Advice Needed for New Year's Trip

[Disneynutcase]

Hi. My family of meticulous vacation planners got together on our recent family beach trip that we took to South Carolina in early June. Between wading in the waves and visits to Charleston, we began to plan our family WDW trip scheduled for this upcoming New Years.

My wife turns 40 on January 1st (a New Years baby!), so our plan is to brave the crowds around this time to celebrate. This is how she wants to celebrate middle-age. We've been during Easter break before and found that we avoided lines, headaches, and long waits by using a lot of Fast Passes and PS dining reservations. So the problem is knowing what to make the PS reservations for, meaning we kind of need to eventually know what parks we'll be at.

We decided to go with this as our schedule:
December 30th - MGM (go all day)
December 31st - Epcot (about 10:30-8:00pm)
January 1st - MK (beginning w/ an 8:00am Character breakfast PS and going til fireworks)
January 2nd - no parks today / day of rest
January 3rd - USF (go all day)
January 4th - Epcot (go all day)

We're skipping AK this trip since we've been twice already and they haven't added or changed much. Instead we're doing Universal Studios because no one in our party has ever been there before.

So here's where we need advice: I just read on another post that Epcot gets pretty crowded on New Years Eve. In fact, the quote claimed that is was the most crowded of all four parks. Our plan was to skip doing any New Years celebration (all the adults have been to WDW for New Years before and our kids are kind of young to stay up that late). Instead, we will hopefully take advantage of sleepy, slower moving crowds during the morning of January 1st and get in a nice morning at MK.

Question is, are we foolish for planning a mini-day at Epcot for December 31st? Would MGM be a better choice for that day given that they don't have such a formal New Years celebration like Epcot does? Is MGM going to be worth going to for a Christmas experience and decor if the Osborne Lights are there (meaning we could go another day)?

My gut and experience says that Epcot swallows large crowds the best of all Disney parks, far better than MGM. We don't like to dodge masses of people. The only unGodly lines we'd expect at Epcot would be for TT and M:S. Who out there has been to WDW around this time of year during years past? What's been your experience and what do you advise?

We want to do Epcot low-key on either December 30th or 31st, focusing mainly on World Showcase to see the Christmas Around the World stuff. We'll save a majority of the Future World stuff for our last day at WDW. And MK is locked in for January 1st--it's where my wife wants to be to ring in (or mourn) her 40th. And because of the kids (and certain bravery factors), we want to save USF for late in our vacation.

So the question is, between Epcot and MGM, with no desire to ring in the New Year at midnight, which would you schedule for December 30th and December 31st? Thanks in advance.

 

[Connears]

We were there at that time last year and are returning 12/28-1/02/04. It was a fun trip, but very crowded. I think you will find it hard touring Epcot on NYE day. We decided to start at MGM and toured there until 4pm without major problems, then entered Epcot at IG via boat and had made PS in Japan right at the 120days! Still waited over an hour for the table, because of the crowds and because it began to pour! If you do not stay until midnite, you will still be in alot of company! Your plan to leave at 8pm would still leave adults some NY's time at their resort. We left around 10pm and went back to OKW(because we were drenched) and watched the ball drop in Times Square from our room. Only suggestion would be a later breakfast on NY day 8AM! really?...We had 9:30 PS at 1900 PF and had a great breakfast then off to MK with very few crowds. Resorts like Swan/Solphin had kids parties planned for NYE also, check them our. Epcot also had Rock and Roll NYE for an additional fee, you have dinner and music for all ages in the building between Canada and England. We didn't do it , but others enjoyed it.
YOu will have fun!
Connears:sohappy:

 

[Disneyanna0521]

we went on new years 2000-20001...we had a BLAST..i will post details later

 

[Disneynutcase]

Thanks Connears. I heard that last December 31st was crowded and further complicated by rain. Yet another thing to consider--weather...

Hmmm. Anybody else been at Epcot or MGM on December 30 and 31?

Disneyanna0521 I can't wait to hear more details of your trip. Thanks again.

 

[surfsupdon]

You expect it to be crowded and it is crowded. Very crowded on Dec 31st at Epcot! And last year, there was torrential downpours and the ENTIRE park was flooded under water, DEEP water. It was hoorendous, but fun. Everyone huddles into pavilions way beyond there max capaicity, and we left early at 930 back to Caribbean Becah b/c it was too much for us. We watched the fireworks from Aruba bus stop, which is right behind american adventure in epcot. So it was good still.

B/c we missed the actual party last year, we planned another trip this year for New Years, 12/26--1/4. Should be good, despite the lack of Osborne Lights. I bet MGM will add a few more garlands on banisters or something and call it even.

 

[Disneynutcase]

Okay, so if you're going back, then it must not have been that unbearable. Or is this more of a determination to ring in a New Year at WDW?

We expect crowds. We've done crowds during Easter 2002 and still had a blast (mainly staying ahead of the crowds).

Okay, but let's give me some examples. At Epcot, the lines for Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy and/or El Rio Del Tiempo were how long of a wait? At MGM, one had to line up for shows how far in advance...and Star Tours and Great Movie Ride stand-by lines were how long?

I think we're now leaning towards MGM for December 31st. But I also know that last year with the downpour created a kind of FUBAR crowd situation (at least at Epcot).

And Disneyanna0521, I'd still love to hear how your New Years trip from a few years back was like.

 

[kellydisney]

My suggestion is do what you want to do... all areas will be crowded no matter what. And if the area you WANTED to go to is too crowded, park hop!

You are going down right after we get back, our last day is the 27th... so your post makes me very sad... because at that time I'll be home!!

 

[nikechic]

I would possibly check out the MK for New Year's EVe. We were there back in 1998-199 and it was a great experience. Each Land had it's own little dance party.

Tomorrowland had a futuristic party catering to teenagers. Adventureland had a 50s sock hop.
Fronterland had countryline dancing.

The fireworks were magicient. And it was kind of funny because the DJ in Tomorrowland was so excited because he had been waiting all his life to play 1999 by Prince. And it was finally 1999.

I would recommend the MK if you like dancing and the such.

 

[kellydisney]

I definitely have to agree that MK is by far the best. There are also perimeter fireworks!! It's a blast. I worked it and didn't get to participate in the dance parties though... maybe next time!! Good luck.

 

[LivefortheMouse]

I have been to disney during new years many times. I have been to ever park during new years my sudgestion would be to do epcot on new years eve it is full of people but since this park is more spacious it doesnt feel as crowded. They pass hats around and every country turns into a dance club or something imitating there way of celebrating new years. IF u have teens they will love celebrationg at epcot i certainally did.(best place to be at itally they place euro music). Make sure to arrive at the parks early cause after 12 theres a great big chance u might not get into teh parks at all. Have fun new years at disney is great.



Magic gets packed to the point u cant walk. we were 20 and we had to make a human chain to stay together.
mgm is no big deal to me on new years.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I have a question about January also, we will be there Jan 1 to 8 and I was thinking the crowds go down after the 1st, am I right or do they stick around until Jan 4th or so?

 

[Disneynutcase]

Liveforthemouse, Kellydisney, and nikechic...

Thank you soooo much for all the imput. Your effort is indeed very appreciated. However I think you guys missed the point of what my family wants and doesn't want to do for December 31st, and what I've been asking.

We don't want to do New Years Eve festivities. But because we'll already be at WDW on December 31st, we want to do a park that day to do rides, see shows, meet characters, eat at cool Disney restaurants. Our plan is for my family to be done with whatever park we'll be at by 8:30ish. So no fireworks, no noisemakers, no dance party is needed.

The adults in our group have done New Years Eve at Disney back in 1990. It was fun, but it totally wiped us out for the next day. Plus we have three smallish children in our group who will not make it to midnight, so staying that late in any park will be somewhat pointless.

Then add into all this the big event my family wants to celebrate--my wife turns 40 on New Years Day (January 1st). So we want to do an all-day at MK and end with fireworks and Spectromagic (two of her WDW favorites).

So the question is, based on us wanting a short day with minimal New Years Eve stuff and wanting lesser amounts of crowds and shorter lines for attractions, what's the better choice for this particular day--December 31st--Epcot or Disney MGM Studios?

Hope this reply doesn't sound huffy. I'm not trying to be mean or sarcastic. Sorry in advance if I do. It's totally unintentional.

Thanks again for all the replies, and for any other replies to come.

 

[LivefortheMouse]

In that case my sudgestion would be to go to a water park on that day cause all disney parks get crowded and usually close even before 12. At night u can always eat at a resort like californian grill or chefs mickeys at the Contemporary resort. if u really want to u can even stay around that resort and see the fire works from the seven seas lagoon or even the restaurant it self. Im not sudgeting u dont eat at a park cause they usually get extremly packed even if u have PS.

 

[Connears]

We spent from 9am-5:30pm at MGM on New Year's Eve last year and it was great. We used FP effectively and hit everything we wanted to and more(Stars and Motor Cars Parade). It would be fine for you to do this and then return to a resort. We then went to Epcot which was very crowded and tried to do SE before our 7:30 PS in Japan, but wait was too long...TT had no more FP and 90 minute wait. At 6:30 they passed out hats and noise makers and then it really got crazy. I don't know what the early and mid day at Epcot were like. I know MGM was fine.
Connears:veryconfu

 

[LivefortheMouse]

Disneyphd parks are usually a lot less packed teh day after new years after the 2nd its awesome.

 

[kellydisney]

Disneynutcase,

I totally understand, no need to apologize! You post a very tricky question. My first instinct would be to think that people want to be in a park for the New Years festivities, so then wouldn't MGM be less crowded? BUT with the option to park hop and see the fireworks later, some people may go to MGM during the day and park hop over to EPCOT at night... making MGM more crowded during the day and EPCOT a better choice... So keep both of those thoughts in mind. What do you think your family would have more fun doing? The worlds in EPCOT are always open and available and might be something cool to do with minimal lines on New Years Day. I'm not sure if the fun stuff would be out and about during the day or not, but the possibility is always there. I would definitely go to EPCOT on New Years Day if I were you. Especially since you plan on leaving when the bulk of the crowd is going to be getting there... Unless it is like MK on Christmas when the park is closed at 12pm because of the crowd... I don't know for definite but I still would try to go to EPCOT. It's more magical than MGM Good luck!

 

[Disneynutcase]

Hi Disney PhD.

Based on a past experience (1990) and everything I've read and researched, expect crowds to lighten up by Sunday the 4th. It will probably be crowded in all parks through Saturday the 3rd.

The pros of the extra crowds means that almost all attractions will be open in all parks--like CoP and Timekeeper. Nothing will be down for rehab.
On the con side, you'll find Christmas decorations coming down during the latter days of your vacation. And CoP, TK, and even CBJ may be closed. You may be shocked at how quickly decorations come down. Also a rehab or two may begin that week since January 5th will officially kick off a short "off" season.

Also the big CON in all this is much shorter park hours for every park.

We're debating about our length of stay over these very points. School will be back in session on January 5th. We're thinking about keeping the kids out for a day or two to remain in Florida but aren't sure if it will be worth it (mainly because it will cost extra $$ for rent-a-house and park tickets). Right now we're scheduled to return home on the 5th (kids will miss one day of school). Plus all the adults in our party will need to be back at work.

Hmmm. Too many decisions...

Hope this helps!

 

[kellydisney]

Knowing what I know now about school, I would never think twice about keeping my kids out for a few days or even a week as long as they get their assignments done ahead of time or work out an arrangement with the professor. Even in college, I took weeks off for vacations and I was always able to catch up by staying ahead of the game. In High School and especially Middle and Elementary school, it's not a big deal. And don't let teachers make you feel bad about it either! Life happens and the kids will bounce back. Especially if they have their assignments done ahead of time And you will be the "cool parent" lol

 

[Disneynutcase]

Connears--we're leaning towards doing MGM based mainly on your two replies. Big question though--did you do as well as you guys did because of the rain, meaning did people kind of stay away? I'm trying to remember the trip reports back then (and I read them ALL). It didn't rain til the evening, right? We're big on Fastpasses every two hours and PS reservations to get us through parks. It's what helped us get around really amazingly well two Easters ago.

Liveforthemouse, thanks again for the reply. I get what you are saying about the potential crowds but...a waterpark on December 31st?! Maybe that works for people who come from snowed in parts of the world and think 50ish degree weather is warm (because to them it probably is), but we're collectively coming from California and Georgia. I fear making plans at TL or BB then having a cold or rainy day spoil things. But I hear ya.

 

[Disneynutcase]

Hi Kellydisney! You're awesome!

School re-starting really isn't a factor. Yes, I want to be a cool Dad. But w/ the 1st being our significant day (not the 31st), we're collectively not sure how long to drag our vacation out. Again, it's the money factor.

On another topic you bring up, between Epcot and MGM, we're doing one on the 30th and the other on the 31st. My family's problem is deciding between the two for those two days. It seems like Epcot will be naturally less crowded on the 30th with MGM probably having the same kind of crowds that it gets for the entire Christmas vacation.

But hey, you'll be back on the 27th, so don't be surprised if there's a message from me to you asking you how the crowds were. We don't leave til the 29th! Then again that won't completely help. We're doing the PS rezzie thingy, so we'll be pretty much locked in by then.

Keep going guys! Believe it or not, this is helping.:sohappy: