Going week of July 4th?!?!?!

[disneyfanfamily]

Anyone else crazy enough to plan a trip for the week of July 4th?

This is our 3rd time going as a family, and the 3rd time going on the 4th. I know it is hot and crowded, but it is the only time DH has vacation....

Our plan is June 26-July 6. Have to wait a few weeks to book so we can get our actual papers from DH work to make sure that is the time the company he works for shuts down.

I am quite excited. We only go every other year...Things are a little tight this year, so we won't be doing but 1 character breakfast and very few souvies. But 10 days at WDW will be awesome!!!

Anyone else going during this time??? We are staying at POR - our cheapest option with our family of 5.

Angela

 

[mla2177]

I went this past year on the 4th, and I will never do it again!!!! Granted, I had a 2yr old and the heat just wiped him right out! The crowds were pretty bad too, but we are used to going in Nov, so we were spoiled.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

It would sure be nice to go another time of year. Maybe someday. We have 2 weeks that his company shuts down. The week of July 4th and the week of Christmas. Both busy times of the year at WDW. I would love to go the beginning of December, (I would love to see WDW during Christmas time) but my kids are in school, and my oldest is in Jr. High. It would be too stressful to take them out of school....however, the teachers (most of them) encourage family vacations if the school year is the only option. They are very good at getting families homework assignments and give them some time to complete them.

Hey, at least we get to go!!! We know no difference, so we are used to crowds and heat.

Anyone else????

 

[teacher31]

We went last year from June 26 - July 5. I was actually dreading it. I kept telling everyone it would be crowded, we probably wouldn't be able to do as much, be patient, etc. Since we usually go in early June the heat wasn't much worse at all. I can't begin to tell you how pleasantly surprised we were! It was wonderful! It was a smidge more crowded, but we did it the right way: At the park at opening, back to the resort for a break, back to another park in the evening. The only time we did EMH was at the MK, Epcot and AK and only for the morning. We didn't do a park on the 4th. We hung out at the hotel, went to DTD, relaxed and had a ball. We saw the fireworks at MK on the 3rd since they do the same show the day before, and it was INCREDIBLE! Has spoiled me from ever seeing any other fireworks.

Would we do it again? Sure. Just be smart and avoid the parks that day. You'll have an amazing time!

 

[insanedisneydad]

the family and i will be going from july 5 through the 15. we went the same time last year , yes it was hot but we paced ourselves by taking naps in the afternoon. kept my 4yo ds happy and let us stay out for emh.

 

[disnut8]

We've gone over July 4th but only for a weekend. Since you know it'll be hot and crowded, that's half your battle right there. And I totally agree with not taking a junior high kid out of school. When my son was that age, he said it was too difficult to make up the work with the many classes and assignments.

You will have ten days so you can slow down and take it easy and not have to be a commando. I've done ten day trips in late June and it was a great length of time. You can stretch things out quite a bit. Just drink plenty of water (refill a bottle at the water fountains) and utilize air conditioning. One thing I always do in the summer is to take a washcloth in a Ziploc bag and wet it in the restrooms and wash down my face and arms. Really makes a difference and doesn't take up much room in my bag.

Where in NW Ohio are you from? That kid from junior high school is now up there with his wife and two kids.

 

[kim]

We've been going at this time for quite a few years now. It's when my husband is off from work too. Prepare for big crowds and HOT weather. We always have a great time.

We are planning a short trip the week before Christmas this year. It will be the first time we've been to WDW other than July.

Just go and have fun--drink plenty of water and make sure you take breaks.

kim

 

[domestic goddess]

We were at EPCOT on the 4th this year and we were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as crowded as we thought it would be. It was the first time that we have been in the summer. It was definitely hotter but you adjust to it. We spent more time in the pool and enjoyed the resort. We did EMH at MK one night and it was crowded at first but after about an hour it started to thin out (MK was open until 2am that night). As long as you have realistic expectations it will be a great time!

We usually go Thanksgiving week and the first part of December or over Christmas. So the summer was a big difference. This next year we are going in March-April for Spring Break. It will be another different experience. We know it will be busy again but we are setting our expectations accordingly. Our DS and DNiece will be marching at the MK with their high school marching band or we probably wouldn't be going at that time.

Have a great trip! Any time at WDW is a wonderful time!!

 

[AStamm]

We spent the week around July 4, 2005 there and didn't think it was too bad...certainly not crowded enough to keep us away!

This summer we'll be staying off-property for the first time June 16-June 30, then headed to Port Canaveral June 30 to board the Disney Wonder on July 1st. I'm hoping they'll have something special on-board to celebrate the 4th of July.

I don't think any time of year is crazy if it means you can take a trip to WDW! I can't wait to take on the crowds over Christmas this year!

 

[AmyBWV99]

We go every year! The crowds and the heat are a small price to pay for all the great stuff going on. We've planned (and reserved) July 2 to July 6 at the BWV.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

Well, the only times we were there were in July so we DO know what to expect. You just hear so much complaining about summer from regular WDW goers here on the Dis.

We do hit the parks EARLY and use AM EMH. We take afternoon breaks. We also do NOT go to any park on July 4th, but see the fireworks on July 3rd - which I think are the best patriotic show EVER!!!!

AmyBW - Hey!!! My kids had that same skunk costume when they were little~ my mom made it for them. It is adorable!

disnut - we are in the Findlay area - home of Ben Roethlisberger! (But, I am a Bengals fan....Cincinnati is MY hometown.)

 

[disnut8]

disneyfanfamily - oh boy, do we know Findley. The Kids are in Maumee just outside of Toledo. Very boring drive from here in Georgia to up there. We know I75 quite well.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

diznut - We usually fly to Florida, but we have driven to Georgia a couple times. My brother in law lives in Albany. Yes....a boring drive. But any drive longer than 5 hours is boring to me....

 

[mickeymom629]

We are planning to go next June 29 (my birthday) until July 6, 2007. We were there 2 years ago, and I said I wouldn't do it again because of the heat. But this next year, it's the only time I can fit in a trip. I am determined not to go with any friends this year so that my family can just do a couple of days at the parks, a day or 2 at the water parks, and enjoy the resort pool which we always seem to have a hard time doing because we always end up going with people who've never been (so of course every day is at the parks!) But I have to say that I am hoping that we go to EPCOT on the 4th. The fireworks were unbelievable! We saw the MK fireworks on the 3rd. We were able to see the MGM fireworks from EPCOT on the 4th. When we got back to OKW later that night, we were able to see DTD fireworks at midnight from our balcony! I know I will dread the heat and the storms, but hopefully we won't be trying to rush to see anything.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

mickeymom- looks like we will be there the same dates! We were also there last year - as we go every other year. We did not see Epcot's 4th of July fireworks. Do they have their's on July 3rd also? We loved MK's and cannot imagine them being better than those.

We have some friends that may end up going, and at first I was excited about that, but then thinking about it more, it sort of stresses me. We like to do what we want to do and when we want to do it. So we will see what happens....

 

[mickeymom629]

Hi Disneyfanfamily EPCOT's are only on the 4th at 10 p.m., not 9 like Illuminations. I thought they were better than MK's, which were also great. I understand your worry, as it seems I always open my mouth and end up trying to coordinate with other people who have never been. If your friends have been to WDW, you shouldn't have to feel like you need to do lots together. Maybe on ADR or sit together for the fireworks, or be at the same park in the a.m. and try to do some attractions together. If they haven't been, make sure they read up on what they would like to see so that you don't feel like you have to make their trip magical. Good luck. It's a long way off, so don't stress too much.