If the week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest of the year at the nation's year-round theme parks, New Year's Eve in Orlando is the most crowded moment of this most crowded week. You'll find midnight celebrations at many of the top parks, and visitors claiming their spaces for the event beginning in the late afternoon.
But which event to choose?
Let's take a look at the big options. Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom will launch its Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at a few minutes before midnight, with a countdown to the big midnight finale. Pyro's the attraction over at Epcot, too, where a New Year's Countdown Fireworks celebration surrounds the World Showcase lagoon. To make way for the midnight extravaganzas, both parks will push their traditional evening entertainment up to earlier start times: 7pm for the Main Street Electrical Parade and 8:30pm for the Holiday Wishes fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, and 6:30pm for Illuminations at Epcot.
Universal Studios Florida will celebrate the New Year with a special showing of Universal's Cinematic Spectacular at midnight. Meanwhile, CityWalk will be hosting a hard-ticket party with food, drinks and dancing at several of CityWalk's clubs.
Our final option is SeaWorld Orlando, which will be hosting another big fireworks celebration, along with entertainment throughout the evening.
Where's your go-to destination for New Year's Eve in the parks? Let's break down the pros and cons of each event, in the comments. And, Orlando locals, we'd love to hear from you some additional options for where to celebrate the new year.
Have a great time in the parks, or wherever you are this holiday week. And thank you, as always, for being part of the Theme Park Insider community.
Size of Sidewalk- The best at EPCOT
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We enjoyed it so much we are going back this year!