Celebrations at Walt Disney World can be extra magical. And because so many people feel this way, it will also be extra crowded. New Year’s Eve is no exception. New Year’s Day, however, is a different story. Read on to find out why!
From New Year’s Eve parties at resorts and restaurants to special fireworks displays, Disney World will be buzzing with activity. To find out what special event is right for your family, check out this page. Our favorites, especially when the kids are small, include the early countdown and fireworks displays. Our kids got to participate in the countdown to the new year (at about 6:30pm) and then get to bed at a somewhat reasonable hour. It’s a win-win for parents for small children. Check out the times guide for each park when you check into your resort.
Prepare yourself. It will be crowded. Very crowded. It will not be surprising to hear that parks have reached capacity and no one else, even if you are staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resorts, will be allowed in. Get to your park of choice early and do not plan on using a park hopper option on this day. Plan on staying in your park of choice for the entire day. For more tips on how to handle crowds, click here. Now is the time to enjoy the less popular attractions and settle in for some people-watching before the parade. A slower pace will keep everyone relaxed and happy on what can be a chaotic day and night.
That said, New Year’s Day, especially early in the day, will be VERY manageable. As long as you get there early, you will walk onto most of the attractions. We visited Animal Kingdom on New Year’s Day last year and had the place to ourselves. We walked-on all of the high-ticket attractions until about noon, riding multiple times. It was relaxing and oh-so enjoyable. We have had similar experiences with the other parks, as well, in previous years. New Year’s Day is a great day to do Disney.
Park Hours For New Year’s Eve 2015
Magic Kingdom – 8am-2am (Extra Magic Hours 7am-8am)
EPCOT – 8am-1am
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 8am-12am (Extra Magic Hours 12a-2am)
Animal Kingdom – 8am-9pm
Park Hours for New Year’s Day 2016
Magic Kingdom – 8am-1am (Extra Magic Hours 7am-8am)
EPCOT – 8am-9pm (Extra Magic Hours 9pm-11pm)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 8am-11pm
Animal Kingdom – 8am-8pm
If you plan on eating a sit-down meal any time during New Year’s Eve or Day, plan on making those dining reservations early. Very early. As in, 180 days in advance. As you can imagine, Disney World restaurants are fully booked for New Year’s Eve. Plan accordingly!
What could be better than celebrating the New Year at Walt Disney World. And with the proper planning, you can make it a magical time!
