July 2016

[akfan513]

Traveling to DW at the beginning of July, FP+ window is coming fast! I've been researching a bunch and have ideas, but I was wondering if anyone else out there had some "magic" ideas in terms of planning for each of the parks with all of the unknowns out there right now. I know there are very creative and knowledgeable people out there in this community that may have better ideas than I do! My fellow July travelers, let's come together and share strategies!

(I also would like to say that uncertainty in planning or not, my trip will be amazing no matter what. Just hoping I could pick up a word of wisdom or two when planning with all of the uncertainty.)

 

[preemiemama]

Traveling mid-July and wondering the same thing. At this point, we are going with the same plan we typically have- to rope drop, do the mid day break, and return to the parks. Hoping the hours will be released soon and we will get some extended hours...

 

[ALA3Princesses]

My trip is early July too (for my 40th birthday) & if not for this forum I would not have included Voices of Liberty in our itinerary. I had also forgotten about the pick-a-pearl in Japan.
The Frozen ride is what I am really waiting for news on. My FP window opens next week and it's frustrating not having that info.
Also nervous about the heat, but am planning on frequent breaks & bringing misters, fans & cooling towels--again thanks to this forum.
I'm ridiculously excited about this trip as it's our first time staying at BC & GF--major splurge for my birthday.

 

[akfan513]

Traveling mid-July and wondering the same thing. At this point, we are going with the same plan we typically have- to rope drop, do the mid day break, and return to the parks. Hoping the hours will be released soon and we will get some extended hours...

I'm in the same boat. AK hours have been updated for June and but not July so that makes my FP selection tonight challenging. Looks like I might be in for a long month of May scouring the boards and blogs for news to update the FP's I choose tonight. I also just came to the same idea about AK - go for rope drop with a midday break and then add evening stuff as it becomes available.

 

[akfan513]

My trip is early July too (for my 40th birthday) & if not for this forum I would not have included Voices of Liberty in our itinerary. I had also forgotten about the pick-a-pearl in Japan.
The Frozen ride is what I am really waiting for news on. My FP window opens next week and it's frustrating not having that info.
Also nervous about the heat, but am planning on frequent breaks & bringing misters, fans & cooling towels--again thanks to this forum.
I'm ridiculously excited about this trip as it's our first time staying at BC & GF--major splurge for my birthday.

I'm going for my birthday too! Happy birthday! I've been to Disney in the summer before and it is hot but manageable. One thing I do is strategically spread out meals, shows, and rides that are in air conditioning throughout the day and cluster them during the peak of the heat. I'm waiting for Frozen as well. For now I'm just going to do that at rope drop and FP Soarin in the meantime.

 

[capegirl]

Mid July for us, but we've done it many times. Super crowded, super hot, and rain every afternoon...pack those ponchos! The single most important tip for touring the parks in the summer is staying hydrated with plenty of water. It is also a good idea to drink a bottle of water before you set out in the morning; dehydration can sneak up on you and ruin your day. I agree that RD is especially important in July, you can accomplish a good deal in the first couple of hours, and you can take an afternoon resort break.

 

[PirateD]

We are hoping to go for a short trip in July but can't pull the trigger yet. I'm trying not to be too impatient because I'm afraid if I try to push too hard, it might turn out that we can't go. So I'm being patient and hoping for everything to fall into place. I always love to plan way ahead since it's a fun diversion from everyday stressors. I think last minute trips are difficult now with FP+ but since there are still so many unknowns it may not be a huge deal breaker. I will have to follow this thread and all of your good tips so I can hopefully easily put together some plans once final decisions are made. Fingers crossed that I will be in Disney this July!

 

[akfan513]

We are hoping to go for a short trip in July but can't pull the trigger yet. I'm trying not to be too impatient because I'm afraid if I try to push too hard, it might turn out that we can't go. So I'm being patient and hoping for everything to fall into place. I always love to plan way ahead since it's a fun diversion from everyday stressors. I think last minute trips are difficult now with FP+ but since there are still so many unknowns it may not be a huge deal breaker. I will have to follow this thread and all of your good tips so I can hopefully easily put together some plans once final decisions are made. Fingers crossed that I will be in Disney this July!

I hope you get to go!

 

[blemon]

I can get my FP next Monday, the 9th.
I am seriously considering staying up until midnight to do it but I'm not sure.

I have a list of what I want but no back up plans. Maybe I will work on that this week.

Of course, it's all because of Frozen. If they aren't up (and I doubt they will be), I will check the site like a crazy person to see if I can add them. I'm heading out of town right after that and won't have good internet access for 2 weeks. I think I need a conspirator to text me if something happens so I can get online and try to nab them.

What are your plans?

 

[akfan513]

I can get my FP next Monday, the 9th.
I am seriously considering staying up until midnight to do it but I'm not sure.

I have a list of what I want but no back up plans. Maybe I will work on that this week.

Of course, it's all because of Frozen. If they aren't up (and I doubt they will be), I will check the site like a crazy person to see if I can add them. I'm heading out of town right after that and won't have good internet access for 2 weeks. I think I need a conspirator to text me if something happens so I can get online and try to nab them.

What are your plans?

Because of the uncertainty of Frozen plus the challenge of 4 rides that will probably be in Tier 1 that my fam wants to do (Soarin, Test Track, Frozen Ever After, and meeting Anna and Elsa) my Epcot plans have been tough. My current plan is to do the Frozen ride at rope drop and fast passing another ride like Soarin. I've also concluded that Epcot might now be a two half day park. If we go another day at rope drop we can follow the same plan with the other two rides in Tier 1.

Currently, I have planned two half days at Epcot in the AM and have planned pool time and Disney Springs time in the afternoon.

We don't have park hopper, but that would help too!

I'm definitely staying up until midnight though. I love this part of Disney Planning. It's like it's game day.

 

[akfan513]

My difficult position (as with everyone else) is AK evening activities and Tiffins reservations. "Go at rope drop" seems to be a go-to strategy, but it doesn't work with these evening events.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Early July here...FPs coming up next weekend.

Like others, I am waiting on Frozen stuff so my Epcot plans are in the air. MK was also hard to narrow down to just three per day!

 

[AquaDame]

We're going over the 4th of July weekend... which we know will be insane. I /think/ our plan of getting the FPs we know we like and rolling with everything else is all we can do!

 

[capegirl]

I would have to say this has been a tough July to plan, and I'm far from done because so many things are up in the air. I also have concerns about getting a Frozen FP, but it is a possibility that Frozen may open 9:00 am, so I booked an 8:00 am breakfast at Akershus hoping we would at least have a chance riding standby. We were planning on a morning in DHS, and evening at AK...but now it looks like RoL will not be ready, but they will have a Jungle Book show in the interim. The new nighttime safari will be up and running, and possibly the new restaurant, Tiffins. If AK is open until 11:00pm in July, I think daytime crowds will be lighter, and the majority of people will plan AK for evening. That said, FP+ would be a necessity for touring this park after dark. I'm waiting to read
reviews to see how this plays out. Not to mention DHS may have the Star Wars fireworks dessert party in July, but no official announcement. It's just a waiting game at this point.

 

[akfan513]

I would have to say this has been a tough July to plan, and I'm far from done because so many things are up in the air. I also have concerns about getting a Frozen FP, but it is a possibility that Frozen may open 9:00 am, so I booked an 8:00 am breakfast at Akershus hoping we would at least have a chance riding standby. We were planning on a morning in DHS, and evening at DAK...but now it looks like RoL will not be ready, but they will have a Jungle Book show in the interim. The new nighttime safari will be up and running, and possibly the new restaurant, Tiffins. If AK is open until 11:00pm in July, I think daytime crowds will be lighter, and the majority of people will plan AK for evening. That said, FP+ would be a necessity for touring this park after dark. I'm waiting to read
reviews to see how this plays out. Not to mention DHS may have the Star Wars fireworks dessert party in July, but no official announcement. It's just a waiting game at this point.

Waiting on the desert party too. And a little nervous about the uncertainty of getting a Jedi Training spot for my Star Wars kids. I've been scoping all the JTA threads so I have a good plan but having never done it before I'm a little nervous!

Nice idea with getting the Akershus ADR.

 

[blemon]

My current plan is to do the Frozen ride at rope drop and fast passing another ride like Soarin.

That sounds good. Our plan is to go at rope drop and go straight to Soarin', get a FP for Test track and hopefully the Frozen ride.
We'll hang out at FW until 11 then head to WS. We have lunch res. at Marrakesh at 12:30 so we'll take the boat there then walk all the way around the circle and grab a taxi from the back entrance when we're done.
We already talked about it and she has decided she would rather do the Frozen ride than the meet so that's our plan. If we can get FP for both, that would be amazing but I'm not counting on it.

 

[LvsTnk]

Waiting waiting waiting but at least we are the end of July.

 

[chrysdrew]

We check in July 2nd!

 

[preemiemama]

My difficult position (as with everyone else) is AK evening activities and Tiffins reservations. "Go at rope drop" seems to be a go-to strategy, but it doesn't work with these evening events.

True! We usually have hoppers- this year we have an AP since we're doing a family reunion next summer. That helps with rope drop/ go to another park. But all the unknowns are definitely frustrating for this trip!

 

[bcrook]

We're going over the 4th of July weekend... which we know will be insane. I /think/ our plan of getting the FPs we know we like and rolling with everything else is all we can do!

I've been on two July 4th trips in the recent years. I have found the parks to be very manageable on 5th-9th dates. Epcot for the 4th is awesome.

I like the heat and the rain. Put on the ponchos and slosh through the rain.

Hopefully they will continue to have extended hours late into the evening. That is the best time in the summer.