Ugh. Help me decide two things, please!

[Mackysmycat]

1. We wanted to go for my daughters birthday which is July 4th. I know it will be hot and crazy busy. Are we insane? Should we really try and pick a different time, or if we go in knowing it will be hot and busy and knowing how to maximize FP's and having pool downtime during part of the day, we'll be ok?

2. We can't decide between DLH and GCH. We've stayed at the GCH before and love how close it is. Can't beat it. But we really like the idea of the water slides at DLH, and it will be hot so a perfect time to make good use of them. Has anyone been since the new wate rslides and is it worth it, over the GCH?

 

[coaches24]

I think if you are prepared you can have a great time no matter how busy. Problems usually arise when you underestimate the crowds or just don't plan things out at all.

 

[skiingfast]

1. Don't feel like you have to go to the parks on DD's birthday, she can celebrate it the whole visit if she would like. If you are worried about crowds just try leaving midday as people move in faster for the fireworks, and go to DCA.

And yes if you are able to use a runner, grab FPs quickly and use them over the afternoon and evening.

2. Going during the hot summer I'd probably choose the fun pool, and fun Disney rooms for DD too.

 

[HydroGuy]

1. We wanted to go for my daughters birthday which is July 4th. I know it will be hot and crazy busy. Are we insane? Should we really try and pick a different time, or if we go in knowing it will be hot and busy and knowing how to maximize FP's and having pool downtime during part of the day, we'll be ok?

First, the heat at DLR is an area for debate around here. Aside from the occasional heat wave, it is usually just not that hot at DLR IMO. High temps in the mid-80's sounds to me as close to perfect as one can get.

See "Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

Further, staying at a nearby hotel just makes this all the easier.

In the end it is a crapshoot because you might end up there during a heat wave. We have been lucky and never had a summer trip during a heat wave. Last summer we were there during a cold wave. (!) Highs never got above about 72.

See "Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

and

Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

Now for crowds. Hard to say but reports about July 4 the last few summers said crowds were not too bad.

OK, so even if it is crowded and hot, with a nearby hotel and pool DLR is still totally doable.

Yours is not the first post use the word "insane" regarding summer trips and I think in general the issue is vastly exaggerated - except in cases of people who do zero research and do all the wrong things and make all the classic mistakes. But then those people might be better off not going to DLR at all.

2. We can't decide between DLH and GCH. We've stayed at the GCH before and love how close it is. Can't beat it. But we really like the idea of the water slides at DLH, and it will be hot so a perfect time to make good use of them. Has anyone been since the new wate rslides and is it worth it, over the GCH?

Sorry, not at DLH. The slides do look fun though.

 

[CamoMama]

I'll be right there with you being insane on the 4th of July. I went in 2010, around the 10th of July, I think and the weather was awesome. It was between 75 and 80 during the day, but cooled down considerably at night. So much so that we actually had to buy hoodies the first evening we were there.

Carsland will have only been open for 2 and a half weeks by then as well, so expect crowds at DCA as well.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

If you stay at the GCH can you use the waterslides at the DLH? I have no clue....but maybe they let all Disney resort guests use the DLH pool. Also....my niece went to DL a few years ago on July 4th and had a GREAT time. She was a teenager at the time, so she might have had more patience for waiting in line than a young child would (not sure how old your daughter is). She said the fireworks were amazing!

 

[skiingfast]

If you stay at the GCH can you use the waterslides at the DLH? I have no clue....but maybe they let all Disney resort guests use the DLH pool.

You can't pool hop at DLR. Each hotel has a pool area for its own guests. If you hotel's pool is closed you may access on of the other's pool areas.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Hi! Lilly and I celebrated her 7th B-day *7/3* in 2010 - our park days were 7/3-7/6 we had a fantastic time and other than the evening of the 4th crowds were low to moderate, the 1st few hours of each day were blissful and cool, it cooled down in the evenings too, I didn't bring any cool weather clothes with us, I finally broke down and bought her a $20 Mickey sweatshirt. My opinion use to be that holiday weekends were a fabulous time to visit the parks, that changed when all CA got the monthly payment AP option, I think a lot of people took advantage of that and when you can live 8 hours from DLR and are still in CA or 10 minutes from DLR why not go with the AP that has no block outs.... Next year I'm hoping to go for my birthday ~ 8/8.

 

[NVDisMom]

DisneyMomma my eldest DD's bday is 8/8 too! We have done that time frame, as well as June for DD2's bday. Both were busy, one August was a heat wave, but we will probably be doing both again this year. Its just too much fun to say no.

Personally, I'd stay at GCH since you have the easy entrance to DCA. It would be so easy to play in the pool while waiting for your fast pass window at GRRR and then go back to the pool.

We found the best way to beat the heat was to utilize the splash areas, get good and wet and then go ride rides. Southern Ca air conditioning works well, so plan down times in the middle of the day to see Aladdin, do Animation Academy, see Billy Hill, etc. We like to take apicnic to Tom Sawyer Island too. Find a shady spot, enjoy a leisurely lunch and play in the cool caves.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DisneyMomma my eldest DD's bday is 8/8 too!

Cool, lately when giving my birth date *dr appts* people comment on what a neat birthday I have, being born in the 80s adds to it I suppose, I say "It'd be really cool if I'd been born 7 years later - 8/8/88"

 

[pixiewings71]

I've been over the 4th and it wasn't horrible. Remember APs are blocked unless you have a Premium or Premier so that helps keep crowds lower. It does get hot, it does get crowded but if you know that going in you'll be good. I'm actually looking at around the same date, my DD15 turns 16 on 7-8 so I'm considering a Mother/Daughter trip for the 2 of us.

 

[Mackysmycat]

Don't feel like you have to go to the parks on DD's birthday, she can celebrate it the whole visit if she would like.

It's that I WANT to. My daughter was born on July 4th but we live in Canada so it's not a special day here (we celebrate Canada day July 1st) - so I've always thought it would be cool for her to be in the US on her birthday - so she can have fireworks.

And yes if you are able to use a runner, grab FPs quickly and use them over the afternoon and evening.

My daughter and I are the runners and are FP queens. (ok she's a princess)

As for the weather, having only gone during Spring and Fall, even if it's not scorching hot, I'm sure it will be warmer than we are used to. So that's a plus.

Personally, I'd stay at GCH since you have the easy entrance to DCA.

See this is the thing - it is closer and when it's hotter and busier that is so appealing. But the new waterslides are pulling me to DLH!

Ugh - what to do - still! haha

 

[the donut]

See this is the thing - it is closer and when it's hotter and busier that is so appealing. But the new waterslides are pulling me to DLH!

Ugh - what to do - still! haha

I'm not going to be much help here because I'm going to vouch for the DLH waterslides (they are a lot of fun) but my favorite thing to do on a hot day is to ride grizzly river rapids with a swimsuit on underneath your clothes, get completely soaked, and then head to the pools at GCH. Awesome!

How old is your daughter? The slides at the DLH are more of a water play area - maybe better than the GCH pools if your kid is not the strongest swimmer.

 

[Mackysmycat]

I love this board. Each reply is so helpful.

How old is your daughter? The slides at the DLH are more of a water play area - maybe better than the GCH pools if your kid is not the strongest swimmer.

My daughter will be 9 and my son is 11. Both good swimmers.