What's up with the July 4th Crowd Level??

[Biscuitsmom31]

I saw on touringplans best days calendar that July 4th crowds are predicted at a level 8. Actually, almost the entire month on July is at an 8. I'm going to the world from August 10-19 and the first two days are listed at a 9. I knew it would be crowded - but worse than July 4th??

 

[TweedleDum]

That is strange. I went on July 4th about four years ago and it was horrible, you couldn't move anywhere. The ferry was so crowded we were jammed like sardines. We were actually so close that a little kid accidently took a pee on my leg!

 

[Leota]

We were actually so close that a little kid accidently took a pee on my leg!

Sorry, but that was pretty funny......

I would expect the 4th to be packed like previous years. DS is going with 3 of his friends for their HS Graduation Trip over the 4th. They already made ressies at Narcoossees so they can eat & watch the Fireworks from there.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I saw on touringplans best days calendar that July 4th crowds are predicted at a level 8. Actually, almost the entire month on July is at an 8. I'm going to the world from August 10-19 and the first two days are listed at a 9. I knew it would be crowded - but worse than July 4th??

It could be worse. You could be arriving on the 3rd of August and have 9's for almost every single day of your trip! That is, of course, our schedule. Nobody has been able to accurately explain to me WHY the first week of August is the absolute most crowded week of the entire year behind Easter and Christmas. That makes absolutely zero sense to me!

 

[bwbuddy5]

I saw on touringplans best days calendar that July 4th crowds are predicted at a level 8. Actually, almost the entire month on July is at an 8. I'm going to the world from August 10-19 and the first two days are listed at a 9. I knew it would be crowded - but worse than July 4th??

That's why I don't use touringplans or UG any longer. There's no way July 4 will be less crowded than August.

 

[wdwguide]

It could be worse. You could be arriving on the 3rd of August and have 9's for almost every single day of your trip! That is, of course, our schedule. Nobody has been able to accurately explain to me WHY the first week of August is the absolute most crowded week of the entire year behind Easter and Christmas. That makes absolutely zero sense to me!

Early August is still fairly busy, but by the end of the month the parks are pretty dead. July 4 is probably one of the two busiest days in the parks (the other being New Year's Eve).

Going to WDW (especially Epcot) on these days is a lot of fun IF you are there to enjoy the atmosphere and feel comfortable in HUGE crowds. It's not a good day to go on rides (at least not any of the headlining attractions).

 

[civileng68]

That information they listed in incorrect.

I dont use TP anymore either. I've found it to be incorrect more than correct.

On 2 of the early 2005 trips I took, they were VERY wrong.

Anyways, July 4, will be a nightmare. It is every year and was even this past 2005 year. So, they are simply mistaken.

 

[new_mouser]

Maybe it rained one year on July 4th, scaring away some of the crowds?

I would think early August would be crowded as folks plan one last hurrah before school starts.

 

[civileng68]

Maybe it rained one year on July 4th, scaring away some of the crowds?

I would think early August would be crowded as folks plan one last hurrah before school starts.

Im sure it rained "one year" on July 4, but in 2005 it was hot and sunny.

 

[lovevacations]

I emailed them once using the contact us link on the touringplans.com website and got an answer to my question very quickly. I would ask why.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Well, I follow the crowd levels on the website, not the ones in the book. Those numbers are adjusted as they monitor things like hotel reservations. My week did NOT start out with 9's on six out of my eight park days, but that's where it stands now.

I realize it will be more crowded than the END of August, but with no special events or holidays it boggles my mind that the first week will be jam packed. Whatever the crowds turn out to be we are still going that week. All 5 of us have plane tickets and DH doesn't have any other time off that DS is out of school so we're stuck. We have never been when it has been super busy, so we may be in for a rough time. I DO have all of my ADRs done though, so at least we will have spectacular dining experiences!

 

[civileng68]

Well, I follow the crowd levels on the website, not the ones in the book. Those numbers are adjusted as they monitor things like hotel reservations. My week did NOT start out with 9's on six out of my eight park days, but that's where it stands now.

I realize it will be more crowded than the END of August, but with no special events or holidays it boggles my mind that the first week will be jam packed. Whatever the crowds turn out to be we are still going that week. All 5 of us have plane tickets and DH doesn't have any other time off that DS is out of school so we're stuck. We have never been when it has been super busy, so we may be in for a rough time. I DO have all of my ADRs done though, so at least we will have spectacular dining experiences!

Just a tip: While crowds can be bad, they also keep the closing time much later. As someone who goes to disney NON STOP, a hint would be to just use the day to enjoy the parks, do the less crowded stuff.

The secret is to do the big attractions after the fireworks (at MK). If the park is open another hour or two, BINGO!

We do this all of the time. When we were there this month, it was very crowded, but, we waited until after Wishes and casually walked to frontierland and BTMRR and Splash were WALK ON WAITS!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't think any of us can stay awake for MK closing!

At home DH goes to work at 3 AM, which means he goes to bed at 8 PM. DS9 is awake at 6:30 every morning, even earlier if it is the weekend because he wants to start playing as early as possible! Even if we nap midday I don't see us closing the parks at night. On the other hand, we are a force to be reckoned with in the morning. We will be up, dressed, showered, and done with breakfast every single day by 7:30 AM at the latest. We do have a breakfast ADR at Boma for 7:30 one morning, but we aren't trying to get anywhere by 8 AM that day.

When we went to MNSSHP last year DS was ready to leave at 10 PM. He just can't handle those late nights!

 

[Mayoraz]

First trip to WDW from 6/24 to 7/8, we (2 adults, 2 kids) plan to skip theme parks that day. What else can we do? My wife says shopping (not to be surprissed), not a bad idea because mexican prices are higher than some in the US.

 

[wdwguide]

First trip to WDW from 6/24 to 7/8, we (2 adults, 2 kids) plan to skip theme parks that day. What else can we do? My wife says shopping (not to be surprissed), not a bad idea because mexican prices are higher than some in the US.

I wouldn't skip them. At least watch the fireworks from the International Gateway or the beach near the Poly, or you'll be missing out on what could be a major highlight of your vacation. Or see Sorcery in the Sky if they have it, that's also an awesome fireworks show.

BTW, anyone know what the current holiday fireworks setup is at the Magic Kingdom? Do they still do perimeter fireworks?

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I thought the "touring plans" people were supposed to be experts on WDW. Why, when I've heard from many of you that MK closes every 4th of July due to capacity crowds, do they have the crowd level at an 8? Are they predicting a bird flu outbreak or something?

 

[bwbuddy5]

I thought the "touring plans" people were supposed to be experts on WDW. Why, when I've heard from many of you that MK closes every 4th of July due to capacity crowds, do they have the crowd level at an 8? Are they predicting a bird flu outbreak or something?

They have instead shifted their focus to low-quality podcasts, that also seem to be steadily falling in ITunes popularity.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

You see, it's things like this that put me back on the fence about subscribing to TGM. Maybe I DO need a subscription. Maybe I AM a complete imbecile when it comes to planning my own vacation.