Category — 8. Winter at Walt Disney World

2011 NEW YEAR’S EVE AT DISNEY WORLD

New Year’s Eve festivities will happen on December 31, 2011 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 events and closes at 8p.

• Epcot is 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 scheduled to be open until 2a
• The Magic Kingdom will have Wishes at 8.30p and special New Year’s Eve fireworks at  11.50p.
• Epcot will have its Illuminations fireworks show at 7p and 11.40p
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have fireworks at midnight
• Note that alcohol is not available at the Magic Kingdom, but is available at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

For more details on operating hours, see this.

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.

DISNEY WORLD PARK CLOSURES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

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OVERVIEW: CHRISTMAS 2011 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.

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THANKSGIVING AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Thanksgiving week at Walt Disney World can be quite busy–particularly Wednesday through Saturday.

While not as crowded as some other holiday weeks–Easter and Christmas, for example–it can be very challenging, and the material below gives some hints on how to deal with it.

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OVERVIEW: NOVEMBER 2011 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews November 2011 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours, and ends with week by week summaries.

Early November, with cooling but typically nice weather, low crowds other than the week beginning 11/5 (Jersey Week), and lower prices, has some of the best weeks of the year to visit.

Thanksgiving week is more expensive, and much more crowded.

The last few days of the month are part of one of the three best weeks to visit Walt Disney World.

November also has two special  parties: the last shows of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and the first of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, each a special evening event–with its own ticket–that have become  family traditions for many.

The Candlelight Processional begins the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The 2011 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival continues into November. See this for more. [Read more →]

DISNEY WORLD’S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

While Christmas itself is December 25 of course, Walt Disney World provides a special Christmas celebration at the Magic Kingdom many nights in November and December.

This celebration is called “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.”

At the party, many of the Magic Kingdom’s rides are open, and cookies and hot chocolate, special events, and slightly different Christmas parades and fireworks, and even snow (!) are offered.

The official Disney World page for this event can be found here.

MORE ON MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

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NEW YEAR’S EVE AT DISNEY WORLD

New Year’s Eve festivities will happen on December 31, 2010 at Disney World’s Epcot and Magic Kingdom theme parks.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has no special New Year’s events, but will be open late. The Animal Kingdom has no special events and closes at 8p.

• Epcot is 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 will have New Year’s Eve fireworks at 8.30 and 11.50p, and Epcot will have fireworks at 7.30 and 11.45p
• Note that alcohol is not available at the Magic Kingdom, but is available at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

For more details on operating hours, see this.

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 thoughts on how to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World, see this from the Disney Parks blog.

For thoughts on how to manage the crowds, see this.

For dining discounts during this period, see this.

DISNEY WORLD PARK CLOSURES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

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