Walt Disney World to celebrate New Year's Eve in 2021

Oct 25, 2021 in "Holidays at the Magic Kingdom"

Posted: Monday October 25, 2021 9:13am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

After skipping New Year's Eve celebrations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, guests will be able to ring in 2022 at Walt Disney World.

Holidays at EPCOT

Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney's Hollywood Studios are all open until midnight in the latest operating hours update.

These hours are provisional and are likely to be extended closer to the time. Based on previous years, EPCOT and Magic Kingdom are likely to see a 1am close. View the latest Walt Disney World operating hours.

Disney's Animal Kingdom is currently scheduled to close at 7pm on December 31 2021. The park did celebrate New Year's Eve in 2019, which was a break from the usual pattern of no New Year's celebration at Animal Kingdom.

Fantasy in the Sky New Year's Eve edition 2011

Disney is yet to announce its New Year's Eve plans, but it would seem very likely that we will see midnight fireworks at EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. In addition, Magic Kingdom is open until midnight on December 30, suggesting that we may see New Year's Eve fireworks on both nights as in the past.

Fireworks at EPCOT

You can view the latest operating hours through to January 4 2022 at our Walt Disney World calendar.

Discuss on the Forums

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culturenthrillsJan 07, 2022

Went to MK on the 30th and Epcot on the 31st. MK was one of the slowest 30ths I've ever seen outside of I think 4 years ago when it was rainy and cold. I have never experienced Epcot that slow on NYE. I have been to Food and Wine Saturdays that were busier. It was one of the most enjoyable NYE I have ever had there. Likes the updated version of the NYE fireworks which integrated the Harmonious Barges video screens, lights and fountains.

nickysJan 04, 2022

That would fall under the “subject to availability”. So there has to be availability for your ticket type.

DznyGrlSDJan 04, 2022

it was in the UK this year

DznyGrlSDJan 04, 2022

This. as much as i hate to admit it. Universal caught SO MUCH crap for doing this in the summer of 2020

ImperfectPixieJan 04, 2022

Except haven't we seen people with APs unable to make reservations, but reservations available for regular day guests? (Not during a black-out period?)

nickysJan 04, 2022

You can make park reservations on the day, subject to availability.

LilofanJan 04, 2022

Silent dance party NYE brings back memories! Was it at Japan again? The China courtyard DJ techno music with the dragon shooting out real flames and heat above the dance floor made the place a hot place to get your groove on!

UNCgolfJan 04, 2022

Is there anything stopping you from doing that now? I know on the busiest days they've run out of park reservations, but once everything is running full bore again I can't imagine any of the parks will be out of reservations on the vast majority of days. You could just wake up and make a reservation for whichever park you decide you want to visit that morning. Or is there something preventing you from making day of park reservations? I haven't paid that much attention to the system so I could be missing something. Regardless, the 2 PM park hopping is the real problem IMO; that's a gigantic deterrent to me making a trip to WDW anytime soon.

mikejs78Jan 04, 2022

It's a lot easier to limit capacity up front than to turn people away.

Goofnut1980Jan 03, 2022

To play devil's advocate here, you didn't need the reservation system to limit capacity before. They hit a number and would stop entry. I just think the reservation system is a waste of time. I liked being able to get up in the morning and say, lets go to park x... instead of... ok, no matter what we have to go there... at least to check in before we can park hop to a park that you can't get a reservation for. It's just dumb.

DznyGrlSDJan 03, 2022

Coming here to say: I worked at EPCOT on NYE on the bridge between UK/France - EPCOT was tolerable & dare I say almost pleasant crowd-wise. Was it busy? yes? Was it phase-4? absolutely not. I hate hate HATE the reservation system, however, NYE proved it works for limiting capacity. Lets keep it just for major holidays, K?

gerararJan 02, 2022

Replying to myself... The actual New Years Eve showing was pretty much the same setup, but the left adjacent launch in SSL was working when the previous night it wasn't. 6 total launches, 3 behind MK and 3 in SSL to mirror. Too bad it wasn't a full 360 tho..

IanDLBZFJan 01, 2022

As far as I can tell that was 2013. All other years they only do the 360 on July 3 and July 4, no 180.

TraumaJan 01, 2022

Happy New Years everyone!!! I wish happiness to you all and that your dreams come true! Epcot was fun tonight my daughter really enjoyed the silent dance party!