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OVERVIEW: JULY 2016 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews July 2016 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.

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THE 4th OF JULY IN 2016 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Disney World celebrates the 4th of July at several parks–and on July 3rd as well!

Hours may change a bit later, but here’s the current scoop

On Sunday, July 3, 2016, the Magic Kingdom has a special fireworks show “Fantasy in the Sky” at 9p.

On Monday, July 4, 2016

• The Magic Kingdom has the same show at the same time–“Fantasy in the Sky” at 9p
• Epcot’s Illuminations has a special holiday ending added, and is shifted from its normal 9p time to 10p, and

Moreover, the normal Wednesday evening Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom will happen Sunday the 3rd instead.

Those following this site’s Revised FastPass+ High Crowd Itinerary for Walt Disney World will be at the Animal Kingdom Sunday, and at Hollywood Studios the 4th, but with the evening off.

By adding a park hopper they could go to Epcot or the Magic Kingdom for the evening fireworks.

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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Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians and author of Jim’s Gems in The easy Guide, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.

LIBERTY SQUARE IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM

By Jim Korkis

Liberty Square is a land unique to Walt Disney World. It exists in no other Disney theme park worldwide and was inspired by plans that Walt Disney himself had for an expansion of Disneyland.

Cobblestones would pave the way down Liberty Street and into Liberty Square, which would be a celebration of Revolutionary War America. All the shops and exhibits would represent the types of enterprises that might be found in Colonial America.

One of the major attractions in this land would be “One Nation Under God”, a 27-minute show. Surrounded by a Circa-rama (later “Circle Vision 360”) screen projecting paintings of significant episodes in U.S. history up to a Civil War climax, the audience would hear off-screen narration of the trials, decisions and formation of the United States, including excerpts from presidential speeches.

At the conclusion, figures of all the nation’s presidents (34 by 1957 when planning started) accompanied by limited electro-mechanical movement and dramatic lighting would be seen on the enormous stage against a rear-projected image of the United States Capitol, as clouds panned across the sky forming an American flag and a rousing musical finale closed the show

“The show was on and off at various times in the Studio, but when it came time to really firm it up for Florida, when I dug out the original script, it dated back to 1961. And the Hall of Presidents was very much Walt’s baby. He had this great desire to present to an audience all of the Presidents of the United States on stage at once. He read into that single idea a feeling that it would have great impact and great audience interest and fascination, and, in truth, it does,” said James Algar, who wrote the original script for the attraction as well as for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

The Hall of Presidents features all the presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama, all sculpted (except for Obama) by Disney Legend Blaine Gibson from photos and paintings.

Great attention to detail was taken even in the wardrobe to match the material used during those time periods. If a guest were to lift the pant legs of Franklin Roosevelt, they would see he was wearing polio braces just like he wore in real life.

The facade of the original Hall of Presidents in 1971 was flat brick with three windows directly above three doors into the waiting area. It wasn’t until 1973 that the white veranda and breezeway were added. The date of 1787 on the front of the building refers to the year the Constitution was signed, since the focus of the original show was the Constitution and the American Presidency.

With the creation of Walt Disney World, the Disney Imagineers decided to make Walt’s dream become a reality and use the new land as a preface to the story of Frontierland that recounted the expansion of America.

The decision to build this new land was also reinforced by the fact that America’s Bicentennial was just a few years away. When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, Liberty Square proved to be the most popular area of the new Magic Kingdom.

One of the most remarkable things about Liberty Square is that it is probably the one land at the Magic Kingdom that has had the fewest significant changes over the last 40 years. Other than some cosmetic changes like moving the flags from the bridge to surrounding the Liberty Bell, a guest visiting Liberty Square today would experience much the same as a guest in 1971.

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Thanks, Jim. Come back next Friday for even more from Jim Korkis! There’s more on Liberty Square and Frontierland here.

In the meantime, check out his books, including Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, and The Vault of Walt: Volume 4, and his contributions to The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit, all published by Theme Park Press.

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: DECEMBER 26, 2105 TO JANUARY 3, 2016

The material below details next week’s Disney World operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

The same stuff is in the graphic, but organized by park, not by topic. For more on December 2015 at Walt Disney World, click here.

Note that typos happen, and schedules change! If something seems odd, or if you want to double check, use the calendar links near the bottom to get the latest official Disney World scoop.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/26/15-1/3/2016

The Magic Kingdom will be open 8a-1a 12/26 through 1/2 and 9a-11p 1/3

Epcot will be open from 9 8a-10.30p 12/26 through 12/30; 8a-1a 12/31; 8a-9p 1/1 and 1/2; and 9a-9p 1/3

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 8a-12MN 12/26 through 12/31; 8a-11p 1/1 and 1/2; and 9a-11p 1/3

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 8a-9p 12/26 through 12/31; 8a-8p 1/1 and 1/2; and 9a-8p 1/3

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/26/15-1/3/2016

Saturday 12/26 Morning:  Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Evening: none

Sunday 12/27 Morning:  Magic Kingdom  Evening: Hollywood Studios

Monday 12/28 Morning: Magic Kingdom  Evening: none

Tuesday 12/29 Morning: Magic Kingdom and Epcot Evening:  none

Wednesday 12/30 Morning:  Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom  Evening:  Magic Kingdom

Thursday 12/31 Morning: Magic Kingdom Evening: Hollywood Studios

Friday 1/1 Morning:  Magic Kingdom Evening: Epcot

Saturday 1/2 Morning:  Magic Kingdom  Evening: none

Sunday 1/3  Morning: none  Evening: Hollywood Studios

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/26/15-1/3/2016

The Magic Kingdom:

• Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 12 noon and 3.30p 12/26 through 1/2; 3p 1/3
• Evening Main Street Electrical Parade: 9.30 and 11.30p 12/26 through 12/29; 8p 12/30 and 12/31; 9.30 aqnd 11.30p 1/1 ande 1/2; 9 and 11p 1/3

FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/26/15-1/3/2016

Wishes at the Magic Kingdom: 8p 12/26 through 12/29; 6.30p 12/30 and 12/31; 8p 1/1 and 1/2; 10p 1/3

Fantasy in the Sky New Years Eve Fireworks at the Magic Kingdom 11.48p 12/30 and 12/31

Illuminations at Epcot: 10.30p 12/26 through 12/30; 6 and 11.40p 12/31; 9p 1/1 through 1/3

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:  7, 8.30 and 10.30p 12/26 through 12/31; 7 and 8.30p 1/1 through 1/4

New Years Eve Fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios 12MN 12/31

Symphony in the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 12MN 12/26 through 12/30; 11p 1/1 through 1/3

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/26/15-1/3/2016

See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.

LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 12/26/15-1/3/2016

See this for forecasts.

DISCLAIMER

Everything is subject to change and typos! Check the Disney Calendars for updates and official schedules. These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:

• Magic Kingdom Calendar
• Hollywood Studios Calendar
• Animal Kingdom Calendar
• Epcot Calendar

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Still need some presents–for someone else, or perhaps yourself?

Then I have just the things for you–and the best part is that these are all created by friends of mine in the Disney community!

FROM STEVE BELL – “WALT DISNEY WORLD FOR MILITARY FAMILIES”

Steve’s Military Disney Tips has always been the go-to site for military families looking to make the most out of their Disney World vacations.

But like every other website (especially mine), finding exactly what you need to know, in the right order, sometimes isn’t as easy as you’d like it to be.

So the great news is that Steve has published a Disney World guidebook for military families.

With entire chapters devoted to the 2016 salute, to Shades of Green, and to other deals and perks available to military families, I can’t recommend it enough!!

It’s available as a PDF–probably the most convenient format–here, and on Amazon.com here.

FROM THE WDW MAGAZINE TEAM AND CARL TRENT – “THE BEST OF WDW – VOLUME 1”

Carl writes Dad’s Guide to WDW and leads the team behind WDW Magazine, which I am proud to be a part of.

Carl works with some of the best Disney World photographers around, and the result is a stunning picture book, The Best of WDW.

I love my copy–and you will love yours, too! It’s available here.

KAT LOGAN WOLFE’S “GET DOWN TO DISNESS” PLANNING CALENDAR

Kat leads the Wednesday night Disney World Q&A sessions that happen several times a month on her site Get Down to Disness. I join in as many of these I can.

Kat also offers a fun 14 day planning calendar that you use can pull together all your park, dining and other Disney World plans into one simple spot, the Get Down to Disness® Daily Agenda Book.

Learn more about it here.

FROM THE WDW MAGAZINE TEAM AND CARL TRENT – DISNEY WORLD WALL CALENDAR

The same team behind The Best of WDW also offers a Disney World Wall Calendar.

Loaded with great photos, it also offers planning tips, tidbits of history, and even little stickers you can use to highlight your own plans.

The calendar is available here.

JOSH HUMPHREY’S “THE EASY GUIDE TO YOUR FIRST WALT DISNEY WORLD VISIT”

Josh runs easyWDW, far and away the best Disney World park planning site out there, with in particular the best advice on future crowds and which parks to avoid which days, and lots of other great and hilarious stuff.

He also co-authors (with some schlub) the best-reviewed Disney World guidebook series ever offered, The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit.

Great for your first or fourteenth visit, The easy Guide is simultaneously the most up-to-date, thoughtful, judicious, easy to use, and shortest guide to Disney World you can find!

Josh’s book is available as a paperback or Kindle book here, and as a PDF here.

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Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians and author of Jim’s Gems in The easy Guide, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.

MCDONALD’S FRENCH FRIES IN FRONTIERLAND

By Jim Korkis

McDonald’s executive Ray Kroc wrote the following letter to Walt Disney on October 20, 1954:

“Dear Walt, I feel somewhat presumptuous addressing you in this way yet I feel sure you would not want me to address you any other way. My name is Ray A. Kroc….I look over the Company A picture we had taken at Sound Beach, Conn., many times and recall a lot of pleasant memories…I have very recently taken over the national franchise of the McDonald’s system. I would like to inquire if there may be an opportunity for a McDonald’s in your Disneyland Development.”

A young Walt Disney was assigned to the American Red Cross Ambulance Corps unit training in Sound Beach in 1918 and eventually went to France even after the Armistice officially ended World War I. Kroc was also in that unit but did not go to France.

Walt responded with a warm letter informing Kroc that his request had been sent to C.V. Wood, who was in charge of Disneyland concessions, because things were too hectic at the moment for him to handle it personally. Kroc claimed he never received a response from Wood.

McDonald’s did get a presence in Disney theme parks due to an agreement with Disney from 1997 to 2007.

The McDonald’s Fry Cart that opened in 1999 was located near Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café and sold its famous French fries and soft drinks. Disney Imagineers wrote the following back story for that location:

With the rush of prospectors passing through Frontierland in search of gold, lots of folks in town started looking for ways to cash in on all the excitement. Back in 1853, ol’ McDonald (who had a farm, “ei-ei-o”), a potato farmer, decided to set up his cook wagon on the hill under the big oak tree, just off the main trail.

To drum up interest in his French fried delicacies, McDonald even came up with a catch phrase and posted it on the front of the wagon: “There’s gold in them thar fries!” (with a symbol of a golden arch to emphasize the fact).

Business was booming for a couple of good years, right up until the great flood of 1855. Legend has it that white men disturbed the spirits of the mountain by removing gold from Big Thunder, causing all sorts of havoc from earthquakes and avalanches to storms and floods.

In fact, the nearby river rose so much, the water reached right up to McDonald’s wagon on the hill. The wagon survived, but when the water receded, the wagon started to go with it. It slid down the hill, crashed through a fence (and sharp-eyed guests could see the poorly repaired fence), and got lodged in the mud down below.

This didn’t stop ol’ man McDonald, though. He just laid down some planks so folks wouldn’t get their boots muddy, and he has kept right on selling his delicious French fried potatoes until the Disney agreement ended.

There was also a sign placed nearby that proclaimed, “Same location since ’53.” The “53” was scratched out and painted over with a “55.” Not only did this help support the story that the wagon had moved, it was also a reference to McDonald’s history.

Brothers Dick and Mac McDonald opened their original restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1953. Kroc, who pitched the idea to the brothers of expanding their restaurant into a franchise, opened his first location in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.

The Frontierland Fry Cart closed in December 2007.

The Golden Oak Outpost opened in the same location on January 11, 2009. The name is a tribute to Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch in California, an 800-acre movie ranch where Disney filmed a great many live-action television shows and films.

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Thanks, Jim. And come back next Friday for even more from Jim Korkis!

In the meantime, check out his books, including Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, and The Vault of Walt: Volume 4, and his contributions to The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit, all published by Theme Park Press.

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!