Hi Kimberley,
You follow my plan on New Year's Eve, too! I don't have it in me to battle the crowds when I know I can watch the fireworks in less crowded conditions. Our favorite spot is the beach at the Polynesian. Lots and lots of space as well as hammocks if you'd like to relax while watching them. Along with the fireworks at midnight, there is an earlier showing at 8:30 pm, by the way.
Many resorts offer activities for the evening; you can just check with the concierge desk in your resort's lobby to see what events are scheduled at your resort. I do know that
Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian is offering a special four-course dinner as well as other restaurants. If you click
here, you can read about more of the dining options. Similarly, both
DisneyQuest (402-W-DISNEY) and
Cirque du Soleil (402-WDW-SEAT) are having special events. Finally, the Waldorf Astoria on Disney property is also doing some wonderful things to ring in the New Year. If you visit www.disneyfoodblog.com and do a search for "New Year's Eve 2011," you should be able to find an article that highlights all of the events.
Thank you for your question; please let us know if we can help again.