4th of July Week

[JasonDVC]

Anyone been to WDW during 4th of July?

What are the crowds like as compared to the rest of the summer? I have been in late July and it is jammed.

Anything special happening to celebrate the nations birthday?

I'm not worried about the weather. I don't just tolerate the heat, I love it!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I don't have an answer for you, just subscribing because I'd also like to know about crowds around that time

 

[fers31]

If you thought the end of July was "jammed", you haven't seen anything yet.

 

[dizzneebabe]

Our last 4th of July trip was in 2003. The 4th itself was crazy!!! However, we found the rest of the week to be very tolerable. In fact, I have pictures of Stormalong day during the day on the 5th and 6th and it's virtually empty.

It may be a very different story this year, since the 4th is a Sat. I'm guessing the crowds will stay through Monday, with many people having Monday off of work for the holiday.

I have high hopes that it will be slower--we are going that week, too! Friends of ours went last year and said the 4th was not too bad. They were pleasantly surprised. I say go with the mindset that it will be cheek to cheek and you won't be disappointed. If it turns out to be less crowded it's a BIG bonus!

See you then!

 

[DVCMom99]

Jammed is not a strong enough word for the 4th of July week!!!!!
However, the fireworks after Illuminations in honor of America are FABULOUS!!!!!!

 

[marvali]

Anyone been to WDW during 4th of July?

What are the crowds like as compared to the rest of the summer? I have been in late July and it is jammed.

Anything special happening to celebrate the nations birthday?

I'm not worried about the weather. I don't just tolerate the heat, I love it!

I don't have an answer for you, just subscribing because I'd also like to know about crowds around that time

Our last 4th of July trip was in 2003. The 4th itself was crazy!!! However, we found the rest of the week to be very tolerable. In fact, I have pictures of Stormalong day during the day on the 5th and 6th and it's virtually empty.

It may be a very different story this year, since the 4th is a Sat. I'm guessing the crowds will stay through Monday, with many people having Monday off of work for the holiday.

I have high hopes that it will be slower--we are going that week, too! Friends of ours went last year and said the 4th was not too bad. They were pleasantly surprised. I say go with the mindset that it will be cheek to cheek and you won't be disappointed. If it turns out to be less crowded it's a BIG bonus!

See you then!

See you all there. We will be there from 6/28 until 7/6.

 

[maureenann]

We were there last July 4..we just stayed away from the parks on the 4th. Stayed at SSR that week and watched fireworks everywhere from our balcony. July is always hot and crowded..just plan ahead.

 

[Cmbar]

It may be a very different story this year, since the 4th is a Sat. I'm guessing the crowds will stay through Monday, with many people having Monday off of work for the holiday.

I

See you then!

Federal government and Stock Markets and banks are all closed on July 3 this year since the 4th falls on a Saturday. Most companies will follow the official holiday observence on Friday the 3rd instead of Monday the 6th!! In 2010 the holiday will be on Monday! We are hoping everyone flies home on Sunday after the 4th!!!

 

[dizzneebabe]

Federal government and Stock Markets and banks are all closed on July 3 this year since the 4th falls on a Saturday. Most companies will follow the official holiday observence on Friday the 3rd instead of Monday the 6th!! In 2010 the holiday will be on Monday! We are hoping everyone flies home on Sunday after the 4th!!!

Oh WOW! That's good to know!!!! I figured we'd be stuck with everyone til Tues!

 

[alisonslp]

ugh... DS has a baseball tourney at wide world of sports the 2-10. We thought we'd make it a family trip. We haven't booked it yet. Sounds like we likely wouldn't get anything anyway. We planned on using the Developer points. Not sure I want to brave the crowds and the heat together!back to the drawing board.

Alison

 

[princessvacg]

We will be there July 2 though 11th!! We go this time every year. We never go into the parks on the 4th. Pretty close to horrible!! We go to the water park for the day and find some place to watch the fireworks at night!! Usually DTD. With pleasure island being closed, it should not be as crowded as it has been in the past. It ends up being a great day for us.

 

[Granny]

Anyone been to WDW during 4th of July?

What are the crowds like as compared to the rest of the summer? I have been in late July and it is jammed.

Anything special happening to celebrate the nations birthday?

I'm not worried about the weather. I don't just tolerate the heat, I love it!

The 4th of July day itself is a madhouse with the parks at full capacity pretty much by 10:00 a.m. Even if you get in you are in a wall-to-wall situation as bad as any other day at WDW parks, throwing in the heat for good measure.

The other days surrounding the 4th we found to be typical summer crowds, though as pointed out this year the 4th is on a Saturday so my guess is that Friday and Sunday will be more crowded than usual.

Disney does a special fireworks show at MK. I think they might at some other parks too (not AK) but we were at MK so that's all I know about.

And leaving the parks after the fireworks on 4th of July? Expect well over an hour wait for the bus to your resort.

 

[mickeymom629]

We were there 2 years ago. Hot, crowded - yes! But we toured like we usually do. We saw the MK fireworks on the 3rd (not sure if they will do that this year) and then we went to Epcot on the 4th. From where we were standing facing the American and France Pavillions, we could see the HS (then MGM) fireworks at 9. EPCOT'S were SPECTACULAR!! I would do this again if we could, but I'm really hoping to avoid summer months in the future if possible.

 

[PrincessV]

I went last year and was prepared for the worst... but was pleasantly surprised! CAVEAT: we avoided ALL parks, except water parks.

Stayed at WL and it wasn't as busy-feeling as I'd expected. The pool had plenty of people in and around it, but there was still plenty of room for swimming and we found lounge chairs. This was taken late morning/ early afternoon on the 4th:

Passing the TTC parking lot that morning, it looked like all lots were full, so I assumed the MK to be at or near capacity.

We had dinner at Artist's Point on the 4th, then headed over to the Poly to watch fireworks. It was great over there! Lots of folks joining together in patriotic song. Excellent view of the fireworks AND the water parade:

We went to Blizzard Beach on the 5th. It was practically empty until around 1pm - busier after that, but still plenty of seating available.

I can't speak for the parks, but I'd be willing to bet they were manageable from rope drop to about 11am on every day but July 4. It was a wonderful time and I'd gladly do it again!

 

[glennbo123]

See you all there. We will be there from 6/28 until 7/6.

Us too, 6/28 - 7/5, at Kidani. Marvali, saw you on TGM boards as well.

 

[marvali]

Us too, 6/28 - 7/5, at Kidani. Marvali, saw you on TGM boards as well.

Hi glennbo123. Yep, I used TGM for the first time over our New Year's trip. We were originally planning for it to be fairly slow-paced knowing the crowds would be outrageous, but we invited my DS11's good friend who had never been before and we wanted him to have a good time. I decided to take advantage of the DIS discount and get some planning advice to help us get the most done. It worked out great so I have already signed up for this next trip since it will be another very crowded time.

I had to promise DW after doing the major commando thing this last trip that at least she and I would take it a whole lot slower this trip and enjoy more of the atmosphere and other attractions and shows we seldom or never get to. Of course, the easy part will be spending more time enjoying and exploring Kidani since it will have just opened. I'm sure our boys will still run around and try to ride every ride 6 or 7 times, so the best times and best parks info will be well worth it for all of us when planning our days.

Hope we see you there. It is always great to meet other DISers.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

We have been there the past few years on July 4th! 2 years ago we flew in on the 4th and we were at Boardwalk around 9pm and it was jammed!! Last year we were at WLV and during the day we stayed at the resort and there were a bunch of activities. Relay races, crafts, etc. and then we went to Epcot at night and watched fireworks from out front of MouseGears and then ran out of the park and were back at WLV in 13 minutes!!! We had dinner at California Grill on 7/3 and saw the same fireworks at MK that they show on 7/4.

This year we will be at Boardwalk and will probably do the same thing as far as California Grill on 7/3 and Epcot on 7/4.

We are there from 7/1-7/10.

We are glutton for punnishment since we are also going Easter week!! At least we won't have the heat to deal with....just the crowds!

 

[glennbo123]

Hi glennbo123. Yep, I used TGM for the first time over our New Year's trip. We were originally planning for it to be fairly slow-paced knowing the crowds would be outrageous, but we invited my DS11's good friend who had never been before and we wanted him to have a good time. I decided to take advantage of the DIS discount and get some planning advice to help us get the most done. It worked out great so I have already signed up for this next trip since it will be another very crowded time.

I had to promise DW after doing the major commando thing this last trip that at least she and I would take it a whole lot slower this trip and enjoy more of the atmosphere and other attractions and shows we seldom or never get to. Of course, the easy part will be spending more time enjoying and exploring Kidani since it will have just opened. I'm sure our boys will still run around and try to ride every ride 6 or 7 times, so the best times and best parks info will be well worth it for all of us when planning our days.

Hope we see you there. It is always great to meet other DISers.

This will be our first trip "home" and it's been a few years since visiting the World, so no matter how hard we try, I'm sure it will turn out to be Commando. I imagine that most afternoons we'll be back at the pool, though.

Yes, with the crowds and the heat, it will pay off to have a plan of attack!

 

[Tink_lover900]

We always go over the 4th and it is very crowded at this time....in 2005 or 2006(sorry can't remember which) MK was totally packed shoulder to shoulder...we left and went to Epcot and it was better there. We will be there this year from June28-July5 at BWV.

 

[spiceycat]

may be going July 4 - 6 - trying to rent it - but hey if I don't definitely coming!!!

work can't object all days are either weekends or holidays here.