Is DL a nightmare in July?

[daisy_77]

Hi, everyone!
We were thinking of going to DL for a few days in July.

I know it will be crowded and hot but is it so bad that you wish you hadn't gone? Does anyone have an experience to share? I would love to hear it!

 

[cccdisney]

We were there last July early in the month (can't remember the exact dates). We were actually in DL on the 4th of July. It was crowded but we were expecting a lot worse. It was also not as hot as we expected - but still very warm.
We were just there again last month (march 21-24) during spring break time. It was MUCH WORSE during those spring break days! I was expecting crowds because of spring break but was really surprised at how bad it was compared to when we went that same week in March two years ago!(I think it had something to do with Easter being so early). Anyway, I thought July was much better than the spring break crowds.

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is recipe for a DLR nightmare in July:

1. Arrive at the parks each day at least one or more hours after the park opened

2. Stay all day at the parks when the lines are longest and heat is the maximum. In the middle of the day be sure to get in the 60 minute Peter Pan line, the 75+ minute Splash Mtn line and the 90+ minute Space Mtn line.

3. Do not bother with Fastpasses

4. Visit on weekends if possible


Here is a recipe for a successful and fun-filled summer visit:

1. Go on weekdays only (Monday-Thursday)

2. Arrive at the parks 20-30 minutes before they open

3. Use Fastpass for all its worth - learn the FP loopholes at DLR of which there are several

4. Focus on rides and Fastpass pickups for the first 2-3 hours of each day

5. Get a hotel nearby to which you can walk (best) or has a reliable shuttle like CCI (next best)

6. Take a 3-5 hour hotel break every day. Everyone including adults cools off in the pool and/or takes a nap

7. Return to the parks at 5-7PM and stay until midnight if possible. Use your FPs and get more during the evening.

8. Park hop often - at least once a day.


When we do the above we ride 15-25 rides per day and never wait in lines more than 20 minutes long.

For more info on this see "Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

We were in the park the last week of July 2006 during a record heat wave. The first day we were there it was 109, which our ART driver took great pleasure in telling us as he booted us out of his air conditioned bus .... It was also the second summer of the 50th anniversary, so it was very crowded..... We knew nothing of Fast Passes or anything like that, we just kind of flew by the seat of our pants. Even with all those strikes against us, we had a wonderful, magical time!! We are purposefully going in early March next time to try and sidestep some of the heat and crowds, but I would not be adverse to going back in the summer again..... I would just plan accordingly! As hydroguy suggested, we went back to our good neighbor hotel for the hottest part of the day and swam and hung out in the A/C until it started to cool off a touch, then we went back for the evening..... I would suggest bringing your own bottled water (it is $3 in the park) and refilling it at a drinking fountain (IF you don't mind a slight chlorine taste) The first day we spent a fortune on water and sodas in the park... The second day we got smart and hit the store beforehand for water and Gatorade and juice boxes!

 

[mommaU4]

This is soley my opinion but for me, yes it was nightmarish, even with FPs and all the other tricks.
The thing is, I have been spoiled by so many trips in cooler, WAY less crowded times, that I simply won't go in July or August anymore.

Again, that's just me.

 

[jaakna]

This spring break March 21-25 was twice as crowded as the 4th of July this past summer. July wasnt bad at all, just go early a.m.to the park and early afternoon head for the pool at the hotel. Go back at dinner time and stay as long as you can!!!

 

[tinkerbelt]

We went several times last July, and we were pleasantly surprised at how small the crowds were. Spring Break crowds for the past two years were much worse than the summer crowds last year, even with Nemo.

We even went a couple of times on the weekends during July and they weren't bad...one day we got to the park when they opened on a Sunday (I think we missed rope drop by a few minutes), and by 10:30am, we had been on Space Mtn. once, Splash Mtn. 3 times, and we went over to DCA to ride Soarin', but the CM stopped us and told us that my DD was too short because her head didn't go over the top of the bar on the measuring stick.

We left the park by noon because we had other errands to run, but we managed to get a lot done...much more than we had expected!

 

[pixiewings71]

We went last July and had a great time. We ended up buying AP's we had so much fun! We just used FP and had a lot of great tips from this board. I would do it again, and we likely will since our AP's expire in July.