July crowds this season

[Hudmaster]

I realize this subject has come up from time to time in the forums, however I am really interested in your opinions on the July crowds this season. I am a teacher so July is really the only month were our family can go to Disney. In our past trips, it has been crowded (last was some time ago, 2013), but we are rope-droppers and have never had any major issues getting on the rides. My children are teenagers now and much more mobile than they were in the past. As we have done in the past, we are staying for about a week. Just wondering how SWGE is going to affect the crowds this season. Obviously the free dining in the summer was a bonus for us, and a sign that numbers for Disney summer months must have been down. Your opinions are welcomed on this matter!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

When in July? Obviously July 4 time will be busy.
We went third week last year and it was fine. It was our first summer trip since 2013 and crowds were better than I expected. Lots of tour groups around but we had no issues with them.

As for SW:GE, it’s hard to say what impact it will have. Obviously some who can wait for it will. But there’s plenty who will travel early to avoid it too.

If they offer a new discount for July in the coming weeks, then I would expect below average crowds. If they don’t, then I would expect normal to slightly above.

 

[cmsb]

We have gone in July the last 3 summers, always after the 4th. The crowds have been manageable for us and we have been able to get all of the fastpasses that we wanted. Our biggest issue is the heat, but there are lots of air conditioned spots in the parks for short breaks.

 

[preemiemama]

Fellow teacher here- all our trips have been in July. Honestly it's not been bad lately. We were there for the 4th 2 years ago and it was busy but not packed. This year we'll arrive on the 9th. I don't expect it will be too crazy. I'd like to see the hours extended some- mostly so we can go back to the resort mid-day and escape the worst of the heat.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I realize this subject has come up from time to time in the forums, however I am really interested in your opinions on the July crowds this season. I am a teacher so July is really the only month were our family can go to Disney. In our past trips, it has been crowded (last was some time ago, 2013), but we are rope-droppers and have never had any major issues getting on the rides. My children are teenagers now and much more mobile than they were in the past. As we have done in the past, we are staying for about a week. Just wondering how SWGE is going to affect the crowds this season. Obviously the free dining in the summer was a bonus for us, and a sign that numbers for Disney summer months must have been down. Your opinions are welcomed on this matter!

Another teacher here...hi!

I'm going to Disney in June. Are you not able to do the same? Are you someplace where the kids get out much later? The county I teach in, our kids' last day is May 24th. Teacher last day is May 29th. Where my son goes to school, the kids' last day is May 31st. The teachers are done on June 6th. If I worked in that county, our trip would be mid June! We have a special holy day that happens on the 9th, so we couldn't travel till the following Sunday had I been teaching in Okaloosa County. Sunday is always our travel day in the summer. In the spring we'd leave late Saturday afternoon.

 

[tinkerhon]

We went last year from July 10 -24 and didn't find it bad at all - nothing compared to our December 20 trip ! Going this year on July 16 - can't wait !

 

[Ashley Marie]

I went on a short, last minute trip last summer, July 7-11... but we focused mostly on After Hours events, so I didn't have a lot of daytime crowd experience. Still, I didn't find the resorts to feel "crowded" overall.

Great time of year to do early/evening park hours and lounge by the pool midday. We're going back for two weeks this summer, in late June/early July, and hoping for a similar feel!

My gut feeling is that resort occupancy (and, hopefully, crowds) will be below average this July with SWGE's August opening date looming, but we'll see. Many people on this board seem to want to avoid the opening of SWGE, but I have to guess most of the general public would prefer to plan their trip to Disney for when they can see the new land.

 

[Klayfish]

July is relatively slow, for WDW. Summer is great. The only concern with July is dealing with the 15s.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

July is relatively slow, for WDW. Summer is great. The only concern with July is dealing with the 15s.

Is that the teenage girls from South America? Hope I got that right.

 

[susanrose73]

Another teacher here...hi!

I'm going to Disney in June. Are you not able to do the same? Are you someplace where the kids get out much later? The county I teach in, our kids' last day is May 24th. Teacher last day is May 29th. Where my son goes to school, the kids' last day is May 31st. The teachers are done on June 6th. If I worked in that county, our trip would be mid June! We have a special holy day that happens on the 9th, so we couldn't travel till the following Sunday had I been teaching in Okaloosa County. Sunday is always our travel day in the summer. In the spring we'd leave late Saturday afternoon.

Not the OP, but I'm in the northeast and our last day of school/ work is June 26th.

 

[randumb0]

Summers for the past couple years have been less busy than years past.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Not the OP, but I'm in the northeast and our last day of school/ work is June 26th.

Ugh! That's poopy. When do you guys start back? Please say September?

 

[Ashley Marie]

Not the OP, but I'm in the northeast and our last day of school/ work is June 26th.

Same for us (we're in NY). We're surprising my daughter and going to Disney instead of her last day of school.

 

[Klayfish]

Is that the teenage girls from South America? Hope I got that right.

Yes, correct.

Northern schools usually run from very early September through mid-late June. It was a big change for us when we moved south. School here is Aug 1 through Memorial Day, but they also get a one week break every 6 weeks.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Yes, correct.

Northern schools usually run from very early September through mid-late June. It was a big change for us when we moved south. School here is Aug 1 through Memorial Day, but they also get a one week break every 6 weeks.

Where are you in the South @Klayfish ? I'm in the Panhandle of FL of course and our school year runs from about the second week of August to the end of May. We get a Thanksgiving Break (one week), a winter break (two weeks), and a spring break (one week)

 

[susanrose73]

We start usually a day or two after Labor Day.

 

[jacobsmommy]

We will be there from July 6th to July 13th. I am hoping for lower crowds, even though we got free dining.

 

[Klayfish]

Where are you in the South @Klayfish ? I'm in the Panhandle of FL of course and our school year runs from about the second week of August to the end of May. We get a Thanksgiving Break (one week), a winter break (two weeks), and a spring break (one week)

Atlanta. We start Aug 1, or sometimes even July 31. I forget what the last day of school is but it's something like May 23rd or 24th. They get fall break week, Thanksgiving week, 2 weeks at Xmas, winter break week (Feb), Spring break week.

 

[SarahC97]

I, too, am going this July (8-15). I think Disney gives you an indicator of what you can expect with crowds on their one-day ticket prices. The week I'm going is cheaper than the weeks surrounding it, so I'm hopeful crowds will be moderate.

I went 4 times last year and my July trip was the best. The crowds were very manageable. We did rope drop on a Saturday in the MK and walked on 6 rides in the first 1.5 hours. I mean, it'll be busy, but if the trend continues as it has the last couple of summers, I don't think it'll be as bad as it used to be.

 

[Hudmaster]

Thanks to all who replied on their July trips. We are going this year from the 16th to the 23rd. We usually go in June when my school starts their summer break, but it isn't possible this year with my children's sports schedules. My concern is it being MID July. Our last trip in July was 2013, and while it was crowded, it was manageable since we always rope drop and are out of the parks by 1 or 2. The heat has never been a major issue for us, we just jump from AC to Pool, back to AC whenever possible. I just think it's crazy talking about July as a plausible month to do Disney. Especially with SWGE looming in late August. Thanks again for all your input!