Epcot on New Years Eve

One Lil Spark

EPCOT Center Defender
I was in EPCOT on NYE 2001 (ringing in 2002) and the park was open until after the fireworks were over I believe. I think they wrapped up all the future world and rides before midnight so that everyone could commune around and see the fireworks. People were calling their spots along the railings and such for the fireworks 4-6 hours in advance. Rides were still packed to hour minimum wait times even with everyone staking out their property to watch the fireworks.

Good luck!
 
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surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
The official time is 1 am, with Illuminations at 7:30 and 11:40.


Right on. The first Illuminations is standard, the second has a whole slew of NYE fireworks and a special tribute to NYE at each country surrounding World Showcase.

The rides stay open until park closing and the lines empty. I remember that, near park closing, they keep the wait times at something ridiculous like 125mins to discourage Guests entering, but if you enter you may be surprised to find a line less than 15. Test Track and Mission Space, for example, were walk-ons in 2003 at the tail end of the night.
 
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surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
When we went on new years eve we ended up leaving at 9pm because of the heaviest rain we had ever seen!!!

Must have been 2002 ringing in 2003!! We left Epcot too b/c it was the HEAVIEST and STEADIEST continuous rainfall we had ever seen. Epcot was under water. We left around 930 and celebrated at the covered Aruba bus stop at Caribbean Beach (which is really just across the street from Epcot--so we saw the fireworks and heard the music to boot!)

But, I must say, much better in person...but it was raining so darn hard!!!
 
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