Epcot on Independence Day - Please help with a plan.

[2Tiggies]

We have settled on Epcot for July 4th. I've never been over this holiday so aside from knowing the parks will be packed to the brim and not having unrealistic expectations of hitting rides like we usually do, I'm really struggling to figure out what to do.

Do we need to get there early and stay there if we don't want to risk not getting back in? No idea if Epcot has ever closed to capacity but also considering that the roads between parks and resorts are going to be crazy. So is taking a midday break a bad idea? We'd like to stay for the fireworks that night if we can but for some reason I'm really having a hard time putting this day together as I don't know where the line of being realistic is drawn. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Alesia]

If you're staying onsite, you shouldn't need to stay all day. The last time Epcot reached a stage 4 closing was NYE 1999. A stage 3 closing is fairly likely, though, so if you're staying offsite, it might be best to get there early and stay all day.

 

[fbb]

Epcot on the 4th of July? You picked the wrong week to quit smoking.

 

[2Tiggies]

If you're staying onsite, you shouldn't need to stay all day. The last time Epcot reached a stage 4 closing was NYE 1999. A stage 3 closing is fairly likely, though, so if you're staying offsite, it might be best to get there early and stay all day.

Yes, we are onsite. I thought DD would probably do well with a pool break as we would have had a very long day the day before. Thank you so much for that info. I didn't know anything about stage closings at Epcot at all as its never been applicable to us.

Epcot on the 4th of July? You picked the wrong week to quit smoking.

 

[izzylovesmickey]

We are arriving in the afternoon of the 4th and staying at the BC. If there is a stage 3 closing, can we still enter Epcot later in the day?

 

[Alesia]

We are arriving in the afternoon of the 4th and staying at the BC. If there is a stage 3 closing, can we still enter Epcot later in the day?

Yes. You can read about staged closures here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=39210431

 

[izzylovesmickey]

Thanks! Didn't see that thread. Must be the information overload trying to find out all I can!

 

[izzylovesmickey]

Thanks! It's been about 10 years since we were there last and have never stayed onsite so this is all new. Must have missed the thread-information overload!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I wrote about my experiences last summer for The DIS. You can find my blog linked below. It's not like New Year's Eve or Christmas when you need to camp out all day. If you're staying on-site, you can even take a break during the afternoon and go back in. I've done this for three years in a row without issue.

http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/07/04/celebrating-the-fourth-of-july-at-walt-disney-worlds-epcot/

 

[2Tiggies]

I wrote about my experiences last summer for The DIS. You can find my blog linked below. It's not like New Year's Eve or Christmas when you need to camp out all day. If you're staying on-site, you can even take a break during the afternoon and go back in. I've done this for three years in a row without issue.

http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/07/04/celebrating-the-fourth-of-july-at-walt-disney-worlds-epcot/

Thank you so very much for that. It looks like I am not skilled in searching Much appreciated!