Help! Epcot, AK or MGM on July 4?

[California Mom]

So, just when I thought I had everything planned for July 4 day and evening... I'm having to change my plans (long story). Please give me your expert opinions on the following options for July 4, day and evening....

1 - assuming Epcot will be an early morning (passed on history), doing Epcot for morning-lunch (Biergarten) and then to MGM for afternoon and evening fireworks (is there any?)

2 - AK for morning and afternoon (since it supposedly will be one of the least visited parks due to no fireworks) - but where to watch any July 4 fireworks

3 - DTD for evening? do they or will they have July 4 fireworks? if so, approximately what time?

?? Are any of the WDW fireworks around the area any different than the norm? They typically already have wonderful fireworks, so I don't know exactly how much more they could add!

Thanks for any and all opinions!
Desperate to confirm my July 4 plans

 

[California Mom]

bumping.....

 

[TheresaNY]

bumping....

 

[DisneycrazedX6]

come on someone must have some advice!!!!!

 

[DisneyDar]

My advice would be to go to Epcot for the fireworks. Yes, it is crowded, but the fireworks are out of this world, and the park is big enough to enjoy without being crushed.

 

[Queen Mammaw]

Please keep in mind that some parks can fill to capacity. If you don't start out in the place you want to see fireworks then you might not be able to get in there. Last year I believe MK closed pretty early in the day. We saw fireworks at MGM because it is one of the few times they have fireworks. It was wonderful. During the day the park was not too full. Hope this helps!

 

[Barb]

We were told a few years ago to make sure you are in the park that you want to be in for fireworks no later than 3:00 pm. So we chose to be in EPCOT. The special July 4th fireworks addition to Illuminations is breathtaking! Yes, it is crowded. But it's worth it. We wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[California Mom]

Thank you everyone! So, MGM doesn't normally have fireworks?? But they do on July 4?

Assuming that EPCOT, may be an early entrance day (just based on history), would that mean that it would be more crowded than normal?

 

[java]

HMM I was told every year if you are an onsite guest you can get into a park even if it is at capacity-why would you want to?LOL We are hitting Epcot this year early in the day- but plan on leaving if it gets too crowded and we'll watch MK fireworks from the hotel- my little guys won't do well in crowds and fireworks.
We did AK 2 years ago on july 4 because my son wanted their special july 4th pin....don't ask..It was a nightmare! This is a beautiful park but not built for crowds of any kind. You can get stuck in non moving gridlock at any time- not just parade times like other parks- so I would avoid that one- and many go there AM and hit someplace else to watch firewrks. Avoid avoid avoid
OH and the Epcot fireworks on July 4th are amazing!! If you have not seen them go see them...They add believe me they add.
One year when we were at the beach club we hung out at the boardwalk bridge and saw both the Epcot and the MGM fireworks!- no music but got the fireworks.

 

[California Mom]

Thanks, Java...for your feedback...AK is now out of the picture...and Epcot is confirmed!

 

[weluvpluto]

Thank you everyone! So, MGM doesn't normally have fireworks?? But they do on July 4?

Assuming that EPCOT, may be an early entrance day (just based on history), would that mean that it would be more crowded than normal?

No, MGM does not normally have fireworks. We were at MGM for Sorcery in the Sky last year, this year I'm debating between Epcot and MK..

 

[colleen costello]

We were there two summers ago on July 4th and opted to skip the parks that day. A nice CM warned me about the chaos. She had worked the previous July 4th at the MK and after her afternoon shift ended, she literally cold not get through the crowd to exit the MK. She said it was "a sea of bodies." Yikes! That didn't sound like fun to me. If you are selecting ANY park, best to skip the MK.

We swam all day and then had a reservation at the Poly for dinner that night. That let us park at the Poly and we saw the fireworks from there. The MK fireworks were AMAZING -- they shoot them off from all around Bay Lake. I saw the 1976 NYC fireworks and these were better! You didn't know where to look because so much was exploding at once. It was a great thrill. We went to the MK early the next morning and it was very calm - -everyone else must have been recovering from the day before!