The Inside Scoop on Spending New Years Eve at Disney World
Celebrating the coming of the New Year at Disney World is nothing short of magical. Imagine ringing in the new year at the happiest place on earth! Each of the parks have special events to take part in this for this huge party. The New Year’s celebration at Disney World is so big that it is advised to get to your favorite park as soon as possible because the parks close once they reach capacity. Once you’re in a park, you should plan on staying there, you are not guaranteed entry to a park just because of Park Hopper passes. Also, if you are staying at a Disney Resort you are guaranteed entrance to a park, but it could be a different one than you were planning if you don’t get there early enough. Dining reservations do not get you entry to the park after your dinner is over, depending on capacity.
Be sure to grab a list of show times as you enter your park, there will be special shows all day long at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is open from 9 A.M. New Year’s Eve, to 1 A.M. New Year’s Day. The big party starts at 7 P.M. I reiterate, get to the park as soon as possible. Also, make sure you have FastPasses to the rides you want to ride the most because certain rides will have lines longer that two hours. There will be a special performance of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, a magical spectacular with holiday music, fireworks, special effects that create awesome projections. There will be a park-wide countdown to midnight, and a special viewing of Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. I would suggest, if you are a Star Wars fan, plan on spending your holiday at Hollywood Studios!
Epcot
Epcot is open from 8 A.M. to 1 A.M. If you’re not brining the kidos, Epcot is a great way to spend your New Year’s Eve. At 6:30 P.M. there will be a special showing of IllumiNations with a holiday finale. At 11:40 P.M. there will be another IllumiNations show with a countdown and fireworks salute to the New Year. Starting at 4:00 P.M. party hats and horns will be distributed while supplies last. You can pick these up at Future World West Disney Performing Arts Stage, Future World East Wonders of Life Pavilion, Wold Showcase The American Adventure by Joffrey’s Coffee. At the Future World Fountain Stage there will be a DJ and light show from 7 P.M to 1 A.M. China Pavilion will have a smoke-blowing dragon. There will be a “Blast to the past” with the British Invasion in the United Kingdom Pavilion. Italy is the place to be for dancing, there will be a Euro-pop DJ and lasers. Sporadic entertainment will be in the American Gardens Theatre, and a Latin band and DJ will be on the American Gardens Stage. In the Japan Pavilion there will be a low-key “Silent Groove” party.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is also open 8 A.M to 1 AM. If you missed Christmas at Disney you will still be able to catch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas parade twice on New Years Eve at 12 P.M. and 3:30 P.M. The Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks will go off at 6:30 P.M, as well as another show in time to ring in the New Year at 11:50 P.M. Take the family over to Frontierland for a New Year’s Celebration Dance Party starting at 7 P.M. and lasting through midnight until the closing of the park at around 1am New Year’s morning. Tomorrowland also has an upbeat Dance Party set to futuristic tunes.
Spending your New Year’s Eve at Disney World is magical no matter what park you choose to celebrate in. Pick a park, stick with it, reserve fast passes, but most importantly, let loose and have a great time ringing in the New Year with the Mouse!
Thinking about spending New Year’s Eve next year at Disney? Get a free quote below from our friends at MickeyTravels!
*Park hours, parades, and fireworks are subject to change
*Photo credit – David Rourke
Special thanks to Emily Shannon for writing this article. Emily Shannon lives fifteen minutes from the happiest place on earth. She grew up going to the parks and has loved Disney all her life.