Overview
- EPCOT’s United Kingdom pavilion experienced a “body-to-body” standstill around the U.K. midnight countdown, and about 30 minutes later a physical fight at the park was reported by a police scanner account.
- To ease congestion, Disney shifted character experiences at Hollywood Studios, moving some meet-and-greets away from central hubs and converting others to sightings.
- By late morning on December 31, the My Disney Experience app showed multi‑hour waits, including Test Track at 195 minutes, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at 170, and Tron Lightcycle/Run at 130.
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort required wristbands for access to the Lava Pool and portions of the beach from 10 a.m. to midnight on December 30 and 31 for registered guests only.
- Scheduled celebrations proceeded with Fantasy in the Sky at Magic Kingdom (7:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.), EPCOT’s countdown at 11:54 p.m., and Hollywood Studios’ fireworks at 11:57 p.m., while Disney Springs offered no midnight fireworks and closed earlier.