New Year's Eve Question

[ccarter30]

We will be going to WDW for New Year's Eve for the first time this year. We usually go in early December but that was not going to work out this year. My question is, how crowded will the parks be on NYE?Does WDW do anything special for NYE or would we be better off going to Universal that night instead? It will just be me, my mom, and my boyfriend so we are all adults. Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks! :wave:

 

[menamechris]

What park would you go to? There will be insane crowds at all the parks, but the entertainment offerings will vary from park to park. Unfortunately, Universal will not be much different, and may have a more rowdy crowd.

 

[ccarter30]

At this point we aren't sure what park we are going to. We are just looking for the park that will be the least crowded but still fun for NYE.

 

[menamechris]

Your best bet may be Epcot. The crowds disperse probably the best there. Magic Kingdom is crazy, but probably the most festive if you can get in. DJ at the castle stage at night, and they pipe in party music throughout the park as opposed to the usual themed land music. I have gone several years on NYE...but just mentally prepare yourself, and go to have a fun time, not ride a lot of rides.

 

[timeman]

Epcot is probably the best park to go to, but if you don't want to go inside a park there are other options. The main three parks offer a New Year's Eve firework show at midnight. If you just want to celebrate the New Year and still see the fireworks at midnight without going inside a park, I would recommend the Boardwalk as you would be able to celebrate there and be able to see the fireworks from both Epcot & Hollywood Studios.

 

[yellowb]

New Year's at Epcot during the day isn't too bad. As the evening progresses, it becomes very difficult to move around certain areas of World Showcase in preparation of the fireworks and most of the celebration drinks are sold there.

 

[Kobe!!]

All park minus EPCOT will hit capacity. EPCOT holds something like 120K so you are good to go there. It will still be crowded as hell but I highly suggest doing MK the night prior, (they do the cast preview) and then EPCOT on the 31st.

 

[stormin]

We went to Hollywood Studios for NYE last year. It was PACKED. I was also standing behind the tape line, and someone in one of those electric scooters ran across my toes, ouch! :fork: Afterwards, we were stuck in the parking lot for about an hour and a half. But it was fun. We also hit Magic Kingdom on the eve of New Year's Eve, beautiful firework display. :sohappy:

 

[jensenrick]

Well, Disney used to have amazing NYE celebrations with big name acts at a certain location in Downtown Disney, but . . . . that's gone now.

As you are all adults, if you are open to Universal, that is definitely something to look into. They always have big name entertainment (last year was Smash Mouth and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), dancing until 2am, and an unlimited buffet with stuff like prime rib and shrimp, plus a champagne toast at midnight.

Unfortunately, I'm usually working the night shift on NYE so I haven't been, but I definitely want to go. Hopefully this year with my BF.

 

[whitethunder]

We went to MK this past year for new's year eve and it was so amazing. We were extremely lucky that we were able to get in as late as we did. I think they were in a Phase 3 closing at the time. Once we got in we picked a spot in the castle hub and stuck it out the best we could.

It was an amazing night. The crowd was wild, but honestly I plan on doing it every year I can from now on. 360 degrees of fireworks is hard to dislike.

I'll give Disney this, they know how to move some people around. We were out of the park and at our car, within 45 minutes. Combination of walking through the stores, and moving with purpose helps. We got into the boat line for the TTC, as painful as it was it still was better than the monorail wait.

I would take the pain and suffering of the crowds to do this, especially if you don't know you'll be back. You have to experience it at least once in MK.

 

[sgtmgd]

another benefit was the MK was open 1 January til 3AM for park guests..I went to grad night in 86...so it had been along time since Id been in the parks that late..was fantastic..NO lines...on any ride...down righ eerie at times as lighting is poor in places...but what a blast we had trolling around