Hey there Sheylen, it's great to have you here at planDisney!
I'm excited for you and your husband to make your first trip together to Walt Disney World Resort, especially at a time when you can make your way down from the frosty north to enjoy some of the sunny skies we've got here in Orlando! That said, that last week of December can be daunting for those who go into it unprepared and with comparatively higher prices overall from flights to accommodations and even
theme park tickets during these very popular times of the year.
In my opinion, the experience of going to the
theme parks over the holidays is like starting a video game at an advanced level - so I'm always eager to help guests just like you to plan
the more easygoing and challenging places to be on which days, as well as where to expect to
see fireworks on New Year's Eve:
- Having the Park Hopper Option will be very useful for your trip down here as you head between destinations, but in my opinion if there's any day of the year when it's wisest to head to one of the theme parks and stay there through the end of the night - it's New Year's Eve. (When I spoke with Guest Relations Cast Members this week, they advised that this can be due to the risk of capacity limitations preventing guests from entering safely into one of the theme parks and you wouldn't want to leave EPCOT only to be stuck outside of Magic Kingdom Park.)
- Just having the ability to hop between the theme parks does not guarantee entry, especially with both Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT filling up with tends of thousands of guests into the afternoon and earlier this year, guests received a notification on their My Disney Experience app informing them that the Park Hopper option was no longer available for entry into Magic Kingdom Park on a particularly busy day during Spring Break.
- My personal advice to you would be to choose between the theme parks and spend the day there based on what you specifically want to experience during your first Walt Disney World Resort visit. Wait times will typically be much longer based on last year's data, and if rides are your goal then Magic Kingdom Park may be the better option with twice as many attractions. EPCOT on the other hand, will be full of DJs and dance parties throughout the night and many more opportunities to dine and drink around World Showcase.
The best way to avoid longer waits will be effectively using
Lightning Lane Passes, but be prepared for more competition in snagging desired times and the likelihood for historically higher pricing for this sort of offering on New Year's Eve. Since you're sticking around for a few days more, it might be a good idea to save the rides and attractions for every other day afterward and focus on getting into a theme park early, bracing yourselves for the crowds of revelers and just enjoying the atmosphere during a special time of year.
I hope it works out for you both, so that you'll have the most memorable first visit here!
Prince