July 4th in Orlando

[disneycymru]

Any comments on what's the best plan for July 4th in disney?

Avoid the Parks?
Best Park for Fireworks?
Least Crowded Park?
Non-disney park better or worse?

I've been before over July 4th and know its v.busy but would appreciate anyone else's comments / tips.

Thanks

Gareth

 

[Midnight Belle]

We use ADR for the night in the Grand Floridian in one of the restuarants, usually 1900 park fare buffet as the children love it there. We then make our way to the lagoon and watch the fireworks from there. But I am sure there are lots of other exciting things to do.

 

[Minniespal]

Personally I would avoid the parks. We spent the entire day in the MK, went on the Keys to the Kingdom tour and watched as the park became fuller and fuller. I have never seen so many people in one place. As we were leaving it took us 90 minutes to get from Main Street USA to the Monorail.

I am so glad that I experienced a 4th of July in the Parks but would never go to a park again on that day.

 

[tartangirl]

We've been in Orlando for the last few 4th of July celebrations and are yet to visit a park.

We hit the shops for those 4th July bargains

 

[disneycymru]

Thanks for the replies, looks like it may be a water park early on, followed by some outside activities or shopping.

 

[Lisash]

We've been in Orlando twice on July 4th we did Seaworld one time and Busch Gardens another both were ok. You will find wait times at all the restaurants are bad we tried loads of places on I.Drive last year and all had 1 hour plus wait times so it pays to maybe eat early on that day

 

[loadsapixiedust]

We had a fantastic July 4th last year.
We booked Discovery Cove for the day and that was a wonderful way to relax and avoid the crowds. We went on the MGM for the evening to see the fireworks there. The park was heaving but the fireworks were superb and the atmosphere was great. We had intended to go from there to Epcot to catch Illuminations, but a huge thunderstorm began just as we exited MGM and we decided we would be best to head for our hotel.
We were able to catch the special fireworks at MK on the 3rd which I would think was less crowded than the 4th.

 

[Young Pooh]

We have been at WDW once over 4th July and spent most of the day at AK. The crowds were not too bad but I think that this may have been when crowds were low anyway as it was the first 4th July after 9/11.

 

[kkymmy]

We're there for July 4th 2007 and I have taken the advice of a friend who was a CM for a year...not sure if I should share this but she suggested ADR for England in World Showcase then into the beer garden for the fireworks...arrive before 10am and don't leave because they have to close the parks if (or more likely WHEN) they get to capcity...

 

[Minniespal]

arrive before 10am and don't leave because they have to close the parks if (or more likely WHEN) they get to capcity...

I would certainly agree with that ~ When we visited on 4th July, the park reached it's capacity by early afternoon.