With the summer vibes of July already in the air, guests at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts are gearing up to enjoy the Independence Day, July 4th holiday with a little sprinkling of pixie-dusted magic. If you’re planning a hardcore day of Disney fun amid the heightened crowds and unpredictable weather of the season, you might be looking for a few ways to make the occasion memorable without committing to some of the usual suggestions. While annual passholders and locals might decide to take in the perfectly timed showing of The Hall of Presidents, we understand that if you are traveling from a distance, this might be your only chance to enjoy the parks for what they are. Adding time-consuming activities and shows that take away from the priority list of rides and character experiences on your must-do list isn’t going to cut it! Instead, we have a few unique ideas you can use to add some extra sparklet to your day without detracting from your planned park time!
DisneyBound in Red, White & Blue
DisneyBounding as a family is always a fun idea, even in its most subtle form! If you like the idea of character-inspired dressing, you can take this one as far as you like or keep it simple with a nod of color toward your favorite characters. This July 4th is the perfect time to take inspiration from Disney characters that feature red, white, and blue, like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, or even Captain America or Snow White. Get creative and arrive at the parks with outfits to impress!
Get a Family Photo with Everyone!
This might not be directly related to Independence Day, though it is by way of a gratitude infusion. When it comes to holidays like this, I am always reminded that at our core, we must be grateful for the lives we live and those who sacrificed to ensure our freedom. In any nationality, we can all take a moment to reflect on what we are truly thankful for, recognizing the fortunate circumstances we have. For many of us, what we value most are our family and friends. If you’re traveling with your loved ones, there has never been a more perfect time to take a group photo and mark the moment in your memory books. It only takes a few moments, and everyone can be in the photo thanks to the incredible Disney PhotoPass Photographers who are available to help. This is especially fun to do if you are all wearing your red, white, and blue DisneyBounding outfits together!
Do a Red, White & Blue-themed Snack Crawl
When it comes to taking your snack break, send everyone in your group out on a mission to find red, white, or blue snacks. If you have a large group, you may need to have everyone post their purchase in the group chat before buying the next one to ensure you don’t end up with eight of the same treat. Then, once everyone has returned, cut them up into tiny pieces so everyone can have a bite of each. It’s a great way to try lots of different limited-edition food items, and they make for a fantastic photo all together before you dig in too! If you have a large group, you may need two of each snack.
Join the Flag Retreat Ceremony
This often-overlooked moment is a heartfelt tradition at both Disneyland Park in California and Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World. Each day, they honor veterans during the afternoon Flag Retreat Ceremony, with patriotic music and an official lowering of the American flag. This will occur at 5 PM on Friday, July 4th, in Magic Kingdom Park and at 4:15 PM in Disneyland Park. It’s a relatively quick ceremony, but a good chance to take a moment from your day to appreciate the tradition.
Enjoy the Magic of Fireworks!
Firework displays and July 4th celebrations seem to always go hand-in-hand, and no one does fireworks better than the Disney Parks! See all the details for Walt Disney World 4th of July Fireworks here. Over in Disneyland, enjoy Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky, on display at 9:35 PM on July 4th! Grab a piece of sidewalk and direct your attention to the skies above for a stunning display of beauty and patriotic joy; the perfect way to end a Disney day!
We hope you have a safe and enjoyable July 4th!
