4th of July - Worth a long weekend from CA?

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

So, my husband and I are trying to decide if a long weekend from July1-4 would be a good idea or just plain crazy. We've only been to WDW once, last August for our honeymoon, but we are hooked! We do have a trip in May but it will be in the beginning of the month and we'll (probably) miss the opening of Pandora. The hope is that a long weekend (Sat - Tue) would allow us to see Pandora and hit other key things we like.

The only thing that would prevent us is the crowds combined with the heat. I'm worried the brevity of the trip will mean we'll be stressed, hot and tired, and that doesn't sound like an ideal situation.

We've experienced WDW in the last two weeks August, so we're familiar with the terrible heat/humidity, but we were at least lucky that crowd levels were moderate (4-7) since a lot of summer vacations were over at that time.

Has anyone ever done a long weekend from the west coast? Has it been enjoyable or stressful?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[bryanb]

I've done a couple of very short 2-3 day trips from California. Having experienced WDW a few times, I no longer feel like I have to check off a long list of attractions on every visit... so I tend not to get stressed. Of course, that doesn't mean that everyone in my group will feel the same way.

To be honest, I've never gone over a holiday weekend and I'd imagine that would be a very busy period. If your expectations are to get into a list of favorite attractions and restaurants, then I don't think you should even try. If you want to experience a festive, energetic atmosphere, and you see the crowds as part of that, and you think you can just go with the flow, then it might be enjoyable.

Of course, the flight is quite long from California for such a short stay. It doesn't bother me as much since one must sleep every night anyway. I'll sleep on a redeye, and wake up in Florida. (Maybe even rope drop after stowing luggage!) But that doesn't always work for everyone.

 

[IrishNYC]

For me, I would not. The long flights for just a long weekend aren't my thing (but when I was in my 20s I would have done it, taken a red eye, and gone right to work from the airport), and combined with crowds of a holiday weekend, it sounds like a lot of "nope" for me.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would not. I think the travel time alone would be enough to keep me from a long weekend, but to try to enjoy WDW over the 4th, having only the long weekend and travel from the West Coast would put me over the edge.

 

[Accident]

The only thing that would prevent us is the crowds combined with the heat. I'm worried the brevity of the trip will mean we'll be stressed, hot and tired, and that doesn't sound like an ideal situation.

Well the vacation is as stressed as you make it. If your ok with maybe missing some things, go with the flow and just enjoy where your standing it can work out well. would I do that for a short vacation flying coast to coast in the summer? probably not. Might be a great weekend to head to Aulani if you've never been. Disney spoiled but relaxing getaway. I used to fly coast to coast for 3 and 4 day weekends (sometimes less) all the time, it's really what your flying to with heat, humidity and crowds that specific weekend that I thikn I might look for a different destination for a quick trip.

I personally rank the crowds found at WDW to be the following: (Worst and parks could phase close are first)

- New Years Eve
- Christmas Day
- Easter
- 4th of July
- Thanksgiving
- Jersey Week, (especially the 4 day weekend that the NJEA convention happens making 100% of jersey students available to visit)
- Labor Day (and the other 3-4 day holiday weekends not listed including halloween, etc)
- Fall (fall feels more crowded to me but it's mostly MK and how the parties effect when people go into it. 2017 will be interesting to see if they are pulled to AK or if ak remains the lighter crowd park)
- Summer
- Spring
- winter (starting early-mid jan when the NYE crowd finally winds down, roughly when xmas decorations come down)

There are a lot of things where there is some slightly lower or higher crowds. opening and closing week of anything new or seasonal always is a little tighter..

 

[DisneyWishes14]

For me, it would depend on how well you tolerate long flights and time changes. We live on the east coast and did a 5 night trip to DL a few years ago and it took DS and I a good 2 - 2 1/2 days just to adjust to the time change. We still had a great time, but, if I were to do it again, I would want to do it for at least a week or more.

If you only have a couple of things you want to check off your list (like focusing on Pandora), yes, I would do it! We take short trips down frequently and have gone during high crowd times, but we always focus on one or two things we HAVE to do and we don't do commando park days trying to fit a lot of stuff in.

 

[kniquy]

I would vote against this and if you can swing it plan a trip for early December. Reason being is that it is busy but not holiday busy, the decorations are up and the weather is better and Pandora will definitely be open. My guess is that flights for the week after thanksgiving would be less than right around a holiday weekend. If you are hooked on Disney just after your first trip then to see the parks decorated for the holidays will take your breath away. You could consider upgrading to an AP during the May trip so that it would cover a slightly longer December trip. I forget what the break even point is for AP, but it might be around 10 days.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Yes, July 3/4 will be busy, but the crowds have shifted and summers aren't as crazy as they use to be.

We went in July 6-13 and it was the lightest crowds I had ever seen for the first 3-4 days. We are going again this July 5-12.

 

[DisAuntie]

Two days of vacation over a summer holiday weekend in July in Orlando from Cali? I wouldn't even consider it.

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

Of course, the flight is quite long from California for such a short stay. It doesn't bother me as much since one must sleep every night anyway. I'll sleep on a redeye, and wake up in Florida. (Maybe even rope drop after stowing luggage!) But that doesn't always work for everyone.

Thanks for this information! Yes, we would definitely just pick one or two things as a "must-do". As for the flight, we would LOVE to do a red-eye. The problem is that we'll be flying with Southwest points and a Companion Pass (my husband flies for free with me). Unfortunately, Southwest doesn't do red-eyes, so we'd arrive around 5 pm on Saturday. We did consider looking into a different airline to take advantage of the red-eye, but considering other posts, this whole trip might not be the best plan. Thanks for your help!

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

For me, I would not. The long flights for just a long weekend aren't my thing (but when I was in my 20s I would have done it, taken a red eye, and gone right to work from the airport), and combined with crowds of a holiday weekend, it sounds like a lot of "nope" for me.

Thanks so much for the input! We're 22 and 23 so we might be able to handle the extremes of it all, but I also don't want to set ourselves up for a rough trip.

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

Might be a great weekend to head to Aulani if you've never been. Disney spoiled but relaxing getaway. I used to fly coast to coast for 3 and 4 day weekends (sometimes less) all the time, it's really what your flying to with heat, humidity and crowds that specific weekend that I thikn I might look for a different destination for a quick trip.

Good point! We would love to go to Aulani, just haven't worked it into a budget yet. We have a lot of Southwest points and a Companion Pass so we're trying to take advantage of places we can fly using those points, and Southwest doesn't go to Hawaii. That being said, maybe we'll find somewhere that would prove to be a better trip and postpone a Disney trip. Thank you!

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

Two days of vacation over a summer holiday weekend in July in Orlando from Cali? I wouldn't even consider it.

Thanks for your input! Seems like most people are in agreement Maybe we'll stay close to home for the holiday weekend and wait for a different time to head back.

 

[Accident]

Good point! We would love to go to Aulani, just haven't worked it into a budget yet. We have a lot of Southwest points and a Companion Pass so we're trying to take advantage of places we can fly using those points, and Southwest doesn't go to Hawaii. That being said, maybe we'll find somewhere that would prove to be a better trip and postpone a Disney trip. Thank you!

play the point transfer game good luck and have a blast wherever you end up.

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

I would vote against this and if you can swing it plan a trip for early December. Reason being is that it is busy but not holiday busy, the decorations are up and the weather is better and Pandora will definitely be open. My guess is that flights for the week after thanksgiving would be less than right around a holiday weekend. If you are hooked on Disney just after your first trip then to see the parks decorated for the holidays will take your breath away. You could consider upgrading to an AP during the May trip so that it would cover a slightly longer December trip. I forget what the break even point is for AP, but it might be around 10 days.

Awesome advice, thanks! Funnily enough, we've been thinking about going from December 2-9! We are Premier AP holders right now, as we live right by Disneyland and there are frequently. For us, the cost to add WDW to our pass is worth it. Our pass will expire at the end of May (hence the early May trip). We're debating on renewing but I think for us, the break even is a 4-day ticket, so we'll probably renew. The biggest thing about the December trip is that we thought if we're going during the holidays, we'd want to really go for it and stay at the Grand Floridian for the whole Christmas experience, and we'd have to wait for a different year to save up for such a spurge. But maybe we'll go anyways, and just stay cheaply, keeping the VGF for a special trip down the road It seems most people don't recommend the 4th of July weekend and we do want to see Pandora, so maybe December it is

 

[kniquy]

whole Christmas experience, and we'd have to wait for a different year to save up for such a spurge.

If you haven't ever looked into a vacation club rental i would strongly consider it. You can stay at one of the deluxe resorts for less than it would cost to book at room directly through disney. I have used davids DVC rental in the past as many other people here have done. The only draw back is that to use a DVC rental for December you need to book now otherwise the rooms get booked because it is the cheapest point timeframe. You could possible get the VGF if you you get lucky. All the resorts are decorated for this time of year and it is actually fun to resort hop and get to check out all the decorations

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

If you haven't ever looked into a vacation club rental i would strongly consider it. You can stay at one of the deluxe resorts for less than it would cost to book at room directly through disney. I have used davids DVC rental in the past as many other people here have done. The only draw back is that to use a DVC rental for December you need to book now otherwise the rooms get booked because it is the cheapest point timeframe. You could possible get the VGF if you you get lucky. All the resorts are decorated for this time of year and it is actually fun to resort hop and get to check out all the decorations

Yup, that's actually how we stayed in August. We did a DVC rental for a split stay at AKL, Boardwalk, and Bay Lake Tower. We're renting again for a stay at Boardwalk in May, though we're splitting that cost with some friends so it's not as bad. It's saved us a ton staying that way, without sacrificing staying on property Unfortunately, even that would put us over what we can comfortably spend for a week in December, what with other, non-Disney vacations already planned for August (Costa Rica) and spring of 2018 (Europe). However, we did look into getting an AirBnb for that week in December and even with renting a car, it would be about half as much as renting DVC studios at the cheaper resorts (Saratoga, BWV, AKL). Yeah, it means not being on property ( ) but I think that's the way we'll go to be able to swing it. Thank you for your help! I've heard of David's DVC but I've always just gone private-party through sites like ***********, or even the disboards DVC forum. I've found I can get cheaper points that way!

 

[Anal Annie]

So, my husband and I are trying to decide if a long weekend from July1-4 would be a good idea or just plain crazy. We've only been to WDW once, last August for our honeymoon, but we are hooked! We do have a trip in May but it will be in the beginning of the month and we'll (probably) miss the opening of Pandora. The hope is that a long weekend (Sat - Tue) would allow us to see Pandora and hit other key things we like.

The only thing that would prevent us is the crowds combined with the heat. I'm worried the brevity of the trip will mean we'll be stressed, hot and tired, and that doesn't sound like an ideal situation.

We've experienced WDW in the last two weeks August, so we're familiar with the terrible heat/humidity, but we were at least lucky that crowd levels were moderate (4-7) since a lot of summer vacations were over at that time.

Has anyone ever done a long weekend from the west coast? Has it been enjoyable or stressful?

Thanks in advance!!

And of course you know there is no guarantee that Pandora will even be open yet for that week. "Opening Summer 2017" is such a vague time frame and I'm sure they're HOPING for a Memorial Day opening but.... With their track record of delayed openings I'm really not holding my breath just yet. We're going the week of July 4th for 8 nights (15 hr drive from MD) and we're HOPING it will be open then.

You would enjoy it all more if you could come for a longer time...we have done 4 n trips from MD before but the flights are only about 2 1/2 hours and no time change. Probably also a lot less $$$.

 

[ratt1345]

If you're not used to it, it will be hot and very humid around July 4th. Take a break in the middle of the day if you go then.