The Magic Kingdom is the most popular Disney Park and so its only natural to want to spend New Year's Eve there. But be warned that it is one of if not the most crowded day at the park of the entire year.
If you intend on visiting the park for New Year's Eve, be sure you have a plan, and are prepared for the crowds.
Also, because of how popular it is, New Year's Eve is celebrated twice, on both the 30th and 31st of December. Except for the park hours, everything else about the celebrations is exactly the same on both days, so you can ring in the new year once here and once at one of the other parks.
Park Hours
30th: 8:00AM-12:00AM (Extra Magic Hours 7:00AM-8:00AM AND 12:00AM-2:00AM)
31st: 8:00AM-1:00AM (Extra Magic Hour 7:00AM-8:00AM)
Fireworks Times
Fantasy in the Sky: 6:30PM, 11:50PM
Once Upon a Time: 10:45PM
Guide
The Magic Kingdom has a special New Year's fireworks show that is only shown these two days, Fantasy in the Sky. As it is only shown twice a year, the crowds are insane and there is no avoiding them. They are slightly better on the 30th, but not by much.
What I would recommend would be to ring in the new year on the 30th here and then go to any of the other three parks for actual New Year's Eve.
If you are going to be there on New Year's Eve, plan for one of the craziest days of your life. Prepare for lines you didn't know existed. Did you know Swiss Family Treehouse has an extended queue? Go to the Magic Kingdom on New Year's Eve and you'll see.
Everything is going to have a crazy line, and people will spend hours camping out for fireworks and parades. If those are a priority, be prepared to wait for hours to get a halfway decent spot.
So how should you spend your time?
Prioritize one or two rides to hit early in the day and don't expect to get on any others with less than an hour of waiting. Don't even bother trying to eat at normal times, there will be no seats and crazy lines.
Fireworks Guide
You will want to stake out a spot for the fireworks long in advance. There are no projections for this show, so a close spot is not as necessary as it is for Happily Ever After. Being at the front of Main Street USA or somewhere else in the park is just fine.
Food Guide
Bring your own.
If that's not an option don't eat at a normal time or budget two hours for a meal. I would recommend snacking throughout the day as opposed to a more formal meal. There are so many great holiday foods, now would be a great time to try some!
Leaving the Park/ Getting to the TTC
The goal should be how to get to your hotel or the parking lot either as fast as possible or as slowly as possible. Here are a few of the methods you can take. There's really no good way of avoiding the crowds leaving, just don't leave right after the fireworks. Its a madhouse then. Stay in the park a little longer and let the crowds disperse a bit.
By Express Monorail
This is going to be a long line and you will likely have to wait for multiple monorails. You may also be standing during your trip in a tightly packed monorail.
By Resort Monorail
The obvious choice if you are in one of the monorail resorts, but also pay attention to this line if you are heading to the TTC. It is often shorter and even with stops, you may get there faster this way.
By Bus
There are buses to the TTC from the Magic Kingdom and this is often the fastest way to the TTC even if the line looks long. The buses are near-constant so consider this as a way to get to the TTC at the end of the night.
To get to a hotel it is going to take a while, but unless you are driving it is your only real option. Wait as long as you can to leave the park, especially after the fireworks.
Last Tips
Use this day to do less popular things. Ride the Carousel of Progress. Check out the Tiki Birds and Country Bears. These things have massive capacities and won't have long waits even with the crowds. Spend some time on Tom Sawyer's Island and eat at the rarely open Aunt Polly's.
Just do your best to not get annoyed and have fun!
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