I haven't been to Epcot on NYE, being as MK is my fave park and always picked MK. So while I can't really answer the question, I did want to give my thoughts on the crowd situation. That is, IMO, the horror stories that you hear about the crowds are actually not that bad if you have a good strategy and know how to handle the crowds.
People often complain about the crowds on New Years Eve, but I've been to MK now for 3 years in a row on New Years Eve and had a fantastic time. In fact, my single-day MK record for most attractions experienced in a day was on New Years Eve!
The trick is to get there bright and early when the park opens. Not only will you then not have to worry about getting shut out because the park hit capacity, but you'll also have the park pretty much to yourself the first couple of hours! The effect is like surfing a wave of walk-ons and one can get much more done the first two hours than one could do in two mid-day hours. You can also start collecting Fastpasses early while they still have quick return times, and save them for later in the day or at night when the park is a zoo.
When the park is jam-packed with people after the first few hours, you've already gotten many of the attractions in, and can relax and enjoy things like the TTA, Riverboat, CoP, Railroad, Tom Sawyer Island, Country Bear Jamboree, Tiki Room, etc., which still won't have humongous waits even on this busiest of days. It's also a great day to see the Christmas parade twice since it's the final 2 performances until next year.
I've never NOT been able to do every attraction in the MK on New Years Eve by getting there early, and also have always been able to do the entire Christmas-themed entertainment package.
I absolutely love the Fantasy In the Sky fireworks show, where Mickey and the gang count down to the New Year complete with numbers in the sky. It's also a good night to catch the last performance until next season of Holiday Wishes.
As soon as the fireworks are over, the masses head for the exit, but the rides stay open until 2AM (at least that was the closing time the last 3 years). So I celebrate the New Year by getting my first rides of the New Year on several favorites. Rides which had HUGE lines just a few hours earlier are often total walk-ons the last hour. Usually by the time the park has closed I've not only experienced EVERY attraction in the park at least once, but had time for ENCORES on at least my TOP HALF of the park's attractions. All of this done at a leisurely pace thanks to being on time for morning rope drop and the magic of Fastpass. If Fastpass did not exist, the huge crowds in the park would likely negate much of the time advantage gained by such a long operating day. But with Fastpass, the sheer volume of operating hours in the day allows for more to be experienced than on a 9AM - 8PM day in January with relatively no crowds in the park.
After lingering on Main Street to savor the atmosphere and beautiful Christmas music loop, I usually board the ferry or monorail around 3 AM after a long but very satisfying day!
and have been there many times before. Can't wait:sohappy:
