4th of July News for All Parks 2013

[Cardinals314]

News for 4th of July firework displays just came in. It's pretty expansive:

MK: Independence Week will bring 7 straight days of perimeter fireworks to the Magic Kingdom from July 1 to July 7 2013. The spectacular July 4 firework show 'Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky' will perform nightly. The shows on the 3 and 4 will feature full 360 degree fireworks and the Seven Seas Lagoon Island mirror location. The remaining shows will feature 180 degree perimeter fireworks and no island mirror show (the same setup as used during the Halloween and Christmas Party nights). There will also be a patriotic pre-parade featuring Goofy, Donald, Pluto, The Main Street Philharmonic, the Citizens of Main Street and Walt Disney's historic horse-drawn calliope.

Epcot: Guests can meet with Disney characters adorned in patriotic dress. An afternoon of live entertainment kicks off at 12:30 p.m. in the America Gardens Theatre with the Voices of Liberty Fourth of July concert. The Heartbeat of Freedom, a special tribute following IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth lights up the sky at 10 p.m.

DHS: Disney's Hollywood Studios will present an all-new 'Rockin' 4th of July Celebration' fireworks spectacular to celebrate Independence Day 2013.
The party begins at the Sorcerer Hat with a DJ at 6pm. At 7, 8, 9 and 10pm. The special rock ‘n roll fireworks presentation is at 10:15pm.

It will be interesting to see which presentation people will go see. MK is smart for showing the exact same fireworks show on the 3rd and 4th.

[Wizzard419]

I wonder if they reach capacity at any of the parks for 4th of July? Supposedly it happens at DLR during the summer but since it Is only a day here and there it doesn't make the news (unlike between 12/25 and 1/1)

[Cardinals314]

I wonder if they reach capacity at any of the parks for 4th of July? Supposedly it happens at DLR during the summer but since it Is only a day here and there it doesn't make the news (unlike between 12/25 and 1/1)

I could see Magic Kingdom closing due to capacity, but I don't know if the other parks would have the potential

[Amy]

I wonder if they reach capacity at any of the parks for 4th of July? Supposedly it happens at DLR during the summer but since it Is only a day here and there it doesn't make the news (unlike between 12/25 and 1/1)

I could see Magic Kingdom closing due to capacity, but I don't know if the other parks would have the potential

I'm pretty sure the parks do close due to capacity crowds. Here is an interesting little blurb from touringplans about the phased closures ~

Disney Parks are designed to handle massive crowds. Magic Kingdom can allegedly hold more than 100,000 guests, but through phased closures Disney limits park attendance to levels more conducive to guest safety and enjoyment.
During the most crowded times of year (typically around Easter and between Christmas and New Year's Eve, but occasionally on July 4 and other days), showing up at park opening and having a Touring Plan are critical for successful touring (and, we'd argue, for your sanity). Also consider our Crowd Calendar, which recommends the best parks for every day of the year. Finally, note that those staying at Disney Resorts are guaranteed access to a Disney World theme park, but this does not mean that you will be able to get into the park of your choice, nor does it mean that you will enjoy yourself in an extremely crowded park.
Likelihood of Park Closure
All four Disney World theme parks have reached some level of closure in the past. As the most visited theme park in the world, Magic Kingdom is the park most likely to experience capacity-based closures during busy times of year. Due to its size, Epcot is the least likely to close. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom have smaller capacities and are more likely to close than Epcot.
The two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) regularly reach their capacities during the summer.
Parking
Typically parking lots close for capacity-related reasons before the theme parks do. When this happens, Disney may divert cars to an alternate parking lot and provide bus transportation to the park whose lot is closed. For example, sometimes the Hollywood Studios lot fills and guests are diverted to the gigantic Epcot parking lot. When this happens, follow posted signs and instructions carefully.

Closures
Disney uses different closure "phases" to gradually restrict the types of guests allowed into a theme park. Closures start at Phase 1 and progress up to Phase 4, where no additional guests of any sort are allowed into the park. Phased closures do not necessarily last all day: for example, if Magic Kingdom is under a Phase 4 closure at 10:00 a.m. on Christmas, sufficient guests might leave by 7:00 p.m. that all restrictions on park entry are lifted.
Note that what is below is what we believe to be true; however, Disney does not publish its park closure procedures and may change its practices at any time.

Phase 1 Closure
Casual visitors are turned away at the automobile toll plazas. This means that people without tickets, those with one-day, single-park tickets, and those intending to use cast mamber passes will not be allowed to park.
Other guests may enter:
Those with multi-day or multi-park tickets
Those staying at a Disney Resort
Annual Passholders
Those re-entering the park that day.
Those "hopping" from another park.
Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
Those arriving via Disney transportation

Phase 2 Closure
The following guests are allowed through the turnstiles and into the parking lots:
Those staying at a Disney Resort
Annual Passholders
Those re-entering the park that day.
Those "hopping" from another park.
Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
Those arriving via Disney transportation

Phase 3 Closure
The following guests are allowed through the turnstiles and into the parking lots:
Those staying at a Disney Resort
Annual Passholders
Those with in-park reservations or appointments.

Phase 4 Closure
The park and parking lot are closed to all arriving guests.

[Cardinals314]

I was at WDW for Spring break this year and MK experienced phase 3 closures during the day. My friends and I were still able to do everything in the park. What's really funny is that there are resources out there that give you better plans than touringplans which are free.

[Wizzard419]

Where do you think touringplans gets their info from?

At DLR I don't think they do the phased system in that way (locking out early and re-opening later) which might be due to the parks being right across from each other. They will close the gates to non-hotel and non-ap guests and a line will form (think similar to a night club) and as guests leave new ones come in.

[Cardinals314]

Where do you think touringplans gets their info from?

At DLR I don't think they do the phased system in that way (locking out early and re-opening later) which might be due to the parks being right across from each other. They will close the gates to non-hotel and non-ap guests and a line will form (think similar to a night club) and as guests leave new ones come in.

Wow I didn't know that. I thought it would be the same.

[Soarin08]

Typically it phases in this order- MK, DAK, DHS, then Epcot. I work here, I know these things.

[Len90]

Typically it phases in this order- MK, DAK, DHS, then Epcot. I work here, I know these things.

Kind of surprised to see DAK hits a capacity quicker than DHS. I know EPCOT is has the largest capacity of all the parks so it makes sense being last. I thought DAK being larger and not having any celebration would not be phasing.


Interesting to see a new show for DHS. It is one of the only times you get to see fireworks in the park (besides Fantasmic). I just think having it start at 10:15 with EPCOT finishing the special Illuminations could be an issue. The Heartbeat is very loud and will definitely be heard in DHS. In years past it was DHS fireworks 9PM with Illuminations at 10PM. If you planned it out right, you were able to see both firework shows in that one night with the MK show the night before. Thus you saw all three. It seems like this year people will have to chose which (at most) two of the three they want to see.