Thinking ahead...4th of July Strategy

[kayteekt]

We're Disney vets, we've come all times of the year, but never for the 4th of July. To rectify that I just booked a CL room at the new tower at Coronado.

We don't normally do Disney during super crowded times, but our kids are getting older (will be 12 & 8), so I think they're at a better age to deal with the crowds. We have other trips planned for the year, so we're not really trying to ride all the rides and do all the things. This will mostly likely just be 3 or 4 nights for the special FW and other festivities. We'll prob spend most of the day(s) around the resort, enjoying CL access, pool, etc...

If you've been during the 4th what are your best tips for fireworks viewing. Since this is an "extra" trip I really don't want to blow the budget by doing a dessert party each night (although I may entertain it for at least MK). I feel like we won't need the food so we'd really just be paying for the FW viewing. They've done away with FP viewing area at MK, right? What about EP, can you FP Epcot Forever?

Any good viewing areas in Epcot that may be out of the way of the crowds? I really don't want to stake out a spot 3-4hours ahead since it will be the middle of the Summer, but we may have to.... Guess I'm just trying to figure out what to expect so we can plan accordingly.

Any other special activities to watch out for? I know I'm already thinking about the Golf Cart Parade at the Fort, special character meets at the resorts and parks, Voices of Liberty, anything else?

 

[Klayfish]

I can't speak for Epcot Forever, since it's a new show. We've done 4th of July about 6 or 7 times now, it's our favorite. If Epcot Forever is similar to Illusions with respect to crowds, then it's no big deal whatsoever. A few years ago, we stepped of FEA and got a decent viewing spot at 8:55pm, with the show starting at 9pm. Were we right on the railing? No. We were actually on one of the bridges heading back toward FutureWorld, which worked perfect. We still had a great view of the show and were the first ones out when it was over. Since the World Showcase is so large, there's plenty of viewing. And the nature of the show (at least Illuminations) doesn't require a "front row" seat.

As for MK, well it is what it is. The hub is only so big. If you want a good spot, be 90-120 minutes early. A so-so spot on Main St you'll need to be 60+ minutes early. If you don't care about that, Poly beach is a fabulous place to watch. Not crowded at all, you can walk up as they start and see. Pretty cool view too.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I have been that time of year several times, and can say viewing at Germany near the trains provides for great viewing even during busy times of year. It seems to be an overlooked area.

While your not really asking this question, I might recommend forgoing the shows and fireworks during that time. I did it once for HEA and waited for an hour and it was HORRIBLE. We cooked and I would advise against it. But if not, then viewing fireworks from Frontierland is always a great option. As an extra trip, I would recommend taking advantage of attractions while shows are going on!

 

[kayteekt]

I can't speak for Epcot Forever, since it's a new show. We've done 4th of July about 6 or 7 times now, it's our favorite. If Epcot Forever is similar to Illusions with respect to crowds, then it's no big deal whatsoever. A few years ago, we stepped of FEA and got a decent viewing spot at 8:55pm, with the show starting at 9pm. Were we right on the railing? No. We were actually on one of the bridges heading back toward FutureWorld, which worked perfect. We still had a great view of the show and were the first ones out when it was over. Since the World Showcase is so large, there's plenty of viewing. And the nature of the show (at least Illuminations) doesn't require a "front row" seat.

As for MK, well it is what it is. The hub is only so big. If you want a good spot, be 90-120 minutes early. A so-so spot on Main St you'll need to be 60+ minutes early. If you don't care about that, Poly beach is a fabulous place to watch. Not crowded at all, you can walk up as they start and see. Pretty cool view too.

I thought that about epcot...so much space. But then I was watching a video from last year and people were staking out spots about 5:30p. Yikes! The whole reason for the trip is to see the special fireworks so we do want to watch from a decent spot. And at MK we do want to be in the hub. But at what cost. Just trying to figure out what's a realistic expectation, lol. Thanks for your pointers!

 

[Klayfish]

Yes, people do stake out spots at 5:30, but IMO it's totally silly. I don't know the exact times to the minute, but we got off FEA at something like 8:40-8:45pm. We started walking toward Futureworld. People were stacked 4-5 deep at the fences, but still plenty of room (you really don't need to be at the fence, IMO). However, if you looked along the bridges, there were still empty spots to be had. We staked it out at something like 8:50-8:55. Our view was pretty darn good, and we weren't squished like sardines. And as I said, it made exit simple. When the show was over, we were already at the front of the pack leaving. We literally got right onto the first tram leaving.

 

[DebbieB]

We did the beach at the Poly on 7/3 in 2018. We planned Epcot for 7/4 but there was a big thunderstorm around 8:30. The fireworks were delayed and we ended up going back to our Yacht Club room to watch them from the balcony.

 

[Mango7100]

We were at MKthis July 3. We actually just stopped and watched the fireworks at the entrance to Dumbo. There were maybe 5 other people there. Couldn’t see projections but still could see tons of fireworks and listen to the music...we didn’t want any part of the hub withnthat many people and the heat!

 

[yulilin3]

Something to keep in mind. This year they are not doing the holiday tag at epcot so there's no guarantee that they will do the 4th off July tag next year.
As for spots for epcot forever the beauty of these fireworks is that you don't need to be by the water, with illuminations you needed to see the globe as that was a huge part of the show, epcot forever is a true fireworks show so as long as you can see the sky over the lagoon your fine
Ive always done mk fireworks on the 3rd from the poly beach and epcot on the 4th

 

[Amy11401]

Is the whole week of July 4th much busier than the rest of the summer or just the actual 4th of July?

 

[Klayfish]

Is the whole week of July 4th much busier than the rest of the summer or just the actual 4th of July?

Most of the week is busier, but it's not on the level of Spring Break or Thanksgiving through New Year. Summer is a "slow" time relatively speaking.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Totally unhelpful response but from reading the vibe of your OP, I found myself thinking you may like a monorail resort for your trip over GDT (although I just stayed there and liked it quite a bit). We did Poly in 2017 and 2018 for July 4 week and loved the convenience of fireworks viewing from the resort on 7/3 and 7/4 and the special beach activities on 7/4, plus walkability to TTC to make it over to Epcot.

Sorry for the unsolicited opinion.

 

[maxiesmom]

Something to keep in mind. This year they are not doing the holiday tag at epcot so there's no guarantee that they will do the 4th off July tag next year.
As for spots for epcot forever the beauty of these fireworks is that you don't need to be by the water, with illuminations you needed to see the globe as that was a huge part of the show, epcot forever is a true fireworks show so as long as you can see the sky over the lagoon your fine
Ive always done mk fireworks on the 3rd from the poly beach and epcot on the 4th

Where did they say they are not doing the holiday tags? And is it for sure they are doing nothing special at all?

 

[yulilin3]

Where did they say they are not doing the holiday tags? And is it for sure they are doing nothing special at all?

I was at the media event yesterday for FotH and I asked. They said nothing will be offered, only epcot forever

 

[kayteekt]

I was at the media event yesterday for FotH and I asked. They said nothing will be offered, only epcot forever

Oh gosh, well that's good to know. Maybe this isn't the year for us to go for the 4th. We were going primarily for the special fireworks.

 

[yulilin3]

Oh gosh, well that's good to know. Maybe this isn't the year for us to go for the 4th. We were going primarily for the special fireworks.

Well, we don't know yet if they won't have July 4th fireworks. I would continue planning assuming that there will be

 

[NCdismom]

FYI. We will be there at the same time for a big dance competition held at Coronado. Staying in the tower. Our dance studio alone is 100 kids and we are just one of many studios from around the country and Canada. And since we can’t go to the parks during most days, we will all be hanging around the resort and pool area. Not that it’s a rowdy bunch, but the resort may be more crowded than you expected if your plan is to hang around the resort during the day as groups staying offsite will also be there.

 

[Amy11401]

FYI. We will be there at the same time for a big dance competition held at Coronado. Staying in the tower. Our dance studio alone is 100 kids and we are just one of many studios from around the country and Canada. And since we can’t go to the parks during most days, we will all be hanging around the resort and pool area. Not that it’s a rowdy bunch, but the resort may be more crowded than you expected if your plan is to hang around the resort during the day as groups staying offsite will also be there.

Is that dance competition held there at this time of year every year?

 

[maxiesmom]

FYI. We will be there at the same time for a big dance competition held at Coronado. Staying in the tower. Our dance studio alone is 100 kids and we are just one of many studios from around the country and Canada. And since we can’t go to the parks during most days, we will all be hanging around the resort and pool area. Not that it’s a rowdy bunch, but the resort may be more crowded than you expected if your plan is to hang around the resort during the day as groups staying offsite will also be there.

Did the groups staying off site get permission to use the pool area? As that is typically against the rules. If they just show up, they will be told to leave.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Did the groups staying off site get permission to use the pool area? As that is typically against the rules. If they just show up, they will be told to leave.

If they will be in the convention center part, they won't be at the pool....they won't tell them to go home....it will just make the resort SUPER busy....

 

[NCdismom]

The competition has group rates for blocks of rooms in the tower and throughout the resort. Rates are good, so many will stay onsite. I was under the impression that this was the first year the actual competition was held onsite, for this competition at least. We were in Atlanta last year.

We will be in the hotel all day and into the night. We were at Atlanta last year and stayed in the same hotel as the competition and the main places we noticed crowding was Starbucks and the elevators. The pool was also overcrowded each night so we skipped that. But it was just one pool and much smaller than Disney.

It wasn’t rowdy, just didn’t want OP to be surprised by large groups if he was expecting most people to be in the parks during the day. On another note, some of the production numbers are amazing and it’s free to view.