NY Eve plans

[GracieKam]

We are pretty sure we are going to spend NY Eve at Epcot and I'd appreciate advice on our tentative plans. We are visiting for my daughters Wish Trip and the other siblings want to see the fireworks so I really want to try to make it work (I've done the best I can to prepare them for the crowds):

If we stay all evening at Epcot for the fireworks, will it make any difference if we had parked at Hollywood Studios earlier in the day (then using park transportation to get to Epcot) and travel back to HS once fireworks are done in regards to how long it takes us to exit the parks...Ive read about nightmare traffic after fireworks end. Or should we just park at Epcot and leave from there? Thanks for any advice!

 

[kmb584]

We are pretty sure we are going to spend NY Eve at Epcot and I'd appreciate advice on our tentative plans. We are visiting for my daughters Wish Trip and the other siblings want to see the fireworks so I really want to try to make it work (I've done the best I can to prepare them for the crowds):

If we stay all evening at Epcot for the fireworks, will it make any difference if we had parked at Hollywood Studios earlier in the day (then using park transportation to get to Epcot) and travel back to HS once fireworks are done in regards to how long it takes us to exit the parks...Ive read about nightmare traffic after fireworks end. Or should we just park at Epcot and leave from there? Thanks for any advice!

Are you staying onsite? If so, I would highly recommend using Disney transportation on NYE as traffic is a living and logistical nightmare. If you absolutely have to drive, I would either plan to spend the entire day at Epcot or move your car when you park hop. The reason that I recommend not hopping is that parking lots can and do fill to capacity.

 

[GracieKam]

Yes, we will be driving (we are staying at Give Kids the World)

 

[CAS239]

I would park the car at Epcot and leave from there. Leaving a park by driving yourself or by disney transportation is going to take a long time. I don't see the sense in waiting in line for a bus to then wait in traffic on the bus just to get to HS then drive yourself. I'd just park at Epcot and drive out from there

 

[glassslippergirl]

On a high capacity day like NYE, I'd just stay in one park all day. Moving from one park to another will be a nightmare any time of day. Don't worry about have enough to do to fill the day in one park-- the crowds will see to that. If at all possible, when the fireworks are over, just find a place to sit for a while and let the crowds file out. Getting out of the parking lot will be much more manageable if you do.

I've spent a NYE in WDW, and it is the most memorable NYe I've ever had. I hope your whole family enjoys the wish trip.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would definitely want my car at Epcot at the end of the night if I was to drive - also be sure everyone is set to go before you exit! Use the restroom and maybe even grab some water/snacks or have them in the car as the traffic is crazy.

If you do need/want to spend some time at HS earlier in the day then just take the boat from Epcot WS to HS and back so you can avoid that traffic.

We have been at Epcot the past 5 or so NYE and looking forward to it again this year but we always stay onsite.

 

[lullwater]

The diaspora after New Year’s Eve is massive. Might be easier to walk from Epcot to a parked car at Hollywood Studio. Forget driving if at all possible. Use Disney transportation to get back to the resort.

 

[tjmw2727]

The diaspora after New Year’s Eve is massive. Might be easier to walk from Epcot to a parked car at Hollywood Studio. Forget driving if at all possible. Use Disney transportation to get back to the resort.

I thought about that as well - but the OP mentioned a wish trip so I wasn't sure if walking would be an option and I don't know how crowded the boats would be back to HS at park close. The more I thought about it the more I thought it would be a wash and having the car at Epcot would be a win/ even if they had to wait a bit in Epcot before departing.

PS - have a great time, we will also be in Epcot on NYE

 

[CAS239]

Left Epcot directly after the fireworks this past nye and it took us about 20 min to leave the parking lot. Traffic was very slow with everyone merging together.

The traffic for MK in the morning and at night is the worst. Morning at Epcot traffic was like any other day.

 

[Accident]

I'd probably move my car and pay for preferred at epcot. The trip to get back to the car after NYE fireworks is probably going to be longer than waiting around epcot lot to exit it.

EDIT TO ADD:

Actually, I'd probably prefer park my car in epcot and transportation it to HS and boat back to epcot later in the night. IIRC there is a bus that goes from epcot to HS but I'm not sure if that's running if epcot is actually opened.

 

[Sonnyeclipse]

For those of you that went to Epcot last night, how was it? We are going to WDW for Xmas next year and I want to do Epcot on NYE. We will be staying DVC and Wilderness Lodge so I'm concerned about how long it will take to get out of the park and back there.

 

[Gehrig1B]

Last night (NYE) we did what you are proposing to do. We were between Norway and Mexico, waited about 15 minutes visiting after the midnight fireworks. We used a Disney bus to get us back to Wilderness Lodge and arrived a few minutes before 2:00 am.

Exiting was a real chore as we were herded through a backlot and it took every bit of 40 minutes to get out.

 

[supersnoop]

Two years ago, we watched the fireworks between Canada and the U.K. Afterwards, we headed for the exit and hopped on the monorail to the TTC. We transferred to the resort monorail and arrived back in our room at BLT by 12:30. I was amazed at how quickly and efficiently we made it back to our resort.

 

[Disneylover99]

For those of you that went to Epcot last night, how was it? We are going to WDW for Xmas next year and I want to do Epcot on NYE. We will be staying DVC and Wilderness Lodge so I'm concerned about how long it will take to get out of the park and back there.

Last night at Epcot was awesome! We didn't try to exit the park til about 1am and we were back at our resort before 2am. We waited and watched the masses leave.

 

[HopperFan]

Went thinking it would be insane and a bucket list check, never to return again. BUT I'm ready to do it again. We arrived around 12:30 pm via bus and buzzed right through bag check and security. I only had to wait a couple minutes to upgrade my AP (was blocked out). I used the AP Only Gate and it actually was well marked, with humans and ... we got through the same time as our non-AP friend, oh well. Of course as soon as we entered we knew it was crowded beyond any day we had ever been with Spaceship Earth line.


- Soarin' FP+ line was being sent in the back of the land, via a path next to Imagination and out toward the front of the land. YIKES!
- We wandered to check out the firework viewing areas in FutureWorld and extra bathrooms etc, deciding that we would not view from there
- We went to Canada to get our Happy Birthday Canada pins, no issues being non-Canadians
- To get a visual, the area all through Canada was even full of people
- We checked out all the fenced spaces (they opened at 4)
- We decided to eat at Electric Umbrella around 2 pm since it looked manageable
- By time we finished there was HUGE line out the door to plaza (good move)
- We wandered through MouseGears to check out newest merchandise
- By now it was close enough to 4 that we headed to WoL Pavilion for Hats/Horns
- Sat about 30 minutes (rest whenever you can) and were the first let in to get ours
- Being first they took our pictures
- Time to head to World Showcase and the masses
- Note Ride Wait Times were CRAZY, FEA got up to 5 hours
- Got some photopass pics, beer and pretzel
- Walked the circle to get an idea of what was out there and coming
- By 3 pm people were camping around the lagoon about 5 feet deep
- By 6 pm people were camping about 8 feet deep which was inside the masking tape line
- They had blankets, food, board games, cards ....... and pillows as some were sleeping.
- WHY? They missed the whole night except for fireworks ...
- Never saw so many sleeping .... on the grassy areas from time we walked in ??
- Watched first Illuminations from Italy area
- We tried the blinking bowl drinks from France - high school cranberry drink but the glass was so COOL
- England had their regular AWESOME band and mixed in with StarWars DJ = AWESOME time there
- China had a great dance party with fire blasting in the sky run by Disney technicians and they did great
- Japan had a Silent DJ Dance party. WEIRD to watch and everyone looked SO AWKWARD. We passed.
- Italy had DJ with basically electronic music and tons of lasers .... our favorite
- We watched NYE Fireworks from England hoping to use the backstage lane there
- Illuminations, then this great unexpected to me, display of fireworks at each country in order they did NYE
- Countdown and then this finale that I felt like we could touch. WOW WOW WOW
- THEN we waited 25 minutes before giving up on bypass (they shut before fireworks)
- Since countries had fireworks go off back there they had to clear it.
- Knew then after 25 minutes we would be in trouble at bus depot so
- Went out International Gateway
- We walked to DHS passing the dance party at BW
- Got on the next bus (10 minutes or so) = COACH bus, yes!
- We were in bed by 1:15 even with our wait and walk.

Drunks? = minimal and honestly saw none I would say had too much. Aside from prices, lines were crazy long and not worth it. This was nothing at all compared to Food & Wine on a Saturday night. Not even a factor, at all. and we walked the World twice.

Bathrooms? = Really depended on where you were. I heard some stories of nasty in FutureWorld and am guessing since many folks seemed to be just camping up there and not participating in the rest of the park, maybe those few in that area were taxed. We waited about 15 minutes in Germany and it was super clean, CM working the inside and nicer than a regular day. Later on I went out the International Gateway (with promise I'd get back in) to the bathroom and was only one in it. Key was don't wait until you have to go bad, see a shorter line - just go.

Biggest negative? = Lines for food and drinks. Why they didn't bring just the carts with taps or ice chests (they were all over DS) and place then all around I don't know. They set up a few extra food lines and even to late in the night they had huge lines. They loss income by making it too hard to get any drinks, even water, and food/snacks.

Yes the line goes to Imagination, back past bathrooms, in to the back of The Land, which was behind me.

ITALY Dance Party short video

http://vid50.photobucket.com/albums/f306/bmozmumy/5605309A-E9AF-4C7A-867C-FD9AE4F61C3B.mp4

 

[yulilin3]

@HopperFan loved the report. It's pretty addicting isn't it? Nothing like NYE at Epcot.
Love the "Star Wars DJ" DJ Elliot is probably the best dj on Disney property, you can also find him at DS and he works for all the mega nerd conventions
It sounds like you had an awesome idea on what to expect, no real plans to ride anything and had a good time

 

[HopperFan]

@HopperFan loved the report. It's pretty addicting isn't it? Nothing like NYE at Epcot.
Love the "Star Wars DJ" DJ Elliot is probably the best dj on Disney property, you can also find him at DS and he works for all the mega nerd conventions
It sounds like you had an awesome idea on what to expect, no real plans to ride anything and had a good time

Yes, DS said from now on it's home or Epcot for NYE ... he's now past that wanting to go out and mad party.

Oh yeah, we've enjoyed him many times so we were excited when he came out! DS yelled "DJ ELLIOT" and the dancing began.

Yup, NO rides, just wander, explore, snack, people watch .... dance and see the fireworks.

 

[HopperFan]

@HopperFan loved the report. It's pretty addicting isn't it? Nothing like NYE at Epcot.
Love the "Star Wars DJ" DJ Elliot is probably the best dj on Disney property, you can also find him at DS and he works for all the mega nerd conventions
It sounds like you had an awesome idea on what to expect, no real plans to ride anything and had a good time

OH and THANK YOU for all your info and tips. I had screenshot them and had them on my phone.

 

[Sonnyeclipse]

@HopperFan Thank you for the report. It gives me a great idea what to expect next year. Good idea walking over to DHS and getting the bus from there. I will probably try that one.

 

[HopperFan]

@HopperFan Thank you for the report. It gives me a great idea what to expect next year. Good idea walking over to DHS and getting the bus from there. I will probably try that one.

It will be good for a few years. They had the SW Fireworks go off at midnight but being the park is in "evolvement" I don't imagine it was too crowded. When we got over there hardly anyone was still walking out. Once the other lands are done, that might become more popular to be at as well.