Season's greetings, Ben!
A warm welcome to planDisney and thanks for stopping by with your exciting
Walt Disney World Resort vacation planning question. I'm thrilled to hear you'll be spending New Year's Eve at The Most Magical Place on Earth - it's a "bucket list" item of mine! I'd be happy to help you prepare for an enchanting and exhilarating New Year's Eve celebration.
Ben, December 31, 2023 marks the last day of this year's
holiday season at the Walt Disney World Resort, and I'm certain it'll go out with a
bang! As you may know, according to the
Hours & Events Calendar, Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks are scheduled to illuminate Magic Kingdom Park on New Year's Eve. At this time, it does look like
theme park reservations are unavailable for both Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT for that date, however, Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park and Disney's Hollywood Studios still have availability remaining. If I had to decide between these two theme parks to ring in the New Year, I'd choose
Disney's Hollywood Studios, because it appears that the park is open until midnight that evening! Perhaps you could
drop in at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at the same time that the ball is dropping in Times Square?
Now, I understand you're most interested in ringing in the New Year
outside the theme parks. While specific New Year's Eve events haven't yet been announced for Disney Springs or
Disney's BoardWalk, I think it's likely Guests visiting these locations will have special holiday experiences. For example, in previous years,
The Edison has thrown a fabulous New Year's Eve party (special ticketed event) and
Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant has hosted a midnight champagne toast. I recommend staying tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for any exciting event updates and checking in with your specific locations of interest about their special NYE offerings once you arrive onsite. If you'll be around Disney's BoardWalk that evening, I suggest a swanky dinner at
Flying Fish followed by EPCOT fireworks viewing from the shoreline of Crescent Lake, capped off by drinks at
Jellyrolls. Another great option would be to have dinner at a restaurant at a Resort hotel near Magic Kingdom Park (my favorite is Steakhouse 71 at Disney's Contemporary Resort), then drinks and fireworks viewing at Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort!
Ben, I hope you've found these suggestions useful as you continue to prepare for a memorable New Year's Eve celebration. If you have any more planning questions, you're always welcome to return to
planDisney! We're here to help you make the most of your enchanting escape to The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Happy holidays,
Lauren