A Guide to New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World

There in something truly magical about celebrating New Year's Eve at the most magical place on earth. Enjoy extended park hours, amazing dance parties and spectacular fireworks extravaganza. Read on for all the details.

As we countdown to a new year, we're only days away from the biggest party night of the year, and Walt Disney World is ready to welcome the new year in spectacular style.

Walt Disney World really is one of the best place in the world to celebrate New Year's Eve, yes it's crazy busy, and can be very chaotic, but the atmosphere is amazing, and quite honestly there is nowhere else quite like it in the world, and you will love it.

Just don't expect to enjoy many rides, but the entertainment and fireworks more than make up for it!!

Here's everything you need to know about celebrating New Year's Eve 2023- 2024 at Walt Disney World, so get your party hat and blowers ready for the party of the year!

Walt Disney World New Year's Eve Park Hours

Magic Kingdom

Early Entry: 7:30 am to 8:00 am

Park Hours: 8:00 am to 1:00 am

EPCOT

Early Entry: 8:30 am to 9:00 am

Park Hours: 9:00 am to 1:00 am

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Early Entry: 8:00 am to 8:30 am

Park Hours: 8:30 am to 12:00 am

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Early Entry: 7:30 am to 8:00 am

Park Hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Disney's Blizzard Beach

Closed Due To Low Temperatures

Disney Springs

10.00 am to 11.30 pm

New Year's Eve at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is always the most popular park at Walt Disney World on New Year's Eve, and expect it to be crowded, very crowded!

If you plan on celebrating New Year's Eve at Magic Kingdom, we recommend you arrive early as the park could reach capacity at any time throughout the day.

Magic Kingdom Dance Parties

Walt Disney World have not announced the details for this year's dance parties, but in the past dance parties have usually been held in front of Cinderella's Castle, Frontierland and Tomorrowland, hosted by DJs from 7 p.m. to midnight.

This is a memorable, family-fun way to celebrate the countdown to midnight.

Magic Kingdom Fantasy In The Sky Fireworks

Each New Year's Eve at Magic Kingdom, the new year starts with a massive bang as the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy in the Sky fireworks light up the sky high above Lake Buena Vista.

These fireworks are a must see, and quite literally fill the sky with the most incredible fireworks you will ever see, with the fireworks shot over the castle as well as all around the park perimeter. Even the midnight countdown is done in fireworks that form the actual numbers!

Fantasy In The Sky Fireworks: 6:30 p.m. & 11:50 p.m.

Magic Kingdom show their New Year's Eve Fireworks on December 30, as well as December 31, allowing you to view the fireworks at EPCOT as well as the Magic Kingdom if you can't decide between either theme parks New Year's Eve fireworks, giving you the best of both worlds!

In addition to the Dance Parties and New Year's Eve Fireworks, don't miss Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at 12 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.

New Year's Eve at EPCOT

EPCOT is by far the most exciting place to be on New Year’s Eve at Disney World, though with lots of activities come lots of people. As one of the largest parks, EPCOT is perhaps best suited for crowds. We think the crowds are worth managing for these fun-filled festivities! There’s no need to choose ... you can take part in all of these activities for a complete night of celebration.

EPCOT New Year's Eve Parties

New Year's Eve in World Showcase is pretty amazing, experience the New Year not only in Orlando, but in the time zones of the countries throughout World Showcase including the United Kingdom at 7 p.m. EST!

When it hits midnight in each country's pavilion, listen for a festive announcement and watch for a burst of colorful fireworks.

There will be live DJs hosting dance parties throughout the park. DJ Dance parties usually kick off after sunset. Dance the night away as you sip and savor some of your favorite flavors around World Showcase. These parties add excitement to the countdown to Midnight!

Live Music at American Gardens Theatre

American Gardens Theatre typically hosts a variety of performances throughout the night for the ultimate NYE entertainment.

New Year's Eve Fireworks

At EPCOT you can catch the new Luminous The Symphony of Us nighttime spectacular at 6:30 p.m.

Plus, The Countdown Fireworks show at EPCOT is spectacular, with an amazing atmosphere as the crowds gather throughout World Showcase to countdown to Midnight with the countdown typically projected onto Spaceship Earth as fireworks light up the sky.

Luminous The Symphony of Us: 6:30 p.m.

Cheers to the New Year A Sparkling Celebration: 11:40 p.m.

New Year's Eve at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a more laid-back atmosphere, and the park is much less crowded on New Year's Eve than Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

Guests can enjoy a DJ dance party in front of the Chinese Theater, with a countdown to midnight moment, including a short burst of fireworks.

New Year's Eve at Disney's Animal Kingdom

At Animal Kingdom there is no special entertainment or notable celebrations for New Year's Eve, but if your looking for the best park where you can enjoy the rides and entertainment without the huge crowds on New Year's Eve, then Animal Kingdom is the park to visit!

Alice in Wonderland New Year’s Eve Celebration

This New Year's Eve you can follow the White Rabbit through the rabbit hole to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, at the Alice in Wonderland inspired New Year’s Eve celebration at California Grill.

The Alice’s Whimsical World of Wonderland event will allow guests to ring in 2024 in a Wonderland-like setting at the cost of $799, including gratuity and applicable tax.

Walt Disney World New Year's Eve Tips

First up, let's point out the bad.... New Year's Eve is going to be crazy busy on New Year's Eve, especially Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT, don't expect to experience many rides, you could be looking at wait-times of 2+ hours at the most popular attractions. plus, it's not just rides you can expect to stand in line for, lines will be long for food, and the restrooms!!

Yes, the parks will be jam packed, but despite all the negatives, New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World is awesome, the atmosphere is electric, the fireworks are the best you will se anywhere, and we love it!

So let's make your trip to Walt Disney World on NYE as fun, and as painless as it possibly can be!!

The most important think to remember is alll guests must have a Disney Park Pass reservation plus valid park ticket to enter the theme parks at Walt Disney World.

Arrive early and rent a locker, this year the nighttime hours on New Year's Eve are going to be very cold with temps expected to dip into the 40s! You can stow warm hoodies, jackets etc for the evening. Yes, arriving early is going to make the day longer, but you can take a break, and the pros are quieter in the morning if you do want to enjoy few "must-do" rides.

To help get you onto your "must-do" rides, you should try to make a Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane selection for it.

The best thing about New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World is all the extra entertainment! You can expect live entertainment throughout the day and evening. Plus as the you countdown to midnight, the NYE Fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are breathtaking!

Once you've partied like its 2024, leaving the parks will be crazy busy! It will take you awhile to exit the parks, plus the parking lots will be jam packed as everyone tries to leave at the same time. One you do leave the parking lots, the roadways they will be busy also!

Above all else, expect everywhere to be busy, pack your patience and keep your cool, and Happy New Year.

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