Category — 7. New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World

OVERVIEW: DECEMBER 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews Walt Disney World in December 2012: crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, special events, and operating hours; and ends with week by week summaries.

Early December, with lower crowds, lower prices, and wonderful Christmas decorations and events, has the three best weeks of the year to visit.

Later December with Christmas and New Year’s weeks has the highest crowds and prices of the year. Park closings to additional guests are common in this period, as are 8a openings and daily morning Extra Magic Hours.

December also has a special party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, a special evening event–with its own ticket–that has become a family tradition for many.

[Read more →]

2012 NEW YEAR’S EVE AT DISNEY WORLD

New Year’s Eve festivities will happen on December 31, 2012 at Disney World’s Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios theme parks, and also at the Magic Kingdom on December 30.

The Animal Kingdom has no special New Year’s Eve events.

Here’s the calendar for New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World:

• Epcot is scheduled to be open until 1a on New Year’s Eve; Disney’s Hollywood Studios until midnight for the general public, and 3a for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests; and the Magic Kingdom is open until 2a
• The Magic Kingdom has Wishes at 8.30p and special New Year’s Eve fireworks at 11.50p
• Epcot has its Illuminations fireworks show at 6.30p and 11.40p, plus DJs in various pavilions. (Note that some good sources have the first show at 7p, not 6.30, but Disney’s calendar still shows 6.30.)
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have fireworks at midnight, and several sets over the evening from “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” a live band
• Note that alcohol is not available at the Magic Kingdom, but is available at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The Magic Kingdom will have the same fireworks at the same times on 12/30. This date will likely be a little less crowded than 12/31.

For more details on operating hours during this week, see this.

DISNEY WORLD PARK CLOSURES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

[Read more →]

OVERVIEW: CHRISTMAS 2012 AT DISNEY WORLD

The Christmas season at Walt Disney World includes both the best and the worst times to visit, with both prices and crowds at both lower and very high levels over the period.

Decorations, special Christmas shows, programs, and events, and Christmas trees are everywhere, making Disney World as special a place to celebrate the holidays as you can find.

[Read more →]

CHRISTMAS IS COMING AND SO ARE THE DISNEY WORLD CROWDS…

The busiest days of the year at Walt Disney World begin later this week, and peak next week.

Today, a little less than half of kids are on Christmas break.

More start going on break beginning the 21st, and by the end of this week, the 23rd, about 70% of kids will be off.

By Saturday, Christmas Eve, all kids are off.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the busiest day at Orlando International this holiday season will be Friday the 23rd, followed by Thursday the 22nd.

Later next week, likely more than 70,000 people will visit the Magic Kingdom on an average day, with totals perhaps well above that, possibly leading to park closures.

The hourly ride capacity at the Magic Kingdom is on the order of 40,000 people, implying average waits of 90-120 minutes for the most popular rides.

Bathroom waits may seem as long…as may waits for food, even if you eat early or late.

COPING WITH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WALT DISNEY WORLD CROWDS

[Read more →]

FREE CHRISTMAS AT DISNEY GUIDE FOR READERS OF YOURFIRSTVISIT.NET

My friends at Destinations in Florida are making available a free guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World to readers of yourfirstvisit.net.

To sign up for this free guide to Christmas at Disney World, click here.

Thanks to Allison and the rest of the crew at Destinations in Florida!

For more on the holiday season at Disney World, see this.

WINTER AT DISNEY WORLD

Winter at Walt Disney World—loosely defined as November through February–is the most variable of seasons.

The weather is literally variable—cooler, and with typical daily highs ranging from the low 60s to the 80s. Tornadoes can be an issue during this period. See this for more.

Crowds are both at their lowest—in January and February after the Martin Luther King Day weekend and before the President’s Day week—and at their highest, over the week that includes New Years Eve.

Prices are the lowest of the year from early January through mid-February (the value season). They also hit their highest level of the year in winter, over the weeks that include Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
[Read more →]