Hiya, Julie, and welcome to planDisney! It sounds like you're counting down to an exciting New Year's Eve celebration at the Most Magical Place on Earth! Walt Disney World Resort is one of my favorite places to ring in the new year, and there's so much to do outside of the Disney Theme Parks!
Julie, to kick off your New Year's Eve festivities, I recommend booking an
Advance Dining Reservation for your family. Open up the
My Disney Experience Mobile App, click the "+" button, and select "Check Dining Availability." Enter your party size, date, and time range. Then, you can filter results by destination area. Once you click on an area, you can remove the check next to the park name, so you'll only see availability outside the parks. Having an Advance Dining Reservation will allow you to park at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel, but you're welcome to take complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation as well.
Another fun activity not to be overlooked is resort hopping! You'll find larger-than-life Christmas trees and seasonal decor at places like Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, and Disney's BoardWalk Inn are some of the places where you can see amazingly intricate gingerbread houses - be sure to look for Hidden Mickeys!
If you opt not to make Advance Dining Reservations, you can find awesome Quick-Service Restaurants and unique Lounges at many of the Resort hotels. Here's an idea: head to Magic Kingdom Park, but instead of going in, hop on the boat for a scenic ride to
Disney's Wilderness Lodge, stroll through the gorgeous lobby, grab a pulled pork sandwich and a drink from
Roaring Fork, walk down to the water's edge, let the kids play foosball, and watch the special "Fantasy in the Sky" New Year's Eve fireworks from Magic Kingdom Park (check the times
here).
Depending on the ages of your children,
Disney Springs might be a great place to visit on New Year's Eve, with
shopping,
dining, entertainment,
activities, and snacks galore!
If you find yourself near a Disney Theme Park, you might be able to catch a glimpse of fireworks. The BoardWalk area is a fun place to see the fireworks from EPCOT, and the Resorts around the Monorail offer views of fireworks from Magic Kingdom Park. Grab a snack and find a comfortable spot - don't hesitate to ask a helpful Cast Member where you'll be able to see the show and hear the accompanying music!
Julie, I hope this is helpful as you plan to celebrate the New Year with your family. Please stop by planDisney with any other questions you have! We are so thankful you've trusted us for vacation planning advice and information!
Cheers!
Jennifer