New Year's Eve Parties in Orlando

Orlando, Florida is one of the most amazing places to be for New Year's Eve 2009. The weather is balmy and beautiful year round, and there is always a ton to do and see. Of course, you can only be in one place, so here are some options for where to go to celebrate New Year's.

If you have small children, the obvious choice is Downtown Disney. Located in the heart of the Disney campus, Downtown Disney provides a ton of options to do for both children and adults. The twenty-something crowd used to be able to enjoy Pleasure Island, but I speculate that its closing this year will make Downtown Disney an even better option for parents of small children to celebrate New Years. Food options are plentiful and varied. You can catch a snack at McDonald's or try out Planet Hollywood, or really make your kid rejoice with a trip to the Rainforest Café. Wolfgang Puck Express offers slightly higher end food at truly reasonable prices. There are the usual Downtown Disney sights to see. Legoland, Cirque de Soleil, giant stores, and, of course, the usual Disney feel to everything. Fireworks go off at midnight, and the whole street is absolutely hopping with people calling in the New Year. Of course, if you can plan for it, the fireworks held at the Magic Kingdom are among the best and, if you can actually be in the park at this time, are truly not to be missed. Disney World is a mainstay of any Orlando vacation and, as a true Disney fan, I feel that any vacation to Orlando over New Years wouldn't be complete without a stop over at a Disney location.

But, of course, not everyone is me. Sea World also holds a giant New Years party. The last couple of times that our family has gone to Sea World, we noticed that they were really advertising what they call "Sea World After Dark." It seems that most people feel that Sea World is a daytime only park, but the evening shows have grown progressively better until they really do in some cases surpass the day time shows. New Years at Sea World is another good option for families with small children, but also works well for the slightly older set who may view a Disney New Years as beneath them. Live music and a dance party are included in park admission, and fireworks go off from the Waterfront section at midnight.

How about for those who don't feel that their New Years festivities ought to include crying infants? Universal has that group covered at their own "downtown" location, CityWalk. Always a hit for those who love night clubs, CityWalk asks $119 admission for their New Years party, which includes live performances by bands that you may actually have heard of, buffet dinner featuring gourmet food, champagne and, of course, dancing.

If you're not a tourist, or would at least like not to feel like one, there are, of course, other New Years parties that don't involve theme parks, and which one you're looking for depends on...what you're looking for.

If you want a low-key New Years with varying prices and the option to bring your kids, Wall Street Plaza is touted as Orlando's largest New Years event. Live music and dancing are included, and there are many options for pricing packages based on what type of experience you would like.

For those who want a truly upscale New Years party, Gaylord Palms Resort doesn't disappoint. This hotel party truly isn't the sort of hotel party you remember from college. It's a $400 black tie event featuring performances from the Orlando Ballet, Orlando Opera and the Philharmonic. No New Years Eve party is complete without dancing, so that's included, but so, too are auctions and gourmet food. This event supports the arts.

However, if you're looking for another sort of hotel party, and tend to miss Gay Days at Disney year round, The Parliament House, Orlando's all-gay resort, offers a New Years party. Dinner costs $20 this year, and there is music and dancing. The party goes pretty much all night.

Whatever you're looking for, Orlando offers some truly exciting options for New Years parties.