Parking at Epcot on July 4th

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We are considering driving to Epcot on July 4th from All Star Sports rather than taking the bus.

While I know better than to even think about it for MK, is it a bad idea to drive to Epcot on that day?

Does the Epcot lot ever fill up? Will getting out be a nightmare?

 

[Shellyb84]

It really depends on when you are planning to get there and when you plan to leave. I would take the bus.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you plan on leaving after fireworks, yes, it will be a total nightmare.

 

[hakepb]

EPCOT is the backup lot for TTC overflow, if you arrive late, you may park in an outer section you didn't realize existed.

It probably won't save time, but I guess you will be seated in your car in gridlock instead of potentially standing in a bus.

 

[tobikaye]

If you really want to drive, I would consider parking at DHS and then walking/boating o the IG entrance. It might not be as crazy if you do not plan to leave until after Epcot closes. It looks like DHS closes just a bit ahead of Epcot so maybe the parking at DHS will clear out by the time you get to your car.

 

[madge]

We are considering driving to Epcot on July 4th from All Star Sports rather than taking the bus.

While I know better than to even think about it for MK, is it a bad idea to drive to Epcot on that day?

Does the Epcot lot ever fill up? Will getting out be a nightmare?

if you're planning on staying through to the fireworks ... I'd take the bus. we drove last year. getting a parking space wasn't a problem, but leaving was a nightmare.

 

[yulilin3]

I'll give you the flip side
Would you ratherv wait inside a bus packed like sardines after a day at the park or wait inside you own car?
Another thing could be to wait inside epcot for the crowds to leave, maybe stay inside an extra 30 to 45 minutes

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I was originally hoping to get to Epcot mid-afternoon, do our fastpasses, then head to HS for July 4th fireworks. Unfortunately, it looks like HS is not doing any July 4th fireworks this year. I understand that Illuminations may add a few special July 4th effects, but not much (that is what I have read- we have never been to WDW over the 4th).

If that is the case, then we could just leave Epcot around 9 (Illuminations is at 10) and get out before the HS/Epcot traffic gets bad.

We are doing MK fireworks on the 3rd, so we won't be missing fireworks altogether.

 

[hakepb]

If you really want to drive, I would consider parking at DHS and then walking/boating o the IG entrance. It might not be as crazy if you do not plan to leave until after Epcot closes. It looks like DHS closes just a bit ahead of Epcot so maybe the parking at DHS will clear out by the time you get to your car.

Are there no July 4th fireworks at DHS this year?

DHS cannot handle traffic leaving onto that low capacity road. July 4, 2013 I was standing in my bus (going to POR) about an hour before the bus made it out of DHS after their fireworks.

Even if there are no planned fireworks, I would hesitate using the DHS lot.

 

[yulilin3]

Are there no July 4th fireworks at DHS this year?

DHS cannot handle traffic leaving onto that low capacity road. July 4, 2013 I was standing in my bus (going to POR) about an hour before the bus made it out of DHS after their fireworks.

Even if there are no planned fireworks, I would hesitate using the DHS lot.

no, they are only doing the new Star Wars show

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Are there no July 4th fireworks at DHS this year?

DHS cannot handle traffic leaving onto that low capacity road. July 4, 2013 I was standing in my bus (going to POR) about an hour before the bus made it out of DHS after their fireworks.

Even if there are no planned fireworks, I would hesitate using the DHS lot.

If we leave Epcot at 9 by boat at the IG, then we could probably be back to the HS lot to miss the worst of the traffic. Another thought might be to leave Epcot by way of the IG then watch fireworks from the beach at BC (if they still let us do this). We enjoyed watching fireworks from the beach at YC when we stayed there in April. Maybe grab some ice cream at B&C then boat back to the HS lot.

 

[hakepb]

If we leave Epcot at 9 by boat at the IG, then we could probably be back to the HS lot to miss the worst of the traffic. Another thought might be to leave Epcot by way of the IG then watch fireworks from the beach at BC (if they still let us do this). We enjoyed watching fireworks from the beach at YC when we stayed there in April. Maybe grab some ice cream at B&C then boat back to the HS lot.

How long will boats run to DHS if it closes earlier than EPCOT? You can always walk.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

How long will boats run to DHS if it closes earlier than EPCOT? You can always walk.

Fireworks at HS are at 9:30, so people will be taking boats from there until at least 10:30. Don't most run at least one hour past close?

 

[hakepb]

Fireworks at HS are at 9:30, so people will be taking boats from there until at least 10:30. Don't must run at least one hour past close?

The TA calendar has DHS closing at 9p and illuminations beginning at 10p (with the extra fireworks at the end)
F! Is also 9p so they have to clear out the theater...but it seems rather close

I do now see DHS 9:30p close on MDE but Friendship boats like to wait at EPCOT and leave with a full boat after Illuminations

 

[AThrillingChase]

I was originally hoping to get to Epcot mid-afternoon, do our fastpasses, then head to HS for July 4th fireworks. Unfortunately, it looks like HS is not doing any July 4th fireworks this year. I understand that Illuminations may add a few special July 4th effects, but not much (that is what I have read- we have never been to WDW over the 4th).

If that is the case, then we could just leave Epcot around 9 (Illuminations is at 10) and get out before the HS/Epcot traffic gets bad.

We are doing MK fireworks on the 3rd, so we won't be missing fireworks altogether.

Epcot adds a few minutes at the end of the regular show for 4th fireworks. While not a full show, they do pack a big punch. We watched it from outside HS last year and it was enough that we are doing Epcot this year!