Conference koolit::disney

    I've never been to WDW on the 4th - but traditional 4th of July things
    are (at least in New England):  Parade in the morning, followed by
    renactment of famous revolutionary (or rebellious!) battles,  cookout
    at home or chicken barbecue in the town where all this is happening at
    noon, rest and swimming in the afternoon because it is usually pretty hot,
    then fireworks in the evening.  This is pretty much what happens in New
    Hampshire.
    
    Tina 

If anyone asks, tell them you're from Australia :-)

   Gary

    It is reported in note 54.40 that the busiest day in the history of WDW
    was on a 4th of July.

    July 4th is a very busy day at WALT DISNEY WORLD.
    
    I have been there many times including July 4th.
    
    The one big problem is that once the parking lots are
    full, they will close the park to new admission.
    
    As you can well imagine at this time of year it is hot,
    but the only way to guarantee that you will be there for
    the 4th activities is to get there as early as possible.
    
    It seemes that on July 4th everyone heads to park right
    at WALT DISNEY WORLD.  Maybe others could mention other
    alternatives.  It probably would include using their bus
    system to get to where you want to be.
    
    Anyways, the last 4th of July that I spent there, I did not
    even get out of the park till 2:30 in the morning because of
    the crowds.  
    
    But on Florida nights, warm and bright and being in such a
    magical place, you don't really mind.
    
    Remember, plan where you want to be in the evening for the
    4th celebration, dress comfortably and get there early.
    
    You will never forget the 4th of July when you experience
    the fireworks rising in the sky behind the castle.
    
    
    A Floridian at heart  
                        

    You can check out 21.32 for some of the details for a 4th of July that
    I worked.  The crowds were awful.  The entertainment does change a bit
    for the holiday.  There is usually an extra 4th of July show in front
    of the castle, and extra fireworks to boot.  
    
    Over in EPCOT Center they put in lots of extra fireworks for
    Illuminations.
    
    As far as I know, Disney hasn't "closed the parks."  They have closed
    the parking lots, but not the parks themselves.  If you can get onto
    property with a taxi or bus, you can still be admitted to the park. 
    But there is a problem with closed parking lots...that means that tons
    or people are inside the parks and it can get pretty scary trying to
    move around.  (Especially if you're trying to get everyone to move all
    the way down to the end of the row leaving no empty seats to your
    right.  If there is an empty seat to you right, then that is one seat
    too many, please fill it in...sorry, got carried away there)
    
    One of the worst days that I worked there was the 4th of July, the
    other was New Year's Eve...oh the memories it brings back...
    
    Joel

    I forgot to mention in the previous note, I have no idea what sort of
    activities they have over at the new Disney/MGM Studios Tour Theme
    Park.
    
    Joel

    Hi Andy,
    
    	    I was in Disney over 4th July last year. It was, as stated 
    in previous replies, VERY VERY crowded. We headed for the MK at 
    about 9am, it took about 25 mins to get in through the turnstiles, 
    and you could hardly move on Main Street! We promptly departed for 
    EPCOT, which although very crowded, was more bearable because of 
    the extra space. We stuck it for a couple of hours, and then went 
    back to Fort Wilderness and spent the rest of the day around the 
    pools. We heard some stories about heavy crowds at MGM, but I 
    would have expected this due to the well known lack of space.
    
    	    In the evening, we went down to the FW beach, and watched 
    the fireworks over the MK. They were spectacular! Quadruple value, 
    because besides lasting twice as long, they were being set off 
    from two locations, the usual one, and somewhere else further to 
    the East. The beach was crowded with families, all with picnics 
    and boom boxes tuned in to the local station. There was no sign of 
    xenophobia (Fear/hate of foreigners!), and apart from being hit 
    over the head with blunt instruments, and tossed in the lake a few 
    times, we were treated normally :-):-):-) (Lots of smiley faces to 
    show that I am joking!) There was no trace of any kind of 
    anti-brit prejudice, I reckon that like Christmas, and our Bonfire 
    Night, the true meaning has been forgotten, and it's now just 
    another excuse for a celebration!
    
    	    As a day for doing any of the attractions, it is a total 
    washout, but if you accept that, go out, join the crowds and get 
    down and PARTY!
    
    See you soon,
    
    Mike in Warrington UK.

    
    Thanks for all the replies and advice. Looks like the favourite
    course of action is to avoid the crush and plan a day of golf, 
    swimming in the pool and drinking cold beer .... sigh! it's going
    be tough but I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it!
    
    How about parking at one of the WDW hotels (Contemporary?) in the
    evening and going up to the top floor to watch the fireworks from
    there? Is that permissible, bearing in mind I won't be staying on-
    site, or is that liable to be just as crowded as well?
    
    Andy (44_days_2_go_and_trying_DESPERATELY_hard_not_to_count_in_minutes) 

        We spent the 4th of July in WDW this year.  This was our last
        full day in WDW.

        We really only wanted to see the fireworks at night, so we did
        not try to fight the crowds during the day.  It was very
        crowded, with far more people than any other day.

        Early in the morning (about 8:00) I drove to the Contemporary
        Hotel to drop off my 8 year old daughter for the Kidventure
        program (see note 212.1).  This was the first time I had to
        wait to get through the parking entrance, and all the lanes
        were open.

        When I went back to pick up my daughter at about noon I took
        the bus from the CBR and noticed that they had cars parked on
        the grass all over the place.  While in the Contemporary, I
        overheard a guest relations cast member telling someone that
        top floor of the Contemporary would be closed to those who did
        not purchase tickets for this night.

        We spent the rest of the afternoon at our hotel relaxing and
        taking our daily nap. At about 6:00 we headed for the
        Polynesian.  We had 7:00 dinner reservations at the Papeete
        Bay.  We decided to chance taking the car.  We made it through
        the parking booths OK but when we arrived at the Polynesian,
        they had the parking kiosk staffed (only time I have ever seen
        this) and they were checking for Polynesian ID's.  I told the
        attendant that I had a 7:00 reservation and he said he could
        only give me a 3 hour pass.  After that, there was a chance
        the car could be towed.  (I doubt that they would).  Because
        of the extra security, they had plenty of spaces in the Poly
        lot.  I was in the mood to be pampered so I drove up to the
        entrance and used valet parking.

        We had a nice meal and then took the gold flagged boat to the
        Magic Kingdom.  We had an hour or so to kill before the
        fireworks so we went on a couple of rides that never have
        lines (Wedway Peoplemover and Dreamflight).  While on the
        Wedway, I got to see Space Mountain with the lights on.  It
        had just broken down, and they were telling people to leave
        and come back later.  Space mountain is not that impressive
        with the lights on.  I took a few pictures.

        We wanted to see the fireworks from Main Street, but it was so
        crowded by this time that it seemed impossible to get there. 
        The bridge was jammed full of people.  We walked to Mickey's
        Starland, hoped on the train, and rode to the head of Main St. 
        From there we worked our way up Main St. and stopped at the
        end near the Coke corner.  At 9:50 they started the fireworks
        display which was spectacular.  The fireworks show was much
        longer than normal, furthermore, they had a second fireworks
        display going on simultaneously on the other end of Main St.
        (behind the railroad station/entrance).  We were glad we
        decided to stay through the 4th.

        We took the boat back to the Poly and it was nice to have our
        car delivered to us by the valet attendant.  It was worth the
        couple of bucks to avoid the disaster in the parking lot
        (which I understand was eventually closed).

        /Jim Pappas
    

    I'm  going to be at Disney over the  4th this year. Any opionions as to
    which fireworks are better, the Magic Kingdom or over at Epcot? I'm
    getting psyched already. We're staying in the  park so there won't be
    any driving hassles. 
    Thanks 
    Bob G.
    

    I think Jim Pappas may be the best person to comment in this area. If
    memory serves I believe that TMK has fireworks both over Cinderella
    Castle and Seven Sees Lagoon on July 4th.
    
    Keep in mind that July 4th is one the three most crowded days during
    the year.
    
    Mike

    It depends what makes a good display for you. The MK traditionally 
    has had it's 4th July display from two bases, and I don't know of 
    a location which allows you to see both to appreciate the artistry 
    and symmetry without being too far away to get the kick in the 
    stomach.
    
    The Illuminations has it for me, especially if you can get 
    situated in front of the AA. The second half of the display seems 
    to come from directly behind the building, and you are so close 
    you feel it in the stomach, eardrums and even eyeballs.
    
    Anyone been at MGM on the 4th. How does it compare?
    
    Mike B

RE: .11
    
>    I think Jim Pappas may be the best person to comment in this area. If
>    memory serves I believe that TMK has fireworks both over Cinderella
>    Castle and Seven Sees Lagoon on July 4th.
>    
    
    See .9 for the details.
    
    We are planing to be at WDW again this July 4th.  Not too sure where we
    will go yet.
    
    /Jim Pappas
                

  I've been at the MK on the Fourth.  (Unfortunately my nephew was sick so
  I was waiting outside the men's room and didn't get to see the fireworks.)

  Be prepared.  It is very very very very crowded.  They were allowing people 
  to exit behind the east side of main street.

  We were staying at the Grand Floridian.  Be sure to bring your resort ids.
  It was the only time they were checking ids.  They were announcing that you
  had to have an id from the resort the boats or monorails were travelling to.

  I'm not trying to scare you away.  I'm only trying to appropriately set
  your expectations.  It's best to not plan on doing alot that day because
  the crowds will be huge.  I've never been to EPCOT or the studio for the
  Fourth so I don't have any advice on what they are like.

Strange - over 6 years after writing the original note, I'm back with a
supplemental question!

I'm flying down to Orlando next Wednesday (July 3rd) for the weekend, and 
intend to visit either the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT Centre on Friday 5th.  I'm 
not brave enough to risk the parks on the Independence Day, so will probably 
go to the beach that day instead.

My question to the learned audience is:

Which of the two parks (MGM is not an option this time), would you go to on 
the 5th, and why?  

Basically I'm trying to find out which would be less crowded.  I've been 
several times before (last time in November '95), so I don't think there's an 
attraction that I haven't seen, in either park. 

Naturally I like both parks, but my initial assumption is that most people 
will go to the MK on the 4th, and therefore it might just be the `quietest' 
park on the 5th.  Counterbalancing that is the fact that EPCOT is obviously 
by far the most spacious of the two.  Truly a dilemma.

My logic may be flawed (it wouldn't be the first time), so if anyone can offer 
some advice, I'd be very grateful for it.  

If they're both going to be as crowded as each other ... then the delicious 
creme brulee they serve in the coffee-bar (name of which escapes me), that
overlooks the big fountain (name of which also escapes me) - might just swing 
it in EPCOT's favour :-) 

Thanks in advance for your help,

Andy. 

    Andy, isn't it a bit dangerous for a Brit to be over here at that time
    a year and on that holiday?  ;-)  I know a banjo player in the Diamond
    Horse Shoe review that has a lot of fun with Brits during the show.
    I guess perhaps you should hang around the UK building in EPCOT.  ;-).
    But I wouldn't be anywhere in Florida in July.  Much too hot!
    ed
    

We were at WDW a few years ago around the 4th.

The only thing I can say is that as July 4th arrived,
the MK got more and more crowded. July 2nd or 3rd was very crowded.
I don't know about the rest of the parks.

We flew back home on the 4th.

Doug

    Well since EPCOT's early day is Friday and everyone probably would have
    their fill of TMK on the 4th I'd go to TMK on the 5th.
    
    Mike

    We've been twice during this time of year. In 1991 we spent 10
    wonderful days, from July 2 through the 12, in Orlando. The first day
    we went into the park was on the 3rd, very light crowds. The 4th was
    another story. I have never seen so many people in one place at one
    time! I've got pictures. The park stayed open till 2:00 a.m. We went to
    EPCOT in the early evening then took the monorial over to TMK for the
    fireworks. It took us almost 30 minutes to get from the front gate
    (under the railroad station) to half way to the castle. We just could
    not go any further. 
    
    The fireworks were great. There were actually 2 sets of fireworks going
    off at the same time, one behind the castle and another kind of behind
    the area that Mickey comes out for pictures towrd the front entrance.
    
    What was UNBELIEVEABLE was trying to get deeper into the park after the
    fireworks were over. Everyone was trying to get out of the park. When
    we finally got over the bridge into Adventure Land (which took about 40
    minutes) we sat down. When I asked a castmember if it was always like
    this she told me YES. What she said was, "Where do most people go on
    the 4th of July? To see fireworks. Every local in the area comes to TMK
    for the fireworks. When they're over they leave. Stick around, by 10:30
    the place will be empty." She could not have been more correct. While
    the parade was going on at about 10:00, we went on Big Thunder Mt. and
    Splash Mt. We did the Haunted Mansion twice as well as The Country Bear
    Jamboree. The park really thinned out after the 10:00 parade. We sat
    right in front of The Hall of Presidents (where we always go to see the
    parade) for the 12:00 parade. Then went on a few more rides from 12:30
    to 2:00. We got a "privite" Jungle Cruise ride. It was great. If you're
    willing to stick around till closing, or better yet go into the park
    after the fireworks, and stay till closing, you'll see very little in
    the way of crowds.

    Well, it's a bit late for the noter , but we just got back from WDW. 
    
    The parking lot for the Magic Kingdom was CLOSED at 9.30AM on July 4 --
    does that give you any indication of how many people were there?!  We
    did MGM both July 3 PM and July 4 AM, left MGM at ~7PM to get to the
    Magic Kingdom -- it took about an hour to get there, using Disney
    transportation, the delay was only partly due to Mother Nature providing
    some fireworks as well.
    
    But the Disney fireworks at Magic Kingdom were phenomenal -- not just
    over the Castle but all around the park.  We ended up standing on the
    outside platform of the steam train station [inside the park], and
    there were duplicate fireworks both over the castle and over the
    entrance; plus they asked everyone to stand and sing "The Star Spangled
    Banner", and when we got to the line "Bombs bursting in air", they sent
    off fireworks in a circle around the park.  Very impressive to say the
    least!
    
    
    This was supposed to be a family reunion trip, unfortunately the only
    time we really "reunioned" was at breakfast. We did try to get to the
    MK park in time to join the rest for the fireworks, but didn't quite
    make it.