New 12 months’s Eve is without doubt one of the busiest days of the yr at Disneyland and Disney California Journey, as company pack the parks to ring in 2024. This information shares our suggestions & methods for having fun with the NYE events within the parks, watching the fireworks, and avoiding the chaos and loopy crowds. (Up to date December 26, 2024.)
Let’s begin on that final be aware. All Magic Key Passholders are blocked out between December 23, 2024 and January 3, 2025. That features all tiers–there are now not any Disneyland Annual Passes obtainable for most of the people to buy which are legitimate for New 12 months’s Eve. (The one besides to that’s Membership 33 Members, however that’s a really small variety of folks.)
This implies the vibe may be very completely different at Disneyland throughout these two weeks, and particularly on New 12 months’s Eve. You gained’t see any bloggers, vloggers, or social media influencers–other than those that spring for extremely costly single-day tickets. Extra importantly, it additionally means no common ole locals loitering round, staking out spots hours prematurely for the fireworks.
Park reservations are additionally in place, and to our shock, there’s nonetheless 1-park, 1-day availability for December 31, 2024 just a few days earlier than New 12 months’s Eve. Granted, it’s for Disney California Journey, however nonetheless. There’s additionally Park Hopper availability for each parks, which is extra noteworthy.
That is truly the identical factor that occurred final yr. DCA had availability till the final minute, and Park Hopping was by no means minimize off with both park closing to capability. Within the 2 years previous to that, reservations crammed up a number of weeks to over a month prematurely. This could possibly be an indication that pent-up demand is lastly beginning to exhaust itself or that the Magic Key blockouts are retaining most locals on the sidelines.
Nevertheless, this isn’t to say New 12 months’s Eve will likely be uncrowded on December 31, 2024. On the contrary, each Disneyland and Disney California Journey will see very excessive attendance on NYE. Reservations not being completely bought out is an indication that crowd ranges is perhaps “solely” 9/10 or 8/10 as an alternative of 10+/10.
We point out that as a result of it’s additionally exactly what occurred final yr. December 28-29 had been 10/10 crowd stage days, whereas December 30-31 had been solely 8/10 crowd ranges. Nevertheless, that’s a minimum of partially as a result of crowd ranges are measured by trip wait occasions, and company within the parks for NYE should not simply centered on rides. Within the lead-up to the fireworks, for instance, traces would sometimes be shorter as everyone seems to be at dance events or tenting out for the pyro.
Suffice to say, Disneyland will nonetheless be busy on New 12 months’s Eve, it simply gained’t be a reasonably disagreeable expertise. And it’s nonetheless potential that reservations will replenish. Regardless, you possibly can observe our suggestions (which focus totally on New 12 months’s Eve, however may be utilized to the week between Christmas and New 12 months’s, too), you may make lemonade out of lemons.
Our first tip is that for those who reside in Southern California, do one thing apart from visiting Disneyland. There are such a lot of higher days to go to, and until you don’t get the SyFy Channel (and thus can’t watch the Twilight Zone Marathon), there’s a minimum of one higher factor to do. We’re betting that there are most likely “just a few” different issues to do in Los Angeles and Orange County for New 12 months’s Eve, too.
If you happen to actually need to see the fireworks, our advice could be to see them from someplace exterior the park and to make use of park admission one other day. Usually, the Esplanade between the parks is a well-liked spot for this, however even it will likely be over-crowded on New 12 months’s Eve. As an alternative, we’d suggest watching from the Mickey & Associates Parking Construction, or Downtown Disney (Catal Restaurant has an ideal viewing terrace).
If you happen to’re an out-of-town vacationer and are type of “caught” with visiting Disneyland for New 12 months’s Eve (or are discovering this put up through Google on New 12 months’s Eve from Disneyland as you surprise “what have I gotten myself into?!”) then we’ve got just a few issues you must know and suggestions that may assist…
Crowds
Let’s begin with the excellent news, which is that this information to New 12 months’s Eve at Disneyland is written for a “regular” yr, and that is nonetheless not a standard yr. Most notably, Disneyland and Disney California Journey have park reservation programs in place that restrict attendance.
Earlier than you get too excited, this isn’t to say that Disneyland can have low crowds on December 31, 2024 due to the attendance limits. We’ve been on a number of totally booked days this yr, and the crowds have been heavy–simply not New 12 months’s Eve heavy. On high of that, each single tier of Magic Key Annual Passes is blocked out for New 12 months’s Eve. It is a comparatively new change, as the highest tier of APs used to not be blocked out for the week between Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve. Nevertheless, this additionally doesn’t imply Disneyland and DCA will likely be much less busy than regular.
That is the most important week of the yr for vacationers to go to the parks, and the way in which each Christmas Eve and New 12 months’s Eve fall on Sundays has meant the week between the 2 has been busier than regular. (Normally, vacation crowds could be extra evenly unfold between the week main as much as Christmas and the week main as much as NYE. This yr, the majority of crowds are coming between the 2.)
Forecasting crowds for this New 12 months’s Eve can be virtually inconceivable as a result of there are numerous unknowns. Did Disneyland launch extra reservations with the expectation that some a.m. arrivals would go away early? Did they launch fewer with the expectation that folks would Park Hop from DCA? Talking of which, will there be significant limits on Park Hopping? Does Disneyland need to keep away from the looks of overcrowding?
We are able to’t reply any of these questions. Our expectation is that Disneyland crowds on New 12 months’s Eve will likely be 8/10 to 10/10, however not as dangerous as a standard NYE. Sometimes, New 12 months’s Eve is among the many 5 busiest days of the yr at Disneyland. This yr, it’d rank #12 out of 365. Nonetheless sufficient to attain a ten/10 on the group calendar, however comparatively much less busy than regular for that particular day of the yr.
Disney California Journey is often one other story solely. It sometimes begins out very busy, however begins to grow to be less-crowded by mid-afternoon. Folks do the ‘large’ rides early on and get their drink on, earlier than shuffling subsequent door to Disneyland. We’ve finished just a few NYEs the place Disneyland had 10/10 crowd ranges within the night whereas DCA felt like a wonderfully nice night time. Nonetheless busy, however not bonkers.
Regardless, for those who’re visiting Disneyland on New 12 months’s Eve, it’s worthwhile to brace your self for the truth of the crowds. You’ll encounter congestion that makes driving the 101 throughout rush hour really feel liberating by comparability. Simply navigating regular walkways will check your endurance, and that’s earlier than you even get to the traces for points of interest, eating places, and even restrooms.
We aren’t kidding about that. Restroom traces are widespread on New 12 months’s Eve, and don’t be shocked to attend 20 minutes or extra for them. Even earlier than you get into the parks, the road to get into the parking construction after which by way of safety checkpoints will likely be fairly depressing. Oh, all of that’s even assuming you will get in to start. On New 12 months’s Eve, the parks (primarily Disneyland) closing to capability earlier within the day will not be unusual.
If all of this sounds scary…that’s type of the purpose. The thought right here is to persuade you (if it’s not too late) to go to Disneyland another day. We aren’t exaggerating any of this, and when you can nonetheless have an pleasing time, the chances of a foul expertise or meltdown are exacerbated on New 12 months’s Eve. Furthermore, if avoiding crowds is your paramount concern, you ought to be avoiding the weeks across the holidays, not studying this information.
With that mentioned, for those who do need to keep away from crowds–to the extent that may be finished–listed here are just a few suggestions. First, arrive early and keep late. Plan on attending to the safety checkpoints an hour earlier than the parks open, so that you may be by way of safety and among the many first company to get inside Disneyland or Disney California Journey. Safety will get backed up later within the day.
Crowds are at all times lightest within the morning, getting progressively worse because the day wears on. Having an environment friendly itinerary that prioritizes fashionable points of interest first is vital, and we suggest following our 1-Day Disneyland or 1-Day Disney California Journey Plan for this.
Moreover, we’d suggest studying in regards to the Lightning Lane system for those who haven’t already. You’ll positively need to use that on NYE and the week that follows in early 2024 whereas native colleges are nonetheless out, because it’ll considerably enhance your go to to the parks. See our Information to Lightning Lanes at Disneyland for more information, technique, and many others.
On New 12 months’s Eve, it will likely be a “profitable” day for those who can accomplish one-third of what’s on these plans at Disneyland. In DCA, you’ll be capable to accomplish much more. Arriving early and knocking out as a lot as potential earlier than 10 a.m. will a minimum of begin the time out on the suitable foot.
For the most effective of each worlds, use a Park Hopper ticket and begin out at Disneyland earlier than park hopping over to DCA round 10 or 11 a.m. Disney California Journey will likely be far much less busy all through the whole day. Simply don’t anticipate to have the ability to get again into Disneyland–it’s prone to near capability (it’s extremely unlikely that DCA will near capability this or any yr).
We’d suggest focusing your consideration on the much less fashionable points of interest and exhibits in each parks. House Mountain and Radiator Springs Racers will likely be there in 2024, and can have shorter waits by a matter of hours. Anticipating to do each fashionable attraction isn’t just a poor concept, it’s actually inconceivable.
Moreover, we’d suggest consuming at off-hours, when eating places first open or between 2 and 4 p.m. to keep away from the frenzy eating durations, which might imply lengthy traces at eating places, and minimal empty tables.
You additionally may need to take a look at our record of the Prime 10 Restrooms at Disneyland, and hunt down ones which are off the crushed path. Critically. This may prevent 10-Quarter-hour in line for a restroom every time.
The excellent news is that Disneyland is open till 2 a.m. on December 31, 2024 and Disney California Journey is open till 1 a.m. These longer hours offer you extra time to get issues finished, so even when crowd ranges are 10/10, you possibly can nonetheless accomplish an honest quantity over the course of the day.
Talking of which, we extremely suggest making the most of these late closing occasions, even when it’s worthwhile to sleep in and arrive late to take action. Keep away from the post-fireworks exodus simply after midnight in any respect prices. Critically. It’s depressing. As an alternative of heading for the exit like 90% of different company, do extra rides.
Not simply because they’ll have shorter wait occasions–though they’ll. The larger motive is to attend out the crowds. With 90% of company leaving , this creates visitors jams (literal and figurative) exiting, for the parking zone trams, on Harbor Boulevard sidewalks, and leaving the Mickey & Associates and Pixar Buddies parking constructions. Wait out the crowds and benefit from the parks; it’s much better than being caught in a sea of individuals/vehicles and nonetheless not getting residence till after 2 a.m!
Leisure
This put up has been numerous doom and gloom up till now, however lastly, we’ve got a silver lining! As a result of the group ranges are so excessive and wait occasions for every thing are so lengthy, there’s a ton of additional atmospheric leisure within the parks for New 12 months’s Eve.
The spotlight is the Fantasy within the Sky New 12 months’s Eve fireworks at Disneyland, which is offered at 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. Over at Disney California Journey, there’s World of Colour – Season of Gentle that’s offered twice earlier within the night. Usually, the World of Colour “Fountains and Fireworks” Countdown to Midnight additionally happens, however that has but to be added to the schedule for December 31, 2024.
In reality, nothing else has been added to the Disneyland Resort leisure…and it’s just a few days earlier than NYE. Don’t fret, as this has occurred earlier than, so we’re simply going to share final yr’s leisure, with the idea that almost all or all of it can repeat once more, as these dance events are fairly constant from yr to yr:
A number of “New 12 months’s Eve Countdown Celebrations” dance events happen round Disneyland Park. They’re situated in entrance of “it’s a small world,” Rivers of America, Sleeping Magnificence Citadel, and in Tomorrowland. The festivities begin at 7:00 pm with “it’s a small world” and Tomorrowland, adopted by Sleeping Magnificence Citadel at 7:15 pm, and at 7:30 pm and Rivers of America. These dance events run till 12:30 am or 1:00 am.
Over at Disney California Journey, the “New 12 months’s Eve Countdown Celebration” dance events are listed on the schedule as occurring in Paradise Backyard and Hollywood Land from 8 pm till 1 am. There’s additionally a ton of reside leisure and extra.
Get together favors are additionally distributed in each parks. This may sound like a enjoyable bonus for those who’re studying this sitting within the consolation and solitude of your individual residence, however when you’re there, you’ll notice it’s a very merciless type of torture, seemingly concocted by the identical masterminds who devised Gitmo. Give it some thought: tens of 1000’s of individuals…crammed into a good house…lots of whom are inebriated…all with noisemakers.
Even earlier than the dance events start, you possibly can anticipate extra atmospheric leisure and reside music within the parks than on a standard day. That is notably true at Disney California Journey, the place the reside performances for Pageant of Holidays will nonetheless be going robust, and can present music in all corners of the park. (That is one more reason why we suggest DCA beneath for New 12 months’s Eve.)
Lastly, for those who’re into “grownup” leisure, Disney California Journey is your default possibility as alcohol will not be served in Disneyland. If that is your concept of a superb time on New 12 months’s Eve, learn our Disneyland Resort Bar Crawl Information, for suggestions on the place to seize drinks and benefit from the ambiance. Disney California Journey has a number of stops on this crawl.
There are additionally suggestions in that information within the resorts and Downtown Disney exterior of the parks. Leaving and getting again in could be a problem through the week between Christmas and New 12 months’s, and downright inconceivable on New 12 months’s Eve if the parks hit capability. (Disneyland is more likely to hit capability–and sometimes does so by midday.)
A closing be aware with regard to consuming–in case your plan is to rely on Uber, be warned that surge pricing may be actually excessive. Final yr, I noticed it get above 5x (I wasn’t actively searching for a trip, simply testing of curiosity) in Orange County.
Which Park for the Evening?
It stays to be seen whether or not the parks will near capability within the night this yr, or if the aggressive blockout schedule is sufficient to decrease crowd ranges (my guess is that it’s going to not hit capability for that motive), however regardless, it’s clever to decide on a park within the early night and stick to that. My selection for that will be Disney California Journey.
Lots of people head to Disneyland for the expertise of ringing within the New 12 months in entrance of Sleeping Magnificence Citadel, as I assume it’s a type of romanticized issues like celebrating in Instances Sq.. Similar to being in Instances Sq. (which appears to be like depressing on tv), actuality doesn’t match the imaginative and prescient.
If you happen to select to be in entrance of the fortress, you’ll must stake out a spot hours prematurely (folks begin staking out the benches within the Hub at round midday), and will likely be packed in like sardines. It’s not nice. It’s additionally not price it.
Then there’s the problem of leaving after the fireworks are over. If you happen to’ve ever skilled post-fireworks crowd stream throughout a busy night at Disneyland, multiply that by about 10.
The explanation that is a lot worse is due to increased crowds and likewise as a result of about half of that crowd is making an attempt to move deeper into the park (Disneyland doesn’t shut after the fireworks) and the opposite half are heading in the direction of the exit. This leads to gridlock. If you happen to’re fortunate, you will get from the Hub to the park exit in about 40 minutes.
DCA goes to be much less crowded than Disneyland. Not solely is it going to be less-crowded but it surely’s additionally constructed to deal with crowds significantly better with wider walkways and extra respiration room, typically. (Keep in mind, Disney California Journey was constructed almost 50 years after Disneyland!)
We’ve finished Disney California Journey on New 12 months’s Eve a number of occasions, and it has at all times felt much less crowded than a random summer season weekday. At worst, the park has been reasonably crowded, and the one actual exception to this was World of Colour: Countdown.
Nevertheless, this NYE will likely be completely different in a few methods. Park reservations and attendance limits imply attendance is perhaps extra evenly distributed, particularly if Park Hopping limitations are in place. As this situation is completely unprecedented, it’s inconceivable to say the way it’ll play out till the mud settles and 2024 arrives.
Our semi-informed expectation (based mostly on latest precedent through the busy vacation season) is that there will likely be minimal restrictions on Park Hopping. Most ticket holders with the Park Hopper possibility will bounce to Disneyland by early afternoon, emptying out DCA. Even in a worst case situation, it’s potential that Disney California Journey will likely be busier than previous New 12 months’s Eves because of the caps and reservation system, however nonetheless not remotely on par with Disneyland or a peak date exterior of NYE.
There are different issues that come into play for us recommending Disney California Journey. The primary is that you may see Disneyland’s fireworks from Disney California Journey, however you can not see World of Colour: Countdown from Disneyland. This provides you the chance to take pleasure in each most important items of New 12 months’s Eve leisure for those who’re in Disney California Journey.
Equally as essential, World of Colour doesn’t get cancelled as a consequence of winds and Disneyland’s fireworks do–fairly commonly. It will stink to camp out for the Disneyland New 12 months’s Eve Fantasy within the Sky fireworks solely to listen to the “as a consequence of winds at excessive elevations…” message, cancelling the fireworks. That silly wind balloon above the park is certainly one of my least-favorite sights at Disneyland.
Most individuals are most likely going to ignore this and do Disneyland anyway (identical to they’ll disregard this put up and assume crowds gained’t be that dangerous to start with), however I’d (once more) warning you in opposition to letting the romanticized notion of ringing within the New 12 months in entrance of Sleeping Magnificence Citadel cloud your judgment. There’s nothing even remotely romantic about that have.
With all of that mentioned, we are able to see the enchantment of desirous to be in Disneyland or Disney California Journey to ring within the New 12 months. Whereas we clearly don’t suggest doing Disneyland, it may be a enjoyable expertise (or good check of your endurance?) as long as you realize what you’re getting your self into and put together accordingly. Hopefully the following tips assist you devise a technique for New 12 months’s Eve at Disneyland…or a minimum of mentally put together for the chaos.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Resort Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
Your Ideas
Have you ever finished New 12 months’s Eve at Disneyland or DCA? What did you consider the crowds? Any survival suggestions? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation of New 12 months’s Eve at Disneyland? Any questions? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions beneath within the feedback!
