Should I be nervous about July crowds?

[PAcpl]

I usually try to avoid Disney at all costs during peak times. It is just DW and I so fortunately we are able to go when most kids are in school. We were thinking about taking an impromptu trip from July 6-11. We are used to crowd levels between 3-5 and July is around an 8 which is scary to someone who usually avoids those numbers. But I was looking on the UTG forecasted wait times for July and they didn't seem that bad. We experience the same if not longer wait times when we go during off peak times. Are the forecasted wait times totally off or is it a slower week because it's the week after the 4th of July? I don't want to go expecting 30 minute wait times for something like BTMRR and get there to 90 minute wait times.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Other than at RD, I can't imagine BTMRR will only be 30 minutes! Personally, not that I want to wish away time, but one of the things I'm looking forward to is a time when I can plan a trip without worrying about the kids missing school! We go in August every year because we can sneak it in at the end of the month when most schools are back but my kids aren't yet. It's hot! But not nearly as crowded. I'm imagining July will be both hot and crowded and just doesn't sound like fun to me! It'd be fine if that's the only time I could go. But given a choice, I'd wait a few months and go the beginning of September when school's back in!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

You will have "8" crowds every day of your trip. That means long lines.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I usually try to avoid Disney at all costs during peak times. It is just DW and I so fortunately we are able to go when most kids are in school. We were thinking about taking an impromptu trip from July 6-11. We are used to crowd levels between 3-5 and July is around an 8 which is scary to someone who usually avoids those numbers. But I was looking on the UTG forecasted wait times for July and they didn't seem that bad. We experience the same if not longer wait times when we go during off peak times. Are the forecasted wait times totally off or is it a slower week because it's the week after the 4th of July? I don't want to go expecting 30 minute wait times for something like BTMRR and get there to 90 minute wait times.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

I was there last July for the first time, going again July 11-19. The crowds are more noticeable but because they have more rides at each attraction open, I didn't notice that much of a difference in ride lines.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

With good planning you will be able to get a lot done. It's when you can go, so don't stress and have fun. You'll have to modify some of your usual expectations because of the crowds, but it's not going to be shoulder to shoulder like it is on major holidays. Take advantage of the short lines in the morning and book your FP for the afternoon, which is also a good time to start hitting up the shows.

 

[Lisaloo]

We go in July only because of our kids' school/sports obligations. If given the choice, DH and I would NEVER choose this time of year. We would be sitting in Maine or Oregon instead.

 

[Oswin]

All of July is busy. We usually go every June or July and summer is just plain busy. It's probably about an 8 all summer long except for a handful of days that are 9's and then about mid to end of July it dips down to a 7 (but I would say a very HIGH 7). You will regularly see 60+ minute waits at headliners after about 11:30-12:00 in the early afternoon. If you're not planning on hitting rope drop, I definitely would. You could easily knock out all 3 mountains and FP+ SDMT and have them done before the noontime crowd surge. The good news about summer is MK is open late and the park can trim down on crowds a lot after the night time shows, which gives you a chance to try to get on the headliners again.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

We go in July only because of our kids' school/sports obligations. If given the choice, DH and I would NEVER choose this time of year. We would be sitting in Maine or Oregon instead.

From 1971 through 2013 I went to Boothbay Harbor, Maine every year for the 4th of July week. Beautiful up there.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

All of July is busy. We usually go every June or July and summer is just plain busy. It's probably about an 8 all summer long except for a handful of days that are 9's and then about mid to end of July it dips down to a 7 (but I would say a very HIGH 7). You will regularly see 60+ minute waits at headliners after about 11:30-12:00 in the early afternoon. If you're not planning on hitting rope drop, I definitely would. You could easily knock out all 3 mountains and FP+ SDMT and have them done before the noontime crowd surge. The good news about summer is MK is open late and the park can trim down on crowds a lot after the night time shows, which gives you a chance to try to get on the headliners again.

This. I am going July 11-19 (staying off site with friends). My 30 day window for day one is tomorrow so I will be logging on to get my 3 FP+ for MK. Only thing I really dislike about FP+ is that I have to decide now what days I'm going to which parks if I want to get on the popular rides (Splash is a must). I don't like having to "plan" my vacations out that much.

 

[Ntw25]

We are heading down to Disney July 9th for 6 days. Didn't really have a choice becasue of schools, college, work etc.

We (should I say, I) have planned things down to a good degree, but I have not included everyone else apart from getting preferences on food and rides. My plan is that the rest of the travellers will "go with the flow", which I will dictate. have been there in July before, dont have a problem with the heat, but the thunder storms can rally intefere with plans. Our FPs are all in place, happy that I got all of the selections that we wanted, we have a few meals booked and a few we will "wing"

I have booked extra legroom on the flight, DME at Orlando, car parking at home, we have water bottles, towles, the right shoes, I have ordered from Garden Grocer and have read everything I can on these boards.

All I can do now is cross my fingers and enjoy the ride

 

[Oswin]

This. I am going July 11-19 (staying off site with friends). My 30 day window for day one is tomorrow so I will be logging on to get my 3 FP+ for MK. Only thing I really dislike about FP+ is that I have to decide now what days I'm going to which parks if I want to get on the popular rides (Splash is a must). I don't like having to "plan" my vacations out that much.

We have some issues with doing that as well. We much prefer trips where we can just wake up and decide where to go. So most times we would make FP+ in advance and then either just not use them or wake up and decide to change them to something else day of. We weren't heavy users of the old FP system and we don't use this one very much either. I think the only rides we used FP+ for was SDMT, Soarin, and TSMM. As a heads up, Splash regularly has low waits in the first 90 minutes - 2 hours of park open plus any time during fireworks and late at night. In the summer, we usually can walk right on splash and ride several times without having to get off the log if we go there straight after rope drop. It's also a good time to hop on Big Thunder Mountain too, if that's a must for you guys!

 

[MKMomma]

All of July is busy. We usually go every June or July and summer is just plain busy. It's probably about an 8 all summer long except for a handful of days that are 9's and then about mid to end of July it dips down to a 7 (but I would say a very HIGH 7). You will regularly see 60+ minute waits at headliners after about 11:30-12:00 in the early afternoon. If you're not planning on hitting rope drop, I definitely would. You could easily knock out all 3 mountains and FP+ SDMT and have them done before the noontime crowd surge. The good news about summer is MK is open late and the park can trim down on crowds a lot after the night time shows, which gives you a chance to try to get on the headliners again.

You will also see tour groups.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

We have some issues with doing that as well. We much prefer trips where we can just wake up and decide where to go. So most times we would make FP+ in advance and then either just not use them or wake up and decide to change them to something else day of. We weren't heavy users of the old FP system and we don't use this one very much either. I think the only rides we used FP+ for was SDMT, Soarin, and TSMM. As a heads up, Splash regularly has low waits in the first 90 minutes - 2 hours of park open plus any time during fireworks and late at night. In the summer, we usually can walk right on splash and ride several times without having to get off the log if we go there straight after rope drop. It's also a good time to hop on Big Thunder Mountain too, if that's a must for you guys!

Good idea. My first rides there are normally Splash or Pirates. Well Pirates is down. I will likely get a FP+ for Splash for the afternoon as well as that will be a time it will be impossible to just walk on.

 

[JennyDrake]

Expect crowds and HEAT. Use rope drop EVERY DAY. Take an afternoon break! Rest, hydrate, cool off.

 

[Mr Wes]

For the exception of 1 trip, all my other trips have been in Jun - Aug. If you plan right, you'll have fun. Yes, its really hot and very crowded, but as long as you keep that in mind when you make your plans, you'll be ok.

 

[fly girl]

We went last year on an impromptu trip July 5-8 and it really wasn't that bad. Granted, it was still when people still didn't get the grasp of FP+. I was able to snag 7DMT at 10am a week prior to going.

With a little planning beforehand you will do just fine. Yes, it will be more hot and crowded, but you know you can't do as much as when you typically go so your ahead of the game already.

Sadly, the low crowd days are dwindling further and further into the abyss.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

It's peak season. If you go and plan wisely with reasonable expectations it shouldn't be too bad. It'll be crowded, but you'll have known that in advance and will have a good time anyway! IMO the heat is the worst thing. A crowded week at Disney is better than any week at home!

 

[kandb]

I would NEVER go in the summer unless its due to having to go when my children are off school. There are so much better times to go. This is from someone who is going at the end of August so the kids don't miss school during the year.

 

[kittylady1972]

We are doing our first every July trip to Florida and WDW this year as well. Of course everybody thinks we are nuts, but when you have DVC membership and can book a room for "free", have APs with waterparks already and can handle the drive...it should hopefully be make it a somewhat "cheap" trip. We have very few ADRs as we plan to eat as much as possible in our room. ALL of my FP+ reservations are after 5pm because it will be nice to get into the park after dinner and still be able to ride some of the headliner rides. We have no plans for ANY rope drop days at the big four parks...but we may rope drop the waterparks more than once! While our trip begins before July 4th weekend, we are staying beyond that and are hoping to notice at least some kind of dip in the crowds, since the actual "holiday" for many working folks like ourselves is July 3rd so we figure most people will go before July 4th weekend and leave on Sunday.

I have prepared our family for the heat. We have been in June before and that wasn't exactly cool by any means. I think the kids will be more than happy to spend a lot of time at the pools and waterparks and I'm hoping we can get some time to relax in the evening in our room and rejuvinate enough to hit some of the parks for the LATE night hours now that the kids are all older. Hopefully 10pm to 12am will be similar to rope drop in terms of crowds and lines.

So good luck to you. I'm sure it will be fine. After all, it is Disney!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I used to say crowds aren't a problem in July if you go at rope drop and use FastPass. But I haven't been to WDW since before FP+, and I don't really know how much different it is now.