We're cancelling our 4th of July trip!

[CottontailCurl]

To waaaa or not to waaaaa? That is the question. Usually I would be very upset at the thought of cancelling a trip, let alone actually doing it but with this one planned for the 4th I think I'll be OK.

I called my parents while they were at Disney a couple weeks ago and my Mom was miserable with the crowds. She said there was a 4 hour return time wait on fast passes, regular waits were an hour + and watching wishes was a madhouse of wall to wall people. When I described it to my kids and told them how she sounded so upset with it all, my daughter asked if we were sure we wanted to go for the 4th when it would be even worse than that. After we discussed it we decided it's really a waste of money to go and not be able to ride on the rides and enjoy the parks and the added problem of the heat plus the crowds sounds like a recipe for many meltdowns. Birthday boy is OK with it, he will be able to choose a day of our next trip to be his faux b-day where he can decide which park and which rides we go on.

Now to decide a better time to go.

 

[Us3]

I have to say that I'm with you as far as summer crowds and heat go. This is just me though. The thought of dealing with crowds, lines, heat...its just not for me. Others may not mind it a bit. We will always plan our trips to WDW during the fall, winter and spring.

 

[Shannone1]

I don't blame you. You wouldn't fine me anywhere in FL between May and September. I don't do well with the heat.

 

[loveDmouse]

Too hot for me that time of the year. I have heard that the crowds are insane.
I don't blame you for changing.

 

[stacktester]

Awwwwwwwwwwww man you guys are being wimpy lol. I guess were just used to it down here. We have a ressie too for that time but my seasonal passes are blocked out so we'll probably do Arabian Nights and maybe Blizzard Beach some of the days we're there. Most likely will be in the pool at FW though lol. I can understand how some of you wouldn't like the heat. It's bad on the natives too believe me.

 

[Gatordad]

there's a florida waterpark pass you can get for $59 per adult or so for the whole year, no blackouts. that's what we'll be doing fourth of july....... and drinking and making fires with charcoal.

 

[stacktester]

there's a florida waterpark pass you can get for $59 per adult or so for the whole year, no blackouts. that's what we'll be doing fourth of july....... and drinking and making fires with charcoal.

Is that for Blizzard Beach or off property park?

 

[MBMacs]

Maybe the yankee in us is running out, and the southern is taking over, but the heat isn't a bother to us. And I can't think of a better place to be on the 4th. We usually only do 1 or 2 rides during the day @ the Kingdom, then do most during the extra magic hours. AK, MGM, and Epcot always just seem to work out and a little wait is better then not being there.

 

[Gatordad]

its the disney parks that have the water specials

 

[Shannone1]

Maybe the yankee in us is running out, and the southern is taking over, but the heat isn't a bother to us.

I think that is true. We have relatives that moved from Michigan to FL a couple of years ago and when they come back here, they can't take the cold anymore. 40-50 degrees is freezing to them...they complain and wear winter coats and gloves !! For us, that is sweatshirt weather, lol. I think your body just gets used to it's environment over time.

 

[stacktester]

Shannone we are freezing in the 50's lol.

Gatordad if you see that special please link it to me. We're going for 10 days in July and would like to use something like that. I have FL Resident PH and maybe I could gett his too.

 

[Escape Artist]

Gatordad if you see that special please link it to me. We're going for 10 days in July and would like to use something like that. I have FL Resident PH and maybe I could gett his too.

The $59 deal is the Florida Resident after 2PM water park pass. If you want whole days for the whole year, it's $99.95, less for kids on both tickets. These are both listed under annual passes on the WDW website. You can start here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...COMMENDER&productPass=RECOMMENDER&country=USA

Enjoy!

Sue in Texas
...where, if I can't wear shorts in January, it's freezing outside!

 

[CottontailCurl]

I don't blame you. You wouldn't fine me anywhere in FL between May and September. I don't do well with the heat.

Hey, did you get a chance to get out and find the outlet store while you were there? Thanks for your 'Live from Fort Wilderness' trip report.

 

[CottontailCurl]

Awwwwwwwwwwww man you guys are being wimpy lol. I guess were just used to it down here. We have a ressie too for that time but my seasonal passes are blocked out so we'll probably do Arabian Nights and maybe Blizzard Beach some of the days we're there. Most likely will be in the pool at FW though lol. I can understand how some of you wouldn't like the heat. It's bad on the natives too believe me.

The heat and normal crowds, I can handle, we've done that. But masses of people who are also reacting to the heat and not being able to ride many rides would be a nightmare.

If we were Florida residents (one day )I'd do it without blinking. I'd gladly sit in a peaceful corner (surely there'd be one?) and watch the madness until the fireworks started. And Christmas, I'd do Christmas if I lived in Florida, oh and New Year's, I'd love to all those someday.

I might have claustrophobia, I was just flashing back to the first time we went into Mickey's Philharmagic. We were finally in the last holding pen before the show doors and the lady kept asking us to move in closer, it was ridiculous that she couldn't see that if we got any closer I'd be hunting down the dude next to me 9 months later for child support. CROWDS

 

[Tricializ]

I can see where you are coming from. We go every year (more lately) from Omaha so it is quite a long drive. It can be frustrating with the heat and crowds but we expect it and somehow are ok with it. Since we go pretty often, we aren't freaking out if we can't get on a ride etc. Our plan when we go in the super heat and crowds time is this....
Wake up EARLY and get to the parks by opening
Run around and do all the rides you want (quick fastpasses and no long lines yet).
Leave by noon and go back to FW to rest, eat, swim etc. for the afternoon.
Cook dinner and go back to the parks for whatever evening thing we have planned like the parade, Fantasmic, Illuminations etc.
Stay till closing

This works for us and since the kids never get overly tired or overly hot, it is great. No meltdowns etc. However, I sure have seen them with people who stay all day at the parks in the heat and noone is having fun. I can never understand why people force it and stay instead of taking a break in the heat of the day. Anyway, either way< i'm sure your next trip will be great. We went last January and the parks were rather empty, but it somehow wasn't the same with no heat! It was nice, however to be able to walk down mainstreet without being mobbed. THe only thing that makes me crazy is trying to get out of a park at parade time!!!

 

[auntie]

We used to go in August..so as far as heat...It sure was hot! However, by that time of year, it's been pretty warm in NY also..so I didn't find that so bad. It also rained each afternoon, and it was almost welcome as it cooled things down considerably, and we would do the parks in the late afternoon and evening, since they were open late. That being said..I was there one 4th of July many years ago..and the crowds in the parks were terrible. I can take the heat or the crowds, but both together..awful. We would choose the third or fourth week in Augusts, when we went during summer months. Wasn't quite as crowded as July. That was back in the 90's...now I think with the dining promotions that run..it could be crazy crowded at that time too.
I don't blame you for choosing another time.