July 4th info & advice-Fireworks

[JayhawkFans]

I would not be very confident or comfortable about heading to (what's left of) the Poly beach on July 3 or 4.

We do have a MK fireworks cruise reserved for the 3rd. I'm having a tough time justifying the added expense since we upgraded to the BWI. I believe the price is about $475 plus tip ... Guess if two other couples wanted to share in the cost ... Decisions decisions

 

[Robo]

We do have a MK fireworks cruise reserved for the 3rd. I'm having a tough time justifying the added expense since we upgraded to the BWI. I believe the price is about $475 plus tip ... Guess if two other couples wanted to share in the cost ... Decisions decisions

There are so many other places to see the MK fireworks outside MK than the (now, far too small) Poly beach.
You could choose any one of them and not have to pay the extremely high cost of the cruise.

 

[Shellyb84]

GREAT thread .. we too decided just this week to spend the 4th at WDW. We will be staying at the Boardwalk Inn. I think we plan to try to watch the MK fireworks from the Poly Beach on the 3rd and then brave the crowds for a little bit of EMH at the MK afterwards. We will watch Illuminations on the 4th. I just booked TeppanEdo for 8:10 p.m. so hopefully we will be out in enough time to find a decent spot with a decent view of the American Pavilion for the 10:00 Illuminations!

An 8:10 ADR will likely not give you enough time to find a very good spot. We ate at Le Cellier around 6:30, and were able to get a decent spot in Canada right after. It filled up quickly after that! I went to try to find a drink and there was barely walking room by 9:00pm.

 

[Robo]

We will watch Illuminations on the 4th. I just booked TeppanEdo for 8:10 p.m. so hopefully we will be out in enough time to find a decent spot with a decent view of the American Pavilion for the 10:00 Illuminations!

On July 4th, that will not work.
Sorry.

 

[JayhawkFans]

On July 4th, that will not work.
Sorry.

Thanks ... Moving things around

 

[need2travel]

Hey Jayhawk, we're at the Boardwalk too. We were able to book Via Napoli for dinner before Illuminations but still haven't figured out where to watch the MK fireworks, maybe Fort Wilderness even though the view is obstructed? Or the GF patio? Whatever, we're on vacation

 

[carrieb]

Has anybody else noticed that the July 3rd Wishes doesn't appear on either The DIS' calendar or on the official WDW site? On 7/2 they're listed as going at 10pm and on 7/4 at 9pm. MSEP on 7/3 is scheduled for 10pm.
What would your guess for the 7/3 fireworks be - 9pm?
Thanks!

 

[JayhawkFans]

When googling 4th of July Fireworks for WDW I noticed special fireworks for the 3rd and 4th at the MK at 9:00 both nights

 

[SleighBelle]

Last year MK was open until midnight all of July 4 week (and until 3 am on July 3). This year, everything I read indicates MK is closing at 10:00 (open till midnight on July 3). And the late hours drove my decision to book again this July 4 holiday week.

Does anyone have any inside scoop? Might there be a "hard ticket" event for an after-hours event for couple of days that week since they know the demand is there? At this point, closing MK at 10:00 on July 4 seems way too early!

 

[Robo]

Last year MK was open until midnight all of July 4 week (and until 3 am on July 3). This year, everything I read indicates MK is closing at 10:00 (open till midnight on July 3). And the late hours drove my decision to book again this July 4 holiday week.

Does anyone have any inside scoop? Might there be a "hard ticket" event for an after-hours event for couple of days that week since they know the demand is there? At this point, closing MK at 10:00 on July 4 seems way too early!

They extend the hours of early-listed days every single month of the year.
Whether they will do that specifically on July 3rd and 4th remains to be seen, but it will happen, for sure, for many of the nights in July.
Expect to see those additions appear anytime between 7 and 60 days in advance, sometimes more than once.

 

[Shanti]

I read somewhere a while back that Disney does their July 4 fireworks on the 3rd as well, do they still?

We watched the special Independence Day MK fireworks on July 3rd last year.

 

[dsdeleon]

We have done the July 4th holiday multiple times in most parks and seeing from Ft Wilderness. This is my absolute favorite schedule:
3rd: MK near Liberty Square (train station was not good)
4th: Epcot (Oh my, it was practically daylight, the worst crowd you will ever encounter but so so worth it)
5th: Legoland (3D exploding LEGO fireworks!!)

 

[SleighBelle]

They extend the hours of early-listed days every single month of the year.

Thanks for your response! I am looking forward to exhausing myself and kids during that week!

 

[famy27]

We are DVC members (own at BLT), but we are staying at YC for the 4th. Do you know if we'd be able to access the member lounge at BLT?

 

[Robo]

We are DVC members (own at BLT), but we are staying at YC for the 4th. Do you know if we'd be able to access the member lounge at BLT?

All the info I can find says that it is open to DVC members.

 

[supersnoop]

We are DVC members (own at BLT), but we are staying at YC for the 4th. Do you know if we'd be able to access the member lounge at BLT?

No. On July 3 and 4, and December 30 and 31, the Top Of The World Lounge is restricted to only those DVC members staying at Bay Lake Tower.

 

[AquaDame]

Has anyone been in the lounges on those evenings before...? We are staying club level at the Poly and currently planning on watching fireworks from the lounge on the 3rd - how early would we need to head up there do you think?

 

[RayO]

Hi All,
I'm hoping some of you can help me, out of nowhere 2 weeks ago my husband surprised me by asking if I wanted to go to Disney World this summer for our 21st wedding anniversary on July 1st. Of course I said YES!!!! I tried to play it cool but it didn't work, I've been dancing around the house ever since

Anyway, we will be there from June 30-July 8, I know it'll be crazy crowded but we always go for Easter Week so we are used to crowds, we also have been 7 times so don't need to see/do everything. I know it'll be really hot as well but we spent 10 days in Rome last year during a heat wave w/ no A/C & temps of about 98 degrees every day so we should be ok on that score too. (Fingers crossed of course).

We figure we'll avoid the parks on the 4th but what are some of the best places around property to view some of the fireworks? It doesn't have to be full on or w/ piped in music or anything, just a decent-ish view of Wishes. Also, I read somewhere a while back that Disney does their July 4 fireworks on the 3rd as well, do they still? Is it just for MK or Epcot (Illuminations is our favorite) as well?

Long story short, what's the scoop on fireworks?? What's the scoop on being there for the 4th?
Thanks in advance, I figure you guys are the experts!!!

My niece always seems to be dancing down there during the 4th of July week, so I have been there a few times. Always had great luck with fireworks on the 4th. Usually pick a spot right outside of Mexico 3 hours before Illuminations starts. From that spot you are able to see some of the fireworks from Fantasmic by looking in the direction of Morocco. (This year it may be Star Wars Fireworks) As soon as that finishes up, Illuminations starts up. Get on the Monorail, hop over to MK. Usually go through the gate and set up shop in the middle of Main St. The fireworks are all around you on the 4th. It is a great night for fireworks indeed. It all comes down to timing, but I have done it a couple of times.

Also, to get away from the crowds, if you have either Brunch or Dinner at California Grill they will let you come back to watch the fireworks from there as long as you have the receipt from that day only.

 

[Skywise]

Has anyone been in the lounges on those evenings before...? We are staying club level at the Poly and currently planning on watching fireworks from the lounge on the 3rd - how early would we need to head up there do you think?

For New Year's Eve people were starting to grab seats about an hour before. It didn't really go nuts until about 30 minutes before so probably somewhere between that time. (Or splurge for a TPV room!)

 

[AquaDame]

For New Year's Eve people were starting to grab seats about an hour before. It didn't really go nuts until about 30 minutes before so probably somewhere between that time. (Or splurge for a TPV room!)

I really should have but they are all sold out now, lol! An hour is easy - we're going to order the o'hana room service then head up for drinks so it might just have to be a couple instead of one!