Our information to celebrating New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World covers our suggestions & tips for ringing in 2023 within the parks, seeing the large fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, having fun with dance events, and extra. There’s a cause WDW is among the finest locations have fun NYE and on many bucket lists, however that additionally means colossal crowds. (Updated December 19, 2022.)
Since Walt Disney World can also be one of many busiest locations on the planet for New Year’s Eve, we additionally present concepts for protecting sane within the crowds and avoiding them to the best extent attainable. Year after 12 months, this is among the busiest days at Walt Disney World, with many points of interest have 2-hour plus wait instances. You may even wait in line 30+ minutes for a restroom or restaurant for those who don’t plan correctly.
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World to have fun the beginning of 2023 and are on the lookout for methods to keep away from the crowds, and for the perfect expertise on New Year’s Eve, this put up is right here that can assist you out. We’ve finished NYE at WDW a number of instances, together with final 12 months. For probably the most half, we’ve had a blast at Walt Disney World on NYE–you simply want acceptable expectations and to do Magic Kingdom and EPCOT within the “right” order…
The excellent news is that New Year’s Eve is again in (virtually) full power at Walt Disney World. Last 12 months introduced the return of particular pyro shows and dance events at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. This 12 months continues that development, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios as soon as once more doing extra to ring in 2023 with a bang.
At EPCOT, have fun the evening away on December 31 with DJ dance events round World Showcase within the Italy, Japan, China, and United Kingdom pavilions. Enjoy Harmonious at 6:30 pm earlier than “Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration” kicks off its international countdown at 11:54 pm.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there will likely be a high-energy DJ dance get together in entrance of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway on December 31. You’ll additionally be capable to dance into 2023 with a scorching countdown second.
There’s no official phrase on fireworks or pyro, but when there’s any at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’ll doubtless be restricted. On a constructive notice, Fantasmic is now again and that’ll be introduced at 8 pm and 9:30 pm on New Year’s Eve. We counsel seeing the second present for decrease crowds.
At Magic Kingdom, get a headstart on celebrations starting December 30, 2022 when fireworks will likely be introduced twice nightly.
The schedule presently signifies that Fantasy within the Sky will likely be introduced at 6:30 pm and 11:50 pm on each December 30 and December 31, 2022. These showtimes are virtually actually right, as they’re the traditional fireworks instances. However, Fantasy within the Sky is often solely introduced at 11:50 pm, with the traditional present (Disney Enchantment for now) at 6:30 pm. It’s unclear whether or not Walt Disney World is definitely exhibiting Fantasy within the Sky 4 instances (it might actually assist deal with crowding and congestion) or if that’s a goof-up.
In addition to fireworks at Magic Kingdom, there can even be dance events across the park.
Locations haven’t but been introduced, however sometimes there are dance events on the Cinderella Castle stage, above Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland, and close to Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. Last 12 months, these have been comparatively subdued and uncrowded. As lined in our New Year’s Eve Eve Photo Report, Magic Kingdom was not busy on December 30 final 12 months.
Another factor of which you’ll need to remember even earlier than heading out to the parks on New Year’s Eve is that Walt Disney World presently requires theme park reservations made by way of the Disney Park Pass system. Currently, solely Magic Kingdom is ‘sold out’ of reservations for December 30-31, 2022.
However, these are incessantly refilled (together with over the weekend) and availability has been very fluid in the previous few days. If you don’t have reservations but, preserve making an attempt. Failing that, make reservations for Animal Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Park Hop at 2 pm. Unless there’s a capability closure–which did not occur final 12 months–it’s doubtless you’ll not have any points.
If you will have booked a reservation, you’re most likely already conscious of the Genie+ system. You’ll positively need to use that on NYE, and somebody in your get together might want to rise up round 6:50 am for optimum use. We know that’s going to be powerful on an evening while you’re doubtless staying up till 1 am, but it surely’ll considerably enhance your go to to the parks. See our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World for more information, technique, and so forth.
Here’s every little thing it’s worthwhile to know to navigate New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World…
Avoiding Crowds
We gained’t bury the lede: crowds between Christmas and New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World are terrible. It’s mass hysteria…and everybody has noisemakers! We’ve visited Walt Disney World for New Year’s Eve a number of instances, and whereas it’s all the time extremely busy, it’s additionally extremely enjoyable. The crowds are a draw back, however extra leisure to assist with crowds (parades, characters, fireworks, exhibits, and so forth.) is an enormous plus.
You will encounter congestion, extremely lengthy strains (even for restrooms), and different friends struggling meltdowns as they didn’t anticipate the strains or crowds. In reality, the parks get so busy that generally they’re closed to new friends at numerous factors within the day by way of phased closings. On the plus aspect, Walt Disney World presently is limiting attendance with the Disney Park Pass reservation system, so crowds positively gained’t be as unhealthy as they’ve been up to now.
The level is that it doesn’t matter what tips there is perhaps to keep away from crowds, it’s unimaginable to keep away from them utterly until you lock your self in your resort room. Beyond that, no tip, no matter how good, is pretty much as good of a tip as “visit in early September or late January instead.” If avoiding crowds is your paramount concern, you need to be avoiding the weeks across the holidays, not studying this information.
This information gives finest case situation suggestions for making probably the most out of the state of affairs. It’s not written from the angle of getting probably the most wonderful time ever with no crowds–it’s about making lemonade out of lemons.
We can’t reiterate that sufficient. You might imagine that all the suggestions under are usually not sensible so that you can comply with, however when it’s ‘eat or be eaten’, you’ll end up altering the definition of what’s “practical” for you. (And sure, we did simply examine a day throughout New Year’s week at Walt Disney World to cannibalism.)
With all of that mentioned, there are some issues you are able to do to keep away from among the chaos.
1. Arrive Early, Stay Late – Park working hours are tied on to anticipated crowd ranges, which Disney is fairly adept at predicting primarily based upon bookings and different elements. If every day working hours are lengthy, anticipate heavy crowds.
Despite this, crowds are all the time lightest within the morning, getting progressively worse till about 1 pm, then tapering down the remainder of the day, with crowds once more being mild the final couple hours every park is open. The earlier a park opens, the much less busy it’s at opening, and the later a park closes, the much less busy it’s at closing.
In different phrases, if the Magic Kingdom is open till 1 a.m. and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is open till 11 p.m., Magic Kingdom will likely be much less busy between midnight and 1 a.m. than Disney’s Hollywood Studios will likely be between 10 and 11 p.m. This makes it the perfect time of 12 months for getting the Park Hopper choice while you buy Disney tickets, as this fashion you can begin on the park open the earliest, and hop to the park open newest.
2. Nap Midday – If the Magic Kingdom is open till 1 a.m., you most likely aren’t going to remain the complete day. However, you shouldn’t select between arriving early and staying late. You ought to lower out noon portion, going again to your resort to take a nap throughout the busiest and hottest hours of the day.
This is one cause why we suggest a monorail loop resort for New Year’s Eve in case your finances permits. Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the Grand Floridian are each straightforward walks, roughly 10-Quarter-hour from Magic Kingdom. You can learn what different motels is perhaps good choices in our Walt Disney World Hotel Guide. Regardless of the place you keep, understand that phased closings of the Walt Disney World theme parks can impression your capacity to reenter–particularly for those who’re not staying on-site–so watch out.
3. Eat Midday – Like points of interest and restrooms, there are lengthy strains at eating places. This is especially true throughout the prime lunch hours. Don’t eat lunch at midday. Eat when eating places first open or later within the afternoon. The finest time of day goes to be round 3 or 4 p.m.
4. Use Genie+ Midday – Since strains are longest noon, it follows that you just’ll get probably the most utility out of Genie+ or Lightning Lanes when the parks are busiest. Make reservations accordingly, and use standby strains to the best extent attainable earlier within the day.
5. Find “Hidden Gem” Restrooms – You realize it says one thing about your life when you end up writing about restrooms at Walt Disney World, however such is my lot. We also have a weblog put up titled the Top 10 Toilets at Walt Disney World as a result of we’re simply that thorough. 😉
The level right here is that you must keep away from the “obvious” ones in hotspots throughout probably the most crowded instances of the day, when there actually are ~30 minute waits for restrooms. Don’t head to the restroom in plain view in Fantasyland. You’re simply asking for hassle. Look at a park map, and find the restrooms which can be off the crushed path, and head to these. On our final go to for New Year’s Eve, we have been capable of finding “options” with minimal waits this fashion.
I’m properly conscious that this looks as if a humorous or foolish tip, however we’ll see who’s laughing while you encounter that first big line and your bladder can’t final 25 extra minutes.
6. Do Unpopular Attractions – One of the large causes that going to Walt Disney World throughout busy instances of the 12 months doesn’t trouble us might be that a few of our favourite points of interest aren’t all that widespread, so our waits are about the identical year-round. If you will have superior style, you may discover the identical is true for you.
We have Walt Disney World Itineraries & Touring Plans for each single park that cowl the highlights for an ideal day, together with plenty of these much less widespread points of interest. These plans stability effectivity with having an important day within the park, so that you may have to tweak it a tad for New Year’s Eve.
In the Magic Kingdom, these missed gems are: Carousel of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room for exhibits. For leisurely rides, attempt the Walt Disney World Railroad and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover.
In Epcot, Living with the Land, American Adventure, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China are all nice, though the final three most likely gained’t maintain a ton of curiosity for youths.
In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, all the outside stadium-style stage exhibits (Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular) will keep away from crowds, however timing them will likely be tough. Same goes for exhibits at Animal Kingdom, though other than its headliner points of interest, the strains aren’t too insufferable there.
We suppose that the perfect park for missed gems is the Magic Kingdom, however the perfect park generally for avoiding New Year’s Eve crowds is Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Epcot can also be surprisingly good at absorbing crowds, however its headliners do get obscenely lengthy strains on New Year’s Eve. Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t get as giant of New Year’s Eve crowds, but it surely’s additionally not significantly good at dealing with crowds.
Whatever you do, we extremely suggest creating a plan of assault (some suggestions for this may be present in our “When to Visit Walt Disney World” put up), having life like expectations about what you’ll get finished, and protecting a constructive perspective.
New Year’s Eve Entertainment
For New Year’s Eve, Magic Kingdom and Epcot every have particular fireworks exhibits. The Magic Kingdom additionally does its New Year’s Eve fireworks present, Fantasy within the Sky, on December 30.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the traditional nighttime leisure will run, with no particular fireworks. Disney’s Hollywood Studios can even have fun New Year’s Eve with a particular dance get together starting on the Center Stage in the midst of the park. This will run till park shut, ringing in 2023.
Animal Kingdom can even solely run its regular nighttime leisure, which is actually simply the Tree of Life Winter Awakenings. This is the one park that closes earlier than midnight, so don’t go right here if you wish to have fun NYE.
The fireworks exhibits at Magic Kingdom and Epcot are so intense that some friends may take into account carrying sun shades and earplugs whereas watching. They’re severely good–so good that they only may aid you overlook these loopy crowds (okay, most likely not!). Other New Year’s Eve leisure is absolutely simply provided to attract some folks away from Magic Kingdom & Epcot, and supply an alternate.
We aren’t even going to trouble overlaying these numerous choices. If you’re braving the crowds for a go to throughout the vacation week, you shouldn’t even take into account losing your time with something in addition to the fireworks on New Year’s Eve…until you actually simply hate superior fireworks exhibits.
If you’ll be visiting for each December 30 and New Year’s Eve, watch the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy within the Sky fireworks on December 30. This is a no brainer. The Magic Kingdom will nonetheless be busy, however not as busy as it will likely be on New Year’s Eve.
Plus, seeing the fireworks on December 30 frees you as much as watch at Epcot on New Year’s Eve. If you’re solely visiting for New Year’s Eve, our choose continues to be with Fantasy within the Sky, as we expect it’s the perfect present, and value coping with the Magic Kingdom crowds.
Between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the selection for New Year’s Eve is straightforward. We love Epcot on New Year’s Eve.
In addition to the fireworks, there will likely be particular exhibits and DJs in Epcot (each Future World and World Showcase–the Silent DJ Dance Party has turn into actually widespread, so be able to lineup for headphones), and extra bar-booths all through the park to assist have fun the New Year previous to the fireworks exhibits.
The cause that that is now a no brainer (it didn’t was once) is as a result of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is operating its regular projections exhibits for New Year’s Eve and isn’t doing something particular–other than the dance get together. (Sunset Season’s Greetings can even nonetheless be operating for New Year’s Eve.) It must be barely much less crowded than Epcot (however nonetheless crowded), although.
Epcot’s World Showcase can maintain lots of people, but it surely nonetheless manages to replenish, and turns into tough to navigate. In principle, Epcot is nice…in actuality, it’s crowded and that many drunk friends with noisemakers turns into grating after about hour 4 of standing elbow to elbow with them.
Ultimately, we nonetheless like Epcot, significantly for those who simply plan on arriving within the late afternoon, watching the New Year’s fireworks, and bouncing. Read our Best Epcot Fireworks Viewing Locations put up for extra perception into selecting a spot for the Epcot fireworks.
Plan to get to wherever you’re going to look at these fireworks exhibits no less than two hours prematurely. Possibly extra. In Magic Kingdom, we noticed folks saving prime places for the exhibits within the early afternoon. This is only a bit extreme, but it surely ought to offer you an thought of how widespread the exhibits are. You positively won’t be able to walk as much as a very good location Quarter-hour (and even an hour) earlier than the fireworks begin.
This is very true within the Magic Kingdom, which is extra crowded than Epcot, which is extra crowded than Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We have a weblog put up detailing our favourite viewing spots for Magic Kingdom fireworks, and this holds true for the Fantasy within the Sky New Year’s Eve fireworks.
For many individuals, leaving is the worst a part of the New Year’s Eve expertise. We don’t imply the considered heading dwelling from the Florida sunshine to dreary, chilly climate.
In this case, we’re referring to leaving the park. After the fireworks, there’s a mass exodus, as everybody heads for the exit, . Don’t be a part of this herd. Because so many individuals are leaving , you’re going to anticipate some time for a bus, monorail, or boat–would you reasonably wait outdoors the park in a sea of humanity, or inside whereas doing rides?
All of the parks are open for an hour or two after the fireworks. Take that point to let the crowds die down outdoors, and revel in decrease crowds contained in the park.
Speaking of going outdoors the parks, there are additionally nice options for fireworks viewing. Again, Bay Lake Tower warrants mentioning right here, because the Top of the World Lounge is a unbelievable, comparatively uncrowded spot for fireworks. I captured the picture above on New Year’s Eve from there. This doesn’t do you a lot good for those who’re already at Walt Disney World and aren’t staying at Bay Lake Tower on Disney Vacation Club factors (it’s solely open to friends staying there on December 30 and New Year’s Eve).
However, if you’re reserving a visit for subsequent 12 months, it’s an important cause to offer Bay Lake Tower critical thought. The different places, just like the Ticket & Transportation Center and seaside of the Polynesian Resort are good options for those who’re not staying at Bay Lake Tower and desire a much less crowded vantage.
All of our warnings apart, you’ll be able to have plenty of enjoyable spending the week between Christmas and New Year’s at Walt Disney World, and it positively is probably the greatest locations to be for New Year’s Eve. It’s all about creating a recreation plan and rolling with the punches. Not every little thing will go in response to plan, and it may be a irritating expertise for those who let the crowds get to you.
However, for those who go into the journey with the correct perspective and simply need to have enjoyable (bear in mind: you’re doubtless having extra enjoyable than of us again at dwelling, it doesn’t matter what occurs!), you most likely will. The fireworks and the opposite supplementary leisure make a New Year’s go to to Walt Disney World plenty of enjoyable, even for those who do need to take care of the crowds!
It’s additionally price remembering that the majority Christmas leisure nonetheless runs between Christmas and New Year’s Eve (some runs even additional into January), so try our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World for extra planning suggestions with regard to which vacation leisure you may need to see on New Year’s Eve. For Walt Disney World journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation, ensure to learn our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide.
Your Thoughts
Have you ever visited Walt Disney World for New Year’s Eve? Would you ever do it? Planning on ringing in 2023 at Walt Disney World? Do you agree with our method to do Magic Kingdom on December 30 and EPCOT on December 31? Have any extra suggestions for making probably the most out of the expertise, or concerning which fireworks exhibits to see? Hearing from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your ideas and questions within the feedback!