Magic Kingdom on July 3rd or 4th
- Thread starter voelker06
- Start date
adisneyaunt
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 17, 2014
It was wall to wall, felt Unbreathable for us. Never again, lesson learned.
... and honestly avoid Disney altogether at that time of year. Mobbed is not the right word for what it was like.. in our experience.
... and honestly avoid Disney altogether at that time of year. Mobbed is not the right word for what it was like.. in our experience.
Accident
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2015
July 3rd will be less than normal from rope to about 3-4ish. that's when you'll start to notice everyone coming in for the fireworks as disney does 4th fireworks in MK on 3rd and 4th. about 6ish they will start to switch from disney music in the background to djs and more of a party atmosphere. by 7-8 you'll be feeling what a holiday at MK is like and to leave, you must walk the long way around to tomorrowland as the hub and main street will already be full for fireworks.
I enjoy it, just go for it all day and be ready to slow down once it hits dinner time. I do an ADR somewhere for table service and eat slowly then reappear in the crowd. I also really enjoy these particular fireworks from outside the park so it's a great time for a monorail resort ADR and then getting a nice spot in contemporary or poly to watch the fireworks which is the larger 360, just as much outside the park as inside the park show.
I enjoy it, just go for it all day and be ready to slow down once it hits dinner time. I do an ADR somewhere for table service and eat slowly then reappear in the crowd. I also really enjoy these particular fireworks from outside the park so it's a great time for a monorail resort ADR and then getting a nice spot in contemporary or poly to watch the fireworks which is the larger 360, just as much outside the park as inside the park show.
AMusicLifeForMe
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2016
I have been this time of year often. I would go to MK on the 3rd. The crowds actually aren't bad at the MK that day. They are definitely more tolerable than on the 4th. Magic Kingdom does their 4th of July fireworks on the 3rd, so you won't notice crowds coming in until later in the afternoon. The other reason I recommend this is you can then go to EPCOT on the 4th of July. EPCOT can handle the crowds a lot better than the Magic Kingdom. That park is also amazing on that day. The Voices of Liberty do a special outdoor patriotic concert that is amazing. They also do two indoor shows later in the afternoon which are not to be missed as well. The Illuminations Patriotic Finale is one of the best fireworks finales I have ever seen. I will always recommend for people to spend the 4th of July at EPCOT over the Magic Kingdom.
Klayfish
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 19, 2016
It's not literally wall to wall, they restrict or deny entry to the park when it reaches a certain level. Like Accident said, the first part of the day actually isn't bad whatsoever. But from about 4pm on, it's extremely crowded. Can you move around? Sure, you can. You'll be walking with a big pack of people most likely, but you can navigate around. Like I said, it's about your tolerance for crowds. Normally, I hate them...I get annoyed when there are 3 people in the gym with me. But at WDW, for whatever reason, it doesn't bother me. It is what it is and the CMs do a marvelous job of dealing with them. We've even exited MK right around fireworks time, which is when Main St is at its' worst. I'm not going to lie and say it was easy as pie, but it wasn't as hard as you'd think. There is a pathway kept open for walking and if you're patient, you'll get through fine. We'll be back this year for 4th of July and plan to be in MK at least one of those days.
dkhillerud
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2008
What time would you recommend making a dinner reservation for? I have a late morning breakfast booked for the 3rd because I figured we would need to be staking out a spot super early for fireworks but would rather do a dinner reservation.
Disneylover99
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2012
Does anyone know if the Epcot fireworks on the 4th of July are as amazing as the New Year's Eve finale fireworks at Epcot?
AMusicLifeForMe
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2016
I was just there for New Years Eve. I like the New Years Countdown more than the 4th of July Tag. The finale is just as amazing though.
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Disneylover99
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2012
Excellent news! Thanks! I didn't think anything would be as amazing as that New Year's Eve finale!
AMusicLifeForMe
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2016
You are welcome. I would look up a video and see if you want to see it or not. Personally, I will now spend any major holiday at EPCOT, because of their holiday tags.Excellent news! Thanks! I didn't think anything would be as amazing as that New Year's Eve finale!
Accident
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2015
I would assume that people ate early and coming in to hang out in the hub if your talking about watching from the hub. I don't like watching from main street for these fireworks because there is parts that are a full 360 around MK including from the lakes and the buildings block your side view. I would assume the crowd has adrs seating late and I personally would consider walking out of the restaurant at 6pm to be drop dead time to be able to get into the hub to even try to get a spot.
what I witnessed is once everyone came in for a couple hours and fireworks, they found hub and main street already packed and they just filled it up quick and you need to be before that rush and before castmembers force you to walk behind the castle to tomorrowland to get to the hub.
AMusicLifeForMe
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2016
I haven't done a dinner reservation on the 3rd. I have done lunch reservations at various restaurants like Be Our Guest instead. My family usually likes to get a spot in the Castle Hub/end of Main Street about 4 hours before the fireworks show. We are "show" people, so we don't mind waiting that long to view a special fireworks show. For dinner, we usually get hotdogs from Casey's Corner, get to-go boxes, and eat where we plan on viewing from.
dkhillerud
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2008
I agree! I think that sounds pretty perfect! Add in an ice cream sundae and we should be set!
famy27
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2007
Do you want to actually be in the park, or just to see the fireworks? Last year, we were able to get Narcoosee's reservations for 15 minutes before the fireworks were starting. I ended up cancelling because we decided to do the DVC party instead, but I had no interest in being in the park during the show. I loved the idea of watching the fireworks, but I didn't want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 80,000 of my closest friends. There are a few other decent non-park spots as well. I am sure California Grill is already filled, but you could always watch for cancellations if you want to try something like that. I actually booked the Narcoosee's dinner about 2 weeks before the 3rd, so it may still be possible to get something that works for you.
In terms of crowd levels, we found 4th of July last year to be fantastic. EP on the 2nd was pretty empty after a rain shower. We walked on almost everything. We did HS on the 3rd, followed by the dessert party. After the party at 10:00, it looked like the crowds were thinning at MK, so we wandered in. It was still pretty crowded when we got there, but it dissipated quickly. My older DD and I stayed until 3 for EMH, and by then it was empty. We rode BTMRR over and over at the end of the night, without even having to get off the last few times. On the 4th, we were back at EP, and I couldn't believe how uncrowded it was. We walked right up to Belle in France and had no wait at all to meet her. We were just in WDW for Jan 3-6, and it was much more crowded on those days than it was for Jul 2-4, 2016.
In terms of crowd levels, we found 4th of July last year to be fantastic. EP on the 2nd was pretty empty after a rain shower. We walked on almost everything. We did HS on the 3rd, followed by the dessert party. After the party at 10:00, it looked like the crowds were thinning at MK, so we wandered in. It was still pretty crowded when we got there, but it dissipated quickly. My older DD and I stayed until 3 for EMH, and by then it was empty. We rode BTMRR over and over at the end of the night, without even having to get off the last few times. On the 4th, we were back at EP, and I couldn't believe how uncrowded it was. We walked right up to Belle in France and had no wait at all to meet her. We were just in WDW for Jan 3-6, and it was much more crowded on those days than it was for Jul 2-4, 2016.
Pacolovestacos
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2016
Go on the 3rd and get there early so that when you arrive, you can get towards the front of the entrance before they let everyone in.
bobbiwoz
I'm happy to dance with you!
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2003
Epcot' 4th of July fireworks are amazing. July 4, 2016...we were there, going again this year!
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