Who has been to Epcot on NYE?

[momto2]

We are debating on which park to do for NYE. First we thought MK. Then we realized that we would have to get there at about 9:00 -10:00 am and sit through very, very long lines and big crowds for 15 hours. Don't want to leave for fear we can't get back in I understand that MK is open late on 12-30. And they do fireworks this night???? hope this is right.

What happens at Epcot on NYE? While I am sure it too is very crowded, do you have to get there really early? About when does the park fill? Do they celebrate each country's New Years' midnights?

 

[Rpsemont]

Lots of your questions I can't answer. However a co-worker was there last NYE. He said by mid day you couldn't even walk around the world showcase for all the people sitting on the ground, just hanging out waiting, and lines to get a beer were 45 minutes.
Maybe someone else has more feedback

 

[vamassey1]

We were there last year. We started at MK then moved to Epcot at around 3. Yes it was crowded and as the afternoon grew we saw lots of people just sitting or laying around in the grassed areas. But there was a feeling of excitement. Lots of different music in the different areas. There was something for everyone. We didn't see the different New Year celebrations, but I have read they do it. We tried to stay until midnight but just didn't make it. There was 2 Illumination showings. During the first one we were eating at the Coral Reef and had headed back to the room by the time the second one went off. Can't say anthing about the beer, we didn't buy any but saw lots of extra places set up to sell it.


Vanessa

 

[dznyacct]

We have been at Epcot on Christmas Day, Easter and NYE. Yes, the park was insanely busy, but we never really felt crowded and elbow to elbow with all the other guests. I think it helps that Epcot has such wide walkways (as opposed to MK and AK). I think the last time we were there for NYE (3 years ago), Epcot filled to capacity at ~ noon. The weather was a bit chilly, so we got a locker and stored our jackets in it for the evening. Have a great time !

 

[Amy&Dan]

Last year we spent the 30th at MK. They did the NYE fireworks display that night so we really enjoyed that. I would imagine they would do that again this year because they really want to get people to not come to MK on NYE. Anyway, after the early NYE fireworks, they had EMH until 4:00 a.m. and we stayed the whole time. We walked into Space Mountain at about 3:58 for once last ride of the night. By 2:00 everything was a walk on. Since we didn't get back to our resort until about 5:00 a.m. no way were we getting up early to go to any park. We slept most of the day, had dinner at RFC in DTD that night and then decided we would try to go to Epcot and see if we could get in. It was not a problem. I did see a long line of cars stopped so maybe they had things temporarily closed to anything but WDW buses, not sure. In any case we got inside the park about 8:30 and it was insane and yet somehow not as bad as I thought it would be. We just sort of walked around, needless to say fp's were gone and waits for things were insane (I want to say the wait was about three hours for Soarin). We meandered through the WS and finally found a spot right at the fence to sit somewhere between Italy and America. We should have brought some cards I guess, I saw other people doing that, a blanket to sit on would have been nice too. But really, the time went fast, it was just so neat to be there and we were still sort of shell shocked from being at MK until after 4:00. We got some snacks and drinks, lines for those things were insane, it took dh an hour to get some beer and popcorn and the ladies room lines were also insane. Dh said he saw lots of women just going into the mens room. When the fireworks started at 11:40 it was just incredible to be there. And far off in the distance we could see MK's going off too, so being in that area was a good thing. They did celebrate each country's New Year. I want to say they did regular Illuminations first, then the other countries then the countdown and finale. I have never seen anything like that. After that the park was open unitl 1:00, we saw the movie in France and then headed out. I know that MK always closes to capacity on NYE but I think that you are safer with Epcot, its huge. A cm told me that night Epcot had not closed that day and that it was rare. And while it was an energetic crowd it still felt very magical and fun and I didn't see anyone overly drunk. Since it took an hour to get one drink, getting drunk would be tough anyway! If I had it to over again the only thing I would do differently is maybe have an ADR in WS so we could eat inside the park. I really hadn't thought however we would do a park on NYE so I didn't plan accordingly. I hate crowds but this was somehow different. If you go to be a part of the celebration you'll have fun. Riding anything however would be difficult and therefore we didn't even try. HTH give you an idea of what it was like for us at least. I wish we could go again this year!

 

[momto2]

Amy&Dan, That was incredibly helpful. You actually did what we are thinking of doing. Going to MK on the 30th and then doing NYE at Epcot. I knew it would be crowded and lines would be long, but it seems better than arriving at MK in the morning, staying all day with long, long lines too, just to be there for midnight. It seems like too long of a day with little in it. Doing MK on the 30th, we will be able to go on a lot of things with EMH and then Epcot on the 31st. Even if the ride lines are long, there is still a lot of to see in WS. Did they have extra performers and such in WS that night? It wasn't too crowded to walk around, was it?

Thanks again for your in depth report. I really appreciate it.

 

[Luv4Disney]

We were in Epcot in NYE for 2001. MK was closed off and Epcot became closed off at one point as well. Illuminations started a bit before midnight and then they stopped it and counted off on the floating globe. It was awesome! But the 4 hour wait for Test Track wasn't! Obviously, we skipped that. LoL. But they were open until 3 in the morning. Awesome.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy&Dan, That was incredibly helpful. You actually did what we are thinking of doing. Going to MK on the 30th and then doing NYE at Epcot. I knew it would be crowded and lines would be long, but it seems better than arriving at MK in the morning, staying all day with long, long lines too, just to be there for midnight. It seems like too long of a day with little in it. Doing MK on the 30th, we will be able to go on a lot of things with EMH and then Epcot on the 31st. Even if the ride lines are long, there is still a lot of to see in WS. Did they have extra performers and such in WS that night? It wasn't too crowded to walk around, was it?

Thanks again for your in depth report. I really appreciate it.

You're welcome, I am glad it was helpful! I also want to add that we didn't get to MK on the 30th until around 7:00 p.m. We had dinner at a cs place and then rode TTA and did HOP until the second Spectro and then the fireworks. As soon as EMH started we headed into Frontierland and didn't go into Tomorrowland and Fantasyland until after 1:30 when it was thinning out. We rode virtually every ride we wanted to that night. So I guess my point is that we were able to get in the park fine that night, we had spent time earlier that day at AK and also down time at the resort. No way can I stay at the same park that long and we really wanted to stay until 4:00 obviously we had to arrive accordingly!

As for WS on NYE, yes we could walk around. It was very crowded but you could move at least! Near where we sat between Italy and America they had a band playing and a dance floor I think. They also had music over the loudspeakers to listen to. I am sure that we could have seen and heard other things but once we found that spot to sit we sat!

Good luck with your trip, I hope that helps you a bit, its a great time to go but takes some planning.