 28 Hollywood Studios rope drop and slow walking day
Dec 29 Pool day / resort hopping
Dec 30 Magic Kingdom, mid day break, Fireworks show at 7pm, finish up and get some good sleep.
Dec 31 Epcot rope drop, long mid day break, Fireworks at midnight
Jan 1 Do whatever whenever we wake up, Animal kingdom for Rivers of light and some rides.
Jan 2 Possibly another animal kingdom or MK day, shoot or both!
Jan 3 Drive back to NC


I made park reservations so far for
HS on the 28th, MK on the 30th, and Epcot on the 31st because I want to be guaranteed admission in the afternoons (do park hoppers work like that too?)


I would really love to get into the small private NYE parties but I have no idea how to register or buy tickets for those. That would be IDEAL.

Happy to hear any feedback! We have been before with the kids in 2017, so we don't have to hit everything, and we don't expect to since it will be so busy.

 

[Pepermintpooh]

I would move Epcot up in the schedule so you can experience Festival of the Holidays. It runs through the 30th

 

[Gehrig1B]

I made park reservations so far for
HS on the 28th, MK on the 30th, and Epcot on the 31st because I want to be guaranteed admission in the afternoons (do park hoppers work like that too?)

Yes, a reservation guarantees entry throughout the day, as many times as you wish.

I too suggest you at least hop over to Epcot for Festival of the Holidays, it runs through December 30th.

By the way, I would think you will be able to hop to whichever park you wish as well, even on the 30th and 31st... We have never been denied entry as a resort guest but the world has changed and so has Disney.

Jan 1 Do whatever whenever we wake up, Animal kingdom for Rivers of light and some rides.

Rivers of Light has been retired, there is no longer an evening show at AK. Personally, we like to do MK on Jan 1st because it is often one of the least crowded days as people recover from NYE.

Huge word of caution... Do not even think about driving to a park on the 30th or NYE... It will take hours to get back to the resort in a car. I would monorail to MK and take the boat to WL after NYE fireworks. And take your time exiting EPCOT after the fireworks... Give the crowds an hour or more to disperse.

Have fun, we will see you there... arriving on the 30th.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Another suggestion - based on past experience and I'm not sure if it will apply this NYE.

In the past Magic Kingdom on the 30th has done regular holiday fireworks around 6:30 ~ 7 pm and then did the NYE show at Midnight. What I did several years ago on that date was to view the early evening MK fireworks, go to Epcot for that park's evening fireworks show, and then go back to Magic Kingdom for the midnight NYE fireworks.

You read that right - 3 fantastic fireworks shows in one evening! To me one of the best days of the year. Will the show schedule be the same this year - i don't know. But I can hope.

 

[riddlemethis]

Thanks for the info yall! I went to make some changes but am unable to make any park reservations at the moment? Calendar said there is availability but I am unable? Don't know if anyone has info on that

 

[riddlemethis]

Another suggestion - based on past experience and I'm not sure if it will apply this NYE.

In the past Magic Kingdom on the 30th has done regular holiday fireworks around 6:30 ~ 7 pm and then did the NYE show at Midnight. What I did several years ago on that date was to view the early evening MK fireworks, go to Epcot for that park's evening fireworks show, and then go back to Magic Kingdom for the midnight NYE fireworks.

You read that right - 3 fantastic fireworks shows in one evening! To me one of the best days of the year. Will the show schedule be the same this year - i don't know. But I can hope.

I love this plan! We have park hopper so I think I might try to get this in if I can't secure tickets to a special NYE event.

 

[riddlemethis]

Yes, a reservation guarantees entry throughout the day, as many times as you wish.

I too suggest you at least hop over to Epcot for Festival of the Holidays, it runs through December 30th.

By the way, I would think you will be able to hop to whichever park you wish as well, even on the 30th and 31st... We have never been denied entry as a resort guest but the world has changed and so has Disney.



Rivers of Light has been retired, there is no longer an evening show at AK. Personally, we like to do MK on Jan 1st because it is often one of the least crowded days as people recover from NYE.

Huge word of caution... Do not even think about driving to a park on the 30th or NYE... It will take hours to get back to the resort in a car. I would monorail to MK and take the boat to WL after NYE fireworks. And take your time exiting EPCOT after the fireworks... Give the crowds an hour or more to disperse.

Have fun, we will see you there... arriving on the 30th.

I didn't know ROL retired, dang that was a favorite.
We will definitely hop to Epcot the first few days, great idea.

Interesting idea for January 1.. what would you suggest I change with the current schedule? I only bought 5 day park hoppers, figuring all of the people would be a deterrent for us to want to be in the parks themselves too much.

 

[Gehrig1B]

Interesting idea for January 1.. what would you suggest I change with the current schedule?

I would add another day, or even two days to my ticket... they aren't that much more expensive after day 5 anyway and the hopper is good for length of ticket. Five day hopper is $671, seven day hopper is $704, $33 more for 2 extra days and more flexibility.

DHS and MK will be the toughest parks due to crowds in my opinion. You may want the freedom to visit both of those parks multiple times. And no reason you can't spend a few hours in a park even while resort hopping or on arrival or departure day... More days, more flexibility and it will cost you little more as you are there anyway.

Another thing you will find is when staying at WL it is nice to close the day with MK on any given night as the boat ride is a simple 8 minute journey back to the resort. We often visit MK 5 or 6 times in a 8 night stay at WL.

 

[Lizzards]

I am also staying during this time. Thanks for sharing your plans. What type of special NYE ticketed events would there be? I have never done WDW during NYE.

 

[riddlemethis]

I am also staying during this time. Thanks for sharing your plans. What type of special NYE ticketed events would there be? I have never done WDW during NYE.

Neither have I! There seems to be a few ticketed parties at restaurants or resorts on property but I am having trouble finding more information.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We’ve been to WDW around NYE twice. I like the plan.

I will second a previous post. On Dec 30 the MK will run full on NYE a day early. Parties, entertainment, countdown to midnight, spectacular 360 degree fireworks and all. If you can manage/survive two late nights in a row I’d suggest planning a late night at the MK. You’ll have time to recover from your vacation at home….

 

[DisneyKidds]

As for NYE parties and dining events, maybe it’s a little too early? If you keep searching NYE on the website/app I’d imagine things will begin to show up. One year at Epcot we did a NYE dinner that was held in the World Showplace. Banquet food, but decent. The really important part was it gave us someplace to escape the crowds, have a few drinks, and gear up for the late night madness. The same can generally be accomplished with a table service reservation in the park. Gotta be Jonny on the Spot at 60 days out!

 

[jimim]

I don’t have much to add but we have done New Years a few times pre kids so 12 plus years ago. Did magic kingdom was awesome. Did Epcot was awesome. The barge at the end with all the explosions literally felt like the ground below me was going to open up. We got nervous that Epcot was going to close down so we ate earlier at yatchsman cause I knew the manager at the time. What an awesome dinner. First time I had Kobe beef. Then went back to Epcot and wasted 6 plus hours walking around and eating more. Lol Other year was grand Floridian for some 12 course foo foo party all dressed up with a jazz band. Awesome dinner. Got waaaay too drunk. Some great great New Years memories down there. Have a blast. Make the most out of every moment and go with it. If plans get wonky don’t let it throw you!

 

[jimim]

Neither have I! There seems to be a few ticketed parties at restaurants or resorts on property but I am having trouble finding more information.

Watch out for those ticketed events. Ours years ago was suppose to be formal so my wife and I show up dressed to the 9 along with this awesome older couple we spent the night with. They were a hoot. But because it didn’t sell out and they wanted to sell tickets they let a bunch of people in with whatever. Shorts. Jeans. I wish I knew that cause I would have been waaaay more comfortable in shorts! And my wife didn’t have to spent a couple hundred on a dress. It was the year they raised california grill to 600 per person so Narcoossee’s did a step down party so we went to that one. Was still expensive but the food alone was worth it.

 

[CindyLouB]

I also am waiting to hear about New Years Eve events!! We'll be at AKL Club 12-23 to 12-29 or 30, then to BI Club til 1-2. Spending 12-25 and 12-30 at MK, 12-31 at Epcot, other days at various parks with some park hopping hopefully. I'd love to book something special for Christmas or NYE though!