Summer Trip (new experience)

[BigRedDad]

My DW decided that she wanted to take a Summer trip to WDW. We normally go at quieter times with less crowds and better weather. We alredy have a strategy and plan. Hit the parks early, do a few rides, focus on shows and AC attractions, afternoons at the resort swimming, DTD for pin trading, parks after dark.

The next crazy decision is when to go? One thought is the week following July 4th. I know crowds are insane then. However, if they still do the insane fireworks show over 4th of July, I would love to see that once again.

Anyone know if they still do the special fireworks for 4th of July?

[Pirate Granny]

Fireworks are both July 3 and 4... Never gone then but I'm told it's like NYE crowded on the 4th.

[BigRedDad]

I know the feeling. I was just not sure if they still did the special fireworks display for 4th of July.

Before this Summer, my DD was on a year round school schedule...on 9 weeks off 3 weeks. This made trips easy because she was off during slower times (late Feb/early March before Spring Break, end of Sept/early Oct, week after Thanksgiving until early January). Her school has switched to a traditional calendar where we are stuck with Summer, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

[MyDisneyworld]

We went on our first summer trip last July and it worked out great. We did almost the exact schedule you mentioned with getting to the parks early, having lunch, Swimming at the resort during the hot afternoon then heading back to the park to watch fireworks/parades.
Our kids are getting to the age when pulling them out of school is a little more of a challenge so just have to make the best of it. Ended up having a great time....
Enjoy.

[Janmac]

As we've been contemplating a summer trip as well, last summer I watched the posts here on Intercot asking about crowd levels. It seems August crowds were light enough that many posted walking on to most attractions.

Our previous warm weather trips have been early June and early September. During both we experienced much rain. Torrential rain. We kept touring but wow, did we get wet, and in air conditioning, quite chilled. Might be good to figure a plan for that, too.

The June thunderstorms closed some rides, some we wound up missing completely. The September hurricane precip had us wading through Epcot walkways. Our take-away: we'd go again in September but not June.

Jan

[MstngDrvnDsnyLvr]

My last trip was in June, my next trip will be this June - And we toured like you did. Afternoons at the resort either resting or swimming or gaming. We are big board and card game players, so we'd sit in the room or the food court and play games for a while.

Yes, it rains in the summer in Florida - but I'm from Eastern NC - not too far in from the coast and we get afternoon summer rain also. That's a reason to time your resort rest time with rain - the 2pm shower.

[#1donaldfan]

We go every summer and although it's hot and crowded we always get to do what we want. We rope drop each park, stay till around noon with much shorter wait times, relax at the resort for several hours, then hit another park for the night, with our FP's ready to go. Your plan is much like how we do it.

[BigRedDad]

We have been enough that we do not need to DO EVERYTHING. One of the best things from our last trip was by accident. We happened upon the Hollywood Utility Works. Spent 20 minutes watching Zeke, Gus, and Sparky...laughing like crazy.

I think we are staying at SSR in a 1BR unit. Several reasons for that. We get a washer and dryer. I think having to change 2-3 times a day will be a pain having to go to the laundry 2-3 times while there. I think for $300, I can toss a load in at night and the morning as necessary.