Celebrate The New Year in Orlando
It’s one of the biggest nights of the year! Some of the most exciting New Year’s Eve activities are with us tonight as Central Florida looks to celebrate and get 2013 off to a great start.
New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest fireworks evenings of the year at Walt Disney World, a place where fireworks are both spectacular and an every-night occurrence. Fireworks and night time shows will light up the skies and create a mood of celebration at the parks, while revelry of other sorts takes place elsewhere throughout the Vacation Kingdom.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s in store:
- At Epcot, guests can dance away 2012 to the beat of the DJs stationed at select pavilions throughout the evening and watch “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” salute the new year at 6:30 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. A buffet dining experience inspired by Disney’s classic animated films Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 will take place at World ShowPlace facility, with reservations available from 4:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Priced at $68.67 for adults and $44.37 for children. Park admission is also required.
- At Disney’s Hollywood Studios rock in the New Year with resident family of landscapers/rock and roll musicians, Mulch, Sweat, and Shears! “The Mulch, Sweat, and Shears New Years Eve Spectacular” blasts off on a specially built stage in front of Disney’s Hollywood Studios signature Sorcerer Hat icon and includes contemporary rock, funk, and classic rock and roll favorites. The four concert sets will feature pyrotechnics and special effects and lead up to ringing in the New Year with Mulch, Sweat, and Shears playing live accompaniment to Lights! Camera! Happy New Year! fireworks spectacular in order to welcome the start of 2013 properly. Fantasmic! also will have multiple shows at 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights will light up the night at dusk.
- At the newly-opened Splitsville Luxury Lanes, located at Downtown Disney, guests can choose from two special NYE Bash packages.The Bowling Package offers 3.5 hours of bowling and shoe rental, one appetizer and one entrée, a bottle of champagne or house wine per lane, two drink tickets per person and non-alcoholic beverages. Priced at $175 per person, plus tax and service charge (minimum of four people per lane). The Table Package offers a table reservation for 3.5 hours and includes one appetizer and one entrée, a bottle of champagne or house wine per lane, two drink tickets per person and non-alcoholic beverages. Priced at $100, per person plus tax and service charge.Both options are available Dec. 31 from 10 p.m. until close. For reservations, please call 407-938-7467.
- At DisneyQuest, located at Downtown Disney, there is a family-friendly cyber celebration from 8 p.m. -1 a.m. Guests are entertained with a DJ Dance Party, character meet and greets, plus unlimited access to games and DisneyQuest attractions including Pirates of the Caribbean, Virtual Jungle Cruise and CyberSpace Mountain. There’s a confetti drop and festive party favors as the clock strikes midnight. Partygoers also get dinner, dessert and a fountain drink. Advance tickets cost $50 and can be purchased online or by calling 407-934-7639. Day-of tickets can be purchased at DisneyQuest for $60.
- At Cirque du Soleil, located at Downtown Disney, all guests attending the Dec. 31 performances will receive a limited-edition Walt Disney World/Cirque trading pin. Shows are at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. For pricing contact 407/WDW/SEAT
- At Bongos Cuban Cafe, located at Downtown Disney, guests can take part in a New Year’s celebration that features a four-course dinner, champagne, party favors, live music and a midnight celebration. The party lasts from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Guests may reserve a table by contacting GRodriguez@BongosCubanCafe.com.
- At Raglan Road, New Year’s fun begins at 6 p.m. with house band Creel and Irish dancing. In addition to food, the pub will also offer complimentary champagne toasts at 7 p.m. and midnight.
- At House of Blues, the reggae band SOJA will take the stage at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Tickets cost $37-$40, and the concert is open to guests of all ages. Guests may visit House of Blues website for tickets.
- Babycakes helps ring in New Year’s resolutions with healthy treats from Babycakes NYC. Guests may schedule pick-up orders at least 48-hours in advance for December 30-January 1, 2013, and receive a 20% discount.
- At Planet Hollywood, now through December 31, you can buy two merchandise items and get the third free. (No other Promotions or Discounts, vouchers apply. Discount not good on jackets. Free item is the lesser priced item).
- Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort offers a special-ticket New Year’s Eve party from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. with a video DJ and limited viewing of Epcot’s Fireworks.
SeaWorld Orlando is throwing a big New Year’s Eve party complete with fireworks and a musical celebration all included in the regular admission price. You can dance to the beat of a live DJ as the countdown to 2012 begins at The Waterfront, – a place where guests can also enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment venues. At the stroke of midnight, you can then witness the Orlando sky radiate during a brilliant fireworks show that will light up the night.
Over at Universal CityWalk you can bid a fond farewell to 2012 with a party that doesn’t stop until next year as well as a live performances by REO Speedwagon. Between shows, dine on all-you-can-eat gourmet cuisine, including filet mignon, jumbo shrimp and decadent desserts. You’ll also enjoy live entertainment in every club, a midnight champagne toast, and more! Do note that one of the big misconceptions about New Year’s Eve at CityWalk is that the entertainment will be complimentary. This is not the case on New Year’s Eve as the entire side of CityWalk where the concert stage is, and the second level of night clubs and restaurants, is closed to the general public. The only venues that are open to everyone are Nascar Sports Bar & Grill, NBA City, and Hard Rock Cafe and everything else is covered by a separate admission price of $144.99 + tax. Please also remember that the CityWalk New Year’s Eve party is 21+ ONLY. Tickets are available here : http://www.universalorlando.com/Events/Holidays/new-years-eve
At Legoland Florida children can rejoice at the Countdown to Kid’s New Year’s Eve, featuring nightly fireworks over Lake Eloise. Watch the fireworks explode into millions of tiny LEGO bricks with special 3-D viewing glasses.
If you don’t fancy the major theme parks then there’s lots of other great choices to pick from:
Wall Street Plaza- Downtown Orlando
New Years Celebration where guests will have complete access to multiple bars with indoor and outdoor music and entertainment followed by drink specials and a light show. Tickets are $25 online after December 19th and they can be purchased at the door as well. VIP tickets complete with drinks specials and breakfast thrown in are also available.
www.wallstplaza.net/new-years-eve-2012
New Year’s Eve Comedy Jam – Bob Carr Theater
The New Year’s Eve Comedy Jam will be hosted at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre with performances starting at 7:30pm. Prices range from $45 to $55. Check out www.bobcarr.performing-arts-center.org
BB King’s Blues Club
BB King’s Blues Club – Pointe OrlandoFor those in the I-Drive area BB Kings will be serving up a 3-course dinner from 5:30pm-10pm followed by music and a champagne toast at midnight. General admission is $60 a person. Check out www.bbkingsclubs.com or call 407-370-4550 for more details.
Baby Grands Dueling Piano Bar – Downtown Orlando
Baby Grands Dueling Piano Bar, located in Downtown Orlando at Church Street will be hosting will be deemed the “The Sexiest and most exclusive New Year’s Eve Party in Downtown Orlando.” The party starts at 7pm and general admission is $20 per person plus $55 per person for open bar. For more information please call 407-849-1911 or check out www.babygrandsduelingpianos.com
Blue Martini – South Orlando near Dr. Phillips/ Windermere
For those on the South end of Orlando that don’t want to go onto I-Drive, check out Blue Martini’s New Years Celebration. Admission is $40 in advance and $50 at the door. There will be an open bar from 8pm-11pm with food consisting of hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Live performances and a balloon drop at midnight. For more information call 407-218-7800 or check out www.bluemartinilounge.com
Celebration Town Center
Billed as the hottest New Year’s Eve Bash in Central Florida, Celebration’s New Year’s Eve Bash returns with a “bang” in this one-of-a-kind family friendly New Year’s Eve Celebration that sees live music, food, drinks, a dance contest, bounce houses for kids, The Celebration Express Train, Horse & Carriage Rides, and an incredible fireworks show at midnight!
Have a great night…and we’ll see you in 2013!
