Hello Shawn,
Thanks for stopping by with a question for us today. As a fellow
Annual Passholder, I'm thrilled to help you plan your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort visit!
As you know,
theme park reservations are still required for Annual Passholders on most days. You’ve made a great choice by securing a theme park reservation at EPCOT for New Year’s Eve, as it’s one of the busiest (and most magical) days of the year! My fellow panelist
Kay shared her recent experience with another guest here, and though I haven't been there to ring in a new year myself just yet, it sounds like plenty of magic is in store as the countdown to midnight nears.
Capacity-related closures are typically only an issue during very busy holidays like July 4th, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, with tiered closures in place in these instances. It looks like you'll be traveling from a decent distance on your upcoming visit, so I'm not sure if air travel factors into your arrival plans. If possible, I recommend arriving at your reserved park early in the day with plans to stay put.
I reached out to a Cast Member who also suggested arriving at
EPCOT as early as possible that day. They couldn't confirm whether your park reservation guaranteed initial entry as it would depend on the particular tier of closure in place at that time. Additionally, your theme park reservation would not guarantee re-entry in the event of capacity closure, and I'd hate for you to leave for a bit and not be able to get back in. However, he advised that crowd levels are more of a concern at Magic Kingdom Park that day as EPCOT has a larger footprint.
I'm sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer but I recommend keeping an eye on the
My Disney Experience Mobile App during your visit. If capacity limits are reached at any of the parks, you'll see a pop-up note on the home screen. You can enable push notifications as well to be alerted to any updates. In many cases these closures are temporary, but I'd imagine things will get busier the closer it gets to midnight. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you won't experience any issues but know that you can speak with Cast Members at the park entrance that day for guidance and assistance if need be.
Shawn, if we can answer any additional questions please come back and let us know. I'm wishing you a magical visit and a very Happy New Year!
Magic and memories,
Amy