Planning for July 4th Holiday

Hi Blugtrman68 & let me be first to say to the group!

You'll want to confirm this with another source, but I believe that they run the July 4 fireworks at MK on July 3 also. I would plan to see them then and go to not-MK on the actual holiday. Has FW been to Top of the World Lounge? All DVC members staying on points have access to that lounge and its a kid friendly location. That would be a great place to see those very in-demand fireworks. It's not a straight on view, but it beats battling capacity crowds on Main Street.

Hi and ! My biggest piece of advice for planning over a holiday is to make sure you're on top of your dates for ADRs, FP+ reservations, etc as they will sell out fast. ADRs will be awesome for you to get in some air conditioning and sit down for awhile away from the heat and crowds. Happy planning!

If you do decide to go to the TOWL, you will need to go early. A CM there told us that the only two nights of the year that they are packed are New Years Eve and July 4th.
Since you will be staying at the Poly, I would just watch the July 4th fireworks from there and avoid all of the crowds on that evening.

I did July 4 2011 at Epcot and 7/3/11 at MK. It's crowded but just go with the flow. Be in the HUB for the fireworks. Nothing like it. Epcot does a special add on at the end of Illuminations that's pretty great. Don't worry about crowds. Disney is always crowded. Hang a flag from your balcony, decorate your room, wear red white and blue. Be a Yankee Doodle dandy!

BTW welcome!

Welcome! Been there several times during that week. Once I did HS on the 4th and MK on the 3rd. Last year I did MK on the 4th but watched the fireworks back around storybook circus - not crowded at all back there. Then stayed 1 AM for EMH!

Just do not plan on walking through the hub for a while after the fireworks!

Hello Blugtrman68 & to WDWForGrownups!!!!!! I would also recommend watching from the Poly beach since you are staying there, and they do the 360o fireworks on the 4th of July. Search for it in youtube . Here is one from last year. The Poly beach is supposed to get a fence around it, so it should be just resort guests only.

Top of the World Lounge would be pretty impressive too but you would have to be there early to get in.

Hello! Sounds like you've gotten great advice so far regarding the holiday proper.

As far as other advice for avoiding crowds during this crazy busy time, make sure you have all of your ADRs booked for dining. If you'll be eating at a quick service location, try for off hours either at the very beginning or end of meal times for shorter lines and a better chance at finding a table. The Polynesian has some amazing dining options itself, so take full advantage of eating away from the Parks.

Getting to and from your hotel, it may be easier to grab the boat back and forth than to brave the lines for the resort monorail at the Magic Kingdom. Don't rule out the water option for transportation around the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.

Be sure to take advantage of the FastPass+ option for rides that you feel are most important. Early Morning Magic Hours are often the least crowded time of day at the Parks. If you can get a lot of favorites done right off the bat, it will help to mitigate the crowds to follow.

Here's an article we published back in 2013 about non-Park options for the Fourth of July
*but note that the beach information in this article is out of date
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/non-park-ideas-fourth-july-walt-disney-world