WHAT IS JULY LIKE AT DISNEY WORLD?
Because pretty much every US schoolkid is on break in July, while shorter periods the rest of the year are more crowded, July overall has traditionally been the most crowded month at Disney World.
The last four summers have been unusually good at Disney World in terms of crowds. However, the new rides that have opened in 2019 and will open in 2020 make me doubt this trend will continue, and I’m expecting a rough-ish summer in 2020 at Disney World.
JULY 2020 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July crowds peak over the 4th of July weekend, and are moderately high the rest of the month as well.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the first week of the month -beginning 6/27/2020–has a crowd ranking of 9/high. I mark the rest of the month as 7/moderate-plus, but ti may be worse than that.
Summer crowds have been down the past few years. I expect them to be higher in 2020, with three new rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and perhaps the first new ride opening as part of Epcot’s re-imagining all open by or during the summer.
See this for more on 2020 crowds at Disney World.
JULY 2020 RESORT HOTEL PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Disney World hotel prices begin July at a mix of levels and, except for a bump over the 4th of July holiday weekend, stay at that level all month long at the value and moderate resorts. At the values, prices are 30-45% higher than the lowest of the year, and at the moderate resorts are 15-20% higher than the lowest of the year.
At the deluxe resorts, prices begin the month at 10-15% higher than the lowest of the year, bump up as at the values and moderates over the holiday weekend, then on July 5 drop to 5-10% higher than the lowest of the year.
See this for more on 2020 resort hotel prices at Walt Disney World.
JULY 2020 TICKET PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July 2020 Disney World ticket see higher prices at the beginning of the month for shorter tickets whose eligible days include the Fourth of July, then are largely at average levels the rest of the month.
See the image–where green is good, and lots of green particularly good, and red is bad, and lots of red is particularly bad.
For more, see my Disney World 2020 ticket price calendar.
JULY 2020 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals for the general public are available for July 2020. Find them here.
JULY 2020 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July weather is hot and humid, with afternoon storms common.
The hurricane season officially begins June 1, but hurricanes are a rarely a threat until mid-August…
Click the image, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World, for more.
DISNEY WORLD SPECIAL EVENTS IN JULY 2020
Special fireworks will happen on July 3 and July 4 for the Fourth of July. I’ll have more details as they are released.
JULY 2020 OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Park operating hours vary by the day, and sometimes change without notice. It is rare for hours to be shorter than Disney has publicized, but Disney may lengthen them in response to unanticipated crowds.
The best way to keep up with operating hours is to check Disney’s official calendars, usually available about six months in advance. Major hours updates–often with later closes–can happen a month before.
These calendars can be found by clicking this link.
WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR JULY 2020 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE
The week rankings that follow below are from my 2020 weeks to visit, ranked in order, and are designed for first-time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
6/27/2020 Mixed prices–low in moderates and deluxes, high in values. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=41. Use the Higher Crowd Itinerary but as noted here swap First Sunday with Second Saturday
7/4/2020 Mixed prices–low in moderates and deluxes, high in values. Moderate-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=7. Week ranking=19. Use the Higher Crowd Itinerary
7/11/2020 Mixed prices–low in moderates and deluxes, high in values. Moderate-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=7. Week ranking=20. Use the Higher Crowd Itinerary
7/18/2020 Mixed prices–low in moderates and deluxes, high in values. Moderate-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=7. Week ranking=21. Use the Higher Crowd Itinerary
7/25/2020 Mixed prices–low in moderates and deluxes, high in values. Moderate-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=7. Week ranking=22. Use the Higher Crowd Itinerary
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Dave,
Thank you so much for your input and tips! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and am definitely going to swap our EP and HS days. Considering my one son won’t even ride Mine Train EMM may not be for us after all lol. Thank you again!
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🙂
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Hi Dave. We arrive mid-day on Wed. 7/8. I tentatively have us visiting MK Th, EP Fri, HS Sat and AK Sunday before my husband leaves on Monday (kids and I are staying longer so I’m just following your daily itinerary from there). Would you make any changes to this schedule? This is not our first trip so we are flexible as far as switching any dining arrangements I made already. Also thought about Early Morning Magic on Sunday the 12th, if that would make sense to switch to MK that day. We are staying at the Contemporary and as of now don’t have park hoppers (but could, maybe this is a better use of the Early Morning Magic funds?). Any input you have on any of this is most welcome. You and Josh are invaluable for my trip planning – even though I’m not a newbie to WDW travel it’s changing so much and so fast I need the help! Thank you so much!
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Hi Debbie, first on EMM, unless you are a huge Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Peter Pan fan, I don;t think it is worth the money.
On park hoppers, much depends on your touring style–and the last time you were at WDW. Repeat visitors who have been recently often have the best vacations grazing the parks–e.g. doing rope drop at one park, and having their FastPass+ in a different park. If you have not been in a while, then a more traditional style without hoppers works fine. You can always add hoppers later once you decide you want them.
Re the park days on the dates you’ve picked–in general they are fine! In your shoes I would swap HS and Epcot, doing HS Friday and Epcot Saturday, as I expect continuing crowding at HS for Galaxy’s Edge, particularly on weekends.
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