July4 good, bad, & ugly

[Ohana1]

Split stay before July 4 at BLT and then SSR,...first time... any experiences or thoughts that may be helpful... wondering if we should book thru the 4th. thanks

 

[MOM22princess]

We stayed through the July 4th Holiday this past summer. We stayed out of the park on the 4th but did have a dinner reservation at the Poly so we were able to watch the fireworks from there.

We stayed for 8 days and did not find the parks any more busy then normal...We attempted to do MK the night of July 3rd, there was a special fireworks showing, and left because it was sooooo crowded.... All other days at all the parks we had no problem

We had a great time and would definatley stay during the July 4th Holiday again...

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're doing a long 4th of July weekend at BCV this year! We're all game to try it, because we love fireworks!

We've heard that MK does a night before firework display like they do for New Years eve, so if they have that, that's what we'll do on the third, and then just walk to/from Epcot for those fireworks on the 4th. I've talked to people who say Epcot does have extra fireworks on the 4th, but we've never experienced it.

Bobbi

 

[perpetualplanner]

We did a July 4th stay last year and found the parks no more crowded than usual for summertime. On July 3rd we had California Grill reservations during the fireworks and it was spectacular. Just be sure to go out on the observation deck early - people started going out about 1/2 hr before the fireworks started. The servers were holding the food orders up to make sure your food wouldn't get cold (at least ours did and it was her suggestion).

 

[Cmbar]

We went this past summer and left on July 3 so I can't comment about the 4th activities. But we found the crowds to be fine. We followed the EMH and didn't have any problem with the crowds. Enjoy!

 

[DenLo]

I remember reading a great trip report that the OP said that before noon on July 4th the crowds were really low at MK. He thought that a lot of people were up late the night before because of the firework display and did come to the park until later. But later it was really crowded!

 

[crazybones27]

I was in MK on July 4th in 2006. It was the most crowded I had ever experienced MK in any of my visits. To be honest this was the 2nd time I was at MK on the 4th but the 1st time around my family missed out on the fireworks because Florida was having such a drought that year that fireworks were banned. Getting back to my 2006 visit it really was without a doubt the most crowded I had ever seen it. You couldn't walk without bumping into someone and the lines were very long. The only other times I had been to Disney in the summer was at the end of August and usually by that time the crowds die down so I'm not really sure how crowded it is on a normal summer day. We were unaware they did the same fireworks on July 3rd that they do on the 4th or we might had done that instead. Either way we really enjoyed ourselves and would do it again, but probably not till my kids a lot older. No matter what you'll have a wonderful trip!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

You're there already, I say extend another day! Wonderful fireworks, that time of the summer is hot and crowded anyway, one more day isn't going to change it much one way or another.

 

[Plutofan]

Split stay before July 4 at BLT and then SSR,...first time... any experiences or thoughts that may be helpful... wondering if we should book thru the 4th. thanks

I would have a back up plan for BLT. I was shocked when I called this morning at the 7 month window for June 18 - 25 there were very limited (like 2) LV 2 bedrooms available and no 2 bedroom MK views.

 

[Snow Shoe]

Call me crazy, but I love going during summer time. Our fmily usually goes during this time because of our work schd. Yes its warm-some call it hot but its managable-make sure you wear a hat and have sunglasses, it's humid-learn to pace yourself and drink lots of water not coke kids won't tell you if their thrusty so make them drink, it rains daily in the afternoons usually-sometimes with big quick down pours, it's crowded-but not in the mornings get there early and leave a little bit after lunch back to the resort and pool, make sure you have ADR's-dinner at LTT will be very hard to get without one, but it's so much fun. Have a great time.

 

[logansmummy]

We just did July 4th -- 11th 2009 We Loved it, we did not notice a difference in crowds?? We were very surprised, I will say it was one of the nicest stays we have had and we go yearly. With that said we had 2 days of crazy rain but they were off days from the parks so we didn't miss much. We are normally May/June Disney folks so the temps were warmer w/ rain that is it. Fireworks were AWESOME!

 

[danielle782001]

We did a split stay during the week of the 4th this past year...We went to AK on the AM of July 4th and it was empty for a good part of the day...We went to DHS in the PM for their display and it was not crowded at all...We went to MK on the 3rd for their display and the lines for the rides were long but not terrible (Fast Pass is key)...

We did the dessert party on July 3rd and it was sooooo worth it...We were relaxed and not crowded in at all....Main Street was mobbed....It was so bad that when we left that they did not let us out on Main Street...They actually had us go behind the scenes in the CM work areas behind MS...

SSR had a really big pool party the night of the 4th with a DJ, games and prizes....

It was very hot but we did the get out early in the day, go back to rest up in the afternoon and went back out in the PM...It did not rain all that much....

We had a great 11 days in Disney!!!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We did a split stay during the week of the 4th this past year...We went to AK on the AM of July 4th and it was empty for a good part of the day...We went to DHS in the PM for their display and it was not crowded at all...We went to MK on the 3rd for their display and the lines for the rides were long but not terrible (Fast Pass is key)...

We did the dessert party on July 3rd and it was sooooo worth it...We were relaxed and not crowded in at all....Main Street was mobbed....It was so bad that when we left that they did not let us out on Main Street...They actually had us go behind the scenes in the CM work areas behind MS...

SSR had a really big pool party the night of the 4th with a DJ, games and prizes....

It was very hot but we did the get out early in the day, go back to rest up in the afternoon and went back out in the PM...It did not rain all that much....

We had a great 11 days in Disney!!!!!

Can you tell me about "dessert party on July 3rd." Thanks. Is this something you book like a fireworks cruise?
Bobbi

 

[danielle782001]

Can you tell me about "dessert party on July 3rd." Thanks. Is this something you book like a fireworks cruise?
Bobbi

Yes, it is something you book...However, they have not officially announced dates past Jan...We believe they will be adding more dates because it was wildly popular....This link has tons of info about it including prices and pics if you scroll down
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2210496

 

[alisonslp]

we were there in june 29-july 10 this past year for a baseball tournament. We were at MK for the 3rd (special fireworks display) and then went to HS for the 4th. Both parks were super busy but manageable as long as you don't mind standing in lines or just being there for the fireworks. We left just before the fireworks and watched them from the parking lot, then took off before everyone started walking out. The rest of the days there were certainly manageable. Definitely super busy but not so bad that we could use the fast passes for rides. I'm not sure I would do a first time trip during that time if I had a choice but for followup visits, when you know what you want to see and what you can skip, it's fine.

alison

 

[Greyhound22]

We've been the past three 4th's. The first was at MK and I'm still shocked that I made it out alive. I will never and I mean never go thru that again. My wife and I still laugh that our marriage survived it. Our daughters were 5 & 7 and we were there ALL day. I thought I was going to go crazy. I had never been to the MK and it was not the best first impression. We couldn't find places to eat or sit down, the heat was barely tolerable, and we wanted to kill each other. But, we survived it. The next year was AK and it was great. This past year was the pool at Kidani and again we loved it. So, be careful and do your research. BTW - a few drinks during the day wouldn't hurt.

 

[rabit]

i was there on july4 2 years ago went to mk early left before 12.00 noon after doing all we had planned then went back that night for fireworks ,there were 4 similtainious displays going off at once so it didnt matter where you were, i was sitting on the wall just beside small world and had a perfect view