July 4, 2014 vacation!!

[momofboyz3]

Hi all~ we had the most amazing WDW vacation over Memorial Day Week. Of course now I am budgeting my finances to make it happen again. I can't take my boys out of school. So I am thinking about 4th of July... Call me crazy!!!!!
***** So I want to hear the GOOD, I've read alot of negative reviews. We love Rope Drop, We love ADRs. It's me (just turned 40, arghh) ds10, ds14, ds14 (during this trip). For the 4th we would probably go to a Waterpark & ADR at Narcossees or Ohana.
Would anyone mind sharing w/me what worked for them during this week...... Please???? TIA

 

[disneyjunkie]

Add us to the crazy list. So far we have 11 goung down for 9 days.



My plan is to take advantage of rope drop and EMHs. We will hit MK on the fourth.

 

[lblume91]

I'm curious about this week too! With our daughters' crazy sports schedules & school calendars plus DH's work stuff, this is the only week that we can go next year too.

We went down this week way back in 1999. I remember that it was hot & crowded but we still had a great time. Since that was our first trip, we just winged it. I think this time will go a lot smoother since I have acquired a lot of Disney knowledge since then.

 

[momofboyz3]

Well thanks you both for responding. I was beginning to think the thread was just so crazy nobody had anything to even add. So hopefully someone w/some experience w/this week will help us out.
I think RD, ADRs & rest days are key factors in staying sane

 

[Whilykit]

Crazy here! We are going too! 10 days starting on the 3rd! I'm a little nervous about the crowds but we go at Christmas too, so I think I'll be ready for it... MY friend just got back from 4th trip this year and he didn't complain...

 

[delmar411]

We were there over the holiday and it was fine. Crowded but nothing unmanageable IMO and temps weren't bad at all. I have actually been a little confused about everyone moaning about the summer heat in posts because it feels the same as May to me.

I think you all will do fine.

 

[disney1990]

We have probably been to WDW 4th of July week more than any other.

We were there just last week. The most important things are, get to the park when it opens, if you are staying off property, do not go to the park that opened early for WDW resort guests, always have a fastpass pulled & as soon as you can, pull another one. If you want to eat in a sit-down restaurant, make reservations. I highly recommend lunch over dinner because it gives you a good hour out of the summer heat. Bring some kind of spray water bottle mister. Be prepared for rain - we had massive rain 3 days last week, but we didn't let it slow us down. As far as rain is concerned, it is better to be wearing sandals than tennis shoes. We went to the parks for 7 days in a row and rode everything that we wanted to. Our longest wait for a ride, without a fastpass, was 20-25 minutes. Any questions?

By the way, Disney outdid it with fireworks last week - Magic Kingdom's were awesome. Illuminations had extended fireworks also.

 

[2girlsmom]

It's been our experience that 7/4 isn't any worse weather or crowds than Memorial Day, and we do that every year too, and always have a great time. Certainly there are a lot of people, so it becomes important to RD and FP as much as possible, of course.

 

[Tramp68]

In 2010 we were there for the whole month of August and then in 2011 we were there for the whole month of July. The later half of August was the best crowd wise, but it was all managable. The only thing that I will say is that 4th of July fireworks in the park is insane. It was wall to wall with no movement. I would suggest a late dinner reservation at Ohana or Trails End/Hoop Dee doo and enjoy the fireworks from the beach. Though I am sure this will be crowded as well. I am not a big fireworks person so I would just make the 4th an early park day followed by an afternoon/evening spent relaxing at the resort.

Otherwise, it is all easily done, just follow guidelines for heat and crowds and it will be great!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

We were there the 4th-14th this year. I was also there in March this year for Spring Break and didn't find it any more crowded in July- I actually think March was worse. It was very managable with Fast Pass and we were only able to go to rope drop one day. Interestingly- this is the first time we've gone without any ADR's because we were down for a baseball tournament and didn't know what we'd be doing each day. I was able to get them for Be Our Guest, Akershus, 1900 Park fare, and Chef Mickey's all last minute. I did end up having to cancel our Chef Mickey's breakfast due to change in playoff schedule and was not able to get dinner that same night, though. The heat is the same to me in March, July, or August. Hot is just hot at that point. The tour groups are out in full force at all the parks, which is something we've never seen before because we don't normally go in July.

For the actual 4th we were not at Disney yet, but were staying at the Renaissance SeaWorld and got upgraded to a balcony park view. It was the neatest thing- right around 9:00, we saw fireworks going off in at least 10 different places. SeaWorld's didn't start until after 10:00. We hit Aquatica that day and it was totally manageble.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm going to try to book the dessert party. That way we won't have fight to a viewing spot.

Just checked out the menu for BOG. Neither one wowed me. Kind if disappointed because I really want to give it a try.

 

[momofboyz3]

I'm going to try to book the dessert party. That way we won't have fight to a viewing spot.

Just checked out the menu for BOG. Neither one wowed me. Kind if disappointed because I really want to give it a try.

I'm definately booking the dessert party... But probably for the 2cnd! I think I'm going to avoid the MK & Epcot on the 4th. I'm hoping to score ADRs at either narcosees or Ohanas for the 4th!
I too checked out the menu for BOG & it's not exciting to me I too really wanted to try for there one night.

 

[momofboyz3]

Thanks DISers for responding!!!!! I really think I'm going to go for it. I read everyone's responses thoroughly & love reading your input! Not one nightmare response & it seems like if we plan, like you all did we will have a great time! Thanks a bunch!!!!!!

 

[dwwlmw]

We just got back from a trip July 3-14. I didn't find it any more crowded than our early May trips. The tour groups were very annoying and seemed to be everywhere which we have not encountered before. After reading on these boards about how awful the heat and humidity is I was a little nervous. Yes it was hot and humid but we weren't miserable like I feared and we are from Washington state where we are hardly ever warm and never humid

Also, we stayed off site at Bonnet Creek and never did rope drop, my kids would rather sleep in. We did not have any plan except for ADR's everday. We used a lot of fast pass and did a lot at night. After the fireworks in Magic Kingdom we rode Big Thunder 5 times in a row with no wait one night. The only major ride we did not make it on was Toy Story since they run out of fast pass so early but we have done that many times in CA so no big deal to us.

 

[rachel09985]

I just got back from our trip over 4th of July!! From the 2nd-9th.

We had the best trip ever! It was soo much fun!!

I was sooo worried about the crowds but it really was NOT that bad!! The heat was worse than the crowds for sure.

We got there at rope drop and did as much as possible from open to 12. It wasn't too busy in those times. In fact it was so slow in the morning of the 3rd at MK!!! It did start getting busy around 1.

It is ridiculously packed before the fireworks. We saw the MK fireworks on the 3rd and HS on the 4th. You really do have to find a spot 2 hours before. I recommend just sitting on the ground. There will be plenty of people doing it!

The fireworks were just packed to the point where it was hard to get around. But after wards it cleared out pretty good.

Don't get me wrong it is much busier than normal but it is do-able. It seems like the crowds were really bad the 3rd-6th then they cleared out a bit.

 

[momofboyz3]

We just got back from a trip July 3-14. I didn't find it any more crowded than our early May trips. The tour groups were very annoying and seemed to be everywhere which we have not encountered before. After reading on these boards about how awful the heat and humidity is I was a little nervous. Yes it was hot and humid but we weren't miserable like I feared and we are from Washington state where we are hardly ever warm and never humid

Also, we stayed off site at Bonnet Creek and never did rope drop, my kids would rather sleep in. We did not have any plan except for ADR's everday. We used a lot of fast pass and did a lot at night. After the fireworks in Magic Kingdom we rode Big Thunder 5 times in a row with no wait one night. The only major ride we did not make it on was Toy Story since they run out of fast pass so early but we have done that many times in CA so no big deal to us.

ThankYou for your feedback. When we went over Memorial Day we saw wishes then did some shopping and had a snack. I didn't think to go on any rides.... But I sure will this time, sounds great!

 

[momofboyz3]

I just got back from our trip over 4th of July!! From the 2nd-9th.

We had the best trip ever! It was soo much fun!!

I was sooo worried about the crowds but it really was NOT that bad!! The heat was worse than the crowds for sure.

We got there at rope drop and did as much as possible from open to 12. It wasn't too busy in those times. In fact it was so slow in the morning of the 3rd at MK!!! It did start getting busy around 1.

It is ridiculously packed before the fireworks. We saw the MK fireworks on the 3rd and HS on the 4th. You really do have to find a spot 2 hours before. I recommend just sitting on the ground. There will be plenty of people doing it!

The fireworks were just packed to the point where it was hard to get around. But after wards it cleared out pretty good.

Don't get me wrong it is much busier than normal but it is do-able. It seems like the crowds were really bad the 3rd-6th then they cleared out a bit.

Thank you so much! I do appreciate all the positive feedback & I'm glad your family had a blast.

 

[juliebug1997]

We went two years in a row during July 4th and I would just suggest avoiding MK on the 3rd and the 4th. They show their special fireworks on those two nights and the crowds are crazy. After the 4th, it's great. The water park is a great idea and we did it our second year and then went to Epcot for Garden Grill for dinner.

 

[momofboyz3]

We went two years in a row during July 4th and I would just suggest avoiding MK on the 3rd and the 4th. They show their special fireworks on those two nights and the crowds are crazy. After the 4th, it's great. The water park is a great idea and we did it our second year and then went to Epcot for Garden Grill for dinner.

I plan on avoiding MK on the 3rd & 4th. But, was thinking Epcot on the 3rd. I'm thinking Waterpark for the 4th and a special ADR

 

[momofboyz3]

We went two years in a row during July 4th and I would just suggest avoiding MK on the 3rd and the 4th. They show their special fireworks on those two nights and the crowds are crazy. After the 4th, it's great. The water park is a great idea and we did it our second year and then went to Epcot for Garden Grill for dinner.

Oooooh and I forgot to mention thanks for your response!