Please help with park planning

[njmousefest]

Or tell me I'm nuts...Probably booking a trip in 2016 after school ends. That puts me in summer. I know, hot, humid, smelly, crowded. Will have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so will probably do morning, take afternoon break and then go back for dinner.

Am I nuts if I go week of July 2nd or 3rd? I know it's 4th of July but still might be fun. And there will be 3 adults so we might be able to utilize a FP+ strategy with rider swap to maximize a few things. And I am leaning toward booking on property, so we'll avoid parking lots. And our 15th wedding anniversary is July 6th, so as long as we don't kill each other we'll be able to hopefully have a nice celebration...

 

[Nancyg56]

It will be crazy busy so I would plan onsite for sure. I am not a good resource for summer planning, just returned from an August trip snd I'm still scarred! Lol!!!

 

[MataHari22]

I can understand that families need to go when the kids are out of school, but no way would I go during those very peak times when there is the possibility of park closing. I could not enjoy myself with shoulder to shoulder crowds, but if that doesn't bother you guys, go for it. Way too hot and crowded for me.

 

[caroline1851]

Take them out of school instead. They're still young that it doesn't matter at all. Go when it's less crowded and less hot.

 

[loves to dive]

What the heck, I'll be the one who says go for it. It could be because I'm from Georgia but the heat isn't an issue for me, I'm betting just about anywhere you are with the exception of the extreme north you are going to find high temps in the summer. They have pools, stay on site, take breaks, book your fast passes.

 

[sharonabe]

July 4th week is the 3rd busiest week of the year behind Christmas and Easter. As PP said, there will be some kind of closing at MK on the 4th, so you will have wall-to-wall people.

Unless you are a teacher and can't take off from school, I echo the others who say take your oldest out of school and go in late April or early May. OR wait until late in Aug or first of Sept. Crowd level will be so much better.

 

[mjkacmom]

My girls had a dance competition there that week several years ago, and will again this July 4th. We didn't get tickets the last time, and we won't this time, either.

 

[njmousefest]

Unfortunately teacher in the group doesn't want to try and take unpaid time off and have lesson plans done for the week...I've tried talking her into it, not happening.
Last year we were there end of April beginning of May. This was supposed to be a quieter time and it seemed close to crazy busy. Wait times for rides were well over an hour. 7DMT was at 120 minutes most of the week. Epcot had cars parked on the grass areas. I wouldn't say wall to wall people, but definitely interesting navigating with a stroller.

Not sure if there's really a low crowd there any more. Maybe a crowded and more crowded...

 

[sharonabe]

Not sure if there's really a low crowd there any more. Maybe a crowded and more crowded...

That's probably true, but you are still considering the THIRD MOST crowded week of the year. It will make your April/May visit seem like a cake walk. Please try to talk her into any week but that one.

 

[Nancyg56]

Unfortunately teacher in the group doesn't want to try and take unpaid time off and have lesson plans done for the week...I've tried talking her into it, not happening.
Last year we were there end of April beginning of May. This was supposed to be a quieter time and it seemed close to crazy busy. Wait times for rides were well over an hour. 7DMT was at 120 minutes most of the week. Epcot had cars parked on the grass areas. I wouldn't say wall to wall people, but definitely interesting navigating with a stroller.

Not sure if there's really a low crowd there any more. Maybe a crowded and more crowded...

There is crowded, more crowded, and crazy crowded. You are choosing insane crowded.

 

[librarymom2007]

Do you have to go that week? Out of all weeks in the summer that will be the most crowded. try and go in June, it won't be nearly as crowded or hot. We went June 13-19 last year and crowds weren't terrible.

 

[bluezy]

I agree with the PP who suggested going a week or two earlier. We always go either the 3rd or 4th week of June and while it's crowded, with a good plan it's definitely manageable. We were there June 14-21 this year and while crowd levels were about 8 or 9 every day, between rope drop, FP+, and a good plan, we didn't stand in any standby line for more than 20 minutes. And the vast majority of our waits were less than 10 minutes with numerous walk-ons. If you're going to Disney during a crowded time, it will be imperative to have a game plan, do rope drop and/or late nights, and get FP+ for the headliners. It will also be important to use a crowd calendar when planning and make sure you're at the most recommended park each day. You want to zig while everyone else is zagging. I can guarantee you that if I was there the week you're planning on going, I would *not* be in Magic Kingdom on the 4th.

 

[HotMama]

We have done the middle of July with a 1 year old and had a magical time. Yes, it's Florida, it's hot. Yes, it's summer, it's busy. But you knew all this when you were picking out your date, so just go for it. You've already decided to be at the parks early with your little ones, which will help getting in before any park closure. You have a good plan of going for an afternoon swim. I would just make July 4th a pool day. The resorts have wonderful pools with fun activities for the kids all day long! Enjoy!

 

[njmousefest]

I remember reading some trip reports from July 4th week 2015 and folks were saying it wasn't that crowded. Think if we fly down the 3rd, do an easy animal kingdom day on the 4th, then take a look at recommended parks the rest of the week, with all intentions of pool by 2:00 pm everyday and then back for dinner somewhere in the parks around 6 I think it might work out.
I found this a bit encouraging.
http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/07/08/disney-world-crowd-calendar-report-june-28-to-july-4-2015/

I hope end of June 2016 is hot here so I can work outside every day and get acclimated to the heat (Yes, it's jersey, but it still can get hot - yesterday popped 100...).

Another planning question - How is transportation from Animal Kingdom Villas at Kidani village to the parks, boardwalk, downtown disney (or whatever it's called these days)? Is this one resort (animal kingdom area) that has it's own dedicated buses? Or am I better off spending the money at the contemporary?

 

[momimouse27]

Oh, Lord, I'll never forget the time I decided to do that.

When my kids were little, and it was the week of July 4th(that was about 14 years ago). At that time the internet was fairly new and wasn't the bastion of info it is now. I thought...how bad could it be on a holiday? Hahahaha! Oh, my it was hot, and crowded, and lines were ridiculous. If there's any way you can move it a week earlier or a week later, I'd do it.

I was just miserable with the heat and the crowds together. Swore I'd never do it again. I would have voted for taking time off from school, but I see that's off the table.

 

[ghtx]

The best time to go during the summer is early summer (late May or early June) or late summer (late August), depending on when your kids' schools' summer vacation is. E.g. here in Atlanta, school ends before Memorial Day, so we can go late May/early June to avoid the worst of the summer crowds.

July 4 is definitely the worst time of the summer (crowds-wise). I suggest you plan for another time during the summer, and enjoy your wedding anniversary somewhere more romantic than being shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of other tourists.

 

[sharonabe]

I remember reading some trip reports from July 4th week 2015 and folks were saying it wasn't that crowded. Think if we fly down the 3rd, do an easy animal kingdom day on the 4th, then take a look at recommended parks the rest of the week, with all intentions of pool by 2:00 pm everyday and then back for dinner somewhere in the parks around 6 I think it might work out.
I found this a bit encouraging.
http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/07/08/disney-world-crowd-calendar-report-june-28-to-july-4-2015/

I hope end of June 2016 is hot here so I can work outside every day and get acclimated to the heat (Yes, it's jersey, but it still can get hot - yesterday popped 100...).

Another planning question - How is transportation from Animal Kingdom Villas at Kidani village to the parks, boardwalk, downtown disney (or whatever it's called these days)? Is this one resort (animal kingdom area) that has it's own dedicated buses? Or am I better off spending the money at the contemporary?

It sounds like you've made your decision to go this week. I would go find those trip reports and do what they did. Personally, I think you're nuts, but it's Disney and you'll be there and I won't, so maybe I'm the one who's nuts.

As to transportation, AKL has it's own buses, but you are farther away from MK. If you spend the money on Contemporary, MK and EP are much easier to get to/from, and you have the fireworks right outside your door every night.

 

[Shellyb84]

We were there July 1st through 7th (2015) and it really wasn't as bad as I expected. My husband HATES crowds and even he wasn't particularly bothered. Yes, it was crowded, but it's Disney and we were just thrilled to be there so who cares? We took advantage of FP+ and EMH and we never waited in a single line more than 15 minutes. We avoided MK on the 4th. We stayed at the Beach Club (which was amazing!) so we watched the fireworks at Epcot (they were also amazing!) and then walked back to our resort. They also show the special 4th of July Wishes show at MK on the 3rd, so we went to MK that night to avoid the crowd on the 4th. And depending on where you stay, you could watch the fireworks (Epcot or MK) from your resort and avoid the parks that night altogether. The heat doesn't bother us, we live in Atlanta. It actually was less hot and humid than home. As long as you plan well, I would say go for it! We enjoyed it so much we are going again the same time next year but for 4 more days! July 2 - 12.

 

[colagirl]

We have been twice in summer - mid-June (my DH and sister and her DH are all teachers, so we only can go during their breaks). While the crowds are heavy, they are manageable. This June, we went to the park in the mornings, came back around lunchtime, rested, and then swam at the resort. Went back out to the parks in the early evenings and stayed out later. And, it is hot, but we live in the south so I guess it doesn't bother us that much. You can take water into the parks - I would advise that.

 

[dekraut]

We went late June 2015 but we were out of there by July 4th week on purpose. We don't get to go too often, in fact hadn't gone since '96 before that. I am a teacher so I hesitated to take time off during the year too out of a feeling of responsibility to my students. So we went as soon as school let out, and had a good time. We did mind the "energy-sapping" heat (description stolen from another person on this forum), and the crowds were very busy, but not horrible. I read a TREMENDOUS amount on here and in the Unofficial Guide and planned our FP+ as well as I could. We saw a tremendous amount, but we sweated (I hate the heat) and bumped into others the whole way.

After seeing many team leaders in our school and even our principal take extended (week or more) vacations during the school year, I decided that for the first time in 20 years I was going to do it. I am taking four days off around the MLK holiday in Jan and we are going then to avoid the biggest crowds and the heat (did I mention I hate the heat?).

You can make anything work depending on your patience and tolerance to the crowds and the heat. Get there when the park opens, plan your fastpasses wisely and pack some ice water. We took afternoon breaks at our camper and went back in the early evenings for slightly cooler temps.

Have fun!