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Your Guide to New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Resort

December 29, 2014

Ready or not… 2015 is almost here and it’s time to plan your New Year’s Eve celebration. From Main Street to Buena Vista Street, the Disneyland Resort is always a great choice to ring in the new year. With so much to offer, the parks will be a popular choice for Southern Californians looking for a festive way to welcome 2015 — but don’t worry! We’ve made a handy guide with everything you need to know to make the most of your special celebration!

New Year's Eve, Your Guide to New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Resort Don’t miss your weekly Disneyland Resort crowd forecast — provided by our friends at MouseAddict — in the Weekly News and Information Roundup at the end of today’s update!

Today’s photos are from past New Year’s Eve celebrations as well as photos of the new Frozen Fun offerings. Special thanks to the wonderfully talented @IzabelleKo for the Frozen Fun photos.

Enjoy our special holiday format this week as we continue to enjoy the holidays with family and friends. We’ll return next week with our annual Year In Review!

New Year's Eve, Your Guide to New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Resort

Your Guide to Ringing in 2015

As the sun sets on 2014, Disneyland will ring in 2015 with a variety of live music, dance parties, fireworks and more throughout both theme parks. We have a full entertainment schedule, tips and survival guide for New Year’s Eve below! Happy New Year!

New Year’s Eve Park Hours
and Entertainment Schedule

Disneyland Park
Park Hours: 8 am – 2 am
Extra Magic Hour: 7 am – 8 am
Magic Morning: 7 am – 8 am

Disney California Adventure
Park Hours: 8 am – 1 am
Extra Magic Hour: 7 am – 8 am

New Year’s Eve Countdown Central
at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle
9 p.m. – 12:30 am
Countdown to 2015 at the heart of Disneyland with a DJ, favorite Disney characters and the Disneyland Resort Ambassadors. Countdown location.

New Year’s Eve
“Fantasy in the Sky” Fireworks
in the Skies above Disneyland
12:00 midnight
Midnight fireworks above Disneyland to ring in 2015.

A Fantasmic! New Year
on the Rivers of America
8:30 pm, 10:30 pm, and 11:59 pm.
Ring in the new year with a special midnight performance of Fantasmic!

Swingin’ New Year’s Eve Party
at Fantasy Faire
7:30 pm, 8:20 pm, 10:30 pm & 12:05 am
Swing Party with live music from Stompy Jones

“it’s a small world”
Promenade Dance Party
at “it’s a small world” Promenade
7 pm – 2 am
Join Disney Characters in counting down to midnight with a DJ spinning popular music at this Fantasyland Dance Party. Countdown location.

Tomorrowland Terrace Dance Party
at Tomorrowland Terrace
9:10 pm, 10:10 pm, 11:30 pm & 12:35 am
Dance party and midnight countdown featuring live music from Suburban Legends throughout the evening as well as a live DJ until park closing. Countdown location.

New Year in New Orleans
at the French Market
Performances throughout the night.
Enjoy French Market fare along with a live pianist starting at 7 pm until 12:30 am.

World of Color Countdown to Midnight
on Paradise Bay
12:00 midnight
Watch Paradise Bay come to life with a spectacular countdown to 2015 with fountains and fireworks followed by a special showing of World of Color Winter Dreams. Countdown location.

Freeze in the New Year
in Hollywood Land
6 pm – 1 am
Warm up with music from a live DJ, dancing, and midnight fireworks at this “Frozen” family dance party. Countdown location.

New Year’s Eve in Carthay Circle
at Buena Vista Street
8:30 pm, 9:15 pm, 10:15 pm & 11:15 pm
Swing into 2015 with live music from the Tim Gill All-Stars at this swing party in the street.

Drop in on 2015 Party
at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
8:30 pm, 9:15 pm, 10:30 pm & 11:30 pm
Drop in on the new year with live music from the Ellis Island Boys.

A Route 66 New Year’s Eve
in Cars Land
8:30 pm, 9:15 pm, 10:15 pm & 11:15 pm
Hit the open road with The Kelly Rae Band’s unique, high-octane brand of country music.

Wine Country Celebration
at Sonoma Terrace
8:30 pm, 9:15 pm, 10:30 pm & 11:30 pm
Ring in the new year with live music from Oak and Gorski.

Celebrate 2015 in Paradise
at Paradise Gardens
Throughout the evening
Enjoy a live band along with special Viva Navidad food and fun.

New Year’s Eve Weather at Disneyland from Weather.com
Day High 58° F Sunny skies. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 0% Humidity 27%	Night Low 37° F Mostly clear skies. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 10% Humidity 41%

New Year’s Eve Party Favors
Complimentary New Year’s Eve party hats and horns will be available at designated distribution areas in each theme park: Disneyland Park: Starting at 6:00 p.m. at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in Frontierland. Disney California Adventure: Starting at 5:45 p.m. near the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Hollywood Land and at 5:15 p.m. near Silly Symphony Swings in Paradise Pier.

Special New Year’s Eve Dining

Disneyland Resort restaurants are serving up a variety of special New Year’s Eve menu items to make your celebration complete. Below is a sampling of some of the special offerings available this year. Call Disney Dining at 714-781-3463 or go online
for availability and reservations.

Disneyland

Carnation Café on Main Street, U.S.A.:
Sirloin with skewered shrimp, mashed potatoes, fresh broccoli, sun-dried tomato butter and a rich herb beurre blanc.
Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland:
Jambalaya skewer.
French Market in New Orleans Square:
Roasted pork chop with Calvados applesauce, braised greens and sweet potato soufflé.
Blue Bayou at Disneyland:
Pan-seared New York strip loin a la Oscar with Dungeness crab, classic Béarnaise and a chive-café au lait sauce.
Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square:
Flat iron steak served with garlic mashed potatoes, butternut squash and green beans. Pecan praline Yule Log.
Stage Door Cafe in Frontierland:
Chocolate funnel cake with peppermint.

Disney California Adventure

Ariel’s Grotto on Paradise Pier:
Herb-roasted rack of lamb with potato rosti, fresh veggies and Zinfandel jus
Wine Country Trattoria at the Golden Vine Winery:
New York strip steak with mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. Sparkling wine.
Alfresco Tasting Terraceat the Golden Vine Winery:
Rich and warm mulled wine with berry tones, hints of orange and aromatic seasoning spices. Sparkling wine.
Mendocino Terrace at the Golden Vine Winery:
Sparkling wine.
Select locations:
Mickey Clock sourdough bread loaf. Sparkling apple cider.

Hotels of the Disneyland Resort

Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa:
Early dinner: Four-course country feast.
Evening gala: Music, champagne and a Napa-style five-course tasting menu.
Storyteller’s Cafe at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa:
Rib-eye with garlic roasted potatoes and fresh veggies. Chocolate crème brûlée.
Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel:
Cabernet poached tenderloin of beef with black truffle potato puree and citrus butter gratinée.
PCH Grill at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel:
Panko-herb crusted vegetarian lasagna, herb marinated roast, and traditional winter holiday desserts.

Downtown Disney District

Catal:
A special three-course New Year’s Eve dinner.
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen:
Special New Year’s Eve menu featuring duck and mushroom gumbo, lobster ravioli, and tiramisu.
House of Blues:
Special New Year’s Eve dinner followed by an 80’s Costume Countdown w/ DJ Richard Blade.

Disney California Adventure’s new Frozen Fun offerings are open and will likely be even more popular on New Year’s Eve with the increased theme park attendance.

New Year’s Eve Survival Tips

Arrive early! Disneyland Resort theme parks are typically extremely busy on New Year’s Eve and Disneyland often closes for periods of time during the day to newly-arriving Guests. So arrive early, pick your park and stay put, otherwise you may be locked out!
Avoid traffic: When arriving to the Resort, avoid Harbor Blvd. and Ball Rd. if at all possible. Katella Ave. is generally a better option. When arriving or leaving the Resort, drive safely and defensively.
Smart Parking: For an easier parking experience, avoid the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure and utilize the Toy Story and Pumbaa Parking Lots instead. Downtown Disney will begin charging a flat $20 fee at 5:00 p.m.
Have a Plan: Arriving early will give you the opportunity to rent a locker and obtain FASTPASS tickets before they run out. Utilize services and smart phone apps like Mouseaddict, which can help you track attraction wait times and get the most out of the day.
Pack a Game: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Olaf meet-and-greet will be there next year (and with shorter wait times). Packing a small board game, a deck of cards or a book to read will give you something to do (instead of waiting in long lines) while you wait for the midnight countdown.
Keep in Touch: Don’t forget to pack a charger or back-up battery for your cell phone (or other devices). You’ll want to keep in touch with your party should you get separated. With so many people in the park, smart phone battery life is often reduced as phones try to remain connected to overwhelmed voice and data networks.
Don’t forget to eat and hydrate: Long lines will be present at theme park restaurants throughout the day, but especially during peak meal times. To avoid even longer lines, plan your meals at off-hours. Also consider bringing lightweight but satisfying snacks like granola bars or Pop Tarts to help get you through the day.
Fireworks: Remember that fireworks viewing is available throughout Disneyland park, so avoiding Main Street may be a good option. If you don’t want to brave the parks, you can always view Disneyland’s midnight fireworks from the main entrance esplanade and in parts of Downtown Disney District.
Have fun!: Bringing a lot of patience will help make your New Year’s Eve celebration one to remember. Plan for big crowds and don’t expect to go on many rides. Instead, be kind and courteous to other Guests and Cast Members and focus on enjoying a day in the park with those you’re celebrating with.

The parks are notoriously busy on New Year’s Eve but can still be a lot of fun, despite the crowds, if you plan accordingly!

Enjoy retro fun just steps away from Disneyland at
Howard Johnson Hotel & Water Playground
A short walk from the park, HoJo Anaheim is conveniently located next to Matterhorn Mountain at Disneyland with nearby dining, freeway access, FREE parking and FREE Wi-Fi. For more information on HoJo Anaheim, room rates, or to book your stay today, visit HoJoAnaheim.com/MiceChat

Save with MiceChat & Passholder Discounts Every Day!
The HoJo Anaheim is now offering daily discounts for MiceChat members and even DEEPER discounts for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders! For more information visit the HoJo Anaheim Innsider Boards which features an up-to-date listing of available nights, or call (714) 776-6120 and ask for In-House Reservations to book. If your date isn’t listed, the HoJo Anaheim still offers rooms for 20% off their best available rate if you call (714) 776-6120.

Weekly News & Information Round-Up
Weekly Theme Park Hours December 29, 2014 – January 4, 2015
[B]Disneyland Park[/B]	[B]California Adventure[/B]
Mon.-Tue.: 8 am – 12 am Wednesday: 8am-2am Thu.-Sun.: 8 am – 12 am	Mon.-Tue.: 8 am – 11 pm Wednesday: 8am-1am Thu.-Sun.: 8 am – 11 pm
[CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER]
[center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center]
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b]
Magic Eye Theatre: Closed January 5-15 for refurbishment. Snow White’s Scary Adventures: Closed January 7 for refurbishment. Jungle Cruise: Closed January 7-9 for refurbishment. Matterhorn Bobsleds: Closed January 7 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Haunted Mansion: Closed January 12-22 to remove holiday overlay. Snow White Grotto and Wishing Well: Closed January 12-April 30 for refurbishment. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Closed January 12 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Splash Mountain: Closed January 12 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes: Closed January 12 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Critter Country stores and restaurants: Closed January 12 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Disneyland Railroad: Closes January 26 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. “it’s a small world”: Closes January 26 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Peter Pan’s Flight: Closes February 2 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown.
[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b]
Bakery Tour: Closed through January 26 for refurbishment. Soarin’ Over California: Closed January 6-May 14 for refurbishment. Taste Pilot’s Grill: Closes January 7 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Pacific Wharf Cafe: Closes January 7 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown World of Color: Dark January 7-March 12 for refurbishment. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Closes January 20 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Boardwalk Bazaar, Point Mugu Tattoo, Sideshow Shirts: Closes January 26 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Ariel’s Grotto: Closes February 2 for refurbishment, reopening date unknown. Luigi’s Flying Tires: Closed January 12-December 1, 2015 for conversion to new attraction. *MuppetVision 3D:** Dark indefinitely while theater is used for Frozen-themed show. [B]Blue Sky Cellar:[/B] Closed indefinitely.
[b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b]
None.

December 29-January 4 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun As guest levels fluctuate, our Tomorrowplan feature is always updated with the latest crowd projections for the next two weeks. The free Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules, the latest news and articles from MiceChat, and more. Download free on the App Store or at mouseaddict.com.
[center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center]
Disneyland Resort horses were awarded First Place in the Horse Drawn Equestrian in Norco’s Horsetown Parade of Lights. (Disney Parks Blog)

OK — That wraps up this special holiday edition of Dateline Disneyland. Will you be celebrating the new year at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments section below!

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For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!

Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland!
[B]- Andy[/B]

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FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground.