If you were taking a JULY trip would you go to include the 4th or.....

[edk35]

later in the month?? We have been in July a couple of times and Aug. a few times too. We are looking at July (yes I know it is HOT) and we have friends that will be there the first week of July and they would like us to go that week, too but I just feel like that week will be far more crowded than say mid to late July. Any thoughts? I know that last summer was NOT the norm for crowds according to what people were posting on here. They were saying it was not as crowded as previous summers. So....would you brave the 1st week of July for the 4th of July celebrations and the crowds or wait and go later in the month????

The last time I was there in July was mid July 2012 and our last Aug. trips were in mid Aug. of 2013 and 14. We have been going in much cooler weather. Our last trips have been over Easter week, Thanksgiving week (although we departed the night before Thanksgiving) and our most recent was Food and Wine this past Oct. So YES I would love to go at a cooler time frame but our youngest is starting college in Aug. so we are pretty much stuck with summer this year.

 

[Cinderella94]

I opened this thread to comment "go the week of the 4th!" and then I kept reading and saw "we have friends who will be there the first week...." and I was like "...this has to be Denise" LOL

 

[cvjpirate]

I don't mind going in July but I would do everything I could to skip going on the 4th. Now if it is only time my friends can go, I would do it, just be ready for the crowds.

 

[edk35]

I opened this thread to comment "go the week of the 4th!" and then I kept reading and saw "we have friends who will be there the first week...." and I was like "...this has to be Denise" LOL

Who is this? LOL

 

[Cinderella94]

Who is this? LOL

Sam! LOL

 

[edk35]

I don't mind going in July but I would do everything I could to skip going on the 4th. Now if it is only time my friends can go, I would do it, just be ready for the crowds.

I love my friends....but I don't have to go then. LOL I just want to know if the 4th of July week is WORTH IT to fight the crowds.

 

[edk35]

Sam! LOL

LOL HA HA HAHA.

 

[Oswin]

To be honest, the 4th of July week the past 2 years has been very manageable. I actually found our July 1-10 trip in 2016 to be less crowded than any other time I was there the rest of the year. July 4 itself I was at Epcot and we rolled in about 5 pm with no wait, used our FP+, went to our dinner ADR, then strolled up to find a place to watch fireworks. It was crowded but not anywhere near the level as past years. The rest of the week we were continually shocked with waits less than we expected and lower crowds, to the point where one night at Animal Kingdom it felt creepy because we were the only family walking around in the part of the park we were in. The only days during the week you'd likely be fighting crowds is July 3 & 4 at MK, and July 4 at Epcot - but Epcot holds crowds very well and we never felt like we were fighting crowds on July 4.

 

[edk35]

To be honest, the 4th of July week the past 2 years has been very manageable. I actually found our July 1-10 trip in 2016 to be less crowded than any other time I was there the rest of the year. July 4 itself I was at Epcot and we rolled in about 5 pm with no wait, used our FP+, went to our dinner ADR, then strolled up to find a place to watch fireworks. It was crowded but not anywhere near the level as past years. The rest of the week we were continually shocked with waits less than we expected and lower crowds, to the point where one night at Animal Kingdom it felt creepy because we were the only family walking around in the part of the park we were in. The only days during the week you'd likely be fighting crowds is July 3 & 4 at MK, and July 4 at Epcot - but Epcot holds crowds very well and we never felt like we were fighting crowds on July 4.

I heard that the reason the crowds were down last summer was because of the Olympics being held in Rio and Brazil's economy being bad. I guess time will tell this summer when people start reporting.

 

[edk35]

I opened this thread to comment "go the week of the 4th!" and then I kept reading and saw "we have friends who will be there the first week...." and I was like "...this has to be Denise" LOL

Sam how was it that week in 2015?

 

[Cinderella94]

Sam how was it that week in 2015?

We didn't go into a park (except Typhoon Lagoon) on the day of the 4th, so I'm not sure how bad it was that day, but the rest of the week we didn't really think it was more crowded than the rest of summer generally is. This year, the 3rd might be crowded too, since it falls on a Monday and the 4th is a Tuesday, a lot of people might be going down for a long weekend kind of thing if they have off work both days. We won't be going to a park on the 4th again except for dinner. But the rest of the week we didn't think was extra crowded.

 

[edk35]

We didn't go into a park (except Typhoon Lagoon) on the day of the 4th, so I'm not sure how bad it was that day, but the rest of the week we didn't really think it was more crowded than the rest of summer generally is. This year, the 3rd might be crowded too, since it falls on a Monday and the 4th is a Tuesday, a lot of people might be going down for a long weekend kind of thing if they have off work both days. We won't be going to a park on the 4th again except for dinner. But the rest of the week we didn't think was extra crowded.

When did you guys leave after the 4th? How many more days did you stay?

 

[Cinderella94]

When did you guys leave after the 4th? How many more days did you stay?

in 2015 most of our trip was before - we checked out on Sunday the 5th.

 

[Oswin]

I heard that the reason the crowds were down last summer was because of the Olympics being held in Rio and Brazil's economy being bad. I guess time will tell this summer when people start reporting.

Whatever the reason, the trend the past couple of years is that July 4 week is really not any worse than the rest of the summer. July 3 & 4 are busier, but not the insane crowd levels that they were in past years.

 

[edk35]

What time would one need to get into the HUB to see the fireworks at MK on the 3rd? I would want to see them there.

 

[Klayfish]

We have been at WDW around July 4th many times, including in 2015 and 2016...and will be there again for 2017 (and 2018). Without a doubt, the crowd will start to build as you approach the actual holiday. I would also say it depends on your level of crowd tolerance. As I've said before, traditionally, I go out of my way to avoid crowds, not a fan. But for whatever reason at WDW, they don't bother me at all. From roughly July 1st to 8th, it's noticeably more crowded for sure, but not unmanageable. Just use FP+ to your advantage, temper your expectations, temper your temper and have a blast. Yes, you will have to deal with the tour groups, and those can bug me sometimes, but you just roll with it. Far and away, the most crowded park those days is MK. The others are busy, but not really any trouble to get things done.

If you want to see fireworks from the hub on the 3rd, and really want to get a good viewing spot, I'd recommend at least 90 minutes early. Having said that, last year we were walking out of MK on July 3rd just as the show was starting (kids didn't really want to stay...we had already seen fireworks several times). We were walking from Frontierland toward the exit and wound up stopping right in front of the Crystal Palace. There was actually standing room there, not much, but enough that we weren't stepping in front of someone. The view was somewhat limited, but we saw enough to make it interesting.

So I say go for it. Yeah, it'll be busy. Yeah, it'll be hot. But it's WDW, it's awesome!!

 

[Accident]

I find easter, thanksgiving and 4th of july to be very similar crowd levels and you know what 2 of those are like already. MK having special fireworks on the 3rd and 4th and something extra in epcot the 4th those tend to be much more crowded starting mid afternoon.

Also pandora might be opened this year by then so that'll make AK more crowded which might have a crowd effect of lowering the crowds everywhere else.

You've been to WDW during similar crowd levels so you tell us if that is worth it to you. I would rather see disney than not so I would think any time you can make it is the best time to come.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Last 4th they were actually sending cast home early from MK as they didn't get hardly any of the projected guests. I know this because my dad was one of many who were sent home that day. He was shocked at how "empty" the park was.


Is the 4th worth it? Yes! The fireworks are breathtaking. You might actually tear up. I did.

 

[kj2mom]

I was there the last two years and while 2016 seemed A LOT hotter than 2015 both times were tons of fun and the crowds were not nearly as bad as we anticipated. If going with your friends will make the trip more pleasurable then I would not hesitate to change to the 4th. Great fun, great atmosphere!

 

[Disneylover99]

I would think the crowds the first week won't be much worse then the crowds later in the month. I would go the first week.