Welcome to planDisney, Kortney! I love that you plan to start 2023 off with a bang at Walt Disney World Resort!
You're wise to start thinking about dining, so I'm happy to provide you with some food for thought. You can book dining reservations starting 60 days in advance at 6:00 AM EST, either on the Walt Disney World website or in the
My Disney Experience app. Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel get extra privileges, however. Sixty days in advance, you can book for your entire resort stay length (counting both the arrival and departure days) up to 10 days. Set an early alarm for November 1 to remind you to get up and log into your account!
Some years, unique dining options are available for New Year's Eve. As of this writing,
California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort is the only one that has been announced. This would be a splurge-worthy experience, including a night of dancing, food stations, and a view of the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks to ring in the new year. For more information, call California Grill at (407) 824-2013; you'll need to leave a message, and they will call you back. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog, as more dining locations may be announced soon!
EPCOT is an excellent place to be on New Year's Eve since it's a large park that can better handle the crowds. Typically there are DJ dance parties around World Showcase, and the evening ends with a fireworks show. If this park is on your list, I advise you to arrive early, stay late, and get a table service reservation where you can rest. My favorite restaurants include
Via Napoli,
Rose & Crown Dining Room, and
Le Cellier Steakhouse.
There's no denying that crowd levels will be high when you visit. Whether or not to buy
Disney Genie + depends on your park touring strategy. If your priority is to experience several attractions without long waits, purchase it in your My Disney Experience app before 7:00 AM each morning you plan to use it. Then you'll be able to set up Genie+ Lightning Lane return time windows. On busy days, you can expect to experience three rides. If, on the other hand, you'd rather walk around and enjoy the holiday decor and snacks, then I would skip buying it and use the standby queue for your absolute favorite attractions.
Kortney, the planDisney Panel wishes you a healthy and happy New Year!
Eean