How long will it take me to get to the Contemporary driving on NYE?

FSU Girl

DIS Veteran
Joined
Oct 20, 2016
So our plans changed a bit for our NYE trip and we are now arriving on NYE and staying at the Contemporary. The earliest we will be able to leave our house will be 11am and the drive normally takes 3 hours so we would normally arrive at 2pm. But I know traffic is awful on NYE and the Contemporary is next to the Magic Kingdom so I would imagine it will take a long time to get to our hotel. Has anyone done this before? How long did it typically take you once getting on Disney property to reaching the Contemporary? Since we aren't going the day before I want to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks on our balcony that night. I have a 7:15pm reservation at Epcot, should I keep this and just return after dinner? Will we be able to make that time with the traffic and travel time? I looked to see if there was anything at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, but there isn't.
 
I’m not sure how bad traffic is during the day, but I think I’d just eat at the contemporary rather then trying to get in and out of Epcot. It will be a zoo.
 
Last NYE, it took us two hours on a bus to get from Kidani to Epcot. That does not include the time we spent waiting on a bus (30/40ish minutes - the people who were at the bus stop before us had already been waiting an hour). This was right around noon on NYE. It took 20 minutes to get through the security line, and would have taken me about ten minutes more, but the AP line to tap into the park was empty (pure luck, as I never see it empty!!)

I realize this is not giving you exactly what you're looking for, but should give you an idea of how bad the traffic will be. It's normally a 16 to 20 minute trip from Kidani to Epcot. I would add in a two hour cushion to your timeline to allow for traffic. If it takes less, awesome! That'll be a bonus! I would take the monorail to Epcot if you keep that 715 ADR - they will do a 630 showing of Illuminations with the holiday tag. You can then go to your ADR, and monorail back to your resort to see the MK fireworks at midnight. I have a TR in my signature if you'd like to see what Epcot is like on NYE. We left after the 630 Illuminations and went back to AKL - the bus ride back took the normal amount of time.

Just be prepared for an extended time sitting still in traffic (make sure you have a full tank of gas!!) and pack your patience. We said we'd never do NYE again, but here we are going back again, and this time with the kids (last year it was just me and DH). We just have a different plan from last year. We'll be at the Polynesian - staying on the monorail loop was a must this year.

Have a fun trip, and lots of wishes for safe travel!!
 
I’m not sure how bad traffic is during the day, but I think I’d just eat at the contemporary rather then trying to get in and out of Epcot. It will be a zoo.
I have some reservation finders set, but right now there isn’t anything open and I don’t like the quick service there. We have fast passes at Epcot if the traffic isn’t horrible we might get a few rides in and then dinner. We’ve never been before on NYE so I’d like to go into the park for a bit

Last NYE, it took us two hours on a bus to get from Kidani to Epcot. That does not include the time we spent waiting on a bus (30/40ish minutes - the people who were at the bus stop before us had already been waiting an hour). This was right around noon on NYE. It took 20 minutes to get through the security line, and would have taken me about ten minutes more, but the AP line to tap into the park was empty (pure luck, as I never see it empty!!)

I realize this is not giving you exactly what you're looking for, but should give you an idea of how bad the traffic will be. It's normally a 16 to 20 minute trip from Kidani to Epcot. I would add in a two hour cushion to your timeline to allow for traffic. If it takes less, awesome! That'll be a bonus! I would take the monorail to Epcot if you keep that 715 ADR - they will do a 630 showing of Illuminations with the holiday tag. You can then go to your ADR, and monorail back to your resort to see the MK fireworks at midnight. I have a TR in my signature if you'd like to see what Epcot is like on NYE. We left after the 630 Illuminations and went back to AKL - the bus ride back took the normal amount of time.

Just be prepared for an extended time sitting still in traffic (make sure you have a full tank of gas!!) and pack your patience. We said we'd never do NYE again, but here we are going back again, and this time with the kids (last year it was just me and DH). We just have a different plan from last year. We'll be at the Polynesian - staying on the monorail loop was a must this year.

Have a fun trip, and lots of wishes for safe travel!!
I’ve seen pictures of how bad traffic is. I’m hoping the middle of the day won’t be as bad as morning, but it probably will lol. Good idea about a full tank of gas I’ll fill up on the highway before we get there to prepare. We would definitely take the monorail to Epcot. I like the idea of going into the park since we’ve never been before on NYE. Do you think if traffic is really bad and we sit in traffic for two hours and get to the hotel at 5pm we will have enough time with the monorails and security to get to France for our dining reservation at 7:15?
 


I am not sure if it would be better on NYE or not, but if it were me, I would take a route that came in off of Vista Blvd. This takes you past FW and may not be as backed up as trying to arrive directly from World with the back up of people trying to get through to TTC.
 
I am not sure if it would be better on NYE or not, but if it were me, I would take a route that came in off of Vista Blvd. This takes you past FW and may not be as backed up as trying to arrive directly from World with the back up of people trying to get through to TTC.
So it would bypass the magic kingdom entrance? That would probably save a lot of time
 
Yes. I use Vista quite a bit when staying at FW. I also use it when going to the MK resorts from areas around DS/POFQ.
 


Yes. I use Vista quite a bit when staying at FW. I also use it when going to the MK resorts from areas around DS/POFQ.
Thank you for the tip! We’ll definitely go that way, it should help not getting caught up in all the magic kingdom traffic
 
I’ve seen pictures of how bad traffic is. I’m hoping the middle of the day won’t be as bad as morning, but it probably will lol. Good idea about a full tank of gas I’ll fill up on the highway before we get there to prepare. We would definitely take the monorail to Epcot. I like the idea of going into the park since we’ve never been before on NYE. Do you think if traffic is really bad and we sit in traffic for two hours and get to the hotel at 5pm we will have enough time with the monorails and security to get to France for our dining reservation at 7:15?

Middle of the day is when we got stuck on the bus for so long, so just plan for the worst and hope for the best. I like a pp's suggestion of coming in a different direction.

I have no experience with the monorail at that time of day on NYE, so while you might make it, you're going to be cutting it close. Last year they had a bypass from Future World behind Test Track that went backstage and then opened up on the Norway side of Mexico (we left the WS that way after Illuminations) - I'm not sure if they let people going INTO World Showcase use that, we used it to exit, but if they do, that will get you over there more easily than walking through the sea of humanity to France.


The above is France after our 4:30 ADR at Chef's de France. We got through those people to watch Impressions de France. The one below is us on our way to drinks in Morocco and to get a spot for 630 Illuminations in Japan


And below is what we were walking through about ten minutes after Illuminations - we stayed put for awhile to let the crowd thin out.


Those pictures are from our trip last year - not to dissuade you from anything, just to prepare you for what you'll be walking through once you get into the park and start walking from the front of the park toward France.

If you or anyone you're traveling with is claustrophobic or has problems with crowds, make sure to come up with coping strategies like stopping in shops or something.
 
Middle of the day is when we got stuck on the bus for so long, so just plan for the worst and hope for the best. I like a pp's suggestion of coming in a different direction.

I have no experience with the monorail at that time of day on NYE, so while you might make it, you're going to be cutting it close. Last year they had a bypass from Future World behind Test Track that went backstage and then opened up on the Norway side of Mexico (we left the WS that way after Illuminations) - I'm not sure if they let people going INTO World Showcase use that, we used it to exit, but if they do, that will get you over there more easily than walking through the sea of humanity to France.



The above is France after our 4:30 ADR at Chef's de France. We got through those people to watch Impressions de France. The one below is us on our way to drinks in Morocco and to get a spot for 630 Illuminations in Japan



And below is what we were walking through about ten minutes after Illuminations - we stayed put for awhile to let the crowd thin out.



Those pictures are from our trip last year - not to dissuade you from anything, just to prepare you for what you'll be walking through once you get into the park and start walking from the front of the park toward France.

If you or anyone you're traveling with is claustrophobic or has problems with crowds, make sure to come up with coping strategies like stopping in shops or something.
I could see how it might cut it close to get all the way back to France. I’m hoping something will open up by the hotel instead, but not sure if people will cancel anything. If I can then I’d probably walk to Magic Kingdom so we could go into a park for a little bit without dealing with transportation. It’s hard when you change plans after you have everything set.
 
I could see how it might cut it close to get all the way back to France. I’m hoping something will open up by the hotel instead, but not sure if people will cancel anything. If I can then I’d probably walk to Magic Kingdom so we could go into a park for a little bit without dealing with transportation. It’s hard when you change plans after you have everything set.

Oh, I feel you there! Fingers crossed that timing works just right and you don't have issues with traffic so you can go ahead and do Epcot as planned. You're going to have a great time :-) :-)
 
We will be moving from POFQ over to the Polynesian on the 30th for the two nights and are doing MK on the 30th and Epcot/HS on the 31st. I'm thinking we'll do our fast passes at Epcot and then try for fast passes at HS and the possibly go back over to Epcot for the fireworks? If not, after HS we will head back to Poly and watch MK fireworks from the beach. I haven't been to WDW since 1999, so don't really know what to expect. LOL
Last NYE, it took us two hours on a bus to get from Kidani to Epcot. That does not include the time we spent waiting on a bus (30/40ish minutes - the people who were at the bus stop before us had already been waiting an hour). This was right around noon on NYE. It took 20 minutes to get through the security line, and would have taken me about ten minutes more, but the AP line to tap into the park was empty (pure luck, as I never see it empty!!)

I realize this is not giving you exactly what you're looking for, but should give you an idea of how bad the traffic will be. It's normally a 16 to 20 minute trip from Kidani to Epcot. I would add in a two hour cushion to your timeline to allow for traffic. If it takes less, awesome! That'll be a bonus! I would take the monorail to Epcot if you keep that 715 ADR - they will do a 630 showing of Illuminations with the holiday tag. You can then go to your ADR, and monorail back to your resort to see the MK fireworks at midnight. I have a TR in my signature if you'd like to see what Epcot is like on NYE. We left after the 630 Illuminations and went back to AKL - the bus ride back took the normal amount of time.

Just be prepared for an extended time sitting still in traffic (make sure you have a full tank of gas!!) and pack your patience. We said we'd never do NYE again, but here we are going back again, and this time with the kids (last year it was just me and DH). We just have a different plan from last year. We'll be at the Polynesian - staying on the monorail loop was a must this year.

Have a fun trip, and lots of wishes for safe travel!!
 
You might even try coming in Reams Road and the back side of MK instead of coming in the front side.
Thanks I’ll check our directions to go that way. I think if I can avoid the madness of people trying to go to Magic Kingdom it should help a little bit with traffic.


Oh, I feel you there! Fingers crossed that timing works just right and you don't have issues with traffic so you can go ahead and do Epcot as planned. You're going to have a great time :-) :-)
Thank you!! I hope so. It’s definitely going to be an adventure lol

@FSU Girl, what about doing room service for your dinner? It might take awhile to get it, but it might be better than risking missing the fireworks.
I’ve never actually ordered room service before at Disney. That might a possibility. But I don’t think we’d miss the fireworks traveling back after dinner. If we are out of there by 9 we’d have three hours to get back by monorail
 
But I don’t think we’d miss the fireworks traveling back after dinner. If we are out of there by 9 we’d have three hours to get back by monorail
Just a friendly reminder that you will not be the only guests with the same idea and will be traveling to the MK or MK resorts to see the NYE Fireworks after the earlier show at Epcot. Also you would need to take the Epcot loop to the TTC and then transfer to the MK Express monorail (might save some time) or the resort monorail to reach the CR.

You should expect possible long delays at each security checkpoint, consider traveling light without any bags or backpacks.

Dave
 
As far as getting to CR that afternoon, I would use Waze and trust whatever it tells you. We left Epcot via monorail around 2pm last year and the traffic we saw on World Drive below was EPIC. Picture what you think would be really bad WDW traffic and triple it.

I suspect coming in from some of the more non-traditional routes may be better options (I don’t know that for sure though), but I’d avoid World Drive unless Waze suggests that’s your quickest route.

The MK resort bypass will help things this year, but you still have to get to the bypass and traffic was backed up well before that point 2pm last year.

Good luck OP.
 
Just a friendly reminder that you will not be the only guests with the same idea and will be traveling to the MK or MK resorts to see the NYE Fireworks after the earlier show at Epcot. Also you would need to take the Epcot loop to the TTC and then transfer to the MK Express monorail (might save some time) or the resort monorail to reach the CR.

You should expect possible long delays at each security checkpoint, consider traveling light without any bags or backpacks.

Dave
Do you think since we will be heading back a few hours after Epcot’s earlier fireworks that’ll help at all? I think when we got to the monorails we’d pick the shortest of the two lines. Many times I’ve seen the direct to Magic Kingdom crazy long and no one in the resort line.

As far as getting to CR that afternoon, I would use Waze and trust whatever it tells you. We left Epcot via monorail around 2pm last year and the traffic we saw on World Drive below was EPIC. Picture what you think would be really bad WDW traffic and triple it.

I suspect coming in from some of the more non-traditional routes may be better options (I don’t know that for sure though), but I’d avoid World Drive unless Waze suggests that’s your quickest route.

The MK resort bypass will help things this year, but you still have to get to the bypass and traffic was backed up well before that point 2pm last year.

Good luck OP.
Ya I’m not thrilled to be on the road lol. But it’s the only thing that will work or we’d have to cancel the whole trip. I feel like most people will go the main routes so the back ways will be less crowded, but I’m sure some others will try that way too. I’m hoping the highway won’t be too bad since most people aren’t traveling on that day normally so that might help us make up some time
 
And don’t forget when you get to the TTC, you can also take the ferry to MK & walk to CR. If the monorail line looks too long. Good luck & have fun! NY Eve is on my bucket list. I’m trying Easter next year to break in to the madness slowly! :goodvibes
 
And don’t forget when you get to the TTC, you can also take the ferry to MK & walk to CR. If the monorail line looks too long. Good luck & have fun! NY Eve is on my bucket list. I’m trying Easter next year to break in to the madness slowly! :goodvibes
We started with thanksgiving :) that’s a great tip about the ferry. I am excited to finally go over NYE. I feel like now is the perfect time since we are going to start trying for a baby after and I don’t think I could deal with those crowds and a baby lol
 

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