Questions for July 4th week veterans!

[ktate82]

As far as phased closings, you'll be fine as you'll have a dinner reservation. However, will you be driving yourself or using Disney transportation? I would guess that if you're driving yourself you could have parking problems by waiting until afternoon.

We will be driving ourselves. MIL is disabled, so we do have handicap parking (not sure if that will help or not). We thought it may be easier on everyone if we had some pool time that day, and avoided the crowds. We just don't want to play the day away and then not get in.

 

[mukorasirish]

We are also going during this time frame. We are going to Typhoon Lagoon on the 4th with diner at O'Hana at 6:10pm. Thought we'd stay and watch from the beach at the Poly. On the 3rd, we are at EPCOT for the day. With dinner at Teppan Edo at 6pm. I rented a cabana for Typhoon Lagoon for the day on the 4th. Can't wait!!

Are you staying at the Poly? Just a note - and I get this from the Tikiman pages and my TA - it seems that last year and possibly again this year the Poly might limit access to the beach for fireworks viewing July 4. They had planned to do this last year but due to the storms did not fully implement the plan but instead just roped off a portion of the beach in front of the Hawaii building for concierge guests. My TA was there recently and was told they are considering following the plan fully this year. Just something to consider.

 

[Oswin]

We have a dinner at Garden Grill on the 4th at 5:50. If we are able to get a FP+ for Illuminations, do you think we should be there at park opening and just wait out the day with the crowds or would we be ok to wait till afternoon to come into the park? Our plan will be to eat dinner and then go over to get in line for our FP+.

Honestly, a lot depends on if you're driving yourself or taking Disney transportation. We usually stay at Poly over July 4 and take the monorail in and never have issues. I don't think those taking the buses would either, but I think those driving in have trouble finding parking as it gets into the afternoon hours. On July 4, we usually roll into Epcot between 4-5pm and have never had an issue. Your bigger issue would be finishing dinner in time to get in the FP+ line for Illuminations. The line for that started a lot earlier than we thought it would last year.

 

[mshanson3121]

We will be driving ourselves. MIL is disabled, so we do have handicap parking (not sure if that will help or not). We thought it may be easier on everyone if we had some pool time that day, and avoided the crowds. We just don't want to play the day away and then not get in.

In that case, yeah, you could have a problem with parking. You probably would be better off to arrive in the morning with everyone else, and just try to find ways of relaxing within the park - book a leisurely lunch (if you can get one), take the monorail, have a snooze in Energy (lol) etc...

 

[Cinderella94]

We will be driving ourselves. MIL is disabled, so we do have handicap parking (not sure if that will help or not). We thought it may be easier on everyone if we had some pool time that day, and avoided the crowds. We just don't want to play the day away and then not get in.

Epcot is so large that it hardly ever (really, ever ever) reaches any phase of closing. This is an interesting and helpful link: https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/capacity-closures

I can't speak to parking personally, as we haven't driven in many years.

 

[Wood Nymph]

What kind of special fireworks shows are there? Does Epcot have Illuminations but with extra fireworks, or is it an entirely different show? Can you get a good view of the MK fireworks from Town Square? What nights and in which parks are the special fireworks? When will Disney make an announcement with times and dates?

Thanks. We will be there and I have no idea what to expect.

 

[calablovedisney]

We have a dinner at Garden Grill on the 4th at 5:50. If we are able to get a FP+ for Illuminations, do you think we should be there at park opening and just wait out the day with the crowds or would we be ok to wait till afternoon to come into the park? Our plan will be to eat dinner and then go over to get in line for our FP+.

We have done Epcot on July 4th twice and went in later in the afternoon both times with no problem parking. This year I am going to try for FP+ as well, but since I am doing a split stay, I will have 2 windows and don't think I will be successful. I hope you are able to get them, but if not you should be able to find a good spot anyway.
Oh, we have also driven into MK on the 3rd twice and we're able to park, although one year, we were on the grass!! We stayed until 3:30 a.m. and it was the only car in the area. It looked pretty funny sitting there on the grass with the big empty lot around it.

 

[ktate82]

Honestly, a lot depends on if you're driving yourself or taking Disney transportation. We usually stay at Poly over July 4 and take the monorail in and never have issues. I don't think those taking the buses would either, but I think those driving in have trouble finding parking as it gets into the afternoon hours. On July 4, we usually roll into Epcot between 4-5pm and have never had an issue. Your bigger issue would be finishing dinner in time to get in the FP+ line for Illuminations. The line for that started a lot earlier than we thought it would last year.

What time should we be looking to get in line for FP+ if we are able to get them? I was able to move our Dinner reservation up to 5:30, but there is a 2:10 open too that we may switch to in order to have something planned to get out of the heat.

We have done Epcot on July 4th twice and went in later in the afternoon both times with no problem parking. This year I am going to try for FP+ as well, but since I am doing a split stay, I will have 2 windows and don't think I will be successful. I hope you are able to get them, but if not you should be able to find a good spot anyway.
Oh, we have also driven into MK on the 3rd twice and we're able to park, although one year, we were on the grass!! We stayed until 3:30 a.m. and it was the only car in the area. It looked pretty funny sitting there on the grass with the big empty lot around it.

Thanks! That information is helpful. If we do have to park way out, will they let us drop DMIL and her scooter off at the front or will she have to drive it from the parking lot?

 

[preemiemama]

We have done Epcot on July 4th twice and went in later in the afternoon both times with no problem parking. This year I am going to try for FP+ as well, but since I am doing a split stay, I will have 2 windows and don't think I will be successful. I hope you are able to get them, but if not you should be able to find a good spot anyway.
Oh, we have also driven into MK on the 3rd twice and we're able to park, although one year, we were on the grass!! We stayed until 3:30 a.m. and it was the only car in the area. It looked pretty funny sitting there on the grass with the big empty lot around it.

A little OT, but I think that this is not true. The Everything FP+ thread I believe says the window opens for both stays with the first. @hiroMYhero am I correct?

 

[hiroMYhero]

A little OT, but I think that this is not true. The Everything FP+ thread I believe says the window opens for both stays with the first. @hiroMYhero am I correct?

Yes, preemiemama, you are correct!

 

[Regan117]

The last two years we have just used a VIP guide on the 4th so we didn't have to worry about it. Using one this year to split time between MK on the 3rd and AKL (with Pandora) and Epcot on the 4th.

 

[Oswin]

What time should we be looking to get in line for FP+ if we are able to get them? I was able to move our Dinner reservation up to 5:30, but there is a 2:10 open too that we may switch to in order to have something planned to get out of the heat.

Honestly, I would just keep an eye on things. Keep the 5:30 ADR and hopefully you'll be out by 7:00 or even a little earlier. Head up to the front of the world showcase lagoon where the FP+ viewing area is. Last year, they started the line off toward the left side (facing it - so more toward Mexico rather than Canada), and the line ended up looping back into China. There were more and more people coming in line behind us, but we didn't look back to see how far the line ended up going. When we finally made it into the FP+ viewing location, there was enough room for people to find a spot and sit. We weren't elbow to elbow at all. When the show started, they made everyone stand up for safety. We were sitting on the concrete area toward the back of the viewing area that sloped upward, so we had an amazing view and we were nowhere near the first in line. But if you want to be close to the fence and get the "best" clear view, you'll probably want to check before heading to your ADR what the FP+ line situation looks like.

 

[calablovedisney]

A little OT, but I think that this is not true. The Everything FP+ thread I believe says the window opens for both stays with the first. @hiroMYhero am I correct?

Oops, sorry, I should have said I have 2 separate bookings, not a "split stay". I booked through Oribitz-3 nights at AKL, then 6 at POR, so I think I will be able to book FP+ for my first 3 days and then wait to book the rest. Is that correct? I really don't know as I haven't done 2 resorts before, but I assumed since I didn't book through Disney they won't recognize it as connected. Please let me know if that is not the case. thanks

 

[hiroMYhero]

so I think I will be able to book FP+ for my first 3 days and then wait to book the rest. Is that correct

When your FP booking window opens for Stay#1, as @preemiemama said, this window includes all the park days in Stay#2.

Two consecutive hotel Reservations is a Split Stay (more than one hotel for your vacay) and the FP FAQ has the details.

Just be ready to book for all your park days when the FP window opens.

 

[calablovedisney]

Thanks! That information is helpful. If we do have to park way out, will they let us drop DMIL and her scooter off at the front or will she have to drive it from the parking lot?[/QUOTE]

That I am not sure of. Hopefully there will be handicap parking for you available. Maybe someone else knows this answer. I was thinking they would let you drop her off, but not sure how that will work for you to loop back around to wherever they are parking, but I somehow can't see her having to drive the scooter.

 

[Oswin]

What kind of special fireworks shows are there? Does Epcot have Illuminations but with extra fireworks, or is it an entirely different show? Can you get a good view of the MK fireworks from Town Square? What nights and in which parks are the special fireworks? When will Disney make an announcement with times and dates?

Thanks. We will be there and I have no idea what to expect.

On July 4, Epcot has regular Illuminations with a special July 4 addition that is amazing. The best July 4 fireworks I've seen in person. You can get a good view of MK fireworks on July 3 & 4 from main street and the hub. When you say Town Square, I'm assuming you mean the Tony's Town Square restaurant? If so, then you can not really view fireworks from there. If you mean the flagpole area, you should be able to view them there. The fireworks at MK on July 3 & 4 are a totally unique patriotic show. In 2015, Hollywood Studios had some July 4 fireworks too, but last year they just did the Star Wars thing if I remember correctly. So who knows what they will do this year. Last year, they didn't have official July 4 announcements with times and dates posted until like...7-10 days before. It may have even been later than that, it was ridiculously short notice. But based on the past few years you can (hopefully, but not guaranteed) expect the MK fireworks on July 3 & 4 to go off at 9:00 pm and Illuminations on July 4 to go off at 10:00 pm.

 

[Wood Nymph]

On July 4, Epcot has regular Illuminations with a special July 4 addition that is amazing. The best July 4 fireworks I've seen in person. You can get a good view of MK fireworks on July 3 & 4 from main street and the hub. When you say Town Square, I'm assuming you mean the Tony's Town Square restaurant? If so, then you can not really view fireworks from there. If you mean the flagpole area, you should be able to view them there. The fireworks at MK on July 3 & 4 are a totally unique patriotic show. In 2015, Hollywood Studios had some July 4 fireworks too, but last year they just did the Star Wars thing if I remember correctly. So who knows what they will do this year. Last year, they didn't have official July 4 announcements with times and dates posted until like...7-10 days before. It may have even been later than that, it was ridiculously short notice. But based on the past few years you can (hopefully, but not guaranteed) expect the MK fireworks on July 3 & 4 to go off at 9:00 pm and Illuminations on July 4 to go off at 10:00 pm.

Thanks for the information. It is exactly what I was looking for. We will be staying at the Beach Club with plans to catch the Epcot fireworks on the 4th. If we decide to see the MK fireworks on the 3rd then I thought the flagpole area of town square would be a good place to stand in order to get out of there before the mob starts to exit.

By the way, I love your user name.

 

[preemiemama]

On July 4, Epcot has regular Illuminations with a special July 4 addition that is amazing. The best July 4 fireworks I've seen in person. You can get a good view of MK fireworks on July 3 & 4 from main street and the hub. When you say Town Square, I'm assuming you mean the Tony's Town Square restaurant? If so, then you can not really view fireworks from there. If you mean the flagpole area, you should be able to view them there. The fireworks at MK on July 3 & 4 are a totally unique patriotic show. In 2015, Hollywood Studios had some July 4 fireworks too, but last year they just did the Star Wars thing if I remember correctly. So who knows what they will do this year. Last year, they didn't have official July 4 announcements with times and dates posted until like...7-10 days before. It may have even been later than that, it was ridiculously short notice. But based on the past few years you can (hopefully, but not guaranteed) expect the MK fireworks on July 3 & 4 to go off at 9:00 pm and Illuminations on July 4 to go off at 10:00 pm.

The Star Wars fireworks are scheduled both nights at DHS at 9:30- they have released dessert party reservations to book through the end of July.
Epcot is still saying Illuminations at 9. They also have EMH on the 4th, so I wonder if that will impact the time at all?
We were there in mid-July last year- I am all too familiar with the last minute schedule changes! However, with a 7 pm Rose and Crown reservation I am holding out hope that it will remain at 9 pm. (Though with 21 of us on the DxDDP, dinner might take 3 hours...)

 

[Oswin]

The Star Wars fireworks are scheduled both nights at DHS at 9:30- they have released dessert party reservations to book through the end of July.
Epcot is still saying Illuminations at 9. They also have EMH on the 4th, so I wonder if that will impact the time at all?
We were there in mid-July last year- I am all too familiar with the last minute schedule changes! However, with a 7 pm Rose and Crown reservation I am holding out hope that it will remain at 9 pm. (Though with 21 of us on the DxDDP, dinner might take 3 hours...)

They had EMH at Epcot in 2015 when we were there on the 4th, fireworks were still at 10pm same as they were in 2016. If I remember correctly, they ended up bumping the time in June last year. And wow, 21 people eating!! I think you guys can definitely take 3 hours, especially if you're not seated right at your ADR time. If you guys just take your time, you should definitely be able to use the patio for viewing.

 

[Amanda999]

Oops, sorry, I should have said I have 2 separate bookings, not a "split stay". I booked through Oribitz-3 nights at AKL, then 6 at POR, so I think I will be able to book FP+ for my first 3 days and then wait to book the rest. Is that correct? I really don't know as I haven't done 2 resorts before, but I assumed since I didn't book through Disney they won't recognize it as connected. Please let me know if that is not the case. thanks

FYI you are doing a split stay (that's all it is: 2 completely separate bookings (contiguous days)) - if you had booked through Disney, you would still have 2 separate reservations).