Help! 1st trip over July 4th - Will it be a nightmare on Main Street?

[qqq]

Taking our first DVC trip early July - 1 BR's for 5 nights VWL -
and 4 Nights BVC. Summer was our only option with kids in school.

Our friends (Non DVC) say we're nuts to go during this time. Intolerable crowds, oppressive heat and humidity, swimming pools packed with people shoulder to shoulder.

Now we're both excited and apprehensive at the same time.
I figure expect the worst and hope for the best.

Has anyone visited in July? Can you please share some experiences and advise about visiting during this time?

 

[rbuzzotta]

First of all, Welcome Home!!

We have gone only once over July 4. Yes, it was extremely crowded. The actually closed MK early that day because it was filled to capacity!! So, get up early, and plan to spend the entire day there!!

We will be there the last 2 weeks in July!!

Good luck...........VWL are gorgeous!!

 

[grimgrinnin]

My wife and I went last 4th of July, and it was the least crowded of all the peak times we've been (Easter/Spring Break '02, NYE '02).

The 4th we went to Epcot, and although it was very crowded, we still had a great time. Just make sure you make PS's early.

The days surrounding the 4th weren't bad at all. I'd go again in a heart beat. The fireworks were simply the best I've ever seen!


grim

 

[cindyfan]

..."Will it be a nightmare on Main Street?".....

In a word.......YES!

BUT.....there are other options and you can see the fireworks without getting trampled.
Where are you staying? You can always attempt to see the fireworks from the beach at the Poly. Not sure how they police that. But if you can get PS for Kona or Ohana's around the time for fireworks

If you really want to be at the MK....try to get a spot in Frontierland. There are great spots to see the fireworks. Once we were actually on Big Thunder Mtn and it was the BEST view we ever had. Also, just as you exit Big Thunder is a nice view.
There are lots of other spots too, just keep reading the boards and you will get suggestions.

DON'T attempt to exit the park just as the fireworks are over!!! I think that is the key to not being trampled. Just enjoy the park for another hour before leaving. Let the crowds die a little.

IMHO....when we saw the July 4th fireworks years ago....it was not worth the trouble of fighting the crowds.

ps....we did not think the weather was that bad....hot yes, but it is summer what do you expect!

 

[tiffany123]

You should be able to have a great vacation as long as you are patient and can tolerate crowds and heat. It was no hotter at DisneyWorld last July than it was here in Ohio. We were there from June 28th through July 8th. On the 4th Magic Kingdom was closed by noon or shortly after but we didn't even attempt to visit the Kingdom on the 4th. We used that day touring the other DVC resorts and most of the non-DVC Disney resorts and for shopping at Downtown Disney. That evening we had PS reservations at O'hana for dinner and then watched the fireworks from the Poly beach. The beach was crowded but not unreasonably so. The fireworks were spectacular, many, many more than a typical fireworks exhibition---set off from all parts of the Seven Seas Lagoon. We were also able to watch the Electrical Light Parade while on the beach. Afterwards we had no problems returning to MK and catching a bus back to OKW.

I don't know how many of you will be travelling but as long as you are rested, patient and prepared, you will be fine.

 

[allforpooh]

We will also be there BCV Jun 30th - July 8th. We usually go in Sept, and love it at that time of the year but have also been there in July and have had a great time.

I always prepare everyone ahead of time, to expect the crowds, lines, and heat. That way no one has unreasonable expectations.

Last time we went over the 4th I thought it wasn't too bad, we went to the parks early, back to the hotel in the afternoon for naps(DH) and swimming (DD's 9 / 17) then back to the parks in the evening.

Park hours are much longer in the summer so there is more time to fit everything in. Another plus for the summer is the parades, fireworks etc are just about everyday.

Maybe we will see you there...

Denise

 

[patsal]

First Welcome Home!! We are WLV as well.
Last July fourth we were at VWL for 14 days. We had a great time, and it really wasn't that crowded except for Magic Kingdom on July 4th. That being said, plan plan plan. We stayed away from MK on the 4th. MGM and AK had a special one hour early entry--we went to MGM, using fast passes we spent the day and never waited longer than 20 minutes for any attraction. We pretty much did everything and a late lunch at the Prime Time. They have Sorcery in the Sky on July 4th, which we had never seen. We staked out a place near the entrance and watched (this is where we did set up about an hour before the fireworks) and we were pretty near close to the first people out of the park. We were on the first bus back to WLV. We would go back in a heartbeat--but our AP's expire on the first so we're going June 25-July 1st this year!

 

[pintrader]

intotality before answering but as a self-proclaimed expert on MK on Independence Day I can only say one thing. My best advice is to AVOID MK specifically on that date. All the parks are full but MK without fail closes at one time or another druing that day.

Knowing that you will likely choose to go to the parks anyway know this. Do NOT expect to go on more than 6 rides if you spend at least 8 hours at the park. Do not go without priority seating that you made 60 days earlier. Expect to be seated late unless you arrive 1/2 an hour before your PS time. If you leave the park know that they always tell exiting guests (as the park is reaching capacity) that they cannot guarantee re-entry into the park.

If this does not "rain on your parade" you and your kiddos should have a wonderful July stay. Sometimes knowing what to expect makes all the problesm seems not-so-bad. But I think your friends are right. Every other family is here at the same time for the same reasons. Did I say "WELCOME"?

 

[TDC Nala]

I was at the Studios on July 4th too - I had a great time. There were no crowds in the park except for the fireworks. I had a dinner at the Brown Derby, saw the fireworks with the crowd, rode the bus to PI and finished up at the Adventurers Club - PI has a nice extended fireworks show too. I'd love to do it all again - this year I have another four-day weekend - but I need to find resort discounts and airline discounts! If I go again I'll do Epcot.

Nothing was as crowded as I thought it would be. It rained, maybe that had something to do with it. I went to Blizzard Beach - it was crowded but it wasn't as horrible as I was expecting.

 

[smjj]

We went July 4th a few years back and vowed NEVER to go again. I have never seen it so busy at the Magic Kingdom. All the other parks were just very, very crowded..smjj

 

[Carlnne]

I agree a good place to go for the extinct Sorcery in the Sky is MGM. We went last year and it is special. It seems everyone does flock to MK so go anywhere but there and its fine. The days surrounding the 4th were usual summer crowds.

 

[diznee25]

We went for the 4th of July last year (2002) and it was great! If you mentally(sp?) prepare for big crowds, you should do fine. We were in the Magic Kingdom that day, the fireworks display was out of this world!!


We loved going during the 4th of July so much that anytime we plan a summer trip to WDW, we'll try to go during the 4th of July!!

Diznee25

 

[chrisp]

We also were at MK last 4th of July (2002) and it WAS fantastic! That was our third time in MK during a 4th of July and we love going then - yes, the crowds are huge, but that just means huge fun - it is manageable. The fireworks are awesome, not only are they over the castle and front entrance simultaneously, but at some points, the entire park is ringed by fireworks with the crowd in the center. Also, this last trip (2002) the crowd chanted "USA, USA.." at the end - it was very emotional.

 

[cindala]

qqq,
First of all, check the resorts board and the thread "I Know it's
Early, But Who's Going in July?", and you will find you will have alot of company!!!

We will be right next door to you at the YC. We visit WDW each summer during the July 4th week, so we consider ourselves experts!

Yes, the 4th can be very crowded. MK is the worst park by far. If you plan to go there, go early and then leave. The park often closes on the 4th because it gets filled to capacity. We prefer to go to Epcot which is more spacious, and we never feel crowded. The crowds are tolerable, and not as bad as say Easter or Christmas week. All you really have to do is more advance planning, say, like dining reservations.

As far as the heat goes, the last 4 of 5 visits, it was cooler in Florida than home in NJ! I actually brought the Orlando Sentinal paper home with me to prove it! NJ summers are hot and sticky too, so to me, it's not that much worse in Florida.