New Year's Eve

[DonaldDoleWhip]

For the first time, we are going to WDW during the holiday time period. We saw this special on FoodNetwork (GF gingerbread house :slurp: ) and decided that we had to check it out for once. We won't be there for Christmas, but will be there for New Year's Eve.

We do not like Wishes, but we love IllumiNations.

1. Is WDW just as crowded for New Year as it is for Christmas?
2. Which is more crowded on New Year's Eve, MK or Epcot?
3. What exactly is different about Wishes/IllumiNations?

Thanks for your help.

Random:
Is Crystal Palace good for dinner? The menu looks great.

 

[Master Yoda]

1. I would say more crowded for New Years
2. Both parks can easily hit capacity by noon.(Which means if you are not in the park you don't get in.)
3. The first part is pretty much the same with an additional sequence at the end.

 

[goofyfan13]

For the first time, we are going to WDW during the holiday time period. We saw this special on FoodNetwork (GF gingerbread house :slurp: ) and decided that we had to check it out for once. We won't be there for Christmas, but will be there for New Year's Eve.

We do not like Wishes, but we love IllumiNations.

1. Is WDW just as crowded for New Year as it is for Christmas?
2. Which is more crowded on New Year's Eve, MK or Epcot?
3. What exactly is different about Wishes/IllumiNations?

Thanks for your help.

Random:
Is Crystal Palace good for dinner? The menu looks great.

To answer your questions,
1. Yes, probobly more, the last time I went(2003-2004) all 4 parks closed at around 2 I believe. I'm not sure which phase it was in though.
2. As stated by Yoda, both parks close, but I would say Epcot is probobly more enjoyable, because the walkways are so wide it's not as bad as being crammed like sardines into Main Stree USA.
3. The only thing that varies is how the New Years Eve part varies, both shows are normal until they hit their respective add-ons, then chaos in the sky hits...

I'll be going to Epcot this year, and we're having dinner at Le Cellier, should be a great time. Hope you enjoy your trip, I'm positive you'll enjoy it regardless of what park you pick.

 

[crazydaveh]

The fireworks are fanstastic on NYE at the mouse's house, but if you go, take the info provided by the others seriously and be ready for a lot of people!

I was there two years ago, and it took about 45 minutes to cross the bridge from Main St to Tomorrow Land! Also, after the park closed at 1 AM, there was still about an hour wait to get on the monorail, bus, or ferry back to parking lot!

Just be patient and watch out for the strollers! You'll have a good time.

 

[goofyfan13]

The fireworks are fanstastic on NYE at the mouse's house, but if you go, take the info provided by the others seriously and be ready for a lot of people!

I was there two years ago, and it took about 45 minutes to cross the bridge from Main St to Tomorrow Land! Also, after the park closed at 1 AM, there was still about an hour wait to get on the monorail, bus, or ferry back to parking lot!

Just be patient and watch out for the strollers! You'll have a good time.

Yea, that was a nice thing about Epcot, no monorail on the way out. It was soo busy that year, TT and M:S were about 4 hour waits. Fastpass treated us well that day

 

[MissM]

NYE at MK is a practice in patience and endurance. I went last year. And while it was neat to do, it's not something I plan on doing again any time soon. You have to get there first thing in the morning. Then plan on over an hour from parking lot to gate. Then more people squished in there then you've ever seen. A lot of pushing, a lot of stepped-on toes, a lot of massive, swarming crowds.

It's also an exceptionall looooooong day. You have to realize you're not going to be able to "do" a lot. Everything has 1-2+ hour (or more) waits at least. And plan on staying - if you leave the park, you won't get back in.

You have to be able to relax and just go with it. If you get stressed easily or really hate crowds, NYE is not the place for you.

Here's some photos from last year:
http://www.disney.giveneyestosee.com/nye04

The fireworks are great. And it's neat to be there. But it was like Mardi Gras for me - something I'm glad I did once, but not something I'd want to do year after year.
-m

 

[dumboflyer]

Have great patience! New Years' Eve is CRAZY as others have said!

HOWEVER, I thought that Epcot's fireworks on NYE were AMAZING! I'm going to try MGM this year since I never have before.

About park closings: They won't let people in after there are too many people due to capacity. That being said--they close in phases. First, they don't let any day-guests, then they don't let any park-hopper guests, then they don't let anyone staying at Disney hotels, then they don't let in annual passholders. Get it? In other words, if you've got an annual pass, you're chances of getting in are BETTER but don't bank on it. You'll still probably be out of luck by 2-3 pm.

Crystal Palace? Yes it's good-----always very good! Every meal. I doubt you can get in on NYE-----but try doing it another day of your trip. Call today!

 

[robynchic]

park closings: They won't let people in after there are too many people due to capacity. That being said--they close in phases. First, they don't let any day-guests, then they don't let any park-hopper guests, then they don't let anyone staying at Disney hotels, then they don't let in annual passholders. Get it? In other words, if you've got an annual pass, you're chances of getting in are BETTER but don't bank on it. You'll still probably be out of luck by 2-3 pm.

That's not quite right.

Phase 1: People with single-day passes are no longer permitted in
Phase 2: Only people staying on-property are permitted in
Phase 3: Only people staying on-property are permitted in- AS PEOPLE ARE LEAVING
Phase 4: Completely shut. No one, on- or off-property, is permitted in the parks.

Usually, at Phase 4, they are BEYOND capacity, but not by much...they hope.

 

[Tim G]

That's not quite right.

Phase 1: People with single-day passes are no longer permitted in
Phase 2: Only people staying on-property are permitted in
Phase 3: Only people staying on-property are permitted in- AS PEOPLE ARE LEAVING
Phase 4: Completely shut. No one, on- or off-property, is permitted in the parks.

Usually, at Phase 4, they are BEYOND capacity, but not by much...they hope.

Just try to back to your room then... and return let's say 6pm... they WON'T let you back in... ON or OFF property
WITH or WITHOUT dinner reservation...

 

[robynchic]

Just try to back to your room then... and return let's say 6pm... they WON'T let you back in... ON or OFF property
WITH or WITHOUT dinner reservation...

Come again?

Sorry, but either studying for finals has finally made me start to FORGET how to read, or you forgot a word. I don't know which it is (though I swear, between psychology, health, and math, my eyes are starting to bleed!)

And I wouldn't even try to do that. Besides- chances are that I'll be working those days that are oh-so-important...:brick:

 

[MsSnuzi]

I'll be going to Epcot this year, and we're having dinner at Le Cellier, should be a great time. Hope you enjoy your trip, I'm positive you'll enjoy it regardless of what park you pick.

We also have dinner reservations at Le Cellier on NYE. I'm really looking forward to it - guess I'll have to make sure we get there early. I actually enjoy just sitting and people watching so it should be fun. We are there until the 5th so we should have good luck riding after the crowds leave.

 

[Tim G]

Come again?

Sorry, but either studying for finals has finally made me start to FORGET how to read, or you forgot a word. I don't know which it is (though I swear, between psychology, health, and math, my eyes are starting to bleed!)

And I wouldn't even try to do that. Besides- chances are that I'll be working those days that are oh-so-important...:brick:

But you knew what I meant???

Right!

If not... Sorry...

BTW... At this moment I'm in bed with my laptop where it should be... on my lap...
And because of blurred vision and vertigo it's sometimes hard for me to see the keys at all... (Don't know why on earth am I explaining this to you...)

But the next time I need an editor, I'll give you a call... :lookaroun

 

[robynchic]

I love you, Corrus. But what I was saying is that there are varying degrees of closure, and yes, you won't be able to get back into the parks.

It's funny how outraged people get. "BUT I HAVE A RESERVATION!" So do thousands of other folks. You're just making a little more space for those that hadn't thought about it before...

 

[CrashNet]

Lets see.

1. Walt Disney World's busiest day of the year is New Years Eve. The Magic Kingdom has a capacity of around 60000 by phase 3, with MGM its official overflow park (in other words, if you are turned away from MK, they will suggest going to MGM). Once MGM reaches capacity, you are turned to EPCOT, which personally is a little odd to me because Magic Kingdom might be known for Christmas, but EPCOT is known for New Years. EPCOT has a capacity of around 80000.

2. I guess I already answered this question. EPCOT will generally have more people, but Magic Kingdom will appear to be packed like sardines because the park is so much smaller. Plus, around midnight, everyone is crammed onto Mainstreet USA. EPCOT has a larger capacity (80000) but is also two times the size of Magic Kingdom. Plus, Illuminations can be view all the way around World Showcase.

3. I'm not sure about Magic Kingdom other than the fact that they do the standard Wishes show (which may be Holiday Wishes this year since that is new) at around 11:40 or so to play in with the countdown to the new year. Then, they blow Magic Kingdom up. :lol: EPCOT is personally my favorite, mainly because the show is in the round so its easier to see and the park and display has a much higher pyrotechnics capacity. If you have seen the nightly Holiday tag we do, take that and triple it and you'd have the New Years finale. Now last year they did Illuminations at 7:30 for families and children. At 11:40 they did Illuminations again followed immediately by the countdown to the new year. It was crazy. They shot fireworks all over the lagoon and off of every country. Basically, like Magic Kingdom, they blew up EPCOT. :lol: So where will I be New Years Eve? Working at EPCOT :lol:, but, everything stops around midnight so everyone can watch the fireworks.

 

[robynchic]

People may be surprised by this statistic, but in terms of land area, the Magic Kingdom is the smallest. Epcot has the largest capacity, though, because it has Future World AND the World Showcase...and you get lost there really easily...I've done 2 CPs and been there seasonal twice (3 times starting the 19th!) and I still need a map to get around Epcot!

 

[bgraham34]

You could not pay me enough to goto the parks on New Years Eve. I hate crowds were I can't move around and this is one of those days.

 

[robynchic]

You could not pay me enough to goto the parks on New Years Eve. I hate crowds were I can't move around and this is one of those days.

That's part of why I love it. If it's my entire family, it's meh. But me and one friend- we zip through the crowds like you wouldn't believe!

 

[PhotoDave219]

Quick NYE story..... we camped out in between Norway and Mexico last year.
We got there at 3pm.
By 7 PM you couldnt move on the Showcase, not through our area.

 

[MsSnuzi]

O boy - any suggestions for someone with dinner reservations at 8:30? I planned on getting there early. One person in my party really needs an electric cart - will that be a nightmare?

 

[robynchic]

O boy - any suggestions for someone with dinner reservations at 8:30? I planned on getting there early. One person in my party really needs an electric cart - will that be a nightmare?

To get a decent spot after dinner? Yes. Last year, I had to squeeze in somewhere...and the stupid man in front of me said "Go somewhere else" when I asked if he could scoot over a teeny bit so I could see a little better. This guy was the 6'2" average build type of guy...so of course a 5'0" small-framed girl wouldn't be able to see past him!