Which park for New Years Eve?

[ErinC]

We'll be checking in to VWL on the Dec. 31st. What plans should we make for that night? I know that the parks will be very crowded. I would like to see fireworks from somewhere. Are there special fireworks for NYE? I'd love to hear about others experience on this night! Thanks for your advice!

 

[tomandrobin]

We go to Magic Kingdom for the NYE! They have several sets of fireworks, the best at midnight. Last year the fireworks show was breathtaking. They were litterally going off all around us, 360 degrees! Disney passed hats for park guests. It was extremely crowded, get there early. If you are going to eat at the park, make dinner reservations at the 6 month window. We will be there again this year arriving Dec 27, leaving Jan 2. We will be standing there in front of the Castle, our favorite spot! The park will be open extra late, like 3 or 4 am. Don't plan on doing alot because of the crowds, just go with the flow. You won't be disappointed.

 

[lauran cameron]

I'd like to know this too please

 

[kerrynic78]

We did Epcot last NYE and had an incredible time. We got there about 2pm and it was crowded but manageable. Epcot is so spread out that you were never really wall to wall with people except in the world showcase but it was fun. The fireworks were great but I heard they were better at MK and MGM. We all had a great time and were planning on going back this NYE but I am due that day so we will have to skip it this year! Have fun!!

 

[palmtreegirl]

We spent this past NYE at the MK and had a blast! The fireworks were amazing there were "grand finale fireworks" surrounding us more then once. I like the MK on NYE because they don't serve alcohol, so you don't have to worry about drunk people, which is nice especially with kids.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

We spent last NYE at Epcot and it was fantastic. Illuminations at 730 and then again at 1140. The fireworks at midnight was not to be believed. Yes, it was crowded, but well worth it.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

We are planning to check into BWV on NYE, as well! We spent last NYE at the GF, and chose not to go to the parks that day. Heard it was very crowded...and we were out til' 3am for the EMH the night before, so we played it low key that day and relaxed. Saw the fireworks from our balcony...what a sight! We were at MK the night before..and saw the fireworks which were amazing...and 360 degrees all around us! If you are going to a park, I would choose MK or EPCOT.

 

[ErinC]

So do they do the same fireworks on the 30th, that they do on the 31st at MK?

 

[twoprincesses]

Does anyone think that they will stop letting people in? Has this happened to anyone? I am debating on whether or not to add an extra day for NYE but we do not arrive until around 5 or 6 pm and would hate to come to the gate around 7 or 8 for fireworks and be told we cannot get in because they are at full capacity.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Last NYE were spent at Epcot and entered around dinner time. I figured if we couldn't enter, oh well. Was worth taking the risk, rather than camp out all day in the park, like we did the previous year at MK.
People will tell you how bad MK is on NYE and they are right. Be prepared.
The year we were there (2004) we arrived early in the day and stayed allll day long.
I know at some points in the day MK was closed off. (Reopen briefly and close off again.) We were near the front of the park at one point late afternoon and a few guests were trickling in. But it could be just a few resort guests.
MK on NYE is for the brave and tolerant. This is the one time I would even bring my own food into a park.
While we were at Epcot, we called some friends who were in MK. And they spend every NYE in MK.
They were leaving after their LTT dinner. They said last NYE was even more crowded and crazy than the previous year.
It is something to say you have done once. But I wouldn't care too much about a repeat.
Disney does a good job at keeping guests enertained. But there is only so much you can do when it is that crowded and most have been there too long to care much about anything but a good rest and meal. It is not enjoyable.

And not too long when we were in Epcot (12/31/05) we heard several people say MK was closed, so everyone was going to Epcot. Well that filled up very fast then, and with unhappy guests who wanted MK.
And without ADRs ahead of time you would not believe the people wanting some place to eat.

There was no notice but we saw that the old Millineum Village had a buffet that was taking walk ups. But people only knew that who happened on it.

Yes, the NYE fireworks are great at MK. But not worth the crammed max exodus afterwards.

Epcot was good and not near as stressful.

They were chinzy on the hats and horns this last year. Even our MK friends said the same. About 1/3 of the guests got them, and the hats/horns ran out fast.

 

[Luv2Roam]

would hate to come to the gate around 7 or 8 for fireworks and be told we cannot get in because they are at full capacity.

I would say your chances of not getting in by then are much greater than be allowed in.

 

[twoprincesses]

What if we make ADRs for somewhere inside? Will they have to let us in???

 

[robinb]

Does anyone think that they will stop letting people in? Has this happened to anyone? I am debating on whether or not to add an extra day for NYE but we do not arrive until around 5 or 6 pm and would hate to come to the gate around 7 or 8 for fireworks and be told we cannot get in because they are at full capacity.

I think you should be OK at Epcot or MGM, but the MK will may be closed when you get there. The MK's parking lot closes sometime around 10:00 AM!

I always go into the NYE park of my choice (Epcot or MK) in the early morning and leave when it gets really busy after lunch. I go back to my DVC resort (OKW or BWV) and hang out at the pool for a few hours and relax. We then get our stuff together and go back into the fray around 5 or 6 for our dinner reservation (Tony's at the MK, Teppanyaki in Epcot). I have always been able to catch a bus from the resort and I have never seen them turn away people at the gate when I get there. Once back inside it is *packed* and full of grumpy people who have been there all day. In Epcot, people can be quite tipsy. We might use an expired fast pass from earlier or we mightjust hang out and enjoy the atmosphere. We get into our fireworks spot (sorry, I'm not telling) about an hour before the fireworks. Epcot is actually harder to get a good spot that late in the day. I have been doing the same thing for 6 NYE, including 99/00 and it has always worked for me.

 

[robinb]

So do they do the same fireworks on the 30th, that they do on the 31st at MK?

Yes. They have the same midnight fireworks on the 30th as the 31st. Last year they also had a night-time EMH there until 3:00 AM. We stayed, but the lines were still really long.

 

[micminnieapolis]

I feel bad that you're checking in on 12/31. We started going to WDW 3 years ago for Christmas and NYE. We asked a lot of questions before that first trip and still keep asking! MK could be closed as early as 10am because of crowds on NYE. Great fireworks though and they offered on NYE eve too. That's how we saw them last year so that we could continue to enjoy the great fireworks at Epcot -- 2 times but the ones at midnight are the best! We loved the MK ones so much that we are trying to get back for July4th just so we can see them again! And we'll repeat our usual procedure for NYE next year. We don't want to be in MK all day on NYE. We have no little kids and the crowds are horrendous at any park. Epcot has lots of places to just enjoy the scenery and let the world go by -- great for the last day of the year. We've never gotten a straight answer about being able to get in if you have dinner reservations, which are a definite must for the day. We just make sure we're there between 10am and 11pm and plan on staying all day. Rides are not a sure thing that day. Fastpasses are often gone by 10 for the big rides. Lots of other entertainment at Epcot thought.

 

[ErinC]

I feel bad that you're checking in on 12/31. We started going to WDW 3 years ago for Christmas and NYE. We asked a lot of questions before that first trip and still keep asking! MK could be closed as early as 10am because of crowds on NYE. Great fireworks though and they offered on NYE eve too. That's how we saw them last year so that we could continue to enjoy the great fireworks at Epcot -- 2 times but the ones at midnight are the best! We loved the MK ones so much that we are trying to get back for July4th just so we can see them again! And we'll repeat our usual procedure for NYE next year. We don't want to be in MK all day on NYE. We have no little kids and the crowds are horrendous at any park. Epcot has lots of places to just enjoy the scenery and let the world go by -- great for the last day of the year. We've never gotten a straight answer about being able to get in if you have dinner reservations, which are a definite must for the day. We just make sure we're there between 10am and 11pm and plan on staying all day. Rides are not a sure thing that day. Fastpasses are often gone by 10 for the big rides. Lots of other entertainment at Epcot thought.

Actually, we'll be there on property by late Friday night, we just aren't checking in to VWL until Sunday, because I can't afford the high points for the weekend nights with DVC. I'm not sure where we will be staying yet, but probably onsite somewhere. Interesting about the fireworks on the 30th. We might just see them in the parks on the 30th, and skip the 31st. That way we could be at the parks bright and early on the 1st!

 

[ErinC]

Aren't we guaranteed entry to the theme park if you are staying on property? Or is that just entry to one theme park (like if MK were too full, they would send you to AK)?

 

[dlaushey]

When we went to Disney World on New Years Eve we went to Magic Kingdom because it had lots of fire works, but it was REALLY crowded! Make a good choice.

 

[robinb]

Aren't we guaranteed entry to the theme park if you are staying on property? Or is that just entry to one theme park (like if MK were too full, they would send you to AK)?

I don't think that is true anymore. Not that it really matters since I am not aware of all the parks filling up to capacity at the same time. You will be able to get into a park even if it's not your first choice.

ETA: The parking lots close a lot sooner than the park itself! Make sure to take the bus on NYE!

 

[MinnieFan]

We stayed at VWL this past Christmas week and were at Magic Kingdom for NYE. (The park was closed by 9 a.m. due to capacity.) We wanted to stay for the fireworks, but the kids were tired since we had to get to the park by 7:30 a.m., and we just couldn't handle the wall to wall people. It took us over an hour to get out of the park and we left by 9 p.m.

In case you decide to skip the park and stay at VWL on NYE, you can get a good view of the MK fireworks from the front of the hotel. DH and DS went down to see them, they were standing by the Magical Express desk. This may work for you if you arrive too late to get into the park.

In response to another poster, ADRs do NOT guarantee that you will get into the park if it is closed due to capacity.