July 3rd at MK - just *how* crazy?

[PrincessV]

Background: we're semi-local and spend plenty of time in the parks, so feel no need to "do it all" when we're there and we gladly get the heck out when crowds become uncomfortably high. So yeah - we avoid the MK on July 4th like the plague, lol! We'll be at EP once again.

But... we're giving serious consideration to the MK the night of July 3rd. I've got FPs booked now for our 3 must-dos and if that's all we ride, we'll be happy. We don't really care where we are to see the fireworks; we'll just stop and look up wherever we are when they start. I booked a 6pm ADR so no fighting food lines. Touringplans has the expected crowd level at a point we're totally okay with - though I expect that to go up as we get closer, especially with it being a Friday. My plan is to be on a bus from our resort to MK at 4:30pm.

Am I fooling myself, do you think? Are we liable to get there and find the place packed so tight we can't even get to our FPs?! Or even closed to capacity?

 

[Robo]

"Independence Day" Fireworks Crowd on Main St. - July 3, 2009

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Crowded yes ... impossible no.

We've gone at least twice to MK on July 3 and will give it another whirl this year. Epcot on the 4th for us as well.

We manage to find a good spot in the middle of main street once they close it off to fill in with fireworks watchers. Don't have to be waiting for a spot hours in advance but probably at least 45 minutes to an hour. We usually spread out a poncho and have a seat. Maybe grab an ice cream treat. It gets tighter as time goes by and more people arrive and will be full once they start. I read you will just watch from anywhere, but watching from main street is very nice with the view of a patriotic castle in front of you and fireworks both in front and behind you.

We also have our 3 FP and will do whatever else we can without too long of a wait. Have our dinner reservation for BOG as well. We plan to stay late (EMH til 3 am) ... and have seen the crowds diminish from the time of the fireworks on. We even did a full day a few years back and got lots accomplished with friends who had been on less crowded days before but done less. It all came down to a good plan.

Patience for getting from one spot to another is helpful. Hope you enjoy the celebration!

 

[PrincessV]

LOL, Robo that is exactly where we will NOT be!

Thanks Mickey & Minnie Mom! We talked about it and there isn't anywhere else we really care to be that night, so what the heck - we'll give it a shot!

 

[HockeyMomNH]

We will be there that night too. I have an ADR and FP+ scheduled, but we are really just going to experience the fireworks and atmosphere. Anything else we get done will be a bonus.

We will be at DHS on the 4th. I scheduled a F! dinner package for that day.

 

[JRennie]

Background: we're semi-local and spend plenty of time in the parks, so feel no need to "do it all" when we're there and we gladly get the heck out when crowds become uncomfortably high. So yeah - we avoid the MK on July 4th like the plague, lol! We'll be at EP once again.

But... we're giving serious consideration to the MK the night of July 3rd. I've got FPs booked now for our 3 must-dos and if that's all we ride, we'll be happy. We don't really care where we are to see the fireworks; we'll just stop and look up wherever we are when they start. I booked a 6pm ADR so no fighting food lines. Touringplans has the expected crowd level at a point we're totally okay with - though I expect that to go up as we get closer, especially with it being a Friday. My plan is to be on a bus from our resort to MK at 4:30pm.

Am I fooling myself, do you think? Are we liable to get there and find the place packed so tight we can't even get to our FPs?! Or even closed to capacity?

I did this a few years ago and it was horrid. I've been to Disney quite a few times and know how to work my way around the parks with minimal wait times but never ever ever will I go around Independence day again, the waits were unreal from rope drop to close. If you decide to go, best of luck to you guys!

 

[JRennie]

Ohhh and one more thing to add, be prepared for mass amounts of teenage Brazilian tour groups there at that time. Who I must say are some of the most inconsiderate people I've ever encountered in the parks.

 

[NMK62303]

We will be there too! We have been 4 out of the last 5 years, it's certainly manageable! Actually, last year we waited until about 20-30 minutes before fireworks and tried to head towards Main Street, and they were diverting us away from the bridge in Tomorrowland, back towards Buzz Lightyear. We were skeptical at first but they sent us out the backside of Tomorrowland where it borders the back of Main Street, and they had fireworks viewing areas set up there! It was not crowded at all, we could see the top half or so of the castle, and we could see the fireworks in both directions. They even had a souvenir light up cart and ice cream cart back there too, in classic style It was one of the best fireworks experiences and I wasn't shoulder to shoulder with anybody and didn't have to wait forever in advance. Was it the ideal place? Maybe not for everyone, but for our family it was worth it for our kids to be able to run around and to be able to breathe and take it all in. We are secretly hoping to do the same strategy this year!
And yes, waiting for the crowds to thin after the fireworks is a must. Either just stay put, or head the other way away from the exiting crowds if you can! We like to take in a few bonus attractions then, and let the masses exit.
Have fun!

 

[PrincessV]

I did this a few years ago and it was horrid. I've been to Disney quite a few times and know how to work my way around the parks with minimal wait times but never ever ever will I go around Independence day again, the waits were unreal from rope drop to close. If you decide to go, best of luck to you guys!

We go to WDW every year around July 4th, so we're plenty familiar with things that time We've actually done MK the morning of the 4th a bunch of times and the place was empty until around 10am: we literally walked on every ride! But like I said, we wont' set foot in there later on.

Ohhh and one more thing to add, be prepared for mass amounts of teenage Brazilian tour groups there at that time.

Plenty familiar with them, too, and have no problems with them at all, so no worries there

Was it the ideal place? Maybe not for everyone, but for our family it was worth it for our kids to be able to run around and to be able to breathe and take it all in. We are secretly hoping to do the same strategy this year!

Oh neat! We've seen the MK July 4th show from the Poly beach for many years, so we really don't care if we have a good viewing spot or not on the 3rd; July 4th itself is a big, big deal for us, so that's the important one for us to catch. At EP.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

We go to WDW every year around July 4th, so we're plenty familiar with things that time We've actually done MK the morning of the 4th a bunch of times and the place was empty until around 10am: we literally walked on every ride! But like I said, we wont' set foot in there later on.


Oh neat! We've seen the MK July 4th show from the Poly beach for many years, so we really don't care if we have a good viewing spot or not on the 3rd; July 4th itself is a big, big deal for us, so that's the important one for us to catch. At EP.

Hitting the MK for rope drop July 5 is also a good time to avoid big crowds with many sleeping in after a late night.

We watched from the Poly beach a couple of times as well as from GF and they were nice from there but so much better in the MK!

Last year we did DHS on the 4th just so we could say we have done all three shows. It was fun with the band (although I think I prefered their New Years Eve) but can't wait to get back to my favorite 4th of July show ... Epcot!

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We are going to MK fireworks the 3rd and had planned DHS for the 4th just because they don't usually have fireworks. Can someone compare them to Epcot's and which is less crowded on the 4th?

 

[wgeo]

Reading all this with interest. We have AP's this year and won't again for a long time. My daughter's birthday is July 4th and we've never seen Disney's fireworks and would love to. That's all we really care about is the fireworks - not the rides on that day. BUT we can't afford to stay on site at the Holiday prices and I don't know if we can get in to MK with the crowds unless we get there really early in the day and if it's worth it just for the fireworks.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

We'll also be in the MK on the 3rd. I've never been during this holiday, but I can't imagine it's any worse than any other major holiday (excepting the humidity ). I have found with my own family that when the parks get crazy we tend to have less meltdowns for some reason. I think we are all just so focused on moving through the crowds in one group that we don't have time to complain.

 

[kj2mom]

Reading all this with interest. We have AP's this year and won't again for a long time. My daughter's birthday is July 4th and we've never seen Disney's fireworks and would love to. That's all we really care about is the fireworks - not the rides on that day. BUT we can't afford to stay on site at the Holiday prices and I don't know if we can get in to MK with the crowds unless we get there really early in the day and if it's worth it just for the fireworks.

Would you consider watching from the TTC? I have seen some pics from there and it looks like a great alternative!

 

[snowtommm]

The fireworks are amazing!!! Have fun but expect sweaty crowds

 

[PrincessV]

We are going to MK fireworks the 3rd and had planned DHS for the 4th just because they don't usually have fireworks. Can someone compare them to Epcot's and which is less crowded on the 4th?

EP absorbs and disperses crowds sooo much better than any other park - that's why it's our pick for July 4. It was crowded last year, but not uncomfortably.

Reading all this with interest. We have AP's this year and won't again for a long time. My daughter's birthday is July 4th and we've never seen Disney's fireworks and would love to. That's all we really care about is the fireworks - not the rides on that day. BUT we can't afford to stay on site at the Holiday prices and I don't know if we can get in to MK with the crowds unless we get there really early in the day and if it's worth it just for the fireworks.

MK will truly be insane. Like shoulder-to-shoulder with 90,000 other people insane. Some folks are fine with that; I'm not. But for sure, you'd need to get there early on the 4th if you want to be in MK for the fireworks.

 

[phinz]

"Independence Day" Fireworks Crowd on Main St. - July 3, 2009

Yeah. NO.

 

[phinz]

Ohhh and one more thing to add, be prepared for mass amounts of teenage Brazilian tour groups there at that time. Who I must say are some of the most inconsiderate people I've ever encountered in the parks.

This, in itself, would be enough for me to spend the 4th far away from the parks.

 

[scrappinmom]

Add me to the list of deciding where to be July 3 & 4 - We are not summer Florida people...I do not tolerate heat well...ok that being said - it is my daughters 21st birthday - we are going to disney June 25-July 5. I'm spreading it out over 11 days so that we can hit rope drop, take afternoon breaks & go back. I have my arsenal of heat aids ready. THAT being said, we will in all likelihood never be at WDW during the 4th of July again. We love fireworks. July 3rd we are going to Typhoon Lagoon for awhile, dinner at Boardwalk then heading to Epcot to watch there. Juy 4th we will be 3 of those absolutely crazy people at MK. I have TS inside the parks planned for lunch & dinner. Just to get out of the heat & the crowds. Staying from rope drop to 3am isn't a problem..as long as we can stay cool on & off. So, my plan is to try to watch the fireworks from the train station. Not the optimal view I know, but I'm thinking considering all else that might be our best bet. Anyone have any better ideas given the details I shared?

 

[tinkerhon]

"Independence Day" Fireworks Crowd on Main St. - July 3, 2009

Um--- UGH !!!! We have an early "BoG" BFAST ADR for the 3rd, and early FP+---- then, we are running for the hills--- managed to get an 8:35PM ADR for "Ohana", so will watching/listening to the MK fireworks from there !!!