NEVER again in July!!!

[Troy08]

Just got back-yes it was hot but with good use of FP, we were able to do everything we wanted. Soarin at Epcot was wonderful-the wait was like 80 minutes for standbye. We used FP, and waltzed right in! We also used FP for Test track, I had never done it before, I liked it which surprised me. We all commented why people didn;t use FP more. They key to a successful summer trip, arrive early before the heat gets brutal or the heavens open up, use FP wisely, and have a plan in advance.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I've went in july every year since 1988 and this year I did jan ,march and may ,I tryed to get a ressie for july 11-15 and every DVC and Disney was sold out. I said to ressie's cast member are you sure ALL DISNEY resorts are sold out and I made several calls cause I couldn' believe that ALL disney resorts were sold out but I couldn't get a room anywhere. I said to them this is worst than xmas, she said it has been crazy this year
maria

That's weird, we just got back from WDW and stayed at Pop, and they said they're attendance was way down this month and that they had plenty of available rooms. Guess it depends on who you talk to

 

[Maria395712]

I called several times on different days and spoke to different CM's that's why I told them all, this is worst than xmas, I couldn't believe it so I kept calling and checked the web site no one had a room for those dates july 11-15. Weird is right
maria

 

[tnkrbell]

I called several times on different days and spoke to different CM's that's why I told them all, this is worst than xmas, I couldn't believe it so I kept calling and checked the web site no one had a room for those dates july 11-15. Weird is right

I believe it!! I know for sure that they closed The waterparks to new entry because they had reached there capacity also!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lizanne]

I haven't read all the replies, so I hope this isn't a repeat.

We used to go all the time in July. Kids were out of school, and couldn't go in August because of football (practice).

The most important thing I learned is never stay in the parks in the afternoon. Arrive first thing in the morning, leave at noon, then return later in the day (about 5:00-5:30).

 

[sleeping beauty 1]

We were at the BC from the 7th to the 14th and have definitely decided NEVER to go in July again! We had a fabulous time in the pool, but the heat and humidity were more oppressive than expected. April and February have been divine..so I guess we learned to go then from now on!

We too returned from our trik at AKL from 7th - 13th. We didn't think it was really that bad at all. The hottest day was the 12th. I guess we handle the heat well. But when it is 90+ with 100% humidity at home it is better to be where the mouse is!

 

[renessa]

We were in the world July 2-10 and while we saw crowds in the afternoons (especially 3rd and 4th) we didn't have long waits for rides. We were able to walk on Tomorrowland and Fantasyland on July 3rd...we were amazed at our lack of waiting. We'd do it again in a heartbeat....but I so want to see Christmas decorations.

 

[nowellsl]

I can handle the heat and humidity, it's the crowds I can't stand! I've been in the magic kingdom when it was shoulder to shoulder everywhere you went - never again, I would turn around and leave before doing that again!

 

[PavelB]

and the crowds were BRUTAL!! I have gone every July for the last 15 years. Yes, it has always been hot and a little crowded but never anything like this. All 5 of us agreed that we had never, ever seen lines so bad. Now, I am not a Disney novice, I know the drill but this last week was so crowded that my kids, for the first time ever, say they do not want to go back next year.
Absolutely get to the parks early and avoid the MK pm EMH. I had read on these boards that the evening EMH was crowded but on Friday July 15 the lines actually got longer from 11 to 1 am and did not let up until about 1:30.
Go early!!!
(when there is a 40 minute line for Pirates of the Carib you know that it is crowded!)

 

[Samsma]

We got back on Monday 11th from a 8 day trip- it just seemed even hotter than ususual. The heat just zapped us by about 1:00 each day and we didn't really accomplish much. If this had been our first trip I would have been disappointed. DH says we'll take the kids out of school next time - go at end of January or something. Plus we drove thru the outskirts of Dennis all the way home. Very miserable trip home. But we always have a great time at WDW no matter the weather, just think we'll try something different.

 

[grandma jan]

We just got back last night and the posts that I am reading does not reflect what we saw. On the 15th we stayed for EMH evening and we walked on Pirates with no wait, in fact the kids rode it two times, just walking on. The lines for Space Mountain had a 60 min wait at 1 am but we had already done it by then. We had a 10 min wait for Big Thunder at 1:30 am. The crowds were large but nothing that we could not deal with. The lines for Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh were at 45 mins when we walked by them. IASW was a walk on and so was the Carrosel. We rode everything we had planned and the longest wait we had was for Big Thunder.

 

[CanadianPaco]

These are the type of postings I love to see. We go every summer. Tell everyone how horrible it is. More room for us to enjoy the heat, humidity and the crowds.

Awesome response!! I get myself worked up after reading them! Not anymore!
We were in WDW between hurricane Charley and Francis - it's all in the planning and in the perspective! And...the ATTITUDE!

THANKS!!

Single digit dancing!!!!!!!!!

 

[Okiemom]

Just curious, but if you are at the parks till 1:30 am, I am guessing you don't get into bed till after 2:00 or 2:30? Do you get up the next morning to be at the parks at opening time? Or do you sleep in?

 

[heavenleigh412]

I am just curious here, but if you plan to be in Central Fl during July, how could you not expect it to be hot and humid?
As for the crowds, July 4th is peak season and one of the busiest times at the parks.
We expected heat,humidity and crowds, we got all 3, but we never waited for more than a few minutes to ride anything we wanted.... it is all in the planning!

 

[KimOhio]

we always go in July this year seemed extremely brutal even the extra magic hours at night was horrible

 

[shelby_36]

I was one of the first timers that was really disappointed. I read all these wonderful posts about these wonderful cm;s and i''l I ever saw or heard a cm say was ...hurry uup comeon come on. NEVER heard anything other than that.


Also...Who wants to be up at an amusement park with little kids at 1:30 am. i think it is a tad misleading to say I walked right on a ride...but it was in the first hour or after midnight!

you can walk right on...if you know what your doing.
If you go enough you learn how to use FP.

So if you aren't willing to invest thousands of dollars and a decade or so..you don't have a right to enjoy MK? I just htink the system needs some major work...so everyone can enjoy it.

 

[jiminyfan]

it will make it a little emptier for those of us who do go.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but one man's garbage is another's treasure.

You can find a negative about every time of the year to go if you try. Everyone has a favorite time to go (mine is October), but I have no problems with July trips either. Longer hours, more chances to see SpectroMagic, etc.

A busy, hot day at WDW is better than a day at work anytime.

 

[heavenleigh412]

you can walk right on...if you know what your doing.
If you go enough you learn how to use FP.
So if you aren't willing to invest thousands of dollars and a decade or so..you don't have a right to enjoy MK? I just htink the system needs some major work...so everyone can enjoy it.

Granted we do go every year, BUT, I spent 6 months planning this vacation.
I do mean planning... I subscribed to TGM, got the unofficial guide, read everything, had 2 gameplans for each day (one for sun, one for rain) and ended up with a mostly magical experience.

We found some terrific CMs (or they found us) maybe because all 3 of us wore ears and generally looked happy. Every CM I passed sang Happy Birthday to me.
My daughter had minnie ears from last year with pincess veils hanging down, and Chip accidentally broke them at LTT... no big deal, I went to buy new ones, and the CM noticed the broken ones and refused to charge me when I explained what had happened, the broken ones were exchanged, end of story.
I had 2 water bottle fans and my daughter hung one on my wheelchair, and the battery door dissappeared... that was also replaced with no questions asked.
CM's spent their own time hunting down my daughter's favorite characters, so she could meet them (we found Meg and Hercules for the first time ever this vacation)
Guest relations at the parks was wonderful to us.
My only problem this whole vacation was at the CBR, and I already sent a complaint.

Some may say I plan obsessively, and maybe I do... but I spent $4,000 (not including spending money) on this vacation, and I was going to enjoy myself, and my daughter was going to feel the magic like she never had before, and we did.

 

[shelby_36]

but my point is...does that mean that Disney is only fun for those that have 100's of hours and 1000's of dollars to invest? What happened to going on vacation and just having fun?

I mean I planned...but not enough obviously

 

[heavenleigh412]

My point is you can't expect to go during one of the busiest times of the year, without some serious planning, and not be mobbed and wait in horrifying lines. Maybe the CM's were ruder because of the mobs, maybe they had been yelled at all day.
I didn't experience one rude CM anywhere in any of the parks.

If you don't have the time to invest in planning, go during a less busy time of year.
Or plan on weekends, or ask for help planning.
There are ways to plan and enjoy and not be miserable with the planning or the vacation.
(I should actually make money on planning people's Disney vacations... I wonder if I could make it a business? I have planned 5 in the past year, and just started planning 2 more... out of these 7, only 3 directly involved ME!)