Category — n. Approaching Dates at Disney World
July 2015 at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: JULY 2015 AT DISNEY WORLD
This page reviews July 2015 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.
Because pretty much every US school kid is on break in July, July overall is the most crowded month at Walt Disney World.
Prices begin the month OK at the deluxes and moderates, and high at the values. Moderate and value prices stay at this level all month, but at the deluxes prices drop to low levels on July 12.
Weather is miserably hot and humid all month long.
There are no good weeks in July, but the later the visit the better–especially if you are staying in a deluxe.
JULY 2015 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Trips that include the Fourth of July will see the highest crowds of the month. Crowds improve slightly after, but all of July is rough, as pretty much all US schoolkids are out of school.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 6/27 has a crowd rating of 10/higher, the week beginning 7/4 11 highest, and the rest of July 9/high.
See this for more on 2015 crowds at Disney World.
JULY 2015 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July 2015 prices begin 50% higher than the lowest of the year at the values, 15% higher than the lowest of the year at the moderates, and 12% higher at the deluxes. They stay at this level throughout the month at the values and moderates, but drop to near the lowest of the year at the deluxes on July 12.
See this for more on 2015 resort hotel prices at Walt Disney World.
JULY 2015 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals are available for July 2015. See this for more.
JULY 2015 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July weather is hot and humid, with afternoon storms common.
The hurricane season officially begins June 1, but hurricanes a rarely a threat until mid-August..
Click the image, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World, for more on temperatures.
JULY 2015 SPECIAL EVENTS
Disney World celebrates the 4th of July at several parks–and on July 3rd as well! On Friday, July 4, 2015, the Magic Kingdom has a special fireworks show “Celebrate America” at 9p. On Saturday, July 4, 2015
- The Magic Kingdom has the same show at the same time–“Celebrate America” at 9p
- Epcot’s Illuminations has a special holiday ending added, and
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have a special 4th of July fireworks presentation at 10.15p
For more on the Fourth of July at Disney World, see this.
JULY 2015 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 six months in advance.
These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR JULY 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE
The week rankings that follow below are from 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, and are designed for first-time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
Click the image for a calendar view of 2015 weeks (when open, keep clicking to enlarge.)
- 6/27/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Higher crowds. Crowd ranking=10. Week ranking=39. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/4/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Highest crowds crowds. Crowd ranking=11. Week ranking=42. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/11/2015 Moderate to higher prices at values and moderates. Lower prices at deluxes. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=33. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/18/2015 Moderate to higher prices at values and moderates. Lowest prices at deluxes. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=32. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 7/25/2015 Moderate to higher prices at values and moderates. Lowest prices at deluxes. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=31. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2015 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2016 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2015 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2016 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
Want a second opinion? Then check out my book lol.
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December 14, 2014 No Comments
The Fourth of July 2015 at Walt Disney World
THE 4th OF JULY 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Disney World celebrates the 4th of July at several parks–and on July 3rd as well!
On Friday, July 3, 2015, the Magic Kingdom has a special fireworks show “Celebrate America” at 10p.
On Saturday, July 4, 2015
- The Magic Kingdom has the same show at the same time–“Celebrate America” at 10p
- Epcot’s Illuminations has a special holiday ending added, and is shifted from its normal 9p time to 10p, and
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have a special 4th of July fireworks presentation at 10.15p
Moreover, the normal Friday and Saturday evening Extra Magic Hours at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom are swapped, with MK having them Friday the 3rd and Epcot Saturday the 4th.
Those following this site’s FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary for Walt Disney World will be at the Magic Kingdom both days, and have the evening of the 3rd off. Sensible people might swap these two evenings, seeing the Magic Kingdom fireworks July 3rd… but both nights will be wildly crowded.
FOURTH OF JULY CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July is the most consistently crowded month at Disney World, and in the month, visits that include the 4th of July see the highest crowds.
July is the most crowded month because every US schoolkid on a typical (that is, not year-round) calendar has the entire month off. This is not true of either June or August. Within July, many parents gravitate towards the week of the 4th for their vacations, because since the 4th is a holiday, they need to take one fewer vacation day to get a week off.
And people want to see fireworks on the 4th…so the Disney World parks offering fireworks on the 4th of July will be packed!
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December 14, 2014 23 Comments
June 2015 at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: JUNE 2015 AT DISNEY WORLD
This page reviews June 2015 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.
If you must go to Disney World in the summer, the beginning of June is your best choice for a first visit.
Crowds, while not good, are lower then than most of the rest of the summer, prices are OK–except at the value resorts–and the full weight of summer weather is not yet in place.
(The end of August is the next best choice. Prices and crowds are much better, but you are not only in peak summer then, but also the peak of the hurricane season.)
Crowds build over June, peaking the week that includes the 4th of July (a Saturday in 2015, so the most crowded June week is that beginning June 27).
Moreover, Star Wars Weekends look to continue through June 14 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, leading to massive crowds there on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the 14th.
JUNE 2015 CROWDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
June crowds begin at the moderate-plus level, but as more and more kids get out of school, they quickly build to high levels, and peak at the end of the month, because of crowds drawn by the 4th of July holiday.
On a crowd scale of 1-11, the week beginning 5/30 has a crowd rating of 7/moderate plus, the week beginning 6/6 8/high-minus, the next two weeks 9/high, and the week beginning 6/27 a crowd ranking of 10/higher.
See this for more on 2015 crowds at Disney World.
JUNE 2015 PRICES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
June 2015 prices begin 50% higher than the lowest of the year at the values, 15% higher than the lowest of the year at the moderates, and 12% higher at the deluxes. They stay at this level throughout the month
See this for more on 2015 resort hotel prices at Walt Disney World.
JUNE 2015 DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Deals are available for June 2015. See this for more.
JUNE 2015 WEATHER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
June weather is hot and humid, with afternoon storms common. It is not as bad as July and August, but nearly so.
The hurricane season officially begins June 1, but hurricanes a rarely a threat until mid-August..
Click the image, or go to Weather and When to Go to Disney World, for more on temperatures.
JUNE 2015 SPECIAL EVENTS
Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will continue through the weekend of June 13, 2015, and crowd that park Fridays-Sundays.
JUNE 2015 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 six months in advance.
These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:
WEEK BY WEEK COMMENTS FOR JUNE 2015 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD BY ARRIVAL DATE
The week rankings that follow below are from 2015 weeks to visit, ranked in order, and are designed for first-time visitors who do not know whether or not they will return.
Click the image for a calendar view of 2015 weeks (when open, keep clicking to enlarge.)
- 5/30/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Moderate-plus crowds. Crowd ranking=7. Week ranking=19. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/6/2015 Moderate to higher prices. High-minus crowds. Crowd ranking=8. Week ranking=29. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/13/2015 Moderate to higher prices. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=35. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/20/2015 Moderate to higher prices. High crowds. Crowd ranking=9. Week ranking=34. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
- 6/27/2015 Moderate to higher prices. Higher crowds. Crowd ranking=10. Week ranking=39. Use the FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2015 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2016 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2015 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2016 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
Want a second opinion? Then check out my book lol.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
November 16, 2014 7 Comments
Review: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (“MVMCP”)
MVMCP: A REVIEW
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (“MVMCP”) is a special event that takes place during the Christmas season at Walt Disney World.
It requires its own ticket, which is entirely separate from regular Disney World tickets, and is only shown on certain nights from early November through mid-December.
(For more on MVMCP tickets and show nights, see this.)
Even though it is expensive (tickets for a family of four will cost over $200) it’s been part of this site’s Basic December Itinerary since the site opened, for a couple of reasons:
Going to it lets people save a lot of time.
Disney limits the amount of tickets it sells to each show of MVMCP. As a result, waits for the rides are low–most typically 10 minutes. For just how low, see Josh’s post here. Going to it and seeing some really popular rides with hardly a wait saves a ton of time that can instead be spent sleeping in or at the pool.
Going to it guarantees seeing an evening parade and fireworks.
At the time of year the Basic Itinerary covers, the evening parade and fireworks at the Magic Kingdom may happen just a couple of times a week on non-MVMCP nights. Sending people to MVMCP guarantees your family will have the opportunity to see an evening parade and fireworks.
Moreover, the parade and fireworks are unique. The fireworks are tied with those of the Halloween party as best of the year, and the parade has a fun Christmas theme!
I recommend people go to Walt Disney World in the early part of the Christmas season…so how can I not send them to this show?
It’s silly and fun!
In November 2014 I had a chance to see it again, for the sixth time. The rest of this entry is the review of that visit.
MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY
There’s a couple of components to MVMCP.
Noted already are the parade and fireworks, both in special Christmas versions.
The parade, called Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, happens twice each night, at 8.15 and 10.30p. (Go on rides during the first parade, and watch the second one.)
The parade begins with a bunch of characters…
…then Minnie and Mickey.
Frozen has taken over three floats.
Other floats include princesses…
…Santa Claus…
…and much more. Lower ranking princesses evicted from their floats by the Frozen crew have to walk.
The fireworks, called Holiday Wishes, happen between the parades at 9.30, preceded by a special holiday version of Celebrate the Magic at 9.15p.
Also noted already are the rides.
- Not all rides are open, but all of the most popular ones are.
- Because of the limit on tickets sold, the rides are pretty easy to get on to without major waits. The park will feel very crowded on Main Street and near the Castle, but this is because of all the people lining for the castle shows and the parade route. Away from Main Street and Frontierland the park opens up and ride waits are quite short.
There’s some shows, some unique to this event.
Castle shows Celebrate the Season…
…and A Frozen Holiday Wish are the same as on regular MK evenings. The first is OK but not worth seeing at the mobbed 7.30 showing (the 10.05 or 11.20p show is the better choice), and the second skippable.
Only shown during the party are A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas in Tomorrowland…
…and dance parties in Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland…
…and the Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland (I took this during the fireworks–it’s more hopping at other times). The first of these is quite lame, the other two are cute ways for your kids to burn off energy if they need to.
There’s some fun other business: free cookies, free hot chocolate (locations on the map, and marked by candy canes), and snow!
Both sides of the 2014 MVMCP brochure are below–as always, click them to enlarge them.
Even though the party starts at 7p, Disney traditionally lets people holding tickets for it through the turnstiles beginning at 4p. Show up early, see some of the lower wait rides, and have dinner. If you show up around party time, Main Street will be mobbed. If the train is still running–the last run will be 6.45p or so–take the train to Frontierland or Fantasyland to avoid the crowds here.
FastPass+ is not available to those using party tickets–but it’s also not needed, as only Anna and Elsa and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train see major waits. If you want to see these, do them as late as you can stay up.
WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE NOT FOLLOWING THE BASIC ITINERARY?
As noted, this show is expensive, but worth considering if one or more of the following apply to you:
- You otherwise won’t see the evening parade and fireworks at the Magic Kingdom
- Your plans otherwise leave you short on Magic Kingdom time, and/or
- You are really a fan of Christmas
With kids old enough to be focused on rides, the right plan for MVMCP is to
- Show up early, and eat before the party
- Do rides until a little before 9, and then
- Position yourselves near the Castle for Celebrate the Magic, Holiday Wishes, and the second showing of the evening parade.
- After the parade, do more rides or see the shows!
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November 14, 2014 8 Comments
Review: A Frozen Holiday Wish at the Magic Kingdom
A Frozen Holiday Wish is the new-for-2014 version of the holiday Castle lighting show.
Up til this year, the holiday lights of Cinderella’s Castle were lit by the Fairy Godmother who was joined by Cinderella, Mickey, Minnie, etc.
The Castle is stunning in its holiday garb, but the lighting show itself was a very minor attraction—something worth watching if you happened to be there, but not worth a walk.
In the new version, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf of you-know-what take over the lighting duties.
The show is insipid, with dull filler material, crowds are high, and it’s only worth viewing by the most die-hard of Frozen fans. The Frozen Sing-Along at Hollywood Studios is much better, and the Castle will light whether or not you see this show.
(For a more positive take on this show, see this.)
A Frozen Holiday Wish begins with Anna, Elsa and Kristoff taking the stage, with a bit of so-so banter.
Olaf joins, reminds us that he likes summer and hugs in case we have forgotten, and the conversation turns to the beauties of the winter landscape. If only the Castle were decorated with ice and snow…but who could do that?
The obvious answer emerges, and Elsa goes to work. However, it takes her a while…This presents the opportunity for some so-so graphics to show up on the castle, but is out of character. We know that Elsa could do this in a second if she wished to, so the delay in achieving it creates not the intended feeling of suspense, but rather worries about Elsa’s health.
She is eventually successful…
And the results, as always, are spectacularly lovely.
The show happens twice a night, at 6.15 and 7.30p on nights the park is open late, and at 6.15 and 8p on party nights. (On party nights, the second show is only for MVMCP attendees.)
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November 13, 2014 2 Comments
Review: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2014
MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (“MNSSHP”) is a special, separately ticketed party that happens on certain nights every September, October and some years even early November at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
At the party you will find un-crowded rides, a special parade (shown twice, at 8.15 and 10.30p), special fireworks at 9.30p, trick-or-treating, dance parties…and a ton of guests in costumes!
I had a chance to see it again in early September 2014, and the scoop follows!
(See this for more on logistics–Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates, ticket prices, etc.)
COSTUMES AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY
Costumes are not required, and not everyone wear them.
The most common costumes I saw in my September 2014 visit to MNSSHP were, as usual, princess costumes and pirate costumes, and after that Marvel costumes. Lots of Disney themed costumes!
Whole families dressed as pirates were not uncommon–the whispers on the buses were such choices were made because “it’s all we could get dad to wear…”
And this group in Adventureland proved a Disney theme was not required!
THE PARADE, FIREWORKS, DANCE PARTIES AND TRICK-OR-TREATS AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY
MNSSHP has a special set of Halloween-themed activities.
For example, the parade–Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade–is seen only at MNSSHP.
It starts with ducks…
…but then shortly shifts to my favorite part, Haunted-Mansion themed dancing gravediggers and ghouls.
These are followed by Disney villains, but the parade returns to “not-so-scary” at the end, with candy!
There’s two showings of the parade, at 8.15p and 10.30p, with spectacular Halloween-themed fireworks between.
You can also find in both Liberty Square and Tomorrowland dance parties featuring Disney characters–new for 2014 is “Club Villain” in the Golden Horseshoe. (The photo is black and white because unlike every other photographer in the world I couldn’t make sense of the blue light in here.)
The Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball in Tomorrowland is less villainous!
Character meet-n-greets are all over the place–with both common and unusual characters–and there’s also a ton of trick or treat locations…both of which raise an issue.
STRATEGY AND RIDES AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY
All the major rides are open, and many minor rides as well. Most have very short waits. In our visit we walked right on Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, and Enchanted Tales with Belle had waits of less than 30 minutes. (That’s me on the right, defending Belle.)
The trick-or-treat spots and character greetings, on the other hand, have pretty long lines.
So the best approach is to skip the character greetings and trick-or-treats–or delay them until after the second parade–and spend the first part of the evening on rides.
Do rides through the first parade (that is, til about 8.45p) and then watch Celebrate the Magic, the wonderful fireworks show Hallowishes, and the second showing of the parade.
Some families will be worn out by now. If yours has energy left, keep going with with more rides, or trick-or-treating!
I struggle with whether or not this party is worth the money for first-time family visitors who may never return.
It’s quite expensive–more than $200, and even over $300 on some dates (prices vary by date and whether or not you buy in advance–see this) for a family of four. And it’s just a five hour show (7p to midnight)–though Disney unofficially lets you in starting at 4p.
Yet the fireworks are the best Disney World offers, the parade is a hoot, the rides have short lines…and the costumes are fun!
My overall take is that for first-timers this time and money is better spent elsewhere, but that’s a really close call, and for sure I’d recommend it to returning visitors! But enough with the pirates costumes already dad, OK?
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September 17, 2014 5 Comments
