4th July weekend? Crowds?

[thor369]

I guess I know the answer that it will be crowded but still wanted to confirm.

This will out first trip and really not sure which time to pick. If I pick dates in October’s it’s the Star Wars crowd any later would be holiday crowds and then looking into next year. If I pick summer is the school out vacation crowds.

I just want to make sure the little ones can have fun and we are not loosing it coz of crowds and hot weather. I think good weather should be most important right. If so which month would be best?

 

[Deb & Bill]

It will be packed. Lines will be long.

 

[mesaboy2]

July 4th is the peak of the summer season, and temperatures can reach the high 90s anytime between now and September.

 

[Deb & Bill]

July 4th is the peak of the summer season, and temperatures can reach the high 90s anytime between now and September.

And humidity will be horrid.

 

[Klayfish]

I don't think 4th of July is bad at all. Yes, it's hot and humid, but it's central Florida in summer, so you have to expect that. MK on the 3rd and 4th at night is packed, but beyond that the crowds really aren't horrible. They're nothing compared to Xmas.

 

[mousestruck]

I would avoid MK on 7/4... it will be crazy. Otherwise we have found the week of 7/4 to be very manageable in terms of crowds. Not bad at all. But you do have to prepare for heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms. I suggest touring early, taking a mid afternoon break, and returning to parks at night. Have fun!!!

 

[SaintsManiac]

You're going to get a range of answers to any question about crowds. It's very subjective.

I'm expecting chaos on July 4th in MK. I'm thinking it will be ok the rest of the time.

 

[thor369]

So if we go on the after 4th, it should be ok?
I am from the Philly area, what kind of heat are we talking about. I have also been to the Caribbean in May and November. It’s not like Arizona heat which goes to 105- 110 degree right?

We can’t decide if we want to deal with heat and crowd or just crowds in November. Also not clear on the crowd size. Can someone give a perspective of crowd size?

 

[Callist]

I can't speak for the crowds, but I used to live in Central Florida, so I can definitely talk about the heat. Air temps for Orlando/Kissimmee will easily be in the mid to upper 90's. Add in concrete and sun and no shade, and it can be 100 degrees in the parks. It won't get to 110 like Arizona, but you do have to factor in the humidity. You will sweat, and it will not evaporate, so it won't cool you. But you can work with and around the heat.

The standard "Go early, leave in the afternoon, and go back in the evening" plan does work. My family refuses to do it, however. So my workarounds are:
1) Dress for it. Cooling/wicking clothes, light cotton, dresses and skirts and shorts. HATS. Sandals if possible. Light colored clothing is better.
2) Take any chance to get in air conditioning. The shops are air conditioned. Indoor shows and rides, rides with indoor lines - they all help. The restaurants are air conditioned - we eat counter service exclusively, but even going inside long enough to grab condiments and toppings can help. Sit in the shade - as long as you're in the shade, it's better.
3) Ice water. Drink a lot of water, enough that you're visiting the bathrooms. That means you're staying hydrated, and the bathrooms are air conditioned! Splash some water on your face and neck while you're in there.
4) Cold snacks. And then sit down in the shade to enjoy them.
5) Water rides, walk through splash pads, splash some water on your face.

We generally do a ride or three, then take a break with a snack, or a meal, or a longer indoor ride or show. Carousel of Progress is a great 20 minute chance to get air conditioning, and we also all like the show, even the kids! The line for Pirates of the Caribbean is almost entirely air conditioned, as is the line for Dinosaur!. All of the movies at EPCOT are air conditioned.

We also take family walks for several months before the trip, to help acclimate to the walking and the heat. Not sure how much it helps, but it doesn't hurt!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

So if we go on the after 4th, it should be ok?
I am from the Philly area, what kind of heat are we talking about. I have also been to the Caribbean in May and November. It’s not like Arizona heat which goes to 105- 110 degree right?

We can’t decide if we want to deal with heat and crowd or just crowds in November. Also not clear on the crowd size. Can someone give a perspective of crowd size?

Like the PP said, it will be mid to upper 90s with high humidity, feeling around 100 in early afternoons. I am in NC, and our temps and humidity are very similar to central FL (in fact, it is almost exactly the same today). The difference is that on days like today at home, I am not outside walking for miles - I am in and out of stores and the car and my house or I am at the beach or pool. But we will be at WDW in July, and we plan to be at the parks in the morning, take a sizable break each afternoon, and go back to the parks in the evenings. Some people will stay all day, but my family would complain If you decide to stay all day, I would plan a table service lunch and plan to spend the hottest part of the day doing inside attractions like Philharmagic, Hall of Presidents, and Carousel of Progress. And no matter what, stay hydrated.

Typically, I would say crowds would be less in November than July, except for Jersey Week and Thanksgiving week, but this is an unusual year - July seems to be even less crowded than usual, and the impact of Galaxy's Edge is unknown but likely very substantial in November.

Weather will definitely be better in November.

 

[Klayfish]

So if we go on the after 4th, it should be ok?
I am from the Philly area, what kind of heat are we talking about. I have also been to the Caribbean in May and November. It’s not like Arizona heat which goes to 105- 110 degree right?

We can’t decide if we want to deal with heat and crowd or just crowds in November. Also not clear on the crowd size. Can someone give a perspective of crowd size?

There really isn't much of a crowd in July, except for MK on the night of the 3rd and 4th. The rest of the parks and MK on the rest of the days are actually relatively "light" crowds.

I'm a Philly native myself. Live in Atlanta now, but spent over 4 decades in Philly. July at Disney very much feels like your typical Philly heat wave...you know the ones that come once or twice per year. Hot...low to mid 90's, humid. Potential for t-storms...which can be very hit or miss. They can come and go in minutes. You may get them 7 days in a row, or none for 7 days. It could be storming in Epcot and sunny in AK. The desert heat is nothing like Florida heat, almost apples and oranges. I've been to Vegas in August...is was 114 degrees, but it was a very different feel.

We love WDW summer. Low-ish crowds, great weather (we hate cold Disney), plenty of daylight.

 

[thor369]

You guys are making it hard for us to decide. The low crowd is appealing but the hot weather I am not sure I will be able to tolerate. Specially with humidity and kids, I tend to lose patience and the heat make me lose it even faster.

 

[mesaboy2]

You guys are making it hard for us to decide. The low crowd is appealing but the hot weather I am not sure I will be able to tolerate. Specially with humidity and kids, I tend to lose patience and the heat make me lose it even faster.

Florida is the national capitol of hot and humid in the summer. Based on your comments, I recommend you avoid it.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The heat is brutal. The only reasons we are going for the 4th are because it is a bucket list thing for me, I get the 5th as a paid holiday and we are combining it with a beach trip.

I will always choose Thanksgiving over any other time if I can. Crowds don’t bother me, especially if the weather is great.

 

[mousestruck]

You guys are making it hard for us to decide. The low crowd is appealing but the hot weather I am not sure I will be able to tolerate. Specially with humidity and kids, I tend to lose patience and the heat make me lose it even faster.

If you have a hard time with heat, I’d opt for fall. Crowds may be lighter in summer - but they feel so much worse when you’re miserable.

 

[ariane37]

The heat is brutal. The only reasons we are going for the 4th are because it is a bucket list thing for me, I get the 5th as a paid holiday and we are combining it with a beach trip.

I will always choose Thanksgiving over any other time if I can. Crowds don’t bother me, especially if the weather is great.

So funny, I'm with you on both points here! Finally doing the 4th so I can say I've done it but really my 2 favorite times to go are May and Thanksgiving week. The weather and atmosphere during Thanksgiving far outweigh the higher crowds which I've never found to be THAT bad anyway

 

[SaintsManiac]

So funny, I'm with you on both points here! Finally doing the 4th so I can say I've done it but really my 2 favorite times to go are May and Thanksgiving week. The weather and atmosphere during Thanksgiving far outweigh the higher crowds which I've never found to be THAT bad anyway

Still haven’t done May, but I will one day!

 

[LSUfan4444]

I don't think 4th of July is bad at all. Yes, it's hot and humid, but it's central Florida in summer, so you have to expect that. MK on the 3rd and 4th at night is packed, but beyond that the crowds really aren't horrible. They're nothing compared to Xmas.

This is accurate. Its hotter than other holidays but the standby times arent nearly as bad. Traffic if pretty bad, resort pools, disney springs and water parks can more crowded but standby times wont be as bad as other holidays.

 

[Klayfish]

It's definitely a personal preference, but IMO people make a bigger deal of the heat than it really needs to be. Yes, it's hot. Quite hot. Yes, it's also quite humid. However, you aren't outside in mid-afternoon running a marathon, unless that's what you choose to do. So much of WDW is air conditioned that it's not difficult at all to spend the worst parts of the mid-day heat in continuous a/c, except for walking from one attraction to the next.

I'm not a huge fan of high heat and humidity either, I sweat easily and burn even easier. However, I absolutely love WDW summer. As I always say about summer at WDW, a little common sense can go a long way.

 

[WEDWDW]

Florida is the national capitol of hot and humid in the summer.

And INCREDIBLE lightning!!!!