We’ve seen the crowds at Disney World get a little bigger over the past few months, and we now know that capacity at the parks increased to 35 percent just before the holidays.
But how does that compare to New Year’s Eve’s past? Say 2019? Well, we dug into our photo archives to compare, and BOY, things are CRAZY different (we already knew that but seeing pics really puts it into perspective).
So here’s what Magic Kingdom looked like on New Year’s Eve in 2020 just this morning. The park literally felt abandoned at times.
There’s definitely a lack of crowds in Magic Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/3eM8iZbNFz
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 31, 2020
Crowds did eventually pick back up, though, later in the day. And this is what we consider crowded right now.
Magic Kingdom is getting a little busier! pic.twitter.com/K7eTVX2taO
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) December 31, 2020
But here’s what surprised us! We’ve been so used to limited capacity at the parks that when we looked at last year’s photos at Magic Kingdom, we almost screamed out loud! This is what New Year’s Eve looked like during the day last year:
Just wow! And the night photos we have from last year are equally as shocking. This is the crowd from last year on New Year’s Eve waiting for the fireworks (there are no fireworks planned for this year).
To compare again, this is New Year’s Eve 2020 at Hollywood Studios, which is booked to full capacity.
And this is just us trying to leave Magic Kingdom in 2019 after the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
So when we say that a park is crowded now, we realize that our definition of “crowded” has certainly changed! But we’ll continue to keep track of crowds and capacity at the parks, so stay tuned for updates!
PHOTOS and VIDEOS: Here’s What the New Year’s Eve Crowds Looked Like in Disney World Today
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Have you been to Disney World on New Year’s Eve before? Let us know in the comments!






Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.

TRENDING NOW
We finally have an opening date for the new expansion of Kynren in England!
You know that ridiculously good first-night sleep at a Disney World hotel? You can get...
runDisney JUST announced the themes for the 2027 Disney Princess Half Marathon Race Weekend!
We've worn ALL kinds of shoes in Disney World, and after doing the research, these...
Magic Kingdom has some iconic restaurants… but our experts are skipping these 3 in 2026....
TSA PreCheck users need to keep these rules in mind when gearing up to fly.
Let's take a look at these new Spring-time Loungeflys that you can grab now!
Looking for a Mexican meal at Disney World? Head to these restaurants.
If you’re planning a Disney vacation soon, these are the Amazon finds can completely change...
We've had some bizarre problems with Disney World security in the past, and we're sharing...
Some new Loungeflys have just dropped!
Disney's Fourth of July fireworks just got easier to watch!
This week was BIG for Disney sneak peeks and previews!
A new patent might make it easier to know Disney World weather!
Disney's new popcorn bucket is an upcoming 'Mandalorian and Grogu' character!
We tried six snacks around the Disney World resort!
We're trying out a new version of an OLD Disney World snack!
We tried TONS of snacks from Dollywood's Flower and Food Festival!
Your Disney World shoes matter more than your park bag. I said what I said.
There's been a big change at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!