**July 2025 Check-in Thread!**

[maleficent55]

We are headed to Disneyland July 16th for the last time in our foreseeable future. We sold our house in Northern CA and are headed down to Southern California to spend one day at the parks. We really wanted to hit up the 70th celebration and are excited for this trip. We are moving to North Carolina so hopefully trips to Walt Disney World will be in our future. Looking forward to one more day at Disneyland!!!

Gulp!!!!
That’s a big move

The 16th will be an amazing, magical day!!!

 

[katyringo]

I'm booked for July 24-29. I was suppose to go in June but a major back/hip issue forced me to postpone. Staying at park vue which will be a new hotel for me!

 

[maleficent55]

I'm booked for July 24-29. I was suppose to go in June but a major back/hip issue forced me to postpone. Staying at park vue which will be a new hotel for me!

Welcome to the July group!
Now you can see the Walt animatronic if that’s something that excites you

 

[LKing]

I'm booked for July 24-29. I was suppose to go in June but a major back/hip issue forced me to postpone. Staying at park vue which will be a new hotel for me!

Hope you are feeling better.

 

[katyringo]

Welcome to the July group!
Now you can see the Walt animatronic if that’s something that excites you

Yes! I am excited about that.

 

[katyringo]

Hope you are feeling better.

Yes! It's been a crazy thing but they finally figured out the cause last week and got PT focused on the right thing and I'm doing much better.

 

[RainyDayPixie]

8 more sleeps! For those of you there now or your trips are complete… How is it/was it?

Hoping we hit a bit of a sweet spot coming just before the 17th crowd wise (but we have LL and are willing to pay for ILL). Also crossing fingers and toes that Walt animatronic has a soft open on the 16th…

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

8 more sleeps! For those of you there now or your trips are complete… How is it/was it?

Hoping we hit a bit of a sweet spot coming just before the 17th crowd wise (but we have LL and are willing to pay for ILL). Also crossing fingers and toes that Walt animatronic has a soft open on the 16th…

We just got back today. Crowd levels were great and so much lower than when we were there in Feb this year. Never waited in line for security (by DLH) which we haven’t experienced before. Walked right in at entrance gates in the morning (between 7:40-8:00) and returning early evening. We also lucked out that it wasn’t too hot. I would definitely go this time of year again!

 

[Wildcat1144]

Daughter is traveling out of country with MIL so my wife and I are headed down on July 26-30th. We're Holiday Inn Express people off Manchester Ave (7 min walk). 4th trip over the past 4 years. We're rope droppers/park closers so we're pumped to get it in.

 

[Blue32]

We just got back today. Crowd levels were great and so much lower than when we were there in Feb this year. Never waited in line for security (by DLH) which we haven’t experienced before. Walked right in at entrance gates in the morning (between 7:40-8:00) and returning early evening. We also lucked out that it wasn’t too hot. I would definitely go this time of year again!

Would you mind sharing what dates you were in the parks this trip?

Thank you!

 

[OlliePop27]

We just got back today. Crowd levels were great and so much lower than when we were there in Feb this year. Never waited in line for security (by DLH) which we haven’t experienced before. Walked right in at entrance gates in the morning (between 7:40-8:00) and returning early evening. We also lucked out that it wasn’t too hot. I would definitely go this time of year again!

Just leaving today. Second straight year going the same dates over July 4th. Low crowds, low waits, easy park touring. LLMP was so easy to get every ride it was almost hard to believe, and frankly could even go with out it with rope drop and late nights. Will absolutely go again early July.

 

[maleficent55]

Daughter is traveling out of country with MIL so my wife and I are headed down on July 26-30th. We're Holiday Inn Express people off Manchester Ave (7 min walk). 4th trip over the past 4 years. We're rope droppers/park closers so we're pumped to get it in.

Welcome!
Our July list keeps growing, I’m so excited for all of us!!! So soon!!!

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

Would you mind sharing what dates you were in the parks this trip?

We arrived late afternoon 7/2 and stayed through 7/5 (so 3-1/2 park days).

 

[LKing]

.

 

[IsleofDisney]

Here's my July trip report, I'm sad it came and went so quickly. It will make the next visit that much more special. We had a wonderful Disney trip, our dates were the same as @LeiaOfAlderaan, 7/2 through 7/5. Crowds overall were light, weather was beautiful - not too cold in the evening and not to hot in the day.

Day 1 (check-in Wednesday July 2nd). We stayed at DLH, checking in also in the afternoon. I chose to do in-person check-in at the desk versus through the app, I prefer interacting with Cast Members. We got a great room on the 3rd floor in Fantasy Tower, facing the pool area and overlooking the 70th Celebration decoration near Downtown Disney. This is a standard view room and we were very satisfied. We didn’t have park reservations on our check-in day, and spent the afternoon exploring the hotel, Downtown Disney and enjoying the pool area. We placed our names on the walk-up list for Trader Sam’s, they said there was a 3 hour wait time which is what they have to say to every person on the walk-up list, but were called back 20 minutes later. My older DD ordered the Szechuan Cucumber Salad, I had the Pupu platter and a Zombie (w/the tiki mug of course) and my DH ordered the Poke Bowl. The salad was one of the best salads we’d ever eaten, so much flavor! We shared the Pupu platter, the best items were the gyoza and the tempura green beans. DH was happy with his Poke bowl too, though we’ve been to Hawaii and nothing compares to poke from the islands. One thing we learned is that there is a “secret menu” item on the Trader Sam’s/Tangaroa Terrace menu - more on that in a little bit.
Our youngest didn’t join us as she was finishing up her online summer school class (yay for WiFi!), and we brought her some of the delicious gyozas.

After Trader Sam’s older DD went back to the room, and DH and I walked through Downtown Disney, back to the hotel to check on the girls. While DH took a call, older DD and I walked through DTD (we like to walk) - she’s never seen some of the renovations like Parkside Marketplace and back to the hotel for pool time. We ordered a late snack at Tangaroa Terrace, the secret menu item - a pork belly adobo bowl. This was one of the best food items we ate during our entire trip! A good adobo will have a balance between acidity and saltiness/umami flavor, with plenty of rice to balance both., this bowl had that good balance. Day 1 over we head to bed for our Day 2 early entry at Disneyland Park. Day 2 will be in another post.

 

[maleficent55]

Here's my July trip report, I'm sad it came and went so quickly. It will make the next visit that much more special. We had a wonderful Disney trip, our dates were the same as @LeiaOfAlderaan, 7/2 through 7/5. Crowds overall were light, weather was beautiful - not too cold in the evening and not to hot in the day.

Day 1 (check-in Wednesday July 2nd). We stayed at DLH, checking in also in the afternoon. I chose to do in-person check-in at the desk versus through the app, I prefer interacting with Cast Members. We got a great room on the 3rd floor in Fantasy Tower, facing the pool area and overlooking the 70th Celebration decoration near Downtown Disney. This is a standard view room and we were very satisfied. We didn’t have park reservations on our check-in day, and spent the afternoon exploring the hotel, Downtown Disney and enjoying the pool area. We placed our names on the walk-up list for Trader Sam’s, they said there was a 3 hour wait time which is what they have to say to every person on the walk-up list, but were called back 20 minutes later. My older DD ordered the Szechuan Cucumber Salad, I had the Pupu platter and a Zombie (w/the tiki mug of course) and my DH ordered the Poke Bowl. The salad was one of the best salads we’d ever eaten, so much flavor! We shared the Pupu platter, the best items were the gyoza and the tempura green beans. DH was happy with his Poke bowl too, though we’ve been to Hawaii and nothing compares to poke from the islands. One thing we learned is that there is a “secret menu” item on the Trader Sam’s/Tangaroa Terrace menu - more on that in a little bit.
Our youngest didn’t join us as she was finishing up her online summer school class (yay for WiFi!), and we brought her some of the delicious gyozas.

After Trader Sam’s older DD went back to the room, and DH and I walked through Downtown Disney, back to the hotel to check on the girls. While DH took a call, older DD and I walked through DTD (we like to walk) - she’s never seen some of the renovations like Parkside Marketplace and back to the hotel for pool time. We ordered a late snack at Tangaroa Terrace, the secret menu item - a pork belly adobo bowl. This was one of the best food items we ate during our entire trip! A good adobo will have a balance between acidity and saltiness/umami flavor, with plenty of rice to balance both., this bowl had that good balance. Day 1 over we head to bed for our Day 2 early entry at Disneyland Park. Day 2 will be in another post.

Oh fun! I LOVE starting a trip off with dinner at Trader Sam’s and will be doing just that in 17 days!!!

 

[Erin M]

Hello! We will be there 7/27-30 staying at Candy Cane Inn. Just my 11 year old daughter and I this trip, but we'll meet up with a friend who is a cast member. It's been more than a year since our last visit and we are so excited to be back. First time staying at Candy Cane and looking forward to that too.

I know it's too much to hope for these low crowds after the 17th but I have been so jealous of those there now! What amazing wait times!!

 

[momtohms]

I know it's too much to hope for these low crowds after the 17th but I have been so jealous of those there now! What amazing wait times!!

Same here! We’ll be there just before you (the 24th thru 27th) and I’m expecting way longer wait times and higher crowds. Especially since we’re going in the window between Matterhorn reopening and Incredicoaster closing!

At least most of the magic keys are still blocked so here’s hoping it’s not too crazy

 

[IsleofDisney]

Continuing our July 2-5 trip report:

Day 2 (Thursday July 3rd). DH and I headed out to DL park, while DDs slept in. We lined up for DTD entry around 6:45 am and line for the 7am security entrance was already formed past the end of the Din Tai Fung building. We made it to the DL gates around 7:15 am, not knowing which line we should queue for early entry. We learned after the fact that it doesn’t matter which line you choose as they all let in at the same time, so it’s best to choose a “short” line. The Early Entry occurs at their own rope just past the Little Red Wagon and before Plaza Inn entrance, you tap in with your hotel key card or the hotel digital key on the app - I prefer the physical key. DH and I rode Alice then queued at the Fantasyland gate to Frontierland near Red Rose Tavern to rope drop ROTR. This is the location you want to queue if you want to cross it off your list first thing. We were on and off the ride in 30 minutes, it’s as close to walk-on as you can get for this attraction. We continued our morning with Haunted Mansion and took the DLRR at New Orleans to Toon Town. We rode Astroblasters, then a morning snack at Jolly Holiday - the Toffee-nut Cold Brew (too sweet for me) and Yogurt Parfait (great to share lots of fruit). We rode Pirates, and Jungle Cruise. It was 11 am and walked back through DTD to the hotel to collect our DDs.

DH had a medical appointment (we’re local) in the afternoon, so the DDs and I park hopped to DCA to use the Guardians LL I grabbed in the morning (these go fast, get them when you can), then use a LL for Monsters Inc, and park hopped back to DL for lunch at Jolly Holiday again & Refreshment Corner. Older DD and I split the Birria Toasted Cheese Sandwich & Cranberry Pecan Salad, baby DD had Chili in a Bread Bowl - she can’t visit DL without having chili, Walt’s favorite. After lunch we used our IJA LL, rode Pirates then got a snack - pickle for older DD and a Tigger Tail for baby DD - while we waited for Tiana’s to come back online to use that LL, then rode Haunted Mansion. We rode Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, first time for me and older DD - though they did a great job with the theming, and Tiana deserves a ride of her own, I still miss Splash. We went back to the hotel for the afternoon to rest before going back in the evening to watch Paint The Night parade.

This was the most Disney thing we did while at the parks: we sat at the curb in Town Square, in front of Main Street RR station, eating corn dogs and caramel popcorn (from World of Sweets in DTD) while we waited for PTN, and watched Mickey, Minnie & Pluto work the crowd before the parade. PTN parade did not disappoint, DH and I felt like kids again with the energy of the performers, the lights, and the giant floats - we felt so small being so close to the floats. Day 2 over, we made our way back to DLH and to bed.

 

[Erin M]

Just a little anecdotal thing, probably don't want to read too much into it, but I thought last night, hey I'll check the hotels around the park for our dates and see if they are sold out. Just as maybe a way to gauge how busy it could be. Well they aren't sold out. So then I looked at Candy Cane Inn where we're staying and the rate had dropped by $20/night. I called and they easily updated the rate for me so now I'm saving $120 for the week. The hotels do look booked for the 16th and 17th which makes sense.