Hey, all JULY 4th Veterans!

[mbarron]

We have been to the world three times and always in the first week of May. We will be there this year from 6/25 to 7/5. How are the crowds and what is our best bet for the 4th of July weekend? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[WDW TRIP NUT]

I've never been on the 4th but we are going this year. We were planning on arriving on July 6th, but my DH has suggested that we go a few days early (Who am I to complain-LOL) and enjoy the resort. So, now we will be arriving on the 4th which will be packed! I have heard from people that have been at this time that the week after the 4th is not too bad. We are staying at the resort on the 4th and 5th (since that is the day off for alot of people) and going to the parks the 6th-10th. I'm hoping that this plan will work better.

 

[BriarRose59]

We were there on July 4, 2000 and the crowds were very light. We took my nieces and had told them it would be very crowded and to expect to wait in long lines. We were all surprised by how little wait there was for anything! We were at WDW, USF and IOA that week and couldn't believe our luck with the crowds!

 

[Cinderella37]

We always go for 11 days, including July 4th (except for this year) and it is extremely crowded. Be prepared for throngs of people in the theme parks. We were there in 2000, as weel, and it was just as crowded as any year. That being said, you can still have a wonderful time. The crowds decrease after the 4th. Stay out of the parks on the actual 4th and view the fireworks from another location. My favorite is to make a priority seating at Narcoossee's at the GF and watch the MK fireworks from the veranda. Go to the MK after the fireworks (but beware the throngs of people exiting). Have a great time! I won't be there until the 7th because of my fiance and his golf tournament.

 

[mbarron]

Thanks for the info. We hope the week before the 4th won't be too bad, and since we'll be there 10 days we plan to go to the parks early and be back at POR for the afternoon, before returning to the parks in the evening. By the way, how is the weather this time of year, rain wise? In May we've been lucky and have avoided the wet weather.

 

[4407mark]

We were there in 2003 for July 4 and when we went to the MK around 5 pm, we were allowed past the parking toll plaza only because we were staying on property. The CM at the toll plaza told us that MK was maxed to capacity but that since we were staying on site, we could go in. We made it past the plaza and then when we saw the line on the parking lot, we opted to head to DTD instead. Understand from others who were there that all of the parks were full on the 4th....

 

[paras4ri]

Originally posted by WDW TRIP NUT
We are staying at the resort on the 4th and 5th (since that is the day off for alot of people) and going to the parks the 6th-10th. I'm hoping that this plan will work better.

We arrive on the 3rd and plan to follow the same schedule as you.....staying at the resort on the 4th & 5th. Since we'll be at the Dolphin we'll have views of Illuminations from Epcot and some of the stiff from Fantasmic too. We are planning dinner at 'Ohana on the 5th and hope to watch Wishes from either the restaurant or the Poly beach that night.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've been twice on the 4th now and am going again this year.

I have avoided the Magic Kingdom. I spent one 4th at MGM. No lines for anything, but it was raining. Stopped raining before the fireworks. Went into the Brown Derby for dinner and upon exiting the park had become crowded with people waiting for the fireworks. These crowds had not been there the rest of the day.

Last year my flight was so late that I got into AKL at dinnertime. I ended up eating dinner at Jiko (absolutely no wait, although the wait for Boma was 2 hours), then going to Epcot. No trouble getting into Epcot at all. Watched the fireworks from the bridge between France and England. It was not terribly crowded there. I didn't try to exit the park from the main gate afterward. I left from the International Gateway and took the bus from the Beach Club to Pleasure Island. No waiting, no crowds. Watched the expanded PI fireworks (my favorite July 4 show) from the back window of the Adventurers Club.

All these July 4th crowds must be at the Magic Kingdom because I haven't run into them yet. Maybe this year.

 

[JoGloMorKat]

We will be there also over the 4th. 6/27 to 7/4 off-site then 7/4&5 at ASMu. This is my DD8 and DD7's first trip to WDW and I want them to enjoy the fireworks on the 4th.

Is the MK show better than the others?

What is the best strategy to see them?

Thanks

 

[DeDixie]

We went to MGM till about 1 -- not crowded at all. Could not believe how empty it was.Hung out at SAB in the afternoon, went to Narcossees for dinner, watched MK fireworks from Narcoossees, drove back to BC and walked down to the International Gateway and saw Illuminations and 4th fw from there. It was a perfect day.

One thing our family realized last summer was that we loved Disney even when it was hot and crowded (most of our trips have been off season). I think your plan and your attitude has a lot to do with how much fun you will have.

THE PLAN: Go to the EE park, hit the big stuff, get fp for others -- then leave or have lunch (with ps). Go back to the hotel for the afternoon and enjoy the pools. Head back out in the evening(to a different park) -- make ps ahead of time and enjoy.

THE ATTITUDE: Have fun. Enjoy the little things, be thankful you are in Disney, slow down a little. Break up your park time with the smaller things -- DQ, Minature Golf, walking the boardwalk, visitng a resort for a meal, rent bikes, watch a movie, visit DTD, go night swimming.

We hate crowds and thought this trip were be just ok. We had just as much fun as any other trip. Now we are not affraid of crowds and are planning to go President's week.