New Year's at Disneyland Resort

[shosh1530]

We are planning a last minute trip to DLR for New Year's. I've tried searching other posts for info but am not finding much.

The plans is to fly in early morning on 12/31 and do DCA, then visit DL on 1/1. We have the Disneyland Hotel booked from the 31st-2nd and then will visit Universal before flying home 1/4.

I know to expect large crowds. We've been to DL several times so the goal is to enjoy the special holiday things and get on just a few of our fave rides. It is just me and my 12-year-old DS.

Some questions:
- It looks like WOC happens early on 12/31. I just booked the second dessert party starting at 7:15 pm. I'm surprised there were still openings. Is it early because there is another event later?
- Looking at the event calendar there is a parade in DCA. I haven't found anything online about it. Is it worthwhile? Do you have to show up way in advance to get a decent view?
- I was hoping to set an alert for a Plaza Inn Dining package for the Holiday parade in DL on 1/1, but it looks like those end on 12/30. Are they replace with any other kind of packages? I've tried searching for New Year packages but not finding anything.
-Any recommendations on where to watch the NYE fireworks from outside DL? Either from within DCA, at the Disneyland Hotel, or somewhere else accessible?

Would love to also hear about favorite holiday things not to be missed!

 

[Pluto468]

We are planning a last minute trip to DLR for New Year's. I've tried searching other posts for info but am not finding much.

The plans is to fly in early morning on 12/31 and do DCA, then visit DL on 1/1. We have the Disneyland Hotel booked from the 31st-2nd and then will visit Universal before flying home 1/4.

I know to expect large crowds. We've been to DL several times so the goal is to enjoy the special holiday things and get on just a few of our fave rides. It is just me and my 12-year-old DS.

Some questions:
- It looks like WOC happens early on 12/31. I just booked the second dessert party starting at 7:15 pm. I'm surprised there were still openings. Is it early because there is another event later?
- Looking at the event calendar there is a parade in DCA. I haven't found anything online about it. Is it worthwhile? Do you have to show up way in advance to get a decent view?
- I was hoping to set an alert for a Plaza Inn Dining package for the Holiday parade in DL on 1/1, but it looks like those end on 12/30. Are they replace with any other kind of packages? I've tried searching for New Year packages but not finding anything.
-Any recommendations on where to watch the NYE fireworks from outside DL? Either from within DCA, at the Disneyland Hotel, or somewhere else accessible?

Would love to also hear about favorite holiday things not to be missed!

I like watching the fireworks from the Esplenade if I'm not in the park, or from DTD. Some people like to watch from the Mickey and Friends structure but that's a trek. Actually, we were surprised how well we could see the DL fireworks from Carsland.

My favorite thing at the holidays is just all the decorations, and the castle. It's all so bright and pretty and magical

Have a great trip!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

- It looks like WOC happens early on 12/31. I just booked the second dessert party starting at 7:15 pm. I'm surprised there were still openings. Is it early because there is another event later?

I don't know why the early times for WOC. If I had to hazard a guess, it's because they expect people to be at Disneyland or outside DCA later in the night to watch the 9 PM and midnight fireworks shows. In the past, DCA used to do a special midnight show too, but maybe not this these days. Just an FYI, if you have a 7:15 PM dessert party booking, I think that means the WOC show itself begins at 8:15 PM.

 

[pharmama]

- Looking at the event calendar there is a parade in DCA. I haven't found anything online about it. Is it worthwhile? Do you have to show up way in advance to get a decent view?

If you're referring to the "Mickey's Happy Holidays" I wouldn't put a whole lot of effort into this. It's just a bunch of characters in their holiday costumes walking the parade route. No floats or anything and no one really lines up or stakes out spots in advance. It's cute enough but more of a watch them walk by if you are near the parade route kind of thing.

-Any recommendations on where to watch the NYE fireworks from outside DL? Either from within DCA, at the Disneyland Hotel, or somewhere else accessible?

I discovered by accident a couple weeks ago that they pipe in the fireworks music to the lawn area of the DLH grounds that is near the smaller gazebo (not the rose court) sort of between Frontier tower and the walkway up to DTD. It's not the greatest view though you can certainly see the 'sky' stuff. I'm not sure if they will do this for the NYE fireworks but it might be a quieter area to view them if so (unless the area is being used for a private event).

 

[heisenmickey20]

they have not released any info on the plaza inn dining packages, and at this point i dont know if theyre even doing that this year.

 

[shosh1530]

they have not released any info on the plaza inn dining packages, and at this point i dont know if theyre even doing that this year.

Thanks for the info! Interesting. Seems so unlike Disney to miss an opportunity to make more money! I set a dining alert just in case they do open.

 

[ParkHopper1]

The midnight show at WOC is so much more fun than the DL fireworks…that one is a no brainer IMO if you have DCA tickets on 12/31

 

[shosh1530]

The midnight show at WOC is so much more fun than the DL fireworks…that one is a no brainer IMO if you have DCA tickets on 12/31

Do they always have it? I don't see it listed in the events on the calendar. And do you think it is too much to do WOC Season of Light earlier in the evening and the midnight event? Is it something you need to gather early for to be able to see?

 

[RoseColored97]

Woo!! We're going to be there on NYE, too. I couldn't find anything on the Plaza Inn fireworks viewing, so I think they possibly are not having it this year? The reviews were not great the previous years due to various obstruction so that might be the reason.

We're getting so excited! We planned this so long ago, I can't believe we're already going in less than a week!

 

[ParkHopper1]

Do they always have it? I don't see it listed in the events on the calendar. And do you think it is too much to do WOC Season of Light earlier in the evening and the midnight event? Is it something you need to gather early for to be able to see?

Yup…every year. It is usually listed something low key but it is the best way to spend NYE when they fire off the full show.

We typically do just that…earlier WOC then midnight show…it has been hit or miss past years if they do WOC after the midnight countdown.

Past few years you can get a good spot even last min arrival cuz everyone “thinks” they wanna be in DL Park for the countdown.

 

[Tanya Tink]

The midnight show at WOC is so much more fun than the DL fireworks…that one is a no brainer IMO if you have DCA tickets on 12/31

Do you think it’s worth having a park hopper ticket and starting at Disneyland park and then heading over to DCA?

 

[Tanya Tink]

Does anyone have any other tips/recommendations for next New Year’s Eve at Disneyland?? Particularly with kids.

 

[Tanya Tink]

Yup…every year. It is usually listed something low key but it is the best way to spend NYE when they fire off the full show.

We typically do just that…earlier WOC then midnight show…it has been hit or miss past years if they do WOC after the midnight countdown.

Past few years you can get a good spot even last min arrival cuz everyone “thinks” they wanna be in DL Park for the countdown.

Have you done the Plaza Inn fireworks package on NYE or do you just stick to DCA?

 

[ParkHopper1]

Do you think it’s worth having a park hopper ticket and starting at Disneyland park and then heading over to DCA?

Yes!...that is what we traditionally do...start the day in DL then as crowds build cuz everyone thinks they wanna be in DL Park for NYE we dip out for DCA.

 

[Tanya Tink]

Yes!...that is what we traditionally do...start the day in DL then as crowds build cuz everyone thinks they wanna be in DL Park for NYE we dip out for DCA.

Do you recommend park hopping over to DCA with little kids as well? Is it still pretty little kid friend over there later at night?

 

[ParkHopper1]

Do you recommend park hopping over to DCA with little kids as well? Is it still pretty little kid friend over there later at night?

Absolutely if for noting else it is less packed and you can actually move around, enjoy the parks, and still have a great party vibe as you approach midnight vs being packed in like sardines with a bunch of crabby people that are determined to make it to midnight after a full park day camped out on main street for hours cuz that is where they think they wanna be on the DL side! The Midnight show is also more fun IMO at DCA.

DL NEY entertainment tends to be a bit more classical Disney where DCA is a tad more contemporary modern music but still very much kid friendly...I know that adults seem happier on the DCA side!