Shockingly low wait times at Walt Disney World theme parks on July 4

Jul 04, 2023 in "Fourth of July at Walt Disney World"

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Posted: Tuesday July 4, 2023 4:29pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Guests celebrating the Fourth of July at Walt Disney World are seeing surprisingly short wait times across all four theme parks today.

Fourth of July is usual a very busy day at Walt Disney World

As of mid-afternoon, and after park hopping became available to guests, the longest wait was at Frozen Ever After in EPCOT, at 90 minutes. Most rides have a 30-minute wait, including Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, Big Thunder Mountain, and Mission: SPACE. Only four attractions have waits in excess of 60 minutes.

Many attractions have wait times of less than 20 minutes, including Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, Soarin', Expedition Everest, and Tower of Terror.

Two shockingly low wait times are at Disney's Hollywood Studios, with Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway at 5 minutes, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at just 20 minutes.

Possibly explaining the low crowds at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios is the lack of fireworks tonight. Guests will likely spend the day at either EPCOT or Magic Kingdom, with both parks offering special fireworks shows for July 4. However, wait times at both of those parks a significantly below the usual Fourth of July levels which have typically seen waits in excess of 3 hours at popular rides.

Disney executives have previously expressed concern about summer attendance, and if today's wait times are an indication of a new normal, this July may be a great time to visit.

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Jrb197930 minutes ago

Why would they want to visit a place they look down on and don't understand?

DisneyHead12345 minutes ago

I think execs visiting their own companies as “regular” customers (not VIP visitors,) is always good practice. That said, I don’t know if it would help here. I’m sure they are well aware of areas where guest satisfaction is low. Len says they’re data people with world class data that not even Comcast can replicate, right? I think they know where the issues are, but the solutions involve serious denaro at a time where increasing cash on hand seems to be a growing corporate philosophy. I do think attendance dips and competition from Universal / other cruise lines will be enough to shake things up though.

TheMaxRebo56 minutes ago

Oh, it would be great, and lots of stories of Walt having managers do it, etc ... Just not sure realistic for specific Bob or Josh to do it and not get recognized But no reason some of the senior managers/executives less known don't do that

Sirwalterraleigh1 hour ago

Tech giants don’t have any need to go down in social strata That is the problem. And (you know who you are) spent the last 15 years encouraging them to act this way.

wannabeBelle1 hour ago

I have said this for the longest time. They need to experience it as a regular person, paying out of pocket for stuff and see how things are on the ground. I think there is some combination of apathy and ignorance going on there. Marie

Sirwalterraleigh2 hours ago

…that’s why no one is there …too hot

TrainsOfDisney2 hours ago

He’d have to take the sweater off!

celluloid2 hours ago

In street clothes, not as many would recognize Bob Iger as people think. Bill Davis and Tom Williams used to walk Universal Studios Florida quite frequently in casuals.

bwr8273 hours ago

Is it a bridge to Tom Sawyer Island? If so, I’ll take it!

Lilofan3 hours ago

If you think execs and family don't vacation at DL and WDW with the Mouse picking up the tab , there is a bridge for sale.

Sirwalterraleigh4 hours ago

Nobody that isn’t behind a nametag could have the slightest concern who Damaro is…nor will they ever

TheMaxRebo4 hours ago

Bob and Josh are probably too identifiable to realistically be able to do that but would be great for more executives to experience the parks as regular guests