-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Begining of July
- Thread starter Thecorsi4
- Start date
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
July 3rd and 4th are going to be jam packed (holiday fireworks both nights), other than that, is it crowded, but it's not like Times Square one New Years Eve or anything like that.
We were down there last year over the 4th of July. I think we went to EPCOT in the AM on the 4th, and then once it got crowded went back to the resort for a while. We had dinner reservations at Citrico's that night, and then watched the MK fireworks from the dock at the GF (they play the soundtrack on the speakers). Just be aware that everone that lives in the Orlando area has the same idea, and the busses after the fireworks will be PACKED - we actually took a AK bus and then transferred to a OKW bus at AK. All of the busses going to Disney Springs were packed to the gills.
If you plan on dining at any of the MK area restaruants on the 3rd or 4th, make your reservations at 180 days out.
The rest of the week, the crowds were high, but it was not like it was crazy insane.
-dave
We were down there last year over the 4th of July. I think we went to EPCOT in the AM on the 4th, and then once it got crowded went back to the resort for a while. We had dinner reservations at Citrico's that night, and then watched the MK fireworks from the dock at the GF (they play the soundtrack on the speakers). Just be aware that everone that lives in the Orlando area has the same idea, and the busses after the fireworks will be PACKED - we actually took a AK bus and then transferred to a OKW bus at AK. All of the busses going to Disney Springs were packed to the gills.
If you plan on dining at any of the MK area restaruants on the 3rd or 4th, make your reservations at 180 days out.
The rest of the week, the crowds were high, but it was not like it was crazy insane.
-dave
Thank you,
I think we are going to dinner at 1900 on the night of the 4th and maybe just hang out there and watch the fire works from the resort. It sounds like it will be a great day to hang at the resort and play in the pool.
I really appreciate the reply.
tigger1968
Well-Known Member
I've done the July 4th holiday trip a few times and yes, expect heavy crowds, but it's manageable. Definitely make dining reservations as far out as possible. MK will do the holiday fireworks on the 3rd and 4th, so we always catch MK on the 3rd and head to Epcot on the 4th. Epcot does the usual Illuminations with a holiday tag at the end that's just insane. The MK show is great too, but Epcot pretty much shoots off as many fireworks and they can get their hands on it seems. Many years ago I attempted to shoot pics of it on a traditional film camera (the days before digital) and the finale of the tag was so concussive and immense that it froze my shutter open. I was sold on that show ever since. 
WelshBatman
Active Member
Crowds will be bad... add in the heat and humidity and it's even worse... tack on the daily rainstorms (which can be quite refreshing but also torrential) and you've got... well I don't know but have a good vacation...
There are upsides but as I live down here, I will not go during the summer and therefore I don't know what they are. I will just say be prepared for rain and the heat and humidity.
There are upsides but as I live down here, I will not go during the summer and therefore I don't know what they are. I will just say be prepared for rain and the heat and humidity.
We've done 4th of July week 2 out of the last 3 years and are going back this year as well. Yup, it's hot. Yup, it's crowded. Yup, it's a lot of fun. You definitely need to have Plan A and Plan B and most days Plan C. The 3rd and 4th are definitely the worst crowd days. We've done the same thing both times (and are planning to do it again) - early morning park touring, back to room for the hot 12pm-4pm and then into Magic Kingdom on the 3rd and Epcot on the 4th. Stake out fireworks turf (train station at MK, between US and Japan in Epcot) and eat quick service dinner (or brought in picnic) during the evening in our fireworks area. Then chill out and enjoy family time until the fireworks. We are considering doing DHS for the fireworks on the 4th this year, but...we shall see, I suspect we end up with Epcot. If you want more details of how we did it, check the trip reports linked in my signature below! Maybe we will see you there...
WannaBWendy
Well-Known Member
Ugh. Never again.
I've done the July 4th holiday trip a few times and yes, expect heavy crowds, but it's manageable. Definitely make dining reservations as far out as possible. MK will do the holiday fireworks on the 3rd and 4th, so we always catch MK on the 3rd and head to Epcot on the 4th. Epcot does the usual Illuminations with a holiday tag at the end that's just insane. The MK show is great too, but Epcot pretty much shoots off as many fireworks and they can get their hands on it seems. Many years ago I attempted to shoot pics of it on a traditional film camera (the days before digital) and the finale of the tag was so concussive and immense that it froze my shutter open. I was sold on that show ever since.
That Epcot 4th tag makes me cry every time. I'm not sure why...I think my brain gets a little like your camera shutter and crying gets it back working again. First time seeing it, I tried to shoot everything I could. Past two times, I just sit back and enjoy as there is no possible way to capture all of it - or even come close.
On the 3rd, Magic Kingdom will be crowded, but not unmanageable, so it might be worth going in. The on-site resorts do some really nice activities for the 4th throughout the day, but in the evening, I highly recommend braving the crowd to hit Epcot and catch the amazing 4th of July fireworks tag they do. BTW, 1900 Park Fare is possibly our all time favorite character dinner - we have had some amazing experiences there.
Three words. HOT and Brazilian tour groups.
But the 4th of July fireworks are awesome.
Oh, you need to remain at GF to watch the fireworks. One of the few times Disney does 360 degree fireworks, i.e., over the Lagoon. The marina area will be packed, but it's worth it.
Edit: on the 4th, Disney hands out little flag pins at the MK to guests - I assume they still do and hopefully the other parks do the same. I immediately pinned mine to my celebration ears - the ones with blue sequin ears and white stars (should have a red bow, instead of white, for all the colors of the flag).
Last edited:
RMichael21
Well-Known Member
I was in Orlando from July 17th through July 21st and then the parks from July 22nd to July 26th of this past year. Expect rain, as it's the month of the year with the most rainfall. I'd say of the ten days that I was there, there was rainfall on seven of them. But, it's not too big of a deal, as it starts out sunny in the morning, and then in the afternoon it rains for 1-2 hours and then it gets sunny again for the rest of the day, at least in my experience.