Hello Nicole!
Welcome to planDisney! I'm sure you are very excited about your upcoming trip to
Walt Disney World Resort. It is such a special time when the holidays are in full swing. The twinkling lights, holiday greenery, and festive music make the Parks just a wonderful place to celebrate the season.
Now, you are correct, the 10-day date-based ticket does not require theme park reservations. These tickets give you 14 days to visit the Parks on 10 different days. However, it does not guarantee admission into those Parks. You are looking to visit during one of the busiest weeks of the year and if a Park reaches capacity there is a chance that you could be denied admittance. You can go to another Park or you can try again on a different day. If that happens make sure to arrive as early as you can to make sure you get in! Sometimes when it's very busy and the Park is approaching capacity, Walt Disney World Resort may do phased closures and only allow in Guests who are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort. Sometimes it can reach the point where everyone is not allowed in. Many times on nights like New Year's Eve there is a potential for
EPCOT to hit capacity but to be honest this is very rare as this Park does a great job of handling a ton of people. It can still happen, however.
I don't know where you are seeing that tickets are sold out for New Year's Eve. I believe Guests from Australia have to
purchase their tickets through a travel agent. Were you told by one that these dates were not available? Here in the
US, I can still purchase tickets that overlap December 31, 2024, with no issue.
If you can get tickets and want to visit EPCOT on New Year's Eve then make sure you arrive before noon at the latest. I would also make sure to download the My Disney Experience Mobile App as any capacity issues, closures and other announcements will push through the app. You may not be able to download the app till you arrive in the US but make sure you do right away. It is so helpful for planning your day. You can view Wait Times and book experiences and dining and so much more. When you have a crowded week, having a tool to help you see what is happening around you is vital.
I hope that this helps and if you have any more questions please feel free to
let me know!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy