New Year's Eve dining

[Jyoti1]

Hi
We will be in Disney for New Years but will not be going to the park that day. Any restaurants that people really love that are located in the hotels or Disney Springs? We do want to celebrate in a special way but trying to avoid the crowds on New Years Eve and attend the park on January 1st instead. So far we have Citricos, Saana, and Homecomin' on the list. Not sure if these will be very difficult to get as a ADR.

Thanks!

 

[SteveH]

I'd give a look at some of the Signature restaurant over at Swan & Dolphin; Il Mulino is probably the best Italian restaurant on property, plus you have Shula's Steak House, Todd English Bluezoo and Kimono's. While most use Open Table they they also take phone in reservations so you can call to find out how far out they are booking for NY Eve.

 

[Jyoti1]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Skippyboo]

What about Toledo’s at Coronado Springs or Jiko at AKL? You would be out in the AK area away from the MK/Epcot or Disney Springs crowds.

 

[Jyoti1]

Thanks. I will check out Toledo's we have kids with the group of us two 7 year olds and two 10 year olds and I think the menu at Jiko won't suit our pizza/chicken finger eating kid!
Are the crowds bad in Disney Springs on NYE? Perhaps a dumb question. We have been to the area around Christmas (just before) but never during the exact holiday dates.

 

[The WDW 3]

Where are you staying?

 

[Jyoti1]

Old Key West

 

[Skippyboo]

Thanks. I will check out Toledo's we have kids with the group of us two 7 year olds and two 10 year olds and I think the menu at Jiko won't suit our pizza/chicken finger eating kid!
Are the crowds bad in Disney Springs on NYE? Perhaps a dumb question. We have been to the area around Christmas (just before) but never during the exact holiday dates.

If you have to appease the chicken fingers kiddos than Boma the buffet at AKL would be better than Jiko. Disney Springs would definitely be busy in the evening on NYE.

 

[Jyoti1]

Ok thank you for the advice!

 

[Skippyboo]

But since your at Old Key West, you could go to DS via the boats. Something like Raglan Road at DS could work? Are you trying to stay out until midnight or do an early dinner and get out before it becomes too crazy?

 

[Jyoti1]

Early dinner before it becomes crazy and get to bed early so we can get up and go to the park on the 1st. Our plan is to be out till the late fireworks on the 30th in MK, so we will have one late night followed by an early more subdued NYE. Would still like to do something special that evening for the kids but keep it somewhat sane! Our family has been three times to Disneyworld but we are going with friends and it's their first time, so I want to plan something special so this makes it memorable for them and ideally they will want to come back again sometime!

 

[robinb]

Assuming that things will be more "normal" this NYE, I would go to the Boardwalk area. They usually have a NYE party in the Village Green for kids and you'll be able to see some of Epcot's fireworks at 7:30 pm. You can hop on boat to DHS and then take the bus to OKW.

OKW has also had a NYE party in the past: https://www.disboards.com/threads/is-there-a-big-party-at-old-key-west-on-new-years-eve.3653634/

 

[Marthasor]

Early dinner before it becomes crazy and get to bed early so we can get up and go to the park on the 1st. Our plan is to be out till the late fireworks on the 30th in MK, so we will have one late night followed by an early more subdued NYE. Would still like to do something special that evening for the kids but keep it somewhat sane! Our family has been three times to Disneyworld but we are going with friends and it's their first time, so I want to plan something special so this makes it memorable for them and ideally they will want to come back again sometime!

Disney Springs will be busy on New Years Eve, but I think if you have an early dinner and leave early, you should be fine. I would not make an ADR in a location that will require you to travel on a road anywhere near any of the parks. Boat transportation from OKW to DS will be very convenient.

 

[robinb]

Disney Springs will be busy on New Years Eve, but I think if you have an early dinner and leave early, you should be fine. I would not make an ADR in a location that will require you to travel on a road anywhere near any of the parks. Boat transportation from OKW to DS will be very convenient.

Bus transportation should be OK. The bus drivers know how to avoid most of the traffic.

 

[Marthasor]

Bus transportation should be OK. The bus drivers know how to avoid most of the traffic.

In my experience, during Christmas through New Years, bus transportation takes much longer than non-holiday times. Plus, OP would have to take multiple buses if they are trying to go resort to resort. I just, personally, would not recommend taking a bus anywhere on property on NYE. Learned that lesson a few years ago.

 

[robinb]

In my experience, during Christmas through New Years, bus transportation takes much longer than non-holiday times. Plus, OP would have to take multiple buses if they are trying to go resort to resort. I just, personally, would not recommend taking a bus anywhere on property on NYE. Learned that lesson a few years ago.

I did NYE for almost every year between 1999 when my DD was born until 2017 when she graduated from high school. Some of those years I stayed at OKW (we owned there at the time). Yes, buses can be a bit slower but the drivers know some sneaky back ways into the parks/resorts. The buses also occasionally have their own lanes these days (DS and MK) which make things faster. Disney does their best to get their resort guests, who are paying through the nose to be there, to and from the parks.

I do think that resort-to-resort transportation is problematic, at the best of times. The system is just not built that way and you need to use a park as a hub. I would usually suggest ride sharing (Uber/Lyft) but not in this case because of the NYE traffic and surge pricing.

 

[Blondie58]

Hi
We will be in Disney for New Years but will not be going to the park that day. Any restaurants that people really love that are located in the hotels or Disney Springs? We do want to celebrate in a special way but trying to avoid the crowds on New Years Eve and attend the park on January 1st instead. So far we have Citricos, Saana, and Homecomin' on the list. Not sure if these will be very difficult to get as a ADR.

Thanks!

We have enjoyed the NYE party at California Grill twice. Once pre-pandemic and once 2021-2022. Both evenings were excellent! No crowds, fine dining, fireworks from the roof. Great experiences. (Our first visit was a Las Vegas night which was far better than the card magic tricks this past year. Why? The casino night was going on the entire night. The card tricks were at specific times and repetitive although the guy was amazing.)

 

[robinb]

We have enjoyed the NYE party at California Grill twice. Once pre-pandemic and once 2021-2022. Both evenings were excellent! No crowds, fine dining, fireworks from the roof. Great experiences. (Our first visit was a Las Vegas night which was far better than the card magic tricks this past year. Why? The casino night was going on the entire night. The card tricks were at specific times and repetitive although the guy was amazing.)

For $700 per person it SHOULD be amazeballs! I'm glad you had a great time . I wish I could bring myself to spend that much on dinner (and I've done V&A chef's table).

 

[Blondie58]

For $700 per person it SHOULD be amazeballs! I'm glad you had a great time . I wish I could bring myself to spend that much on dinner (and I've done V&A chef's table).

Full transparency - I did not pay for it. My significant other did. We traveled with a couple that had never been to WDW. It was their 40th wedding anniversary. All wanted to go. I personally would rather do tours but we did enjoy ourselves. V and As - THE BEST although Chef Hunnel is not there anymore. We actually had the Chef's Table on Thanksgiving day albeit a few years ago.

 

[Marthasor]

I did NYE for almost every year between 1999 when my DD was born until 2017 when she graduated from high school. Some of those years I stayed at OKW (we owned there at the time). Yes, buses can be a bit slower but the drivers know some sneaky back ways into the parks/resorts. The buses also occasionally have their own lanes these days (DS and MK) which make things faster. Disney does their best to get their resort guests, who are paying through the nose to be there, to and from the parks.

I do think that resort-to-resort transportation is problematic, at the best of times. The system is just not built that way and you need to use a park as a hub. I would usually suggest ride sharing (Uber/Lyft) but not in this case because of the NYE traffic and surge pricing.

So we agree taking a bus, resort-to-resort on NYE (or really anytime) is a bad idea. OP isn't going to a park . . .