question about 4th of July plans forWDW

[italiamom]

I'll be making reservations first thing tomorrow morning for AKV for next July 3rd to July 10. what do you all think of this? i know it will be crowded but, it may be really fun. has anyone gone at that particular time, and what did you think, you'd do it again or not? thanks, marilyn

 

[Kmango]

I've never been in the parks on the 4th proper, but I have been quite a bit in July. As long as your expectations are in line with reality, you can have a great time.

1) It will be hot. Really, really, hot. And not a dry heat. No, a wet, sticky, "I'm meeeelllting!" heat. Plan accordingly. Cool clothes, lots of water bottles, and take advantage of morning and evening extra magic hours. When I'm there in the heat of summer, I prefer to do the parks under the cover of darkness -- it's less crowded and it's less hot.

2) It will be crowded. This is surmountable. Use touring plans, get there early in the morning, do some things, get fast passes, and then get out when things get too hot and crowded. Come back in the evening. One of the great things about the summer is that there are super-long park hours.

3) It's gonna rain. At about 3pm every day. And not just rain, giant, world-is-ending-style storm. Learn to love it. Bring ponchos, plan to do indoor sorts of activities at that hour. Planning to go hit Test Track at 4pm on a July day is unwise. That's a great time to be in the Land pavillion. This is another reason I always bring a full change of clothes, from shoes to underwear, in case I get soaked in a downpour.

As long as you go in expecting these three things, you should be fine. It seems like the people who have the worst time at WDW in the summer are the ones who are SHOCKED to discover that it's hot in Florida in July, or that the parks are crowded on holidays. You can still have a great time, as long as you plan appropriately.

 

[Sandisw]

We went 4th of July week once, and only once. It was really crowded. Since I can go anytime in the summer, we have since moved our trips to August.

Typically, the first or second week and we feel that it is less crowded than July (not that it is not busy and hot, like July, but just felt like less).

However, taking breaks during the day and realizing that you may have to do a more relaxed style trip (not seeing everything) is important.

 

[disgirl]

Went a couple of years back, almost the exact dates as you-July 2-10 and had a great time. We stayed at the BCV though. We usually go late August, but that year we decided to try it on the 4th. The fire works on the 3rd and 4th were really nice. Yes, it is going to be crowded and hot, but just plan breaks from the heat and use the pools and water parks. Drink plenty of water and you should have a great time!

Happy Planning!!

 

[randy55]

It was great watching the fireworks on Main Street. But it is crowded and very long waits for almost any ride in the Magic Kingdom. At one time we were routed back stage to get in and out of the Magic Kingdom. After going on the 4th for a couple of years we now just avoid it.

 

[r1lissa]

We were just there July 3-11. I had read everthing on the web that warned me that it would be miserably hot and unbearably crowded, so I prepared myself in line with that thinking. Imagine my surprise when we didn't melt away, and we were actually able to get on the rides. Don't get me wrong- it was hot- but we live in Texas and are used to 100+ temperatures during the summer. It was crowded too, but the wait for rides is longer @ Six Flags than it was @ WDW. We never waited over 45 minutes for a ride, even when we didn't use Fast Pass.
We were in the Magic Kingdom on July 4th, and we noticed that around 7:00 pm, people were starting to sit on the ground and stake out spots for the fireworks that weren't starting until 9:30. So, we found a spot right in front of the Walt/Mickey statue in front of the castle and patiently waited. If you are going to do this, make sure everyone has gone to the bathroom first and you have your drinks/snacks, because you will not be able to get out without stepping on someone. It was worth the long wait though, because the Fourth of July fireworks were spectacular.
We would do it again, and I think you should too.

 

[italiamom]

I do know how HOT it can be. our 1st trip was last year, last week of june.
Wow, it was hot! and the rain was crazy. this year, we went in May to avoid the heat and took our grandson out of school. we got off the plane and the heavens opened up for the next 7 days, it rained so much that i couldn't wait to get home and we were in Disneyworld, i couldn't wait to get there, but, i wanted to see dry land again.
we can't take him out of school again, way too much homework, so we're back to summer for our Disney vacations. i reminded them of our 1st vacation in June and how hot it was and how crowded it will be , my grandson and my husband say it's ok, i say, we're going to melt. but, we won't be doing the komando thing anymore, we've since become DVC members, so we can take our time and enjoy resting in the afternoon and head back out in the evening. of course, we will take all advice we find here on how to do the 4th, thru the experiences of everyone here. probably will watch fireworks either at the Poly on the beach or someone here said the Boardwalk is a great place to watch all the fireworks from all the parks. marilyn

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're going to WDW for the 4th next year too! We're going home on the 5th, so we already have the reservations. Most of my family will be at BCV, the others at BWV. We're all looking forward to seeing the fireworks.

Bobbi

 

[ITGirl50]

We've gone the week of July 4th two years in a row. We stayed at AKV this year. It's fun to be there during the holiday because they have a special fireworks presentation at MK on July 3rd and 4th. We didn’t go to MK the night of July 4th, but watched the fireworks on July 3rd on the Poly beach. We spent the 4th at Epcot because there is a little more room to move there.

We also try not to be at the parks at closing and go first thing in the morning and ride everything in the first few hours before everyone else gets to the park. On July 8th, I was able to ride Expedition Everest 5 times in a row and get on the safari by 10:30 a.m., so it wasn't that bad!

They biggest down side...The buses were very crowded leaving MK in the evening that week. Even if we left before extra magic hours were over. It was always standing room only on the bus, but we really didn't have to wait a long time for a bus to show up. There were children sleeping on the floor of the bus on one of the long trips back. Their parents wouldn't tell them to get off the floor. I was so afraid the bus would stop fast and I would step on one of them because his head was just a few inches from my feet. This kid had an open drink on the bus too. I told him not to spill it on my shoe, he let it go and of course is spilled out all over the floor before we stopped. Another evening trip back the dad told his kids to sit on the emergency exit steps and told the 7 year old brother (I’m guessing) to make sure his little sister didn't fall down the steps of the exit. The boy told his dad it was against the rules, but his dad said, “I told you to do it, so ignore that sign.” I was terrified these kids were going to get hurt and prayed the whole way back to the resort that they would be okay. These were not fun experiences!

We are going in June next year, but I would do July 4th week again.

 

[ccigliano]

We went a few years back for the 4th of July and yes it was HOT! But now that you are DVC and you aren't doing the parks commando style you should be fine. Go to the parks early, back to the resort for lunch and pool and maybe even a nap, then back to the parks for dinner and fireworks. Yes there will be thunderstorms daily but they make it bearable for the evenings. We went to EPCOT for the Iluminations fireworks on the 4th since that park seems to hold alot of guests and let me say go to watch them if you can get in. The show is at least 20 minutes longer than usual and percussiveness of the shells at the end needs to be felt in person. They piped in Sousa marches and lit up flags and stars and blew up a lot of stuff. Standing on the beach at the Poly to watch Wishes seems like a waste of the 4th of July trip to me. Just my 2¢.

 

[randomiam79]

we're going the 4th through the 9th...staying at BLT Magic Kingdom view for the fireworks on the 4th then switching to a lake view. probably no parks but you never know.

 

[disneydawn6]

We were there this year on the 4th. We knew it would hot and crowded. They have the same fireworks on the 3rd at the Magic Kingdom. We saw those on the 3rd and went to Epcot on the 4th. Not really crowded and the park did not close or anything. We went swimming during the day and went to the parks after dark... Not bad at all. Some parks were open til 2 and 3 am our whole stay.

 

[deedeetoo]

We have gone to WDW the week of July 4th for four years in a row now. Yes its hot and crowded but as others have said, if you are smart about how you tour you should be fine.

 

[wyodan]

Almost every trip to WDW have been over the 4th and we are resrved for next year from June 30 - July 7 at THV. The main thing to keep in mind is planning. We always hit a park early AM and leave at lunchtime, spend the afternoon at the resort/pool, then head to another park in the evening.

MK has the same fireworks as the 4th for several days, usually 2 or 3 nights, we hit MK the 3rd, then brave EPCOT for the 4th.

 

[katmittens]

We have done the 4th. of July two times and enjoyed it both times. It is hot, and crowded, but as someone said if you go into it knowing that you can plan accordingly. We have done MK on the 3rd. it is the same fireworks as on the 4th. and have gone to Epcot on the 4th. they also had special fireworks. Both are great. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[DVCtinkerbell]

There will be a few thousand Irish dancers at the Swan and Dolphin July 2-7, 2010. Could be good or could be not so good, depending on your point of view.

 

[KerriL]

There will be a few thousand Irish dancers at the Swan and Dolphin July 2-7, 2010. Could be good or could be not so good, depending on your point of view.

FYI, also, the Dance America National Finals Competition at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort from July 2-9 2010. This should not impact the parks much since the kids usually dance all day. My daughter just participated in this year's nationals held in NYC and if we hadn't arrived early we would have only seen the inside of the Sheraton all week. But some families may arrive early or stay later. Coronado will be busy though.