But you would 100% be fine at HS! I have been in HS on random evenings that were busier. Even around the theatre at midnight was crowded but comfortable.
I may send in a write up for Len and Chris, but I would argue that going to MK on the 30th and HS on the 31st gets you two days ofnMVMCP and Jollywood light, for the price of admission, with high but manageable crowds. The two things missing are photopass and character meets.
NYE at EPCOT is its own thing and there is no other way to experience it except navigating the crowds.
Someday I would like to see EPCOT New Year’s. I just have to be prepared because of my dislike of crowds. This is one reason I bought my small Beach Club contract! Rope dropping HS by car, taking a break by Disney transportation ans having my car near the entrance at the end of the day was perfect. The toughest thing was getting into Beach Club because of the line of Ubers trying to get in.
We had a great time! We love HS and it was DD15’s first “night out” for New Year’s.
I’ll just add a few notes. One thing that was nice was the ability to continue usinf our LL until midnight. That let us get good use out of the MP, and to space out experiences with the rides.
Disney brought in a lot of entertainment from Jollywood. In addition to the tireless DJ in the main plaza, the Pixar Place dance party was in full swing - along with Pixar characters. They had the Tip Top Club at TOT. When we walked up there was a Frank Sinatra cover band playing, some character actors dancing in the crowd - to my complete delight. They also had a station with specialty food and drinks. I got a very reasonably prices glass of champagne (sorry for the bad photo)
There was also at least one brass band playing around the park and roaming Fab Five characters in their New Year’s finest. They ran Fantasmic 2-3 times. I was suprised by the 9:30 showing - which was either the 2nd or 3rd.
Galaxy’s Edge had their “random” characters until late - I loved seeing the new little droid (this is Shrek, she is very sweet)
The fireworks are not much. But DD and DH are not fireworks people, so these were the absolutely perfect amount for ringing in the New Years, while singing Auld Lang Syne at midnight, after enjoying the best park on the East Coast, in its full glory.
They moved the Uber pick up out to the parking lot to clear out the portico. That works for everyone except returning guests. The very tired CM directing traffic was so suprised to that I was trying to park!
So not WDW but I did spend NYE 2009/10 in DCA. It was fun! Less crowded than DL. We were given party hats and noisemakers, there were DJ’s of live music in different spots around the park. My family got tired though and at the stroke of midnight I was watching the FW’s from our room while everyone else was asleep
We were also in UOR for NYE in 2016/17. We had moved from WDW that day and we actually went to be early to get sleep and have a pretty empty park at open on the 1st! It worked too and we had a good 2-3 hours before the crowds really showed up.
You could not pay me to willingly submit myself to that type of crowd for any situation or event. Just no. I went to Hershey for the Kiss Raise for NYE 2019/2020 and that tested my patience. And a (admittedly famous) small town in central PA crowd is not going to hold a candle to a Disney park crowd.
However, if I didn’t mind the crowd, I’d do EPCOT for NYE.
They attach a giant Hershey’s Kiss to the side of the Hershey Press Building and raise it up. I’m guessing because dropping it down to street level would be anti-climactic. Plus having it sit at street level all night before it moves means everyone can take photos with it.
