Best New Year's Eve Game Plan?

[CohibaMan]

Ok, I have been an annual pass holder for 7 years now and have never been to WDW for NYE. I am considering taking the wife and kid this year. We won't have a hotel, we will go day of, and we are not concerned with drinking or partying it up. We just want to take it all in, watch some fireworks, and cross it off our bucket list.

Now, having been on Memorial Day and July 4th a couple of times, I fully understand that the crowds will be... insane. I need to know which park will be the "least" packed. I use that term loosely as I understand that every park will be packed. MK stays open until 2AM for all guest. HS stays open until 2AM for EMH. Epcot stays open until 1AM for all guests. Those of you with experience, what is my best bet? Much thanks.

P.S. I refuse to get there at park open just to insure that I avoid a rolling closure. So, take that into consideration. We would probably get there around 3-4.

 

[wannabeBelle]

From what I understand Hollywood Studios will probably be your best bet. The one time I did New Year's Eve at Disney MK was in phase closure by 10:45am and cars were being turned around at the toll plaza. I understand EPCOT was crazy as well, but I was able to get a parking space at the Studios and it was around 12:30 or so when I got there. Also I am a HUGE Mulch, Sweat & Shears fan so to see them play with the music synched to the fireworks show going on above was insanely great!!!! I believe the same thing will be happening this year as well, although I wont be around for it. Hey,If you do end up there and are handy with a video camera.........just sayin'!!! Have a terrific time in whichever park you end up in!!! Happy 2014! Marie

 

[Minthorne]

My game plan? I booked the party at the California Grill to avoid the crowds.

 

[wdwmagic]

I would go with Epcot. It has by far the biggest capacity, and has the most NYE events, along with the best of the firework shows for NYE.

Studios is very much like MK, extremely crowded walkways, and with not much going on other than the fireworks, you just get a mass of people waiting in front of the hat for several hours.

With Epcot running two firework shows that night, a good number of people leave after the first show, making things not as congested later in the night.

Here is the Epcot show


Here is the Studios show


Full entertainment lineup for Epcot's New Year's Eve celebration

 

[luv]

I don't know how many people fit into any of the parks, but Epcot always feels the least packed because they really made the walkways nice and big when they built that place. Disney is now making them smaller in the WS, so it gets pretty packed in a couple areas.

People like to get drunk in Epcot, so I'm sure NYE will have its fair share of drinkers. But they'll also have good fireworks.

If I were going, I'd go to Epcot.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don't know how many people fit into any of the parks, but Epcot always feels the least packed because they really made the walkways nice and big when they built that place. Disney is now making them smaller in the WS, so it gets pretty packed in a couple areas.

People like to get drunk in Epcot, so I'm sure NYE will have its fair share of drinkers. But they'll also have good fireworks.

If I were going, I'd go to Epcot.

People like to get drunk everywhere on NYE lol. I'm imaging a trail of drunkards marching out of Be Our Guest on Tuesday night. And Walt cringing. And/or drinking/smoking.