4th of July at WDW

[married2grumpy]

So how is WDW on the 4th? We usually visit during slow times of the year but now that DD is getting older and school work is harder, we can't pull her out anymore. We are planning to visit 6/27-7/9 this year. What can we expect during that time frame? Thanks!

 

[HollisterSweetie]

So how is WDW on the 4th? We usually visit during slow times of the year but now that DD is getting older and school work is harder, we can't pull her out anymore. We are planning to visit 6/27-7/9 this year. What can we expect during that time frame? Thanks!

It will be reallly busy esp. on July 4, but the days after July 4 it's not too crowded!

 

[lovethattink]

We were there 4th of July weekend in 2004. We had a great time. The crowds were large, but not as bad as Christmas or Thanksgiving. We had a great time!

 

[pigget74]

We have been several times over the past cpuple of years, but nothing could have prepared me for the 4th. It was packed--we got there early and stayed late. The park was not closed, but it was close. I have never seen so many people. We still got to do a lot with fast passes, but the amoungt of people were to great and the heat was horrible. Other than that it is hard not to have a good time at Disney.

 

[married2grumpy]

I am expecting it to be hot and very crowded but it should be fun. Do they have a special fireworks display on the fourth? Where is the best spot to watch them from to avoid the mega crowds on that day?

 

[dizprincess717]

I was in WDW over the 4th of July, from June 28th to July 8th, and it seemed that about 2 days before the 4th everything was full, but then a day or two after the parks really seemed to thin out considerably. Of course I was pretty young, but my parents both said that this was the case. It was h-o-t though. Extremely.

 

[married2grumpy]

We've been to WDW in late July so imagine the heat would be around the same in the beginning of July. Those thunderstorms are a pain though. I would like to stay at the Poly for the 4th so that we can watch the fireworks from the beach there. I've heard the fireworks at Epcot are better though on the 4th of July. Any truth to that?

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We've been twice during 4th of July week. Yes, it is hot and crowded, but we had a wonderful time both trips.

Just get to the parks at opening or better still early entry, and have a plan!! We love the UOG---we followed it to the letter and never waited more than 10 minutes for anything.

And be sure to schedule PS's ahead of time---we did one per day and it was so nice to have a "sit down" meal indoors to break up the day.

 

[tomerin]

this year we decided to be at WDW for the 4th for the first time also. i asked my friends who had been there for the 4th about how it is and they told me that we will have a great time. we always travel in july due to certain circumstances anyway, so we are already used to the extreme heat, t-storms and crowds so we will be well prepared. we are arriving on the 4th so by the time we check-in, unpack,eat and rest a bit we will be ready and excited about the wonderful experience the WDW must be during the 4th of july.

wishes must be truly magnificent on the 4th

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We went to Epcot July 4 '04. It was hot, but not sooooo unbearable. We just paced ourselves and took it easy basically. Had an early PS for Marrakesh, great meal. Food and service are always fantastic, and bonus was my 5 yo DD was picked to dance with the belly dancer. One of my favorite memories.
Worst of the day was our wait time at Test Track, with a Fastpass it was an hour and half! They kept shutting it down due to lightning in the area. They closed the stand by line and told stand by that ride ratio was 1 to 20. For every 20 fastpass holders, one standby person would be let on. Crazy!

The fireworks were phenominal. We had a group from all over the country, ranging from NY to Texas and places in between and everyone said it was the best display they had ever seen. After the show, they projected pictures onto spaceship earth, I wish I had gotten good pics of that. Very moving, I was in tears, my dad was in tears.

From where we watched the show, the pagoda in Japan, it was not crowded at all and before the fireworks we could see the fireworks from MGM going off. It was great.

I read on another thread that fireworks at MK were not so great, it was overcrowded and someone mentioned a fight breaking out.
I think Epcot absorbed the crowds much better and we were able to see and do basically everything we wanted.

 

[chrisp]

We have been to WDW three different times over 4th of July and will return. The crowds are huge up to the 4th and then thin out the 5th on. The fireworks at MK are unbelievable - at times you are surrounded by them. The crowd is very excited and that adds to the fun. You will have a wonderful time, and IMHO, you should be at MK on the 4th.

 

[momshark]

We were there this past 4th. Spent the first half of the day at Epcot then took the boat ride over to MGM. They had special patriotic fireworks - really nice. We were trying to avoid the craziness at MK. Since we had seen fireworks practically every night my 6YO didn't know the difference.
Just a suggestion, you might want to get PS for the Rose and Crown in Epcot for about an hour to 1 1/2 before the fireworks are scheduled and then you will be able to view Illuminations from the waterfront patio at Rose and Crown. I assume Illuminations will be different for the 4th, of course.
Good luck!

 

[pigget74]

I was very dissapointed in the fireworks on the 4th. They did not show Wishes, but did have about a 3 min patriotic show. We were in the Middle of Mian Street and could see the fireworks over the Castle as well as the ones at Gran Floridian behind us. That was different.