Since we have an annual pass, we decided to bite the bullet and go to Disneyland for the 4th of July. We came in with low expectations for how much we were able to do given that it was a major holiday and Star Wars land is still fairly new. Surprisingly, we were able to accomplish a lot; we were able to get on Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, Thunder Mountain, and visit Galaxy Edge all in 4 hours (Don’t Sleep on the Max Pass). That being said there are some really cool things to look forward to for the fourth of July.
Special Mickey photo opp- Mickey was dressed in a special patriotic suit for the day. There was also a special backdrop for the photo. Mickey was not out in his suit all day, but the backdrop was out all day. He was stationed right next to the Disney Showcase.
Photo props- Cast members across both parks also had special photo signs for the holiday. Sometimes a photo pass cast member had one of the props too, but mostly cast members were holding them. There are naturally tons of flags and banners everywhere too. Everyone had their best red, white, and blue outfits on.
Special snacks and drinks- There were special food and beverages to help you capture the perfect Independence Day selfie. There was a special BBQ dining package at the Plaza Inn. The Carnation Cafe was serving an Apple Pie Shake and the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe had a 4th of July Cupcake. There was also a great Firecracker drink at the Hollywood Lounge in the Disney California Adventure Park. Keep up with the Disney Blog to see what will be offered in the future.
Fireworks- The fireworks were definitely worth the effort. We were right between the Main Street Photo Supply and the Refreshment Corner. This was a great spot to view the fireworks. We were in the front, but we did have a lot of people walking in front of us because of where we were. One of our goals is to scout out good places to watch the fireworks. The crazy part was that people were lining up for fireworks at 7:30 even though the show did not start until 9:30 @_@. So bring a blanket to sit on and activities to keep you occupied.
While we had a great time, the crowd was a real issue when it came to leaving the park. The lines to get on the tram were horrible, causing us to walk back to the lot. Furthermore, it took us a solid 45 minutes to leave the parking lot. If you decided to go to the parks for the holiday, leave as late as physically possible to avoid the traffic. All and all, it was a good experience given the day. Good luck!
