How's July 4th?

[summerlandjeff]

We're contemplating an Independence Day trip to WDW. How are the crowds & heat? Last time I was in Florida in July was 1969! As I remember (I was 8 ) the heat was brutal !
Also, if it is hot can I assume the locals go to BB & TL to beat the heat so they may be the more crowded of the parks ?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[tommygirl79]

July 4th at WDW is CRAZY!!!! and I mean crazy! We went one year for the 4th and in the evening through the whole park (MK) we had to hold onto the back of each other's shirts to steer through the crowds. This wasn't just on main street, but EVERYWHERE.

As far as the heat, it is as you remember it - smoldering.

We vowed we would never be back around this time again simply because of these two factors!

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

We got there on July 5th... I asked the CM at the gate what time they had to shut the gates @ MK the day before, he said either 10:30/11:00 am because the park was filled to capacity!!! So, you can tell it was packed, other people were saying lines were very very long..... And yes, it is HOT!!!! But I think alot of people go there for the fireworks I guess MK goes all out for the 4th!!!

 

[mirthmaiden]

We did MK on July 4, 2004 and like PP said, it was wall-to-wall people and unholy heat. We still had a good time, but it took over an hour to exit the parking lot (from Main St. train station) after the fireworks. I can't imagine how long for the people who were closer to the castle.

All things considered, if I had a choice, I'd choose a different day.

 

[mtb2007]

Yeah, I heard July 4th is a bad time to go. It's crowded and very hot.

 

[summerlandjeff]

Thanks for the info, maybe we'll go and just hang around the pool at the resort for a few days ........

Has anyone had an experience at the water parks?, BB or TL. We tried TL this past trip (April 2007) and really enjoyed it (although it was cool, 70 & breezy) and we thought on a hot day it would be more enjoyable

 

[pooh2007]

We are going to be at WDW July 1 thru July 5; however we won't be going to Magic Kingdom on July 4th because of how crowded it will be we are just going to do MGM or Animal Kingdom on that day instead or possibly just hang around the pool. The crowds and the heat aren't going to keep me from going to WDW during the only time I can go this year though.

 

[patsal]

I go every other year for the two weeks surrounding the July 4th holiday. It is hot, crowded and with a plan doable. I can say it isn't my favorite day at MK, but I get there at opening and stop for a lunch ADR to get away from the crowds and heat--we plan a "road less traveled by" plan and find with fast passes we can ride a few things as well. The fireworks are very well done and we know it will take a good long while to get back to the resort. Since we know this in advance it really is not that bad to us. Our kids are a bit older--15 and 12 (when we get there), they know the parks well and have cell phones so I don't worry so much if we were to get separated.

 

[tomerin]

we did go on our last trip during the july 4th week. on july 4th we decided to take the advice given here and avoid the massive crowds at MK that are guarenteed to happen. we decided that we would go to mgm instead. we had a great time rode everything we wanted, using fastpasses wisely, but we had the attitude that we knew its going to be crowded and hot hot hot so we were mentally prepared for it. mgm had sorcery in the sky for their closing special fireworks july4th show so we had a great ending to a wonderful day.

 

[afcgirl]

Some people despise WDW in the summer because of the heat and crowds. If you do not do well in the heat, don't go on the 4th.

However, there are just as many people that love WDW in the summer because it is just such a great time to go! There is an energy there at that time of year that you don't get during the winter. Yes it is hot and crowded but we never mind and we go every summer. We would rather be hot then cold and be able to swim every day. Parks are open late, pools are open late, it is great!

We are going to WDW during the week of the 4th of July and are staying at the Poly. We will be going to Epcot on the 4th because it is bigger than MK and does not get as crowded. We will be hanging around the Poly pools on the 3rd. I say go for it!

 

[IMDORY]

We were in MK on our honeymoon July 4, 1997...we got there in the evening just before the sun went down. When we entered Main Street USA we were "hearded" by CMs to an opening that went behind the scenes behind Main Street USA and we re-entered in Tomorrowland. It was SO weird!!! The park was shoulder to shoulder people and very, very hot and muggy. We somehow got into LTT during a Specto parade w/o a PS to have dinner. The fireworks afterward were totally amazing-360 degree fireworks show all around the park.

To me it was one of those once in a lifetime things to do-I've done it, it was really neat, wouldn't plan on doing it again! Same thing with being in front of Cinderella's Castle at midnight on NYE-done it, it was cool, wouldn't do it again!

 

[WDWguru]

Has anyone had an experience at the water parks?, BB or TL.

The water parks will be as bad - of not worse than - MK for the entire July 4th period. You'll find a LOT of locals go to the water parks on and around holidays, weekends and all summer. It was reported here that one or both of the water parks closed to capacity almost every day of Easter week, so you can imagine how it is when the weather is actually HOT!

 

[blessedby3]

Wow, all this sounds like not so good news. I wil be there only on July 4th with my DD's youth choir trip. This is their only off day and they have picked the MK to go to. I will also be 6 months preggo Heat and pregnancy in MK on the 4th- I must be crazy. Hopefully I can talk everyone into getting there early.

 

[summerlandjeff]

The water parks will be as bad - of not worse than - MK for the entire July 4th period. You'll find a LOT of locals go to the water parks on and around holidays, weekends and all summer. It was reported here that one or both of the water parks closed to capacity almost every day of Easter week, so you can imagine how it is when the weather is actually HOT!

Thanks... I was there for Easter week this year and the parks were MOBBED . TL was bearable (we were there the Thursday before Easter) and we rode all the rides/slides and spent a while in the wave pool. I guess if we go to the water parks on July 4th it's "be first in line" time, huh.....

 

[HolidayRose]

We were at the parks last year during 4th of July week. We were doing a split stay at All-Stars/POP and so could do the EMH. We had no problems doing everything we wanted at all the parks and the crowds were heavy but totally manageable. We did spend Independence Day at the resort (POP). The staff did patriotic crafts with the kids by the pool and played pool games with them. It was very enjoyable. We had dinner that night at Hoop-de-doo to avoid the parks and still do something special.

 

[wen774]

We are going June 25 to July 2. Do you think we need to worry about the parks shutting down admission towards the end of the trip? Or is it really just a 4th issue?