Disney World Sees Unusual Fourth of July Crowd Patterns

Walt Disney World is experiencing a notably slow summer season in 2025, with lower attendance and shorter wait times than in previous years, continuing a trend of reduced summer crowds over the past decade. Despite expectations for Fourth of July to be a peak day, crowds and wait times at Magic Kingdom were lighter than anticipated, although visitors are advised to arrive early to secure good viewing spots for the rare Fourth of July fireworks show. The park is encouraging visitors to take advantage of less crowded, air-conditioned attractions such as Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress and Mickey’s PhilharMagic for midday breaks. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Disneyland is marking its 20th anniversary with major celebrations, including a new nighttime spectacular and parade, providing an appealing draw for international visitors despite the park's historically lower attendance compared to other Disney resorts. Additionally, new developments in line management and access, such as Disney's Lightning Lane and Universal's Express Pass, continue to evolve but have not fully resolved long wait challenges. Overall, the summer slowdown has prompted Disney to explore new strategies to attract guests and enhance the park experience amid changing attendance patterns.