Some of the best times I have ever had at Disney World is New Year’s Eve. Don’t mistake this for the entire week before New Year's Eve, which was my worst time at the park. However, ringing in the New Year with massive firework displays and sober happiness all around is surely a site to see.
My first New Year’s Eve in the Orlando area was December 31, 2005. I was completing my internship and was leaving promptly the following morning to head to a college Christian conference, called Passion in Atlanta, GA. I continued my Disney promise to myself, forgoing drinking sparkling drinks as the hours got closer to midnight, and spent my time party-hopping to say good-bye to various friends. This literally was the last time I saw many of them and I felt as if I could not stay long enough to say my good-byes. Around 11pm, I made my way to the third floor of an apartment complex of a friend’s, who was extending her stay in the internship.
There we stood on the balcony, Abby, Tim, and I, watching the fireworks shine bit from Epcot on our left to Magic Kingdom in the middle and Downtown Disney on our right. Three firework displays in every direction. It was surely magical.
Several years later, I landed my first paying job out of college, a middle school literature teacher. As promised to my sister, we spend my first year away from retail holidays in the parks in Orlando. December 31, 2009 was the end of a long, cold week. We had stood in awful, crowded lines, froze as temperatures hit record lows, and struggled to figure out vacationing with one another. Overall, the trip was memorable and fun; however, the parks were so crowded that I will never go back during that week in between Christmas and New Year’s.
As we stood in one location for two hours prior to midnight, we giggled, sang, and move onto a state of slap-happiness. We had been going in the parks since 8am and had only stopped for quick bites of food. We had placed our domain in the middle of Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and was darn determined to get the best view of the fireworks as we possibly could… and we did. The firework display was fantastical and magnificent. There will never be anything like it up to this day. As the crowds disappeared from the parks post-fireworks, we continued to play until the wee hours of the morning. Skipping and singing old tunes from Hansen and the Spice Girls to the beats in Tomorrowland, we walked onto the first ride all week without a wait, Space Mountain. It was the first thing we did in the new year of 2010, which happened to be one of the best years of my life...the year I met my husband.
I believe that each new year brings some magical freshness to us all, and being able to “restart” life so-to-speak with the world ahead of you is an exciting thing. Additionally, being able to do so at the “Happiest Place on Earth” adds extra magic to the mix. If you plan on visiting this year, here are a few items that you may need to know:
This year’s New Year’s Eve festivities will occur on December 31, 2014 at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios theme parks. There are no special events for Animal Kingdom.
The Magic Kingdom will close at 2am on January 1st, with their special New Year’s Eve firework occurring at 11:50pm. Epcot will be open until 1am with their specialized version of Illuminations fireworks show showing at 11:40pm. Hollywood Studios will remain open until midnight for standard guests and 2am for Extra Magic Hours for resort hotel guests with midnight fireworks as well.
Additionally, each park typically hits their maximum capacities early in the afternoon, which means no additional guests will be allowed in the parks. Plan accordingly to start the day out early, and remain in the same park the entire day. Do not expect to be able to hit every ride and show at that park regardless of how long you are there during that day. Do not try to plan too much and take a more relaxed approach to the parks to ensure a pleasurable experience.
I stress that these are the busiest times for Disney parks all year; thus, there will be a lot of people for the cast members to handle. Just like retail workers on Black Friday, please be extra kind to those that are trying their hardest to make your vacation extra special!
