Hi Julio,
Can you believe it’s nearly time to welcome in 2024?! I’m excited to hear you’ll be spending this festive holiday weekend at the
Walt Disney World Resort but understand the frustration if you don’t have particular plans just yet. New Year’s Eve is a very popular time to visit but let’s look at what’s possible as the clock approaches midnight.
Unfortunately, the only place to watch a nighttime spectacular or special New Year’s Eve fireworks is inside Magic Kingdom or at EPCOT –
both parks are currently showing no availability for theme park reservations, so I understand asking about other activities. These displays are so large and magnificent that you should be able to catch a glimpse of the magical colors in the sky in the surrounding areas throughout the evening. Resorts such as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa boast views of these festive fireworks displays but viewership is limited to resort Guests and managed through wristband distribution on these popular holidays.
While there is no central outside-the-parks celebration, there are many pockets of fun throughout the resorts and Disney Springs. If you’re staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, be sure to ask at the front desk or look for signage regarding the resort-specific activities for the night. I recently shared
details of the goings-on with another Guest at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, as an example of local activities for resort Guests to ring in the new year. The televisions in your resort room typically have an on-demand option for a nighttime spectacular (such as “Happily Ever After”) if you want to bring in some food and make your own countdown with a perfect, no-crowd view of this special show with your family.
I’m seeing
availability at many restaurants the evening of December 31, 2023 – you can now search for dining reservations “after 4:00 P.M.” across the resorts or Disney Springs to find a great dining experience outside a theme park that may offer a special menu or activity for the night.
Raglan Road, an Irish themed restaurant at Disney Springs, is ringing in the new year twice! Once at 7:00 P.M. in sync with Ireland and then again with us in the U.S.A. at midnight. The
House of Blues is showing availability for dinner and beginning at 10:00 P.M. there will be a dance party with a DJ playing popular music in the style of “yacht rock” to sail into the new year. I imagine
Disney Springs will be full of energy tomorrow night if you wish to see additional details and ideas I recently shared with another Guest for spending the holiday there.
I understand the disappointment of not having a set plan at this late hour, but I also know that I always have a wonderful time whenever I’m on Disney property! The energy and group atmosphere is sure to be festive, fun, and positive on New Year’s Eve no matter where you end up at that magical hour of midnight. I hope this gives you some ideas of where to find a special way to celebrate together.
Wishing you a magical 2024 – cheers!
Amy