July 4th @ Disneyland

[rmarino74]

Hello All,

I pose a couple of questions to you all as I have never been to Disneyland for the July 4th Celebrations. I am arriving this Friday for a week at the GCH. It will be myself, my wife, and our 3 children (3 years, 1 1/2 years, 5 months).

My questions are quite basic.

The first, are there any special fireworks, shows, parades or other things to celebrate the holiday?

The second has to do with the crowds. I made the mistake of going once during the week between Christmas and New Years and the crowd hit capacity almost every day I believe. Being Summer season, a holiday, AND the new Nemo ride open, am I just setting myself up for a park at capacity? Has anyone ever been to the parks on the 4th in the past years? Do you think that the 4th being on a Wednesday might lessen the crowds a bit?

Thanks for your input!

[AwesomeMan33]

I'd rather have someone hit me with a car instead of going to the park that day

[Alpine]

Last year it wasn't especially crowded... which generally means that this year it will be.

There's really no difference except a few extra flags up, and the extra fireworks after the Remember show which are pretty cool, but it's not a good day to go if you want to ride everything.

[mrfantasmic]

It will be crowded. Very very crowded.
BUT, we should have lots of Cast Members making things smooth.

[penguinsoda]

I only went to Disneyland on the 4th one time several years ago.

Like AwesomeMan33 said... I'd rather be hit by a car. Or better yet... a truck.

I don't think the 4th being in the middle of the week will have much of an effect on the crowds. Like you said, with Nemo open, summer vacations.... its going to be busy. But if you're going to be there over the course of several days, you'll be able to pace youself. Esp. with kids that young. Its going to be HOT. Its going to be CROWDED. Be sure and take a couple of breaks during the hotest part of the day and head back to the motel room for a couple of hours to cool off and rest.

[rmarino74]

Last year it wasn't especially crowded... which generally means that this year it will be.

There's really no difference except a few extra flags up, and the extra fireworks after the Remember show which are pretty cool, but it's not a good day to go if you want to ride everything.

Well, we are going for the week, so I really don't care about seeing everything in one day. I booked an entire week purposely so that we can just relax and take everything in at our leisure. Breakfast and parks early, maybe head back to GCH to the pool for the early afternoon, put the children down for an afternoon nap, downtown disney for dinner, and back to the parks for evening shows and rides. Maybe the next day we will just do one of the parks, back for the necessary naps, and back out to the park again. Then whatever we feel the next day and so on...

Do you think that there will be much of a difference if we changed it to the following week? If it is all pretty much the same, except for that one day, it is actually better for my work if I go during the holiday. For me, most of my business that week I expect will be slow because the holiday is in the middle of the week.

[rmarino74]

Its going to be HOT. Its going to be CROWDED. Be sure and take a couple of breaks during the hotest part of the day and head back to the motel room for a couple of hours to cool off and rest.

That's what I had planned and really why I made a week out of it.

The hot part always makes me laugh! I live in Vegas, where it is now about 106 and I just checked weather.com to see that Anaheim is expected to top out at about 82 for the next 10 days. That is like heaven to us desert folk!

[penguinsoda]

That's what I had planned and really why I made a week out of it.

The hot part always makes me laugh! I live in Vegas, where it is now about 106 and I just checked weather.com to see that Anaheim is expected to top out at about 82 for the next 10 days. That is like heaven to us desert folk!

I hear ya... I'm out by Palm Springs and we've been running around 110 out here.

As for the next week being any better or worse... except for the actual 4th of July I don't think there will be a lot of difference crowd wise between the two weeks. Weekends will be most busy... evenings when the AP's come by will be busy... so which ever week works out best for you is when you should go.

[dsnylndmom]

Sounds like you have a good plan. You're aware of the crowds, you plan on taking breaks you'll be fine. I've gone on the 4th when it's been ridiculously crowded and times when its just been crowded. You have a week, a gameplan and you're aware of whats going on. Can't be better prepared than that! Have a wonderful trip!!

[Crazy54]

Well, we are going for the week, so I really don't care about seeing everything in one day. I booked an entire week purposely so that we can just relax and take everything in at our leisure. Breakfast and parks early, maybe head back to GCH to the pool for the early afternoon, put the children down for an afternoon nap, downtown disney for dinner, and back to the parks for evening shows and rides. Maybe the next day we will just do one of the parks, back for the necessary naps, and back out to the park again. Then whatever we feel the next day and so on...

Do you think that there will be much of a difference if we changed it to the following week? If it is all pretty much the same, except for that one day, it is actually better for my work if I go during the holiday. For me, most of my business that week I expect will be slow because the holiday is in the middle of the week.

If I were you then I would keep it on the week of the 4th. It will be the same either week IMO. The 4th may be more crowded, but keep in mind all passes are blacked out, except the Premium- and this will limit crowds to tocket holders. It will be crowded, but it will be worth watching the extra fireworks. I hear they are amazing!

Plus, I will be there.

[rmarino74]

If I were you then I would keep it on the week of the 4th. It will be the same either week IMO. The 4th may be more crowded, but keep in mind all passes are blacked out, except the Premium- and this will limit crowds to tocket holders. It will be crowded, but it will be worth watching the extra fireworks. I hear they are amazing!

Plus, I will be there.

Perfect! Thanks to everyone for your input. It seems as though if I can just live with the fact it is going to be busier than normal and take it all in stride, we should still have a fantastic time.

[Crazy54]

Perfect! Thanks to everyone for your input. It seems as though if I can just live with the fact it is going to be busier than normal and take it all in stride, we should still have a fantastic time.

Great. You'll have to let me use your room at GCH so I can uh... relax in the AC!

[k_peek_2000]

Who would want to go to Disneyland on the 4th of July??????????? What is not more fun than buying 50 bucks worth of those lil fireworks that you throw... Take them apart, amd make fireworks that explode and shoot up and stuff!!!! I live for the 4th of July!!!

[Crazy54]

Who would want to go to Disneyland on the 4th of July??????????? What is not more fun than buying 50 bucks worth of those lil fireworks that you throw... Take them apart, amd make fireworks that explode and shoot up and stuff!!!! I live for the 4th of July!!!

In most of California they are illegal. Thus, I let Disney blow stuff up for me.

[brassplayer]

The hot part always makes me laugh! I live in Vegas, where it is now about 106 and I just checked weather.com to see that Anaheim is expected to top out at about 82 for the next 10 days. That is like heaven to us desert folk!

True, but in Vegas I'm generally hanging out in an air-conditioned environment. At DL, you're spending a lot of your time walking and standing in queues which are in direct sunlight.