Anyone with DLR 4th of July horror stories?

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

I want to get myself prepared for this weekend so that I don't expect too much for this weekend at DLR. Anyone have any advice, or have any experiences from the past on how the parks will will be ?

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I have done it three times so it can't be that bad. The parks get more crowded as the day rolls on, the locals come for the fireworks. Mainstreet is so packed you will not be able to move and people were saving spots long in advance! The lines for major attractions got pretty long once the evening hit. But as long as you dont mind being packed in like sardines on mainstreet you will have a good time I just wont do it again because that many people and that kind of heat always leads to cranky people. lol

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Let's here it for July 4th DISers. I just booked a spontaneous trip down yesterday and I leave tomorrow.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Three most important things to pack for your trip:

1. Patience
2. Flexibility
3. Alarm clock

As Krissy Marissy said, the crowds get worse later in the day. If you want to get on any attractions, the earlier you are in the Park, the better. The lines will get exponentially longer throughout the day.

Be willing to just go with the flow. Don't have a list of to-do's, just enjoy being there and adjust as you go. Of course, FPs are your friend if you want to go on those rides.

Look at time in line as a chance to visit with whomever you are with, not just wasting time.

Perhaps most important: Check for warnings about the Park possibly reaching capacity if you choose to leave the Park at any point during the day. There is always a chance of getting locked out on a holiday weekend.

All said, it's Disneyland! Have fun!

- Dreams

 

[disney_love<3]

I'll be there tomorrow for my birthday, July 2! I'm hoping its not too crowded.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I just PS reservations for dining, so I don't have to worry about not finding a place to eat (or standing in line for hours on end just to eat), so that's good.

 

[zeitzeuge]

We went last year. The place will be extremely packed by mid afternoon due to all the locals coming for Fireworks. Like others have said, you'll need tons of patience. Mainstreet gets completely packed and people start camping out 5-6 hours early for fireworks. Although we had a great time, we probably will never go during July 4th weekend again.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Does the crowd thin at all after the fireworks or is it still insanely busy?

 

[zeitzeuge]

I found that the crowd thins out some after they're finished, but the park tends to stay a little busier then normal after that.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Thanks. I love touring Fantasyland after 11:00pm because that area is usually empty, so it's good to know that it may not work this time.

I may not do many rides, but I think it will be fun anyways.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Someone already answered but I will say that the park doesn't thin out after fireworks as it usually does. And the fact that it falls on a weekend this year will probably keep more people in the park at night.

 

[zeitzeuge]

One more thing, I also read that they're going to be doing the July 4th fireworks show for 4 night rather then just one, so the crowds might not be as bad this year with many locals spreading out through 4 days rather than showing on on just the one night.

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

One more thing, I also read that they're going to be doing the July 4th fireworks show for 4 night rather then just one, so the crowds might not be as bad this year with many locals spreading out through 4 days rather than showing on on just the one night.

I heard that too!! I'm hoping it does thin out due to more nights showing the fireworks.

I was planning on camping out about 2 hours before the fireworks, do you think I should do so earlier ?


OH, & thank you everyone else for the great input !

I have another question. We're going to be in the parks on that monday, do you think it will be less crowded by then ???

 

[LavenderPeach]

I heard that too!! I'm hoping it does thin out due to more nights showing the fireworks.

I was planning on camping out about 2 hours before the fireworks, do you think I should do so earlier ?


OH, & thank you everyone else for the great input !

I have another question. We're going to be in the parks on that monday, do you think it will be less crowded by then ???

I've never been on the 4th but I just had to say that we'll be there on Monday too! I'm thinking it will be less crowded because I noticed when I was looking for a hotel that all the rates went down for sunday, monday and tuesday nights. But the crowds have been crazy lately so who knows. I'm holding out hope that everyone will have to be back to work on monday. Keep an eye out for my LGMH!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I heard that too!! I'm hoping it does thin out due to more nights showing the fireworks.

I was planning on camping out about 2 hours before the fireworks, do you think I should do so earlier ?

That depends on where you want to see the fireworks from. MousePlanet is saying that if on the 4th itself, you want to see them from the hub, you should be there at least by 6:00pm. People begin to line up around 12:00pm.

Other locales around the park offer shorter camp out times, but not as spectacular a view.

Disneyland 4th of July Tips from MousePlanet

 

[dlander]

I'm thinking of going tomorrow to see the fireworks (since I never go on the 4th). I can't make it until about 2 in the afternoon. I wonder if the parking garage will be filled up by then?

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I dont know if 2 hours ahead will be good enough if you want that perfect spot. I would play it by ear and keep an eye on mainstreet and see when people start lining up. You know it only takes a few people to start saving a spot and then everyone else starts doing the same. We waited 2 hours for the fireworks in dec in the perfect spot freezing to death but mainstreet was packed and everyone waited!

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

I dont know if 2 hours ahead will be good enough if you want that perfect spot. I would play it by ear and keep an eye on mainstreet and see when people start lining up. You know it only takes a few people to start saving a spot and then everyone else starts doing the same. We waited 2 hours for the fireworks in dec in the perfect spot freezing to death but mainstreet was packed and everyone waited!

I was thinking that too. I think we're just going to make sure that we're around Main Street around 4-5 and keep looking around to see if people are totally waiting bc we never get to see fireworks from the hub and I sooo want to see it!

 

[spiderdust]

My daughter and another family member are going to DL on the 6th, but they'll be in DTD on the 5th... is there a good spot there where they might be able to see the fireworks, even though they won't be able to hear the music?

 

[spiderdust]

Bump?

(They're leaving tomorrow, so we're trying to figure out if they should even try to see the fireworks!)