As Walt Disney World Resort lights up with patriotic celebrations this Fourth of July, guests at Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT are being treated to festive experiences—and, in some cases, navigating around a few attraction closures.
Magic Kingdom is once again dazzling with its beloved nighttime fireworks spectacular, Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky. This limited two-night-only display on July 3 and 4 transforms the skies above Cinderella Castle into a breathtaking red, white, and blue tribute to the USA. During the day, the patriotic celebration continues with lively DJ dance parties throughout the park—from Frontierland to Tomorrowland, the energy is high and the music is festive.
Over at EPCOT, guests can catch a special Independence Day addition to the new nighttime show Luminous The Symphony of Us. After the main show, stick around for Heartbeat of Freedom, a fireworks finale that’s become a holiday tradition in the park. It’s a beautiful cap to an already dazzling display.
However, the Fourth of July weekend hasn’t been entirely without hiccups. As seen on the official My Disney Experience app, several attractions were unexpectedly closed earlier in the day. At EPCOT, both Frozen Ever After and Living With the Land were temporarily unavailable.
Meanwhile, over at Magic Kingdom, Pirates of the Caribbean and TRON Lightcycle / Run also faced closures. Updates later in the day showed that Pirates of the Caribbean and Living With the Land reopened with five-minute wait times, while Frozen Ever After and TRON returned with longer waits of 30 and 65 minutes, respectively.
In addition to these surprise closures, a major change is underway in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is currently closed for an extended refurbishment as part of a broader reimagining of the land. The transformation will soon pick up pace with the closure of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America after July 7, paving the way for the introduction of Piston Peak National Park, inspired by Disney’s Cars franchise.
Holiday weekends are always popular at Walt Disney World, and this year is no exception. Orlando International Airport (MCO) has reported an increase in travel compared to last year, so guests should expect higher crowd levels—especially for limited-time shows and festivities.
With all four theme parks and two water parks open, there’s still plenty to enjoy across Walt Disney World Resort. Just be sure to arrive early and plan ahead—Independence Day is a favorite time for guests to come together and celebrate.
How are you celebrating the Fourth? Share your magical moments with us in the comments!
