Credit: DisneyEveryone seems to want to go to Walt Disney World for New Year’s Eve. Disney World expects massive crowds for its New Year’s Eve festivities at its parks and has extended its hours to accommodate those who want to ring in the New Year at Disney World.
Magic Kingdom opens at 8 a.m. and will remain open until 1 a.m. Hollywood Studios opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at midnight. EPCOT begins at 9 a.m. and closes at 1 a.m. All three parks will open 30 minutes early for Disney World Resort Hotel guests and select Disney World good neighbor hotels.
Plan on arriving early and staying until closing, as many of the Disney World parks will reach capacity on New Year’s Eve and will not let additional guests into the park. So, if you want to ring in the New Year at one of these parks, make a plan to find a spot and stay there for most of the day.
However, thousands of Disney World guests won’t be able to get into the parks once they close to guests. So, what are those people to do?
Many will ring in the New Year at their home resort, but thousands will also head to resorts near the parks to watch the special fireworks shows planned for the New Year. However, Disney World now restricts access to one of its most popular resorts for guests without reservations.
Disney has announced that it will restrict access to the Polynesian Village Resort to those without hotel or dining reservations. This restriction will keep guests without reservations off of the Polynesian Beach on Seven Seas Lagoon, which overlooks the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
Cast members will be stationed on the walkway between the Polynesian and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and guests without reservations will be turned away at the Polynesian. Cast members will also be stationed between the Polynesian and the Transportation and Ticket Center, turning away guests.
This is the first time Disney World has imposed strict restrictions on New Year’s Eve. Disney believes the opening of the Island Tower building will attract more guests to the resort, including those without reservations.
So, if you were planning on watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the Polynesian this year, you’re going to have to come up with a change of plans.