New Year’s Eve is a very busy but very special time to visit Walt Disney World, and several parks have great special entertainment for you to include in your itinerary for 2014.
At the Magic Kingdom, guests can catch the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at 11:50 pm, featuring a countdown to the new year. The Magic Kingdom will also still be featuring a lot of its Christmas entertainment, normally only seen at the hard-ticket Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, such as Holiday Wishes fireworks and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Check a times guide, and note that performances that normally only have one performance (like Holiday Wishes) will have multiple showings on New Year’s Eve.
Epcot has their own beautiful New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks at 11:40 pm, with nods to New Year’s celebrations all around the World Showcase countries. Epcot also has several special dining events available for New Year’s Eve, such as the elegant four-course menu as Monsieur Paul exclusive to the occasion.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has its own fireworks show for New Year’s Eve featuring their resident band Mulch, Sweat, and Shears at midnight. The park will also have multiple showings of its regular nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!, as well as showings throughout the day of the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special. The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights in the Streets of America will also be available to view.
For those planning a visit on New Year’s Eve, be prepared for long lines everywhere. Advance Dining Reservations can help keep waits lower than getting in line at a quick-service counter. Give yourself plenty of time for transportation, preferably over an hour, and more if you need to transfer. If you want to see any of the three New Year’s Eve nighttime spectaculars, don’t wait until the evening to go to the park. The theme parks, especially the Magic Kingdom, often reach capacity at some point on New Year’s Eve and have to turn away new guests. Adjust your expectations for how much you want to do – pick just a few rides and don’t try to do too much with such big crowds.
Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple and STRESS FREE! PLUS from December 1-31, book a Disney World, Disneyland or Disney Cruise vacation package with me and I will make a donation in your name to charity. Learn more about the charities that The Affordable Mouse is supporting this year and please help us “pay it forward”!
Elizabeth lives in Kansas City with her wonderful family. Elizabeth first visited Disney as a child, and when she prepared to visit Walt Disney World as an adult, she foolishly thought she may have ‘outgrown’ Disney. Happily, Elizabeth was proven wrong – but she also realized how good planning can make such a difference for having a fun, relaxing vacation! Elizabeth became her family’s go-to resource for Disney planning. Now she is dedicating her planning skills to helping other families create vacation memories as a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations. She will plan your trip as if it were her own. Her blog, planningformagic.com, has tons of advice on how to plan your next Disney trip, including trip planning instructions, sample itineraries, dining tips, and more. Visit her on Facebook or Twitter for more planning tips and theme park news. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@theaffordablemouse.com.
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