July 4th at Disney World Survival Information

Fourth of July is peak summer time trip time at Walt Disney World, which implies excessive crowds and sizzling climate, plus fireworks and leisure. This information to July 4, 2022 covers what to anticipate for Independence Day Weekend at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and past. (Up to date July 3, 2022.)

Usually, the very first thing to count on on July 4th is added crowds at Disney as Floridians and Southerners head all the way down to Walt Disney World for the vacation. With Independence Day falling on a Monday in 2022, it’s seemingly a ton of individuals will descend upon Florida for an extended weekend journey. (At the least it’s not a Saturday or Sunday, like final 12 months.) On high of the locals, it’ll be busy with vacationers.

The excellent news–properly, no less than for individuals who have reservations–is that Walt Disney World continues to be limiting attendance with the Park Go reservation system. Because of this the parks gained’t be overrun with individuals making last-minute journeys, and crowds ought to really be comparatively low as in comparison with a standard 12 months.

Extra excellent news: after a two-year hiatus, Walt Disney World has formally confirmed that “Disney’s Rejoice America! A Fourth of July Live performance within the Sky” will probably be carried out on July 3-4, 2022 at Magic Kingdom. It was roughly a foregone conclusion that the long-lasting Independence Day fireworks would return after the New 12 months’s Eve nighttime spectacular got here again to kick off 2022, however it’s good to know for positive.

Walt Disney World has additionally confirmed that the Heartbeat of Freedom tag will happen after Harmonious in EPCOT on July 4, 2022. After a two-year hiatus, this finale will make it’s triumphant return–presumably in considerably comparable kind to when it was final proven. Beforehand, this featured fireworks launched from behind the American Journey and barges within the lagoon for blockbuster, earth-shaking finale providing a Salute to All World Showcase Nations, However Largely America.

Additionally at EPCOT, a brand new limited-time patriotic ambient lighting design has debuted on Spaceship Earth for the Fourth of July. This offers EPCOT’s iconic the look of an American flag, and alternates with the usual Beacons of Magic present, which continues to be carried out nightly on Spaceship Earth. The Spaceship Earth Fourth of July American flag impact will probably be proven nightly by way of July 4, 2022.

Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will not do any particular nighttime spectaculars for July 4, 2022.

Disney and America go collectively about like America and apple pie, plus nice celebrations and fireworks exhibits, and it’s straightforward to see why lots of people go to Walt Disney World for July 4th. This put up will supply ideas and tips for surviving Walt Disney World across the Fourth of July, and enable you take advantage of the expertise.

For those who’re already in Walt Disney World and are searching for methods to keep away from the warmth, humidity, and crowds and for the very best expertise on and round July 4th, we’ve obtained you coated. For those who’ve needed to do the “Distinctly Patriotic” factor and go to Walt Disney World for the Fourth of July, however have all the time been afraid of the chaos and crowds, this put up would possibly simply current an assault plan to persuade you to go.

Since we’re distinctly patriotic (or loopy…your decide!), we’ve visited Walt Disney World for the Fourth of July and weeks each earlier than and after Independence Day itself a number of occasions. It’s sizzling, humid, and crowded. Not precisely ultimate circumstances. Nevertheless, the ambiance and fireworks are a number of the greatest in the US, sufficient to virtually make all of it worthwhile.

With that mentioned, right here’s what we’ve realized about profiting from the Fourth of July at Walt Disney World!

Pack Correctly

After we have been at Walt Disney World for the Fourth of July final 12 months, I sweated by way of my shirt roughly 13 minutes after we obtained to the park every morning. Okay, possibly not that shortly, however the concept is that Walt Disney World is kind of a rain forest atmosphere in the summertime. It is going to be within the upper-80s with 80%+ humidity, and it’ll rain for no less than 20 minutes. Day-after-day. You have to pack accordingly.

We predict packing gentle when going to the park is a good suggestion, as extra weight equals extra warmth. Three objects from our Distinctive Disney Packing Listing that we predict will probably be useful are Frogg Togg Chilly Pads for protecting cool, a collapsible water bottle for protecting hydrated, and ponchos for staying dry…and never getting fleeced on the Disney ones when it’s both shopping for one in a present store or getting soaked!

These things isn’t distinctive to visiting over the Fourth of July, however it’ll assist hold you sane throughout a kind of visits. Moreover, if you wish to keep cool throughout your July go to to Walt Disney World, seek the advice of our Suggestions for Beating the Summer time Warmth at Walt Disney World put up.

Avoiding Crowds

So far as the most important holidays go throughout which we’ve visited, Fourth of July isn’t fairly as dangerous because the others. To make sure, it’s nonetheless dangerous, simply not as insanely dangerous as New 12 months’s Eve, for instance. What arguably makes it worse than different holidays is the Florida humidity and summer time tour teams. Crowds, plus humidity, plus tour teams generally is a recipe for catastrophe, and may make your group extra liable to meltdowns.

We are saying this to not scare you, however to offer you a powerful dose of actuality earlier than you count on to stroll into the park skipping hand-in-hand down empty sidewalks with Sam the Eagle whereas lighting sparklers and being handed apple pies and Cracker Jacks by smiling Forged Members.

There will probably be none of that. You’ll encounter congestion, extremely lengthy strains (even for restrooms), and different company in foul moods because of the “sudden” crowds. The truth is, the parks get so busy that generally they’re closed to new company at numerous factors within the day through phased closings.

It doesn’t matter what tips we have now that will help you keep away from crowds, it’s not possible to keep away from them fully except you lock your self in your resort room. Past that, no tip, no matter how good, is pretty much as good of a tip as “go to in September or late January as an alternative.” If avoiding crowds is your paramount concern, you have to be avoiding the weeks across the holidays, not studying the following pointers for visiting on July 4th.

With that mentioned, you’ll be able to positively make lemonade out of lemons, seeing and doing rather a lot on the Fourth of July regardless of the crowds. Right here’s how…

1. Skip Noon – Throughout Fourth of July week, the Magic Kingdom has longer working hours. Most company will both begin the day late and keep till shut, or begin the day early and fizzle out by late afternoon.

The time when these teams “overlap” is the center of the day. Crowds are all the time lightest within the morning, getting progressively worse till about 1 pm, then tapering down the remainder of the day, with crowds once more being gentle the final couple of hours every park is open. The center of the day is the most popular, busiest, and simply typically essentially the most depressing time to be within the parks.

So skip it. Begin out your day proper when the park opens, get a ton executed earlier than it will get crowded, return to your resort to take a nap or benefit from the pool through the busiest and hottest hours of the day, then return to the parks–refreshed and recharged–for the nighttime hours.

2. Do Indoor, Much less Widespread Points of interest – Going to Walt Disney World throughout busy seasons doesn’t hassle us as a result of lots of our favourite points of interest aren’t all that in style, are positioned in air-conditioning. You probably have superior style, you would possibly discover doing the next points of interest is a good technique for you. Asterisked points of interest rating additional factors for being “distinctly patriotic” experiences which can be Independence Day Should-Dos!

Magic Kingdom

*Carousel of Progress — Rotating theater showcasing the progress of the American household, together with a Fourth of July scene and a typically patriotic tone; not often has a line which means you’ll be able to journey repeatedly if you happen to’d like.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover — Leisurely journey by way of Tomorrowland on elevated observe; particularly nice for a calming nighttime journey.
Nation Bear Jamboree – Nearly makes the patriotic checklist (what’s extra patriotic than musically-inclined bears?!); a enjoyable, humorous present.
*Corridor of Presidents – Stage present that includes each US President; except for their mere presence, this present isn’t political–it’s historic, academic, and transferring.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room – Fast, indoor present with singing tiki birds makes for a fast relaxation cease.

Epcot

*American Journey — World Showcase pavilion with performers adopted by Audio-Animatronics stage present about America. Should do on the Fourth of July!
Turtle Discuss with Crush – A cute present with Crush from Discovering Nemo. Add the aquatic displays and this pavilion is a pleasant respite from the warmth.
Impressions de France (Night Solely) — Distinctly unpatriotic, however this movie about France is an efficient possibility for escaping the warmth. This travelogue is an efficient possibility for a break whereas Ingesting Across the World at Epcot! (Truly, Ingesting Across the World is a fairly good Fourth of July exercise, too…)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

*MuppetVision 3D — Muppet 3D movie with Sam the Eagle, and a wonderful Salute to All Nations, However Largely America!
*Walt Disney Presents — A walk-through exhibit tribute to Walt Disney, probably the most patriotic males to ever reside.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Discovering Nemo: The Large Blue…and Past — This prolonged musical will return in reimagined kind by July 4, 2022. A number of seating for this indoor stage present.
Competition of the Lion King — One other indoor stage present with a descriptive identify.

Usually, Animal Kingdom isn’t an ideal possibility for avoiding crowds and warmth throughout a summer time go to. That’s, except you wish to spend ~3 hours within the air-conditioned queue for Avatar Flight of Passage. We don’t assume that’s precisely one of the simplest ways to spend your day, however it’s definitely one option to keep away from the warmth!

3. Don’t Eat at Lunchtime – Folks prefer to eat lunch at lunchtime. That’s a fairly apparent factor to say, proper? Effectively, due to that, and on account of restricted restaurant capability, the waits to order meals are longest at midday.

Eat when eating places first open or later within the afternoon. One of the best time of day goes to be round 3 or 4 p.m.

Don’t Miss Out! These 3 Ski Resorts in the United States You Need to Visit This Winter

4. Use Lightning Lanes Throughout Prime Hours – Visiting Walt Disney World through the Fourth of July summer time season requires a sophisticated diploma in theme park touring, so if you happen to’re asking, “what are Lightning Lanes” it’s possible you’ll want to start out by studying our Information to Genie+ at Walt Disney World & Lightning Lane FAQ for all the foundational need-to-know data about this substitute totally free FastPass+.

Since strains are longest noon, it follows that you simply’ll get essentially the most utility out of these Lightning Lane journey reservations when the parks are busiest, which is closest to the center of the day.

July 4th Fireworks

Of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks, solely Magic Kingdom and Epcot have particular fireworks exhibits for the Fourth of July. Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios run their regular nighttime spectaculars. The Magic Kingdom exhibits “Disney’s Rejoice America,” its Independence Day fireworks on each July 3 and July 4, 2022.

Epcot solely does its Independence Day fireworks on July 4. Due to this, we extremely suggest seeing Rejoice America on July 3. There’s some “different” Fourth of July leisure on the parks (we’ll focus on that under), however you must actually make your plans across the fireworks, with the opposite stuff being a tiebreaker, of types.

We’ve seen all the Fourth of July fireworks exhibits, and they’re all superior. Every makes use of sufficient pyro to declare battle on a small nation (assuming you may by some means use pyro to declare battle…by no means thoughts that), and every present is so intense that some company would possibly think about carrying sun shades and earplugs whereas watching.

Right here’s a rundown of every fireworks present on July 4th at Walt Disney World:

Rejoice America (Magic Kingdom) – One of the best of all three exhibits. It has the soundtrack that’s each patriotic and quintessentially Disney, together with particular fireworks bursts accompanying the soundtrack. These fireworks have an superior 360-degree impact. On the draw back, it attracts the biggest crowds.
Heartbeat of Freedom Tag (Epcot) – Essentially the most intense 5 minutes or so of fireworks you would possibly ever see at Walt Disney World, and on the park with essentially the most patriotic festivities.
TBD (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – It’s attainable that Fantasmic will probably be proven on July 4, 2022. Don’t count on any particular fireworks, although.
Nothing (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) – Animal Kingdom completely retired Rivers of Mild, which was its nighttime spectacular. It has been changed by nothing.

We’re already assuming you’re going to see Rejoice America on July 3 (if not, positively see that present on the Fourth of July), so which means it comes all the way down to Epcot or Magic Kingdom a second time for the Fourth. My take is that Epcot has a greater patriotic ambiance through the day, and the fireworks are rather more intense and spectacular.

Epcot’s World Showcase can maintain lots of people, however it nonetheless manages to replenish, and turns into troublesome to navigate. It’s nonetheless an ideal expertise, and properly price braving the crowds to see. Don’t simply present up for the fireworks–Epcot has a complete day of patriotic leisure choices.

Arrive wherever you’re going to observe these fireworks exhibits no less than two hours upfront. Presumably extra. Folks begin saving fireworks spots in late afternoon, a number of hours earlier than the exhibits. That is very true within the Magic Kingdom, which is extra crowded than Epcot, which is extra crowded than Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. We’ve a weblog put up detailing our favourite viewing spots for Magic Kingdom fireworks, and this holds true for the Rejoice America fireworks.

One factor price noting in that checklist of viewing places is the spots outdoors the park. These are busier than regular, however they’re nonetheless nice options. Once more, Bay Lake Tower warrants mentioning right here, because the High of the World Lounge is a implausible, comparatively uncrowded spot for fireworks (if you’re a Disney Trip Membership member who can entry it). The Ticket & Transportation Middle can also be an ideal spot.

Creating a plan for the fireworks earlier than the Fourth of July is a good suggestion, as you can not stroll up on the final minute and seize a spot. Every little thing from transportation to navigating the parks is tougher through the busy summer time season. Having issues to do when you wait will make the expertise rather more bearable!

By way of the “different stuff,” Magic Kingdom has particular PhotoPass choices on July 3 & 4, together with a fun-looking gentle portray impact at evening. In any other case, Epcot is the place the Fourth of July stuff occurs, the place there are additional performances of the American Journey leisure, plus Disney characters assembly in particular patriotic apparel.

Across the motels, nothing of significance is formally scheduled. Magic Kingdom space resorts would not have any official occasions, however you’ll be able to count on huge crowds and casual ‘events’ as these resorts crowd with resort company and locals wanting to view the fireworks.

All in all, Walt Disney World is a good, patriotic place to spend the Fourth of July. Not all the things will go based on plan, and it may be a irritating expertise if you happen to let the crowds and warmth get to you. As a substitute, go in with the correct perspective and plan on doing issues which can be within the AC, and don’t have lengthy strains. The fireworks and the opposite supplementary leisure make a Fourth of July go to to Walt Disney World loads of enjoyable, it doesn’t matter what!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Inns Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things you must know!

Your Ideas

Have you ever ever visited Walt Disney World for the Fourth of July? Would you ever do it? Have any further ideas for making essentially the most out of the expertise, or concerning which fireworks exhibits to see? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!