New Years Eve (Help-Questions)

[CB2@disney]

We are arriving for our next Disney adventure on New Years Eve. I'm trying to do a surprise package for my son and was wondering if any of you that have been on New Years can help me out. Do they have t-shirts, trading pins, new years themed things? If so, how early have you seen them in the parks? Is there a way to get them prior to being there? Does anyone know when we might start seeing 2013 merchandise? Any help would be great

Also, we have the park hopper and I'm hoping to hit each park that day for pictures and end up in Epcot for the night. Any tips?

 

[maryszhi]

We are arriving for our next Disney adventure on New Years Eve. I'm trying to do a surprise package for my son and was wondering if any of you that have been on New Years can help me out. Do they have t-shirts, trading pins, new years themed things? If so, how early have you seen them in the parks? Is there a way to get them prior to being there? Does anyone know when we might start seeing 2013 merchandise? Any help would be great

Also, we have the park hopper and I'm hoping to hit each park that day for pictures and end up in Epcot for the night. Any tips?

yes they do have special new years eve souvenirs, events, etc. i believe they start putting the 2013 close to new years eve and finish off new years day. its amazing what a night makes

 

[timeman]

They usually start selling the merchandise that has the current year on it for 50% off in early December. You will see 2013 merchandise also around that time start appearing in the stores. There is usually Happy New Year pins out and they usually will have a pin that will commemorate New Years Eve and New Years Day that is only available right around New Years. Magic Kingdom will probably be the busiest and will hit phase closings that day. If you are staying on property I would highly recommend checking out Hollywood Studios after midnight as usually they have EMH until 3am that night. I have done New Year's Eve at Epcot twice and the second time I decided to walk over to Hollywood Studios around 12:30am and got in there around 1am. It's the best time to view the Osborne lights as there will hardly be anybody in that area as most people will have left after being there all day. I have a bunch of pictures of the lights and even video from that night with a lot of the pictures not having anybody in them. I even was able to ride Toy Story with just a 5 minute wait around 2am that morning.

 

[Gabe1]

We are arriving for our next Disney adventure on New Years Eve. I'm trying to do a surprise package for my son and was wondering if any of you that have been on New Years can help me out. Do they have t-shirts, trading pins, new years themed things? If so, how early have you seen them in the parks? Is there a way to get them prior to being there? Does anyone know when we might start seeing 2013 merchandise? Any help would be great

Also, we have the park hopper and I'm hoping to hit each park that day for pictures and end up in Epcot for the night. Any tips?

We arrived on th 23rd of December and I didn't see the New Years Eve stuff until after Christmas Day. I bought a New Years Eve sweatshirt. It came from DTD, so maybe the day after Christmas you could call but you'd have to express it or maybe have it shipped to your hotel with your Res. # and arrival date? Maybe? Or quickly sneak off to DTD while the other adult checks you in? Likely not going to be crowded at DTD shopping area as everyone will be in the parks, oy. My 4 OMG what am I doing here moments in the parks were NYE, in the MK, with a 3 hour wait for Space. Millenium NYE at Epcot when you were lucky to find a sidewalk to sit upon. Christmas Day in the MK (switched to Epcot.) And the 4th of July late night at Epcot. So doubt you will have a crowded store at DTD on NYE. If you are in a hotel with a good sized general store they may have NYE goodies too. POR did that year.

We watched the fireworks from the hotel dock at the MK on NYE cause Main St. was not enjoyable. It was perfect.

 

[dreamfinder]

We are arriving for our next Disney adventure on New Years Eve. I'm trying to do a surprise package for my son and was wondering if any of you that have been on New Years can help me out. Do they have t-shirts, trading pins, new years themed things? If so, how early have you seen them in the parks? Is there a way to get them prior to being there? Does anyone know when we might start seeing 2013 merchandise? Any help would be great

Also, we have the park hopper and I'm hoping to hit each park that day for pictures and end up in Epcot for the night. Any tips?

The merch would really depend on how they classify it. If they are tagging something at "Limited Edition/Limited Release" it may not be available for off site sales for 15 or 30 days after release. You can try to order it over the merchandise phone order, but you may or may not be lucky. And I'd wager having it express shipped to your house will cost as much as the stuff you are buying.

As far as the parks go, do MK first. Otherwise you may not be able to get in it you wait til later. You shouldn't have a big problem getting into Epcot later on, but if you want a good spot to watch Illuminations, I would be prepared to stand around for a while guarding your spot.