What are the parks like on July 3rd/4th

[oktxregulators]

Hello everyone,

The past several years we have gone to Disney in early/middle June but this year we are coming in for ten days starting on July 1st. I was curious if anyone has had experiences on the following days and could give me their thoughts. I am worried about capacity levels since my family likes to get up early for rope drop then leave after lunch to go back to the resort and take a 2 hour nap then head back into the park around 4.

July 3rd at MK
July 4th a Epcot (Do you recommend getting a FP for Illuminations since it is July 4th)

Thanks

 

[pat fan]

K may be at capacity on the 3rd, definitely on tge 4th. Can't speak to Epcot as we've only been to MK on tte 4th. And its C R A Z Y!!! Butbfun

 

[CAS239]

It'll be crowded and hot.

If a park reaches any type of closure it'll be a phase 1, MAYBE phase 2. If you're AP holders, or on site, or have an ADR later..you'll be fine. Only ones that should worry are those entering the parks on single day tickets.

So say you're staying on site, you'll be fine to rope drop, leave and go back to your hotel, then come back

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I have been on those days several times. MK on the 3rd hasn't felt "crowded" to me until about 5 p.m. since people will be coming in for the fireworks around then. EPCOT is a perfect park to spend the 4th. EPCOT handles the crowds well. It will be warm on both days. I would get a fastpass for Illuminations if you are willing to rope drop the tier 1 attractions. I don't think there was any availability for it last year on the day of. I got mine on the 60 day mark since I wasn't focused on riding rides that day, and I knew I was going to watch all of the special Voices of Liberty 4th of July shows.

 

[BenandMorgsMom]

We go every year as a family for the first week of July. We no longer go in the parks on those days because of the heat and crowds. We find the MK to be insane. WE will watch the fireworks from the resort areas for MK. Last year on the 4th Epcot was the busiest we have ever seen it. You needed to get a spot and not move for more an 1hr before. The CM on the bridge was so rude I took pictures of her berating guests. It was a first. Fireworks were fantastic. We are doing YC CL this year...bring it on. Have a good time.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We go every year as a family for the first week of July. We no longer go in the parks on those days because of the heat and crowds. We find the MK to be insane. WE will watch the fireworks from the resort areas for MK. Last year on the 4th Epcot was the busiest we have ever seen it. You needed to get a spot and not move for more an 1hr before. The CM on the bridge was so rude I took pictures of her berating guests. It was a first. Fireworks were fantastic. We are doing YC CL this year...bring it on. Have a good time.

So if everyone is vying for a spot to watch fireworks at Epcot, does that mean the lines for Soarin' and Test Track will likely be short on the 4th? We have skipped Illuminations to ride Soarin' previously and it was great - practically no wait. Rode twice in a row. Is that typical on the 4th also?

 

[Lothlórien]

Hot & crowded.

 

[bryanb]

I would expect MK to be crowded. Many people enjoy the atmosphere of a very busy day. It's certainly festive and the energy is vibrant. Or (if you don't like crowds), it's annoying and draining, and awful.

I'd invest in some park hoppers if I were going that week, so that you can have the maximum flexibility depending on whether you think it's fun and how long you can tolerate the crowds. I would probably not wait to upgrade to park hoppers... because I'd want to save time in the ticket lines.

 

[Shanti]

We went in 2015. It was crowded, but not horrible, on July 3rd at MK. We did a water park on July 4th & it was fine. The other days of our trip had moderate-high crowds.

 

[Klayfish]

We have been to WDW for many 4th of Julys, including the past 2 and again this year. There's no doubt that it's hot and more crowded than on a normal summer day. What you think of that is all perspective. MK, of course, is far and away the most crowded on the 4th itself. In the morning, frankly it's not all that bad. But after about 2pm, it's nearly as crowded as you'll see it any day of the year (maybe Thanksgiving Day and Xmas the only exceptions). I'm glad we can say we've "been there and done that" because it certainly is fun. However, probably not something we'll do every year as it is a mob scene at night. The rest of the parks are busier than normal, but nothing awful.

MK on July 3rd is very busy too, but not as bad as the 4th.

 

[mickey1968]

I think I may have lost my mind but I decided to take a trip over the July 4th week. I really just want to see the special fireworks shows for the 3rd and 4th and also the new MK HEA fireworks. I know it is going to be crazy crowded and ridiculously hot but I think I can manage if I do rope-drop, afternoon breaks and go back a couple of hours prior to the fireworks each night. I will have an AP, be staying onsite and will be traveling solo, do you think I will have any problems getting back into the MK around 5 or 6 pm on the 3rd and Epcot on the 4th?

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I think I may have lost my mind but I decided to take a trip over the July 4th week. I really just want to see the special fireworks shows for the 3rd and 4th and also the new MK HEA fireworks. I know it is going to be crazy crowded and ridiculously hot but I think I can manage if I do rope-drop, afternoon breaks and go back a couple of hours prior to the fireworks each night. I will have an AP, be staying onsite and will be traveling solo, do you think I will have any problems getting back into the MK around 5 or 6 pm on the 3rd and Epcot on the 4th?

MK on the 3rd you should be fine arriving at 5 or 6 p.m. With my experience on July 3rd there, that is when it starts to get crowded. July 4th, you will probably be fine for EPCOT. EPCOT handles the crowd a lot better. EPCOT also does some great experiences for the 4th of July around the American Adventure in the late morning/afternoon with the Voices of Liberty. Those concerts are not to be missed!

 

[patrickpiteo]

MK on the 3rd you should be fine arriving at 5 or 6 p.m. With my experience on July 3rd there, that is when it starts to get crowded. July 4th, you will probably be fine for EPCOT. EPCOT handles the crowd a lot better. EPCOT also does some great experiences for the 4th of July around the American Adventure in the late morning/afternoon with the Voices of Liberty. Those concerts are not to be missed!

The EPCOT fireworks are awesome on the 4th.. planning on being there again this year ..

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

The EPCOT fireworks are awesome on the 4th.. planning on being there again this year ..

I will never go to MK on New Years Eve and 4th of July again. That EPCOT special fireworks finale scares me, but I love it!!!

 

[patrickpiteo]

I will never go to MK on New Years Eve and 4th of July again. That EPCOT special fireworks finale scares me, but I love it!!!

The ground actually shakes at the finale ..

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

The ground actually shakes at the finale ..

I'm pretty sure my heart stops lol.

 

[kelliejason]

MK Will be packed on the 4th. They will hit capacity early. If you want to go to MK that day, be there an hour before opening, go back to the hotel mid day when the park is shoulder to shoulder and then either go to another park or back to MK later. They will probably be open late and might even change their hours to stay open later. Good Luck. It should be hot & humid, so relax and have fun.

I would suggest Epcot on the 4th.

 

[mickey1968]

I will never go to MK on New Years Eve and 4th of July again. That EPCOT special fireworks finale scares me, but I love it!!!

The ground actually shakes at the finale ..

You just sold me on it!! I love, love, love big fireworks!!! This trip will be all about the fireworks. Rides will happen by happen stance.

 

[patrickpiteo]

You just sold me on it!! I love, love, love big fireworks!!! This trip will be all about the fireworks. Rides will happen by happen stance.

You wont be disappointed..

 

[wareagle57]

I'm pretty sure my heart stops lol.

Bigger than the Christmas tag ending? This is making me wish our trip was one day longer. The Christmas ending was insane enough. We call them the "end of the world fireworks" because we literally thought there was a malfunction and they were all going off at once and we were about to be consumed in a fireball. It was amazing.