Anyone been to Disney over 4th of July???

[edk35]

What were the crowds like?? I have never been that week in July. We have been in mid to late July and August. Thanks for any tips/advice.

 

[tmgandolph]

I have been there over that time.
Loved the fireworks display. It is crowded. Very crowded.
Park closing due to capacity crowded.

But even with the heat and the crowds I would do July 4th again.
There are fireworks on July 3rd and 4th. Same show.

I stayed at the BLT and walked back. The lines to the monorail and boats were long. Adding an hour easily to the travel time.
The bus lines are just as long and hour waits for a bus are the norm.

But again I loved the show. Watched the July 3rd display from our balcony and the July 4th ones from inside the park.

 

[edk35]

I have been there over that time.
Loved the fireworks display. It is crowded. Very crowded.
Park closing due to capacity crowded.

But even with the heat and the crowds I would do July 4th again.
There are fireworks on July 3rd and 4th. Same show.

I stayed at the BLT and walked back. The lines to the monorail and boats were long. Adding an hour easily to the travel time.
The bus lines are just as long and hour waits for a bus are the norm.

But again I loved the show. Watched the July 3rd display from our balcony and the July 4th ones from inside the park.

Was every day that week that crowded??? Or just the two fireworks days?

 

[tmgandolph]

While I have been there and experienced it, these planning sites say it best and give a good discussion of what you will face and have to plan for:
http://www.easywdw.com/calendar/july-2014-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/
"The Magic Kingdom’s Celebrate America Firework show is one of the best of the year, featuring panoramic fireworks shot from all around the Park. It’s a much more exciting, much more expensive, much more substantial show than you would see on any other night, other than perhaps New Year’s Eve. To guarantee admittance, you’ll want to arrive by 10am and stay in the Park for the entire day. Because it’s so crowded, it will be difficult to get on any attractions without waiting at least 30 minutes and all of the major FASTPASS attractions will likely have waits that exceed 100 minutes in the afternoon. The only time you’ll find reasonably short lines is during the first two hours of operation and potentially after 10pm."


This one is great too:
http://**************.net/2013/12/18/july-2014-at-walt-disney-world/
"July crowds begin high, with trips that include the 4th of July weekend (the 4th is a Friday in 2014, so it affects both its own week and the week after) facing the worst crowds.
Crowds are a little better after the weekend of the 4th, but still high.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 6/28 has a crowd rating of 10/higher, the week beginning 7/5 11/highest (especially over the weekend), and the rest of the weeks of the month 9/high."

Hope the info helps!

 

[edk35]

While I have been there and experienced it, these planning sites say it best and give a good discussion of what you will face and have to plan for:
http://www.easywdw.com/calendar/july-2014-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/
"The Magic Kingdom’s Celebrate America Firework show is one of the best of the year, featuring panoramic fireworks shot from all around the Park. It’s a much more exciting, much more expensive, much more substantial show than you would see on any other night, other than perhaps New Year’s Eve. To guarantee admittance, you’ll want to arrive by 10am and stay in the Park for the entire day. Because it’s so crowded, it will be difficult to get on any attractions without waiting at least 30 minutes and all of the major FASTPASS attractions will likely have waits that exceed 100 minutes in the afternoon. The only time you’ll find reasonably short lines is during the first two hours of operation and potentially after 10pm."


This one is great too:
http://**************.net/2013/12/18/july-2014-at-walt-disney-world/
"July crowds begin high, with trips that include the 4th of July weekend (the 4th is a Friday in 2014, so it affects both its own week and the week after) facing the worst crowds.
Crowds are a little better after the weekend of the 4th, but still high.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 6/28 has a crowd rating of 10/higher, the week beginning 7/5 11/highest (especially over the weekend), and the rest of the weeks of the month 9/high."

Hope the info helps!

Thanks so much. I think it is safe to say....that this girl won't be going. I would LOVE to see the fireworks but would prefer to go at a less crowded time during the summer. We have been in July and Aug. a few times and thought it was fine other than the HEAT.
We saw awesome fireworks years ago for the Pirate and Princess Party and those were panoramic too.Those were cool.

 

[Marine Mom]

We have been to MK during 4th of July and never again. Although the fireworks display is AWESOME, the crowds were too much. I was so worried about losing one of my kids, my DH had one on his shoulders and I carried one and had one in the carriage. It was so hard to push the carriage I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I wouldn't do it again but to each their own.

 

[fishermouse]

We were there for a week before and several days after, the week leading up to the 4th was actually pretty quiet then it got a little crazy on the 3rd and 4th. By then we had done a lot so just relaxed the last couple days. Not sure I would want to arrive on the 3rd or 4th and stay that week.

 

[cinderella97]

We will be there, but leaving on July 3rd. Hoping the crowds are not too bad up until that point. First time we will have been to Disney at this time, we usually go at Easter or Christmas, so we can manage those crowds.

 

[lovin'fl]

We were there for the 4th in 2008. It was crazy crowded.

 

[princessvacg]

We go every year over the 4th for the last 13 years!! We do not go into the parks on the 4th… that is crazy! We hang at the hotel/pool
pool during the day and go to the parks at nights… we are able to avoid the hot heavy crowds during the day and we love it!!

 

[edk35]

We go every year over the 4th for the last 13 years!! We do not go into the parks on the 4th… that is crazy! We hang at the hotel/pool
pool during the day and go to the parks at nights… we are able to avoid the hot heavy crowds during the day and we love it!!

How are the days after the 4th?????

 

[MagicalMeg]

We are going the 7-17.....anyone been during those days??

 

[edk35]

We are going the 7-17.....anyone been during those days??

I have been during that time. I think mid to late July are just fine. We have been 3 times during that time frame.

 

[maarch]

I went there 2 time for the fourth of July and I'll go against most people on this one and say I LOVE it.

It is incredibly crowded I'll give that. If you hate the park when it's full then you might not like it.

But if like me you can deal with it, understand that you won't do a lot of ride that day but just go there to enjoy the park, the fireworks, the food then it is a great day to be. And in my opinion the fourth of july fireworks at Disney are one of the best you can see.

You could also skip Magic Kingdom all together ( that's the one that's mostly crowded ). Instead go to Animal Kingdom for the morning and afternoon. Go back to your hotel relax a bit and then go eat at the California Grill and watch the fireworks from there.

As for the days before, it is more packed than usual. If you go after fourth of july it seem to clear up quiet a bit and isn't that bad.