As with many things this year, New Year’s Eve is sure to look a bit different in Disney World this time around!
Cinderella Castle
From the Candlelight Processional in EPCOT to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom, a number of fan-favorite holiday offerings in Disney World have been canceled this year in the interest of health and safety. So, with New Year’s Eve drawing near, will guests have an opportunity to experience fireworks as part of the festivities?
Visiting Disney World for New Year’s Eve is an annual tradition for many guests. In fact, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT have both regularly reached capacity on this date in the past, with guests flocking to the parks to catch their epic fireworks displays.
Magic Kingdom Fireworks
But, with shortened park hours and regular fireworks shows still on hiatus in Disney World, will guests get a taste of pyrotechnics to ring in 2021? Here’s what we know so far!
2020 Ears
Last year, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom were open until midnight on New Year’s Eve, and both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT were open until 1AM to allow guests to ring in the New Year. But when the park hours were initially released for NYE this year, EPCOT was scheduled to be open the latest of all the parks, with a closing time of 8PM.
Spaceship Earth
However, since they were initially released, the park hours have been extended at all four parks on New Year’s Eve. And even though none of the parks are set to remain open until midnight, Magic Kingdom will now be open until 11PM.
Cinderella Castle
And speaking of Magic Kingdom, we’ve actually seen the return of some “light pyrotechnics” as part of the nightly holiday projections on Cinderella Castle. The addition of fireworks was initially unannounced, so we were surprised (and thrilled!) when we caught them the first night!
Fireworks!
The fireworks and flares are super brief, and they are set off when the projections rotate every 15 minutes. So, while they aren’t exactly comparable to a full firework display like Happily Ever After, we have at least seen the return of SOME pyro elements in Magic Kingdom!
Cinderella Castle Fireworks
On top of these pyrotechnic elements, we’ve also seen some more intricate fireworks return to Disney World recently — but not during park hours! Back in September, Disney performed a fireworks test in EPCOT, and just last month we spotted fireworks being tested in Magic Kingdom!
Fireworks Testing
So, do all of these signs point to a potential firework display on New Year’s Eve? Disney has not yet announced any planned pyrotechnic displays to ring in 2021, so at this point, time will tell! So, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that Dinsey surprises us, like they did with the light pyro!
Of course, we’ll keep a close eye out for any updates, so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for all of the latest news!
The Three MOST Surprising Things About New Year’s Eve at Disney World This Year
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Do you plan on visiting Disney World on New Year’s Eve this year? Let us know in the comments!
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I love your info, pictures and video. It give me the Disney fix I need. This year is the first year of a 32 year family tradition run that will end. We are so sad. We took our newborn there when she was 6 months old, and never missed a year since, until now.