For some, it’s the fireworks. For others, it’s the late-night rides, the DJs, or the thrill of counting down the final seconds in the middle of Main Street. New Year’s Eve at Disney parks has long been one of the most sought-after experiences on the calendar—except at one location, where it hasn’t happened in years.
Fans hoping for a midnight celebration at one international Disney resort in 2025 may want to reconsider their plans.
New Year’s Eve typically serves as the high note in Disney’s annual lineup of festivities. At Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT often hit capacity, with spectacular fireworks shows and themed food drawing thousands. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure celebrate with countdown projections and extended hours. Even Disneyland Paris, though smaller, embraces the season with parties and fireworks at midnight.
Which makes the ongoing absence of a New Year’s Eve event at one particular Disney property all the more striking.
Tokyo Disney Axes New Year’s Eve (Again)
On its official events calendar, the resort confirmed: “‘New Year’s Eve’ at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea (on December 31, 2025) will not be presented.”
Instead, Halloween festivities will run from September 17 through October 31, followed by a Christmas season event from November 11 to December 25. A “New Year’s Special Event” is still scheduled—but it begins on January 1, 2026, skipping December 31 entirely.
This makes six straight years without a New Year’s Eve celebration at the resort, operated by The Oriental Land Company under license from Disney. The reason for the cancellation has not been officially explained, but fans have noticed the pattern—and some aren’t happy.
“I don’t get why they’re not doing it…” one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Oriental Land is done for…”
Another added, “Why are Disney parks around the world restoring New Year’s Eve operations, but not only in Tokyo? Because it’s not cost-effective. Tokyo had been holding a crappy countdown since the earthquake compared to other Disney Parks, but finally stopped holding the event itself.”
What’s Still on Offer
While the resort won’t offer a dedicated New Year’s Eve program, that doesn’t mean guests will find themselves without evening entertainment.
The regular fireworks show, Sky Full of Colors, continues nightly, and projection show Reach for the Stars—set at Cinderella Castle and featuring beloved characters—remains a highlight for many.
Still, for longtime Disney fans, the lack of a midnight countdown has become difficult to overlook.
Holiday programming has otherwise rebounded across the Disney portfolio. The California and Florida parks continue to go all out for major dates, and international locations have slowly returned to full-scale events post-pandemic. Yet the end-of-year celebrations at this park remain absent.
For now, guests can enjoy Halloween pumpkins and festive wreaths, but not the final seconds of the year lit up in fireworks. Whether that changes in the years ahead is still uncertain.
Do you like spending New Year’s Eve at Disney parks?
