Today’s episode was about New Year’s Eve in the parks! There was lots of interesting discussion about what to do, how to manage time and crowds, and entertainment options.
Which of the following describes your position on New Year’s Eve at WDW?
I have been to WDW on NYE and would do it again
I have been to WDW on NYE and will NOT do it again
I would spend every NYE at WDW if I could
I would like to try NYE at WDW once
I will NEVER go to WDW on NYE
Other
0voters
If you were in WDW today, where would you be at midnight?
My family was at EPCOT for New Year’s Eve 2018-19. We loved it. My husband, who is not even the big Disney lover in the family, asked if we could do it again this year. I tried to plan it but couldn’t make it work but we will do it again sometime. I also would have voted for doing it every year if I could have.
Edited to add to the 2nd poll - I WILL be in HS tonight. Excited because they have bands, DJs, and random characters, and hopefully smaller crowds than the other two parks
If it were part of a larger trip, one that started, say, 12/30, and headed into January (and hopefully lower crowds) I would like to see the NYE experience. But I don’t think I could go expressly for that kind of intense crowd. I’ve never been in a park on a holiday.
I’d love to be at DHS as late as possible. It is my favorite, so staying to MN would be excellent.
HAVE SO MUCH FUN @heathernoel !!
I was at Epcot on 12/31/2004 with our two sons, 14+ and newly 19. DH stayed at our hotel (a bit unwell), POFQ. I don’t remember much about the midnight fireworks, but I sure remember the crowd of people leaving the park (front entrance) afterwards! I was so thankful my oldest son was tall, and I could spot him in the crowd just ahead of me when I ended up lagging several paces behind. Very vivid mental image to this day!
I was glad we did that, but I’d much rather just spend New Year’s Eve - as well as Christmas and the whole Christmas break - at home. When I do Disney dressed up for the holidays, I go in the first week or two of December.
We were at WDW on December 31, 2023. We did the day at AK and then headed to Sanaa for a NYE dinner and to see the animals on the savannah. Fantastic day and were back at Pop and in bed before midnight to rope drop Epcot the next morning.
For whether to experience WDW at NYE I picked “other” mainly because I’m totally undecided as to whether I would ever do it or not. That level of crowded does not sound fun to me. But perhaps in the right year I would give it a go.
I for sure would be at my resort at midnight though.
We were there for NYE in 2019 as part of a longer trip. Epcot was fun and festive and not really that crowded. We easily watched the fireworks at midnight from right by the International Gateway, walked quickly out when they ended and got on one of the first boats. We stayed at the Swan or Dolphin so it was easy.
When we were at MK on the day AFTER New Years, it was so crowded, I vowed I would never be back during that time. It was insanity. And we got into the park for free (thanks to a family member)…but you literally couldn’t pay me to be there during that time of year again.
Yesterday at MK the lines were terrible and LL was gone by midday, but it didn’t feel crazy crowded. I went during MVMCP on a non-party day and that day felt way more crowded moving through the park. But, based on the wait times, it may have also been the way we toured was zigging while others zagged. Then again you could get a prime spot in Frontierland for the Christmas 15 mins before the parade, so who knows.
All in all, I would say the day beforw New Years is a great day to be in MK. Four parade showings of two different parades, all the streetmospher, and two showings of the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
I’m the oddball. If I were in The Bubble tonight, I’d be in Magic Kingdom. Cinderella Castle is my Times Square. I’ve done it ringing out 1991. I did it ringing out 2014. I don’t do it anymore just because of Marathon Weekend.
Yes I know it’s crazy. Yes I know there’s a mass of humanity in there. Yes I know the lines for everything from rides to merch to even bathrooms will be crazy long. But I go in expecting this, so anything less than an abject clusterf— is a win.
I’ve been in the World on the 4th, Thanksgiving, Labor Day and maybe some others I’ve forgotten - but no December holidays. Adding NYE doesn’t seem so farfetched.
An Epcot area resort would be nice. Or maybe a park view at Contemporary/Bay Lake.
