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2016 Christmas Week Phase Closing watch
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
JWG
Well-Known Member
I'd suggest the local Mobil station.
Disone
Well-Known Member
Oh my gosh, go to Epcot for New Year's Eve! It is so much fun! By Leaps and Bounds it is the best park to be at for New Year's Eve. It stops being Epcot at about 6 p.m. when the first illuminations goes off. After that they turn into a giant party around the world showcase. Each country is part of the party and is no longer an individual Pavilion. It's a complete break of epcot's normal thing and becomes just a big party. Top 40 dance floor with flame throwers in China, yep. South Beach style Rave going on in the middle of Italy, yep check! It's no longer Italy, it's no longer China, it's just a big party. You will not be bored. There are some who will be upset that Epcot deviates from its normal things so drastically in this evening. But it is never open to midnight and on the one night of the year that it is I don't mind it living it up just a little bit. If you want normal Epcot you can go there any other night of the year.
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
Do i need to spend the entire day there or can I arrive early evening?
Luxe
Well-Known Member
It starts to bump when it gets dark. Not sure if you're asking about getting there early to make sure you get in. I can't remember if they did any phase closings.
Last year at Magic Kingdom, the day before NYE was an absolute blast. It was pretty crowded but the vibe was electric. Something about the atmosphere made it a really good time. They were pumping party music through the speakers which was really weird to hear at the Kingdom but it helped with the excitement. Generally not my cup of tea but it was a fun change of pace. Of course the NYE fireworks are pretty amazing as well.
TiggerDad
Well-Known Member
MK was not bad today. The traffic backup getting in was the worst, first on the road and then at security. There was one time when the path by Stitch was just impassible with crowds. But on the whole we kept saying it didnt feel worse than a typical summer day. We rode almost everything including all the mountains. Most of that was late after most of the crowds cleared out.
Disone
Well-Known Member
Not the day, but yes to the entire evening. They will have Illuminations twice. Once in the early evening, and again at about 11:45pm. The first one still has the Holiday Tag Finale, which is always impressive. The second one will have a NYE finale which is even bigger then the holiday TAG. It will change into party mode after the first Illuminations.
mimitchi33
Well-Known Member
If you think that's terrible, my local outlets had an even worse traffic jam on Black Friday in 2015:
http://longisland.news12.com/news/traffic-jam-slows-shoppers-in-deer-park-1.11170919
I call that a major success! I'm glad you had fun!
Could be a drop in attendance combined with the added cement in NFL, since that boosted the MK park capacity by 5,000 people.
mimitchi33
Well-Known Member
I never knew they added some new area to NFL!
According to Jim Hill, the purpose of the NFL and Hub face lifts was to increase park capacity.
Stroll into EPCOT at dusk, you'll have no issue getting in as they never hit phased closing, make your way to the back of WS and just chill there. As the night goes on, Canada through UK and Mexico through China become a madhouse. But if you just chill in the back of the park it's all good. I like to hang around Italy for the dance party
Edit: on topic, I was in EPCOT on the 23rd in the evening and was shocked at how NOT crowded it was. No line for the bar inside Mexico, no line for food at Electric Umbrella, no line at guest relations, and we had fast passes for MS and Soarin. It was a great 4 hours in the park topped off by the fireworks.
I. LOVE. being. Local
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
Heading off to MK later on today. Not expecting it to be completely awful which means I'm definitely going to lose it on Brazilian tourists
I don't know if any are here. I have seen none. There have been South American groups but the numbers are low.
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
Stroll into EPCOT at dusk, you'll have no issue getting in as they never hit phased closing, make your way to the back of WS and just chill there. As the night goes on, Canada through UK and Mexico through China become a madhouse. But if you just chill in the back of the park it's all good. I like to hang around Italy for the dance party
Edit: on topic, I was in EPCOT on the 23rd in the evening and was shocked at how NOT crowded it was. No line for the bar inside Mexico, no line for food at Electric Umbrella, no line at guest relations, and we had fast passes for MS and Soarin. It was a great 4 hours in the park topped off by the fireworks.
I. LOVE. being. Local
Thanks. I plan to spend the morning in animal kingdom. Then head to epcot around 5 or 6pm. Epcot sounds exciting on nye.
Kylo Ken
Local Idiot
Oh they're here. They aren't necessarily tour groups or Brazilian (although always seem to be) but the South American tourists are undoubtedly here.
ParentsOf4
Well-Known Member
We went to Disney Springs on Christmas night 2015 and it was insane. Never again.
Looks like this year is a repeat.
Perhaps locals are looking for a free place to spend Christmas night?
The theme parks were not too bad on the days we went in 2016. Amazingly light traffic at the Magic Kingdom (Dec. 23) and Animal Kingdom (Dec. 25) for the first couple of hours, with everything except 7DMT being a near walk-on till around 10 am. Much heavier crowds in the afternoon and evenings at DHS and Epcot, but still manageable.
WDWTank
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Building on monetary policy rather than capital success.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
So no phased closings this year on the 4th of July or Christmas.
2017 should be interesting.
2017 should be interesting.