As the countdown to 2025 begins, Walt Disney World Resort is grappling with one of its busiest holiday seasons yet.
With the Christmas and New Year period consistently ranking as peak travel time, the Magic Kingdom resort area has introduced new restrictions at several key locations to manage the influx of Guests.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) has reported a staggering 3 million travelers passing through during the holiday season, fueling unprecedented crowd levels at Disney’s parks. Guests arriving for the festivities are encountering packed walkways, soaring wait times, and Lightning Lane Premier Passes priced at $449 per person per day selling out multiple times—a testament to the demand for convenience during the holiday rush.
As December 31 approaches, Disney is taking steps to balance crowd control with premium experiences for high-paying visitors. These measures include limiting access to select areas in the Magic Kingdom resort vicinity, particularly during the much-anticipated Fantasy In The Sky New Year’s Eve fireworks displays.
Running on both December 30 and 31, Fantasy In The Sky will light up the skies above Cinderella Castle at 6:30 p.m. and again at 11:50 p.m., offering a quintessential Disney way to ring in the New Year. While thousands of Guests are expected to gather in Magic Kingdom’s hub and down Main Street, U.S.A., others will seek out less crowded viewing spots—though new restrictions will make that trickier this year.
Deluxe Disney Resorts have long been popular alternatives for catching nighttime shows, but access is being significantly curtailed for New Year’s Eve.
At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, fireworks viewing areas will now be open only to Guests staying at the resort’s Polynesian Village rooms, Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, or the newly opened Island Tower. Wristbands, available at the Great Ceremonial House, will be required to enter designated viewing spots.
Disney’s Bay Lake Tower, located beside the Contemporary Resort, is enforcing similar rules. Access to the Top of the World Lounge – A Villains Lair and its outdoor terrace will be restricted to Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members staying at the resort. Capacity is limited to 300 Guests, and wristbands must be collected between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on event days. Festivities at this exclusive location run from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Meanwhile, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, wristbands will also be mandatory for those entering the pool area to watch the fireworks. However, restrictions here are limited to the pool, leaving the rest of the resort open to all Guests.
For those venturing beyond Magic Kingdom, Disney World’s other parks have their own dazzling plans to ring in 2025. At EPCOT, Guests can experience Luminous–The Symphony of Us at 6:30 p.m., followed by Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration at 11:54 p.m. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the night will culminate with a New Year’s Eve fireworks display above the Chinese Theater at 11:57 p.m., following two performances of Fantasmic! at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
As the clock strikes midnight, Walt Disney World will step into a year of monumental change. January marks the start of long-term closures and sweeping transformations, particularly in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, as the resort prepares for its next chapter.
What’s your take on these new measures at Disney World this New Year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Why do people want to pay to look at empty buildings just a waste of money don’t cost me anything to ride around to see empty buildings iger should pay the people to look at all the empty buildings