Would I be crazy to take my four year old for 4th of July?

[AdventurerKat]

Here's the situation. I was originally going take my son in March. Then, My DH agreed, much to my surprise, decided he wanted to go on a trip together, ALONE. That wasn't the surprising part. It was that he said he would like to go to WDW! (he is not the WDW junkie I am so you can imagine my delight) So I decided I would postpone my trip with my son and schedule the one with my husband before he changed his mind. My son is only 4 and didn't quite grasp WHEN we were going to WDW, just that we WERE going to WDW.

So I was thinking I would take my son down for the next three day weekend that came up. Well, the next three day weekend is Memorial Day weekend which would be kind of a stretch since I would have only been back at work for 18 days from the May trip.

After that, it would be 4th of July. I don't work Fridays and the 4th is on a Sunday which means I would have Monday off for the holiday and would only need to take three days off to go for the week. Also, I have a very flexible schedule (just not sure flexible enough to go back 18 days later!) so I am sure I could take those days off.

But my dilemma....is it going to just be COMPLETELY insane then? I have read MK gets really crowded on the 4th but what about the other parks? And the pools?

I have been enough times that I don't feel like I need to see and do everything every trip I take there but I wonder if we would really have much fun if it is horribly crowded everywhere.

My other best option would be to go for Labor Day but that's 7 months away and even though I am so excited DH wanted to go, and we get to be by ourselves for the first vacation in four years, I feel guilty about my little guy having to wait 7 months before he will get to go again.

Sorry so long but just need some advice. Good idea? Bad idea? Totally insane???

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

It will be busy, it will be hot, it will be fun.

If you don't want to wait until a slower time of year, just plan for the crowds and go and have a good time.

Just keep in mind that it is the second busiest time of year (Christmas/NYE being the first) and the parks have been known to close due to capacity on the Fourth (especially MK).

 

[sm4987]

Did it two years ago and it was great! It wasn't that crowded to me, but it was hot. I think that it is a great time to take the kids. The fireworks are terrific!

 

[Baloo]

Since your son is so young and really doesn't have a concept of time,I'd wait...even until later in the year like Oct.The weather is BEAUTIFUL then and the crowds manageable.Plus you might like to take him to a Mickey's Not So Scarey Halloween Party.

I've done July before and it's just too hot and too crowded for my liking.I prefer the off season.You should take advantage of it before your son is school age!

 

[cinmell]

I suggest waiting until September or October. I prefer off season due to less crowds.

 

[tinkie]

I have a four-year old son too, and the idea of

4yr old + heat+ crowds =

I'm afraid I'd give up and spend the entire trip in the Poly lounge drinking lapu lapus with 2 straws!!!

(actually that doesn't sound half-bad!)

BUT -
that is because I know my own son's personality (let's just say he has his own agenda) yours may be perfectly content.

If you had the choice to wait until off-season, I would but if not GO it's better than being at home!

 

[madscrapper]

Take advantage of not having to worry about you child's school schedule and go in the off season. They'll be plenty of opportunities to go in the summer and over spring break when he is older.
Jeannine

 

[AdventurerKat]

We went to MNSSHP last year and had a blast. However, this year is an adult's only trip at that time so I can't take him then.

I guess in the grand scheme of things the few weeks from the 4th to Labor Day aren't that big of a deal. I know it will still be hot at Labor Day but less crowded. I went there with friends a couple of years ago at that time.

I guess I am just feeling really bad about not taking him earlier. I will have to get over that. Its not like he isn't going twice this year (whenever I take him and then for the week prior to Xmas with all of DHs family there as well)

Or who knows, maybe work wouldn't care if I took a couple more days off in May. I took that job because they told me that I would have ALOT of flexibility/ability to take time off. Maybe its time to put that to the test. hee hee.

 

[KFISCHER]

I was at Magic Kingdom on Dec. 31st.

It was elbow to elbow.......all day and night.
July 4th will be the same.

There were plenty of parents out with babies, and very, very young children. Because the parents all wanted to stay up till midnight to see the fireworks, that meant the kids had to as well.

All those kids, if they weren't crying, etc, were all zonked out at 12 midnight.

I'll let you draw your own conclusion as to whether keeping a baby in a stroller up past midnight in a theme park when it's filled to capacity is proper or not.

But now you add in 90 degrees and humidity to match on July 4th, and I respectfully suggest you'd be better off thinking about a different time.

 

[AdventurerKat]

Originally posted by KFISCHER


I'll let you draw your own conclusion as to whether keeping a baby in a stroller up past midnight in a theme park when it's filled to capacity is proper or not.

Well, I certainly don't think it is if it is truly "midnight" to your children.

We do have one luxury from being from the West Coast when we travel to WDW however, to us its only 9:00 at midnight. I had my son out at 11:00 p.m. the first night we were at WDW our last trip but to him, it was 8:00. He usually does not go to bed til 8:30 at home and when we are on vacation, yes, I might let him stay up a little longer. But never would I dream of keeping him up til 3:00 in the morning in a crowded theme park (our midnight) so I could see fireworks or anything for that matter.

 

[pluto's fan]

My family and I went to WDW on July 4th back in 2001. I really thought that it was going to be extremely crowded but to my surprise it wasn't as crowded as I thought. ( We even had the Mears bus from the airporrt to ourselves!) We had the character dinner at Chef Mickey's and then headed for the MK, did a couple of rides and then watched the fireworks...which on the 4th are fantastic. We had a wonderful time and will be going back July 4th, 2006. What ever you decide, have a wonderful time

 

[tcfdick]

I've been to the MK for the 4th of July with a 4 yr. old. It's really crowded, but the fireworks are fantastic. They were better than any that I've ever seen anywhere else. It was so worth going, but we didn't go on many rides. I let my DS play that day instead of doing the rides. We went to Tom Sawyer's Island and he played at the arcade by Space Mountain and at Donald's Boat. It was a fun day, just crowded!

 

[MouseClubMom]

Crowds and HEAT. I would avoid July 4th if possible! If you do decide to go, try visiting EPCOT or the Studios on the 4th and the MK another day.

Good luck!
MCMom