We do it every year and still enjoy it. :wave: We even do most of the theme parks when we go. Some tips:
1. Bring your patience.
2. Although going into the parks isn't necessarily a bad idea, stay flexible and keep in mind you might not get to do
everything you want to do. Don't tell yourself that you want to ride this and this and this in that order, or do a certain number of attractions in a day.
3. On that note, if you're comfortable with the idea of a "minor attractions" day (skipping the mountains and doing the Liberty Belle, Country Bears, and Enchanted Tiki Room), you'll have a MUCH less stressful day while still enjoying being in the theme parks.
4. Extra Magic Hours are your best friend. Use that 3am MK to its full potential!
5. Lines for QSRs are possibly the worst part of going into the theme parks during New Years. For that reason, we now brown-bag all our lunches. Saves a lot of time
and money.
6. It gets COLD. Although parts of your trip may be warm enough, don't necessarily count on being able to swim.
7. Keep in mind how crowds tend to move, and plan accordingly. For instance, if you're in Frontierland and want to get to Tomorrowland and it's a half hour to fireworks show, the hub is going to be packed - it would seriously be faster to go through Liberty Square/Fantasyland. Remember that lines for things will be much longer 15 mins after a firework show ends or a Fantasmic show lets out, and that the best time to ride things might be during one of these shows. Spaceship Earth is packed in the morning but empty in the evening, etc... you know, the usual tricks, but they become much more important to observe during New Years.
8. Parks DO often get shut down for capacity in the early afternoon. For that reason, you would find it more desirable to enter in the morning or later afternoon than around the noon area. Seeing as the evening EMHs are outstanding ways to see the parks, perhaps consider sleeping in and entering in the mid-afternoon, and staying til closing. We entered the Magic Kingdom on the 30th a few years back at around 6pm, and were able to comfortably stay til 3am - and we ended up doing 13 attractions that night. We agreed that this was one of the best ways we've ever done the MK.
9. There is NOTHING wrong with taking a "day off" and sitting around the hotel/riding the monorail or Friendship boats around property for a day. Your feet will thank you, and it gives time for your patience to recover for the next day (the hotels are much less crowded than the theme parks
)
10. Despite what my advice here might make it sound like, it really is an amazing experience. Watching Cinderella Castle change colors in time to music, or the Fountain of Nations performing nonstop for the entire day is something I love being able to witness every year. I'm sure you'll enjoy it too! :wave:
