Care to assess my itinterary? July 4th week

[baseballnut]

I'd appreciate any input into our itinerary! It will be me, DH and DD3. It's our second trip, our first was in December, so I'm not sure how it will be with the heat. Our basic attack last time was going back to the resort after lunch for naps and then back out at night, so we could stay out later. DD hung pretty well. I think we only had one night where we didn't go back out.

I'm also looking for input on a plan of attack as far as FP+ goes. Any input, advice, tips, etc. very much appreciated! Most important plans denoted with a ***. We're staying at POP and have DDP. Thanks SO much!!

WEDNESDAY (arrival)
MK***
ADR Crystal Palace 7 p.m.

THURSDAY
HS morning
ADR Hollywood & Vine 1230, then nap
MK night, for fireworks***

FRIDAY 4th
Blizzard Beach morning
EPCOT evening for fireworks***
(ADR TBD)

SATURDAY
No plans; possibly waterparks

SUNDAY
MK morning for rope drop*** (unless there's a better day for rope drop)
ADR Chef Mickey's 1125 then nap
EPCOT evening?

MONDAY
AK morning (EMH hours)
ADR Tusker House 1030, then nap
HS evening for Fantasmic

TUESDAY
Waterpark morning
MK afternoon*** (last night)
ADR CRT 415

WEDNESDAY
Sleep, resort, leaving after checkout

 

[Betty Rohrer]

a couple of questions: how are you traveling and what time are you arriving? that could make a difference on your arrival day. make sure you keep daughter awake on trip back to resort unless you are sure you can get her back to sleep. we had problems with fall asleep and getting enough sleep that would not go back to sleep but still crabby and melting down. fell asleep during dinner and had to get something for him later

 

[frozenchick]

Looks good Have fun!

 

[baseballnut]

a couple of questions: how are you traveling and what time are you arriving? that could make a difference on your arrival day. make sure you keep daughter awake on trip back to resort unless you are sure you can get her back to sleep. we had problems with fall asleep and getting enough sleep that would not go back to sleep but still crabby and melting down. fell asleep during dinner and had to get something for him later

We're flying in around 1 pm.

And thanks for the advice! Dd passed out in her dinner at the resort our last night there last time and slept for almost 13 hours, lol. When she's out, she's out.

 

[baseballnut]

Looks good Have fun!

Thank you!

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have not been that week in MANY years so I'm not sure if the crowds levels have changed but this might be a week where parks could close due to capacity. If that happens, you may not get into you park of choice for your reservation. Epcot on the 4th might be your only issue. Being at the parks at rope drop whether it's EMH or not is also very important. You plan looks pretty good! Have fun.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you can, hit the Magic Kingdom at open on the 5th. The park will be a ghost town, and anything you haven't done, or want to do a lot, will be a walk on.

 

[baseballnut]

We have not been that week in MANY years so I'm not sure if the crowds levels have changed but this might be a week where parks could close due to capacity. If that happens, you may not get into you park of choice for your reservation. Epcot on the 4th might be your only issue. Being at the parks at rope drop whether it's EMH or not is also very important. You plan looks pretty good! Have fun.

Thanks! I read that Epcot has a better chance of not reaching capacity because it's bigger? No? Any recommendations of what a good time would be to be there, either before a closure or after it could reopen?

 

[baseballnut]

If you can, hit the Magic Kingdom at open on the 5th. The park will be a ghost town, and anything you haven't done, or want to do a lot, will be a walk on.

I thought about that but also thought that after two late nights for fireworks we would probably sleep in...but thanks for reminding me, I'll keep that in the back of my mind. Thank you?

 

[brymolmom]

I worry about both the 3rd and the 4th not being able to get in for fireworks because of crowds...If you really want to see them - I would plan to stay at the park all day long (or just know you might have to watch them from somewhere else - like the beach at Fort Wilderness or similar if you get turned away at the gate).

Crowds are HUGE that week...Not sure when you went in Decmeber but if it wasn't Christmas week - then expect these crowds to be much, much bigger - as big as it gets.

 

[baseballnut]

I worry about both the 3rd and the 4th not being able to get in for fireworks because of crowds...If you really want to see them - I would plan to stay at the park all day long (or just know you might have to watch them from somewhere else - like the beach at Fort Wilderness or similar if you get turned away at the gate). Crowds are HUGE that week...Not sure when you went in Decmeber but if it wasn't Christmas week - then expect these crowds to be much, much bigger - as big as it gets.

I'm worried about the 3 & 4th, too. Do you have any experience with closures? Is there a time it may reopen after people leave? I just don't think we can hang all day and night.

We went the week leading up to Christmas, so it got super busy that weekend. I know we're in for some craziness. Thank you!

 

[brymolmom]

I'm worried about the 3 & 4th, too. Do you have any experience with closures? Is there a time it may reopen after people leave? I just don't think we can hang all day and night.

We went the week leading up to Christmas, so it got super busy that weekend. I know we're in for some craziness. Thank you!

Sorry - I don't have any specific experience...But I believe that it won't 'reopen' on nights with fireworks because it won't be until after the fireworks that the crowds actually leave.

 

[jen19806]

We've been for the July 4th twice & it was great. Last time was 2.5 years ago. I remember MK did close at some point. It was very crowded, but doable. We are normally rope drop people who take a break mid-day & come back in the evening, but for the fourth, we arrived mid-morning with plans to stay all day & it worked fine.

I will say we were there for New Years 2014 & crowds were way, way, way worse. We had an ADR for lunch in MK on New Years & that helped us get in b/c they have different "phases" of closure on heavy attendance days. I think a dining reservation gets you in through phases 1,2 & 3, but not 4. So if there is a park you really want to be in, an ADR might help.

Good luck! July 3 & 4 have awesome fireworks, we had so much fun!

 

[baseballnut]

Sorry - I don't have any specific experience...But I believe that it won't 'reopen' on nights with fireworks because it won't be until after the fireworks that the crowds actually leave.

Gotcha, thanks. Grr. Guess I'll have to see how it goes, maybe we'll stop in mk after lunch to see where the crowds are at and maybe try to just stay there. Thanks again!

 

[samandryanmom]

We have been the last few years around the fourth. Last year we arrived on the 4th and went to downtown Disney....super crowded! We were at mk at rope drop on the 5th and got everything we wanted done. We were there all day until not quite closing. We used Fastpass but the crowds were manageable. We only had two park days and my dd wanted our other day as Epcot so we only had one day at mk. I would second the tip to go on the 5th. My 13 year old hates fireworks (the noise) so we wouldn't have probably watched them if we had been there on the 3rd or 4th.
Have fun. We're going again this year!

 

[BellsFam]

Have you read through www.easywdw.com? There is a detailed crowd calendar, and then breaks down each day in Disney and why he's recommending the park that day... You should check it out, it was super helpful with my planning...

 

[baseballnut]

We've been for the July 4th twice & it was great. Last time was 2.5 years ago. I remember MK did close at some point. It was very crowded, but doable. We are normally rope drop people who take a break mid-day & come back in the evening, but for the fourth, we arrived mid-morning with plans to stay all day & it worked fine. I will say we were there for New Years 2014 & crowds were way, way, way worse. We had an ADR for lunch in MK on New Years & that helped us get in b/c they have different "phases" of closure on heavy attendance days. I think a dining reservation gets you in through phases 1,2 & 3, but not 4. So if there is a park you really want to be in, an ADR might help. Good luck! July 3 & 4 have awesome fireworks, we had so much fun!

Thanks for the tidbits. I guess we should scoot I've to MK early and try to just stay there all day and night. Grr. Does being a resort guest get you in on phases 1-3?

Hmm, now to play with the ADRs...

 

[baseballnut]

We have been the last few years around the fourth. Last year we arrived on the 4th and went to downtown Disney....super crowded! We were at mk at rope drop on the 5th and got everything we wanted done. We were there all day until not quite closing. We used Fastpass but the crowds were manageable. We only had two park days and my dd wanted our other day as Epcot so we only had one day at mk. I would second the tip to go on the 5th. My 13 year old hates fireworks (the noise) so we wouldn't have probably watched them if we had been there on the 3rd or 4th. Have fun. We're going again this year!

Good to know about the crowds, thanks! I'll have to think about not doing fireworks on the fourth so we can do rope drop the fifth. It makes a lot of sense. To bad I'm the one who loves the fireworks, lol. Dd enjoys them too at least.

Thank you!! And have fun yourself!

 

[baseballnut]

Have you read through www.easywdw.com? There is a detailed crowd calendar, and then breaks down each day in Disney and why he's recommending the park that day... You should check it out, it was super helpful with my planning...

I don't remember the site but I have where it lists what parks to see and avoid each day. Unfortunately we're mostly against that list, because we're visiting two parks a day usually. I'm trying to keep it in mind though, lol.

Thank you!

 

[baseballnut]

OK, so as far as doing rope drop at MK on July 5th...it's actually morning EMH. How would that work? Do they do the rope drop early?

Thanks!