Walt Disney World New Year’s Eve Celebrations

By James | Last updated December 28, 2023

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Just about everywhere in the Walt Disney World with the exception of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the water parks has some sort of New Year’s Eve celebration.

Many of the resort hotels also put on special entertainment for the evening.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

On New Year’s Eve there are two night-time parades and two sets of fireworks. If you have young children, then you can still get into the New Year’s Eve spirit by watching one of the earlier shows or you can stay up and see in the New Year in style.

The “SpectroMagic” parades are at 7:00 pm and 10:30 pm and the “Holiday Wishes” night-time fireworks spectacular is at 8:30 pm. There is also a second special New Year’s Eve “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks display just before midnight at 11:50 pm.

The park closes at 1:00 am and the shows are included in the normal admission charges.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

There are live performances by the in-park band, “Mulch, Sweat and Shears” along with a DJ at the Sorcerer Hat Stage. The concerts also feature fireworks and special effects with a special full scale fireworks display at midnight.

The park closes at 1:00 am and the shows are included in the normal admission charges.

Disney’s Epcot

At Epcot, the New Year’s Eve Countdown Spectacular offers a variety of different entertainment throughout the park ranging from dancing to DJs at some of Epcot’s pavilions to a buffet dinner at the World Showcase, available between 4:30 pm and 10:30 pm.

There are also two showings of “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” at 7 pm and 11:40 pm with a special New Year’s countdown and an “Auld Lang Syne” finale at the later performance at the World Showcase Lagoon.

The park closes at 1:00 am and the shows are included in the normal admission charges.

Downtown Disney, Cirque du Soleil®

On New Year’s Eve, there are extra special performances of La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil®. All guests receive a limited edition Walt Disney World/Cirque trading pin.

The special shows are at 6 pm and 9 pm.

DisneyQuest

DisneyQuest in Downtown Disney plays host to an evening of fun, games and dancing with a DJ dance party, a New Year’s Eve countdown and confetti drop and access to all the video games including Pirates of the Caribbean, CyberSpace Mountain an Virtual Jungle Cruise.

Included in the admission price is a coupon for a quick service entrée such as pizza, hot dog, kid’s hamburger or chicken Caesar wrap plus chips (crisps) and a fountain soda drink.

Disney’s Boardwalk

It you want to dance the night away, why not go to the New Year’s Eve dance party at the Art Deco styled Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s Boardwalk from 8 pm to 2 am.

There is music from the 80s, 90s to the present day plus “dueling Video DJ’s” playing your favourite music videos. Snacks are served and at midnight there is a grand champagne toast (included in admission price). Guests must 21 with a valid ID. Tickets go on sale at the Atlantic Dance box office at 12 noon on December 31.

Celebration Town

For the first time, Disney Celebration are having a New Years Eve event with live entertainment, fireworks and countdown to midnight.

Pleasure Island

Disney’s Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney always boasted that every night of the year is like New Year’s Eve but Pleasure Island shut it’s doors for good in 2008 and will not be re-opening as a nightclub venue again.

If you want to celebrate New Year inside the Walt Disney World Resort then you will need to look towards Disney’s Boardwalk or one of the theme parks.

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