The Complete Magic Kingdom New Years Eve Guide
Updated November 2019
Want to ring in the New Year in the Happiest Place on Earth?
Why not!
I’ve celebrated New
If you want to visit
The Basics
When: The Magic Kingdom is open from 9:00 am-1:00 am on New
The Magic Kingdom will likely reach capacity on New
Where: This post is all about the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Cost: A 1-day adult ticket for the Magic Kingdom valid on December 31, 2019 costs $159. You don’t need an additional or special ticket to attend the New Year Eve celebration.
If you plan to stay longer, buy a multi-day ticket, so you can save money on each day’s entrance fee.
What to Expect
People. Lots and lots of people.
If this is your first time visiting Disney World, know that the parks are not always this crowded.
Getting to the park will be a bit chaotic, but I’ll discuss that later in this post.
As I mentioned earlier, plan to get to the Magic Kingdom as early as possible. The park will probably reach capacity so you want to get in before this happens.
Once you are first in the park, it might almost feel like a normal day. People will rush to the top attractions (7 Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Peter Pan’s FLight) but it might not feel more packed than usual. Don’t worry, after a few hours, you will really start to notice the crowds.
Cast members will probably stand in certain areas directing traffic. People will be unsure about where to go. Just stay calm and remember you are all here for a magical day. Try to enjoy it instead of focusing on the chaos.
Special Surprises
In the past, Disney has placed special New
In the late afternoon, cast members will start passing out free hats and noisemakers. Keep an eye out for the booths and make sure you grab yours!
Fireworks
Some people will steak out a viewing spot for the fireworks hours in advance. Personally, I would rather enjoy my time in the park and only line up about 2 hours early.
Usually, Disney also does another “midnight” countdown and firework show earlier in the night, in case you want to get out early. But honestly, the park doesn’t really empty out after this.
Post-Fireworks Park Time
One of my favorite things about NYE in the Magic Kingdom is riding an attraction just after midnight. The park is open until 1:00
What to Bring
You can bring a bag into the Magic Kingdom, so pack it with any supplies you might need.
You are going to be on your feet all day, so wear comfortable shoes. And even though you will be in Florida, it can be chilly in December. So bring a sweatshirt or jacket. Also, it rains all the time in Orlando, so be sure to pack a rain jacket too. (Wow I sound like my mother right now).
Disney will give you a New Years Eve hat and noisemaker. But if you want to get into the festive spirit even more, wear New Years Eve necklaces, headbands or other appropriate attire. I usually stop by Party City and stock up before my trip.
There are plenty of snacks and food options in the park. But you can also bring your own if you want. I also suggest bringing a reusable water bottle so you can avoid buying Disney’s $3 bottles of water.
Quick Checklist:
- Backpack
- Comfy Shoes
- Sweatshirt/Jacket
- Rain Gear
- NYE supplies (noisemakers, necklaces, headband, etc.)
- Snacks
- Reusable Water Bottle
When to Arrive
Try to arrive as early as possible. The park gets very crowded very fast.
As I’ve mentioned, the park might reach capacity on New Years Eve. There are a few different levels of “capacity” but at some point, it might be difficult or impossible to enter the Magic Kingdom. To avoid this issue, plan to arrive early in the morning. And if you want to see the midnight fireworks, you need to stay in the park all day. Don’t plan on leaving because you might encounter the capacity issues when you try to reenter the park.
On December 31, 2019, the Magic Kingdom opens at
What It’s Actually Like
As you might know, I love Disney World. I am a huge parks fan. And the thought of spending New Years Eve in the Magic Kingdom sounds fantastic to me.
But it might not be right for everyone. You need to decide if you want to deal with the crowds all day long.
New Years Eve in the Magic Kingdom sort of feels like a normal day at Disney. It is just much more crowded.
What I love about spending New
So what is it actually like? Crowded and slightly hectic at times. But also Disney always goes the extra mile for their guests. And New
Once it gets dark, there will be a few DJs set up around the park. This really makes you feel like you are visiting the park on a special night. When else can you enjoy a DJ dance party in Frontierland?
Where to Eat
If you can, I recommend getting at least one dining reservation in the Magic Kingdom. It will be difficult to find seating at the quick service restaurants. And having a reservation with a guaranteed table will also give you a short break from the crowds.
But, if you are planning to eat at quick-service restaurants, a few of my favorite options are:
A few of the treat shops (The Confectionary and Main Street Bakery) will probably also offer a New Years Eve themed cupcake if you want a festive dessert.
Transportation
If you are staying on Disney property, it won’t be too hard to get to the Magic Kingdom. Simply take a Disney bus (or monorail if you are on a monorail-loop resort) from your hotel to the park.
If you are not staying on property, it is a little more challenging to reach the park. If you are not driving, you will need to get to the Transportation and Ticket Center. You can take a Lyft or Uber to this center. From there, take the ferry or monorail to the park entrance. Just be aware- this was the only time I felt scared during my NYE trip. I took the ferry and it was extremely crowded. People were pushing and it was very chaotic. So many people squeezed on the ferry. And I’m sure the monorail was a similar situation.
If you are driving, you can park at the Magic Kingdom and take the shuttle to the entrance.
When you are leaving the park, be prepared for crowds (have you sensed a theme to this post yet??) Most people will try to leave after the fireworks, so you might want to stay until the park closes at 1:00 am to let the crowds die down a bit.
You can take the bus or monorail back to your resort or the ferry or monorail back to the TTC. Or, if you drove, take the shuttle back to your car.
Alternative Options
If you want to skip the Magic Kingdom New Years Eve celebration, there are a few other places to ring in the New Year around Disney World.
- Epcot– If you want to celebrate the New Year all day long, visit Epcot. As it turns midnight around the world, fireworks explode in the air. A festive holiday wish is announced from each respective pavilion. This is also a more “adult” friendly celebration because alcohol is served throughout the park. You will also find dance parties with live music and DJs.
- Hollywood Studios– Hollywood Studios will also offer a special midnight fireworks display. Since this park doesn’t have the same level of offerings as Epcot or the Magic Kingdom, it might be slightly less crowded.
- Animal Kingdom– This is a newer celebration that is complete with DJ-led dance parties and specialty food items.
- Disney Springs– If you want to avoid the parks, spend your time at Disney Springs. There are plenty of bars and restaurants (consider making a reservation) in this shopping district. Unfortunately, there will not be a fireworks display.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Resort Countdown to 2020: The Atlantic Dance Hall on the Boardwalk is hosting a 21+ New Years Eve Celebration. For $99 you can enjoy drinks, food, dancing, and a midnight firework display.
Is it Worth it?
If you love Disney and want a memorable New Years Eve, I think it is absolutely worth it!
Yes, it will be crowded. But you will spend the day laughing, riding rides, and soaking up the Disney Magic. And you will be treated to an incredible firework display. The Magic Kingdom is one of my favorite places to spend New Years Eve!
Timing Tips
Stay flexible with your plans during the day. Attraction lines will get long, so plan to make Fastpass reservations in advance.
Try to go to your favorite ride first thing in the morning. This is probably your best chance to ride 7 Dwarfs Mine Train.
In the late afternoon, cast members will start passing out the NYE hats and noisemakers so be on the lookout for those.
If you want to watch the midnight fireworks but you don’t care about a front row spot, try to line up around 9:30 pm or 10:00 pm. You would be able to get a spot on Main Street at this point. You will still have a great view of the fireworks but you don’t have to spend your whole day sitting in front of the castle (like some people choose to).
Plan to stay at the park until it closes at 1:00 am. After the midnight fireworks work your way through the crowd and back to Frontierland for a New Years ride on Thunder Mountain.
I hope you enjoyed my Magic Kingdom New Years Eve Guide. Are you planning to visit the park on NYE? Let me know!
If you are looking for more, check out these posts:
How to Celebrate the Holidays at Walt Disney World
The Best Bars at Walt Disney World
Everything You Need to Know About Celebrating New Years Eve in Times Square
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