Disneyland Resort for the 4th Weekend? Are We Crazy?

[kverdon]

We were looking at a time to go to DLR in July/August and the best dates on the Crowd Calender looked to be July 1-3? I thought this would be a crazy busy time but maybe not? All 3 Disney Resort are available so maybe... Or are we crazy to be thinking about this?

Thanks,

Kevin and Mona

 

[gottalovepluto]

It's prime summer season at Disneyland. It will be very busy. (I don't trust crowd calendars.) DL is very busy June through mid-August period. That said you're not crazy to be thinking of going! If you want to go, do it! (But just know it ain't gonna be anything besides packed.)

That time of year the parks run longer hours & have more entertainment showings. Staying onsite opens up EMH. EMH is our favorite strategy for avoiding crowds during the summer season as the parks are at their quietest first thing in the morning.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

We usually go right after the 4th of July .. like July 6, 7 or around there and it is ALWAYS a madhouse! I think that time in general is just crazy .. but it's literally the best time to go as everything is up and running!

 

[disneychrista]

It's summer, it is Disneyland yes it is going to be crowded, it just is. If you want to be in Disneyland for the special Fireworks (assuming they do them) be in the parks early, as it is possible to have the gates closed and not allow any new entries (including re-entries).

 

[Doctor Who]

My Wife and I went 2 years ago and it wasn't that bad really. The lines for rides on the 4th were great it seems everyone was waiting for the fireworks. We stood on Main Street across from Gibson girl and it was great. We only got to our spot 15 min before they started.

 

[basketballmom]

We have been twice on July 4, and honestly, I don't think it was any busier than a regular busy summer day. My only advice would be to NOT be at the beginning of Main Street and plan to leave the park after fireworks. We did that in 2010. It was a nightmare.

 

[agamble]

http://www.isitpacked.com/disneyland-crowd-forecast-predictor-calendar/ shows all of July as packed and the 4th as Forget About it!

 

[jammyjam25]

I went July 5-9 in 2013 and it was definitely busy but we were able to see all the nighttime entertainment, ride rides multiple times, etc. As long as you go in with a good plan and some patience you should be fine!

 

[Astylla]

We just booked a last minute June 30th - July 4th trip and the 4th is our departure day so it will be interesting. I keep reminding my hubby this was HIS idea lol!

 

[SMD]

This is crazy:

"We went to DLR in July/on a holiday weekend and it was too crowded! We left our hotel 30 minutes before rope drop and the lines at security were so long we didn't reach the end of Main St until an hour later! We had an ADR for BB at 12:30. We showed up at 12:15 and were told it was a 40 minute wait for a waterside table. We waited 20 minutes and got a regular table. What was the point of the ADR if we weren't seated immediately? We got FP for RSR in the morning for an 11am return, and by 11am FP were out and we couldn't get a second FP for night time ride! And the line for Peter Pan was 60 minutes almost immediately and stayed long all day. Alice too. I won't wait that long for anything so we didn't even do those rides! We tried to get spots for PTN 15 minutes before it started. We thought we'd be in the second row standing, but we were 3 back in the crowd and had to stand 5 feet apart! And then after for fireworks everyone crowded into the street. We were in the middle of the street with people in front of us and all around. I was so tired of being in a crowd that I decided to buy a souvenir that I had been eyeing all day and leave. The lines to pay on Main St were long and the aisles of the stores were blocked by strollers! Why does Disney let so many people who want to do the same things I do when I'm trying to do them into the park?"

With appropriate expectations and planning, any 3 day trip should be do able. But expecting it to be anything but crowded and to have to invest time to do certain things you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[tarheelalum]

Any holiday weekend is going to be very crowded. I would expect the 4th of July to be extremely crowded this year.

 

[quiltymom]

I could be wrong, but whenever I've been there before the 4th (1-3, never on a weekend, only weekday), there seems to be less people. Busy, but not packed. I think many wait for their first day to be the 4th, then stay afterwards rather than arriving earlier. It's been a few years, so things could've changed between now and then.

 

[TheZue]

I could be wrong, but whenever I've been there before the 4th (1-3, never on a weekend, only weekday), there seems to be less people. Busy, but not packed. I think many wait for their first day to be the 4th, then stay afterwards rather than arriving earlier. It's been a few years, so things could've changed between now and then.

We've found the same thing in July. I always assume it's because the Southern California APs are blocked.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

We went July 4th-15th a couple of years ago (we did Universal and beach time as well) and I was expecting it to be crazy busy but was pleasantly surprised. It was crowded but far from the wall to wall people I was expecting. It was very manageable as long as we left our hotel an hour before opening and got in line before the main crowds showed up.