4th of July Weekend

[Philadisney]

ok, i know you are all going to call me crazy - i'm spending my 4th of july weekend at the World. Yes, the summer heat, one of the biggest holidays of the year ....i can only imagine the crowds but my mom has a conference in orlando, my dad is going along for the ride, and would i like to come? You bet! Some quality time with my parents (they live about 5 hours away from me), in the Happiest Place on Earth, with my hotel & meals paid for! I'm in!
Here's our itinerary:
July 1: MK (Saturday), Dinner at California Grill
July 2: MGM (Sunday) - dad & i will possibly hit another Orlando attraction in the morning, we're thinking maybe the Space Center? Has anyone been there?
July 3: AK (Monday), dinner at Boma
July 4: Epcot (Tuesday), lunch at Coral Reef

My dad is psyched for 4th of July fireworks at Epcot - I'm pretty sure they don't do anything out-of-the-ordinary, though. Does anyone know? Has anyone been there on the 4th before - any tips?

 

[disgirl]

bumping this for you. We are also going to be there for the 4th (the first time on the 4th) and although we expect lots of humidity and people, we are looking forward to the fireworks too!!

Your plans sound nice, have fun!! We have been to Kennedy Space Center a couple of times, the last about three years ago, and we def. enjoyed it there. I think you will enjoy it especially if you have never been. We are also planning a lunch at Coral Reef but on our last day, the 10th. We really enjoy that restaurant!!

I hope you have a great time with your parents!!

Anyone who has been on the 4th before want to add anything?

 

[rondaK]

ok, i know you are all going to call me crazy - i'm spending my 4th of july weekend at the World. Yes, the summer heat, one of the biggest holidays of the year ....i can only imagine the crowds but my mom has a conference in orlando, my dad is going along for the ride, and would i like to come? You bet! Some quality time with my parents (they live about 5 hours away from me), in the Happiest Place on Earth, with my hotel & meals paid for! I'm in!
Here's our itinerary:
July 1: MK (Saturday), Dinner at California Grill
July 2: MGM (Sunday) - dad & i will possibly hit another Orlando attraction in the morning, we're thinking maybe the Space Center? Has anyone been there?
July 3: AK (Monday), dinner at Boma
July 4: Epcot (Tuesday), lunch at Coral Reef

My dad is psyched for 4th of July fireworks at Epcot - I'm pretty sure they don't do anything out-of-the-ordinary, though. Does anyone know? Has anyone been there on the 4th before - any tips?

We go during 4th of July almost every year!!! Epcot does an amazing fireworks show!!!! They do the regular illuminations & then do an extra show after that!!! More fireworks that you will probably ever see at one time!! It, of course, is very, very crowded. But, Epcot is a big park and the fireworks can be seen from just about anywhere!! Have fun and maybe I'll bump into ya!

 

[Mom2AAA's]

We were at Disney last 4th! It is a little more crowded, but not that bad.
On the 3rd, we went to MK to see the fireworks, they had a special preview for their 4th firework show, stood on the bridge going into futerland great veiw for Tinkerbell and the show ( I figured that MK would be at max cap on the 4th) We planned to stay at the resort during the day relax and enjoy the pool since the parks were going to be extra full, the resorts had all kinds of games planned ( greased watermellon in the pool etc.) it was really fun. Then at night we went to MGM to see their fireworks, they were great and it was fun to have to totally different shows. MK was very patriotic (Sp) and MGM was all songs from movies.

 

[disgirl]

mom2AAA's: That is what we are also hoping to do, go to MK on the 3rd for the fireworks and then stay at the pool on the 4th and head to MGM for fireworks that night. Thanks for posting.

 

[disneysnob]

We went on the Fourth a couple of years age, and we're going again this year. I've NEVER seen MK so crowded as it was on the 4th. You literally were 'nose to back'with the person walking in front of you. The fireworks were awesome!! A CM told us to stand in Liberty Square because they fireworks would be going off all around the park. When we looked up, it was like we were in the middle of sparkling colors, all with patriotic music piped in!!!!. We will be there this year until the 5th, so I'm planning on MK again...just going to try to take the crowds and heat all in stride.

 

[Philadisney]

thanks everyone for the great tips and for sharing your experiences! sounds like we are wise to stay away from MK on the fourth - good to know Epcot will probably have special fireworks too!

 

[teacher31]

I can hardly wait!! I asked a similar 4th question back in October before we booked. Most people were very positive: Yes, it's crowded; Yes, it's hot; Yes it's great. Just be patient was the mantra everyone was saying. Just remember people say the parks may close on the 4th so get where you need to be early!

 

[java]

Someone mentioned this above and I just want to stress the firework preview on the 3rd. We caught this show last year and then watched again from the hotel on the 4th and it is exactly the same show on the 3rd at the MK. I am hoping they plan on doing that again this year because we will be there again! look for us

 

[WinnePoohlvr]

I was there for the Epcot fireworks about 15 years ago, and it was huge. The fireworks literally went over our heads, and we found out the hard way that my best friend is afraid of fireworks. We used to WDW every year around the 4th, and this was before fastpass. The lines are long, but usually more South Americans guests due to their winter. The heat is intense, but all lines have the misting fans. Again the Epcot fireworks are not to be missed. Take every 4th of July show you've ever seen and combine all of them and you might get Epcot's.

 

[disgirl]

We were thinking of heading over to MGM(perhaps not as crowded, maybe?), but Epcot does sound real nice especially since we will be coming from BCV. However, now I am concerned: Do you think we could get shut out of MGM or Epcot if we do not arrive until after dinner(6-7)? I do not want to miss the fireworks, but want to use the day as a pool day.

Thanks so much for any advice here and thank you to you, Philadisney, for posting the original question. Here's hoping everyone has a great 4th of July vacation!!

 

[java]

Ok the next hot topic on park closing but here goes as our experience in being there over the past 10 or so july 4ths. MK reaches capacity around 11AM. At that point it closes to non- onsite resort guests. So as a vacation club person I think you are treated as an onsite guest correct? Next I believe it closes to CM's then ....there is a pecking order of when it closes to who but resort guests are near if not the very bottom of the list(and trust me if it got to that point of closing you don't want to be there anyway.) In all our years only recently has EPCOT closed to capacity- usually later in the day than MK but it doesn't feel nearly as crowded(until the park closes and everyone is leaving - but even then you will be in good shape because you will leave through the international gateway! so you will be swimming upstream- what we have done during the New Years fireworks is stand between France and England so we could make a quick and painless exit out of the gateway.- should work for july 4th also) And we have never ever been shut out as resort guests at EPCOT. I think in all our years there was only one year that MK actually closed to Resort guests.

 

[Philadisney]

We were thinking of heading over to MGM(perhaps not as crowded, maybe?), but Epcot does sound real nice especially since we will be coming from BCV. However, now I am concerned: Do you think we could get shut out of MGM or Epcot if we do not arrive until after dinner(6-7)? I do not want to miss the fireworks, but want to use the day as a pool day.

Thanks so much for any advice here and thank you to you, Philadisney, for posting the original question. Here's hoping everyone has a great 4th of July vacation!!

thanks
i am also having that same worry - on the 4th, my dad and i will get to epcot probably mid-morning, but my mom won't be able to join us until around 2pm (for lunch at Coral Reef woohoo!). I hope she can get in!!!! Has anyone here actually ever been kept from getting into a park becos of overcrowding?? personally i have not - but i have only been to WDW in july once, and it was in the 1980's.

ETA: just read what the above poster said about Epcot closing recently. eek!!! we will be off-site guests, as we are staying in the hotel where my mom's convention is. if we have an ADR hopefully they will let her in!!!! she would be getting to the park around 1-1:30ish.