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Complete Guide to 4th of July at Walt Disney World 2023

Disney 4th of July
Credit: Disney

Holidays are a magical time at Walt Disney World. No matter what holiday is being celebrated, you can count on Disney to go all out! That is definitely true for the 4th of July! Come on…you KNOW a holiday celebrated with fireworks is going to be awesome at Disney right? There are entire memes about it:

Disney 4th of july meme

Credit: Jill Bivins

This year is no different. Disney is pulling out all the stops for America’s birthday. From food to fireworks and even special character meet and greets, there is so much to do that the Disney’s 4th of July celebration cannot be contained to just one Park. Read on for your complete guide to Independence Day at Walt Disney World 2023.

Food

Let’s start with the good stuff! There are so many exciting treats to try at Disney during the 4th. You’ll want to hurry though, these star spangled sweets are only available for a limited time.

At EPCOT you’ll find the return of several fan favorites:

Epcot Waffle independence day

Credit: Disney

  • the Fourth of July Liege Waffle at Connections Cafe. It’s a Brioche dough with pearl sugar.
  • The Fife and Drum is serving up The American Dream which is a frozen Fanta slushie in wild cherry and blue raspberry with a vanilla ice cream float!

Magic Kingdom is getting in on the action too:

Strawberry Shortcake magic kingdom Disney 4th of july

Credit: Disney

  • Columbia Harbor House is serving a delightful Berry Shortcake topped with mixed berries and whipped cream that is as tasty as it is pretty!
  • Casey’s Corner will have a Patriotic “dog of the month” (stay tuned for more details about this).
  • Get your red white and ice cream on at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor with a Red Velvet Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich (Red velvet cookies, vanilla ice cream, and sprinkles).
  • Each Resort Hotel will have a variety of star so angled treats to choose from including the 4th of July Fruit Tart available at the Contempo Cafe (Disney’s Contemporary Resort). The pool bars will serve Stars and Stripes: Bacardi Raspberry Rum blended with flavors of coconut, pineapple, and raspberry puree topped with a float of blue curaçao!

Fireworks

Disney 4th of july fireworks

Credit: Disney

No 4th of July celebration is complete without fireworks, especiallynot a Disney 4th of July celebration! For a limited time you can see Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky. This majestic fireworks display is truly one of the best in the world and absolutely the best 4th of July displays in the country. This moving display features a patriotic soundtrack and an incredible 360 degrees of fireworks launched from multiple points around the park’s perimeter. Every seat in the house is a good one for this show.

This show is so magical it cannot be contained to just one night. You can catch it on July 3rd and 4th at 9:20 pm. Celebrate America will be shown in place of Happily Ever After so you’ll want to an your days accordingly if you have your heart set on seeing one or the other.

Character Meet and Greets 

Patriotic goofy Disney 4th of july

Credit: Disney

EPCOT is your home for patriotic characters. The “fab five” (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto) will don their patriotic “Spirit of ’76” outfits and greet guests periodically throughout the day. Find them in the American Pavilion. There are no set times, catching these fan favorites is just luck of the draw as they appear off and on throughout the day.

Patriotic mickey and Minnie

Credit: Disney

It hasn’t been confirmed yet for this year’s festivities but Mickey and Minnie often appear in Liberty Square as George and Martha Washington on Independence Day. Check Disney’s official website on the day of for confirmation.

Crowds

Disney 4th of july

Credit: Disney Dining

With so many fun activities and unique entertainment options, Independence Day seems like it would be extremely crowded. It’s surprisingly not. The extreme heat in Florida on the 4th of July keeps many would-be guests away. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a slow time to visit either. Expect crowds but not shoulder to shoulder misery. The worst it ever gets is Main Street just before the parade (pictured above).  With tourism slowing in Central Florida we predict this year is THE year for a Disney 4th of July.

Want to see how to put this all together for the perfect patriotic Disney day? Stay tuned right here for our tips for the best Disney 4th of July ever! As always these offerings are subject to change. We will update regularly to keep this guide as current as possible!

 

 

 

About Jill Bivins

Jill Bivins has been visiting Disney Parks since she was 2 years old and loves sharing her Disney adventures with the world. She likes to say Disney is in her blood and writing is in her bones — so any time she has the opportunity to combine these loves she is one happy camper! She has a deep abiding love for Epcot and as a die hard Star Wars fan has a serious love for Hollywood Studios as well. When she isn't exploring or writing about Disney Parks, Jill is homeschooling her 8 year old son, playing with her brand new baby son, or pretending to be a farmer on her family homestead (despite being unable to keep even a cactus alive). Find Jill on Instagram @minnieonmain.