Ultimate Guide to July 4th at Walt Disney World 2025: Celebrate with Fireworks, DJ Dance Parties, and Characters. Epcot and the Magic Kingdom are the places to be this July 4th if you are coming to Walt Disney World. Special firework displays at both Epcot and Magic Kingdom, DJs spinning tunes in front of Cinderella Castle, in Tomorrowland, and Frontierland will keep the energy up.
Mickey, Pluto, and Goofy, along with Chip & Dale, will be dressed in their Revolutionary War (“Spirit of ’76”) outfits in American Adventure at Epcot, and for guests at resorts located around the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky can be viewed as it takes over Seven Seas Lagoon.
We are focused on Epcot and the Magic Kingdom only. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom may have snacks and treats, but they have not done much in the past few years.
Disney Eats Foodie Guide to July 4th at Walt Disney World:
If you’re searching for delicious bites to delight your taste buds, you can find festive flavors across the resort from June 29 to July 5, including returning goodies and always-available fan favorites like the Barbeque Pulled Chicken Sandwich in Regal Eagle Smokehouse at EPCOT.
Patriotic Cake Bar: Vanilla chiffon combined with passion fruit, orange, and guava juice. Available at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs.
Caramel-Apple Pie Funnel Cake: Funnel cake with apple pie topping, caramel drizzle, and vanilla soft-serve. Currently available beyond July 4 at Epic Eats in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Berry Shortcake: Shortcake topped with mixed berries, whipped cream, and patriotic sprinkles. Available at Columbia Harbour House in Magic Kingdom.
Red, White and Blue Funnel Cake: Funnel cake topped with mixed berries, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and festive sprinkles. Available at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom.
Red, White and Blue Waffle: Waffle topped with mixed berries, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and festive sprinkles. Available at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom.
Red, White and Blue Slushy: Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry and Fanta Cherry layered with whipped cream and topped with popping candies. Available at Liberty Square Market in Magic Kingdom.
Navigating July 4th: Transportation & Crowds
Crowds – Crowd levels are nowhere close to being what they once were. The Magic Kingdom the past two years, has had medium levels, and in some places, the crowd felt light. Epcot has been the more crowded of the two parks over the past few years. The crowds get heavier just before the fireworks. We were able to secure a Liberty Tree Tavern dining reservation with very little wait time.
Transportation: Epcot Skyliner will be easy to use until after the Fireworks, where a larger-than-usual line will form. Wait times get up to 2 hours. Friendship Boats will run until 11:00 PM that evening. Buses back to resorts can become crowded immediately following the Fireworks. Magic Kingdom buses, monorail, and boats will all be heavily used following the Fireworks. We recommend waiting until closer to the actual park closing time to head out of the park to transportation.
Disney Photopass – Epcot: last year’s Fourth of July holiday had Sam the Eagle, Red, White, & Blue, Glitter shot, plus handhelds of The American Adventure and Fourth of July signage. Magic Kingdom: by Storybook Circus in Fantasyland, you can find special flag photo pass magic shots. There will also be Magic Shots located around the park. Just ask!
From July 3 to July 6, you and your family can celebrate Independence Day in style with limited-time Fourth of July-themed Disney PhotoPass Magic Shots across Walt Disney World Resort. Get ready to strike a pose, because select PhotoPass locations throughout Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs will offer the perfect way to make your holiday memories sparkle!
Epcot – July 4th, 2025
Park Hours Friday, July 4th: Early Entry 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM Park Hours 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Epcot is home to the American Adventure Pavilion, which is the perfect spot to celebrate America on July 4th with the Voices of Liberty, special meet and greets, and a showing of The American Adventure. Plus, it is a great view of the fireworks over World Showcase Lagoon with Spaceship Earth lit up in Red, White, and Blue for the holiday.
Voices of Liberty: Listen as the Voices of Liberty fill the rotunda of The American Adventure Pavilion with pristine harmonies that celebrate the American experience. Morning – 11:15 AM. Afternoon – 12:00 PM, 12:45 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:15 PM, 3:00 PM, 3:45 PM
Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors is a special exhibit from the George W. Bush Institute that debuted June 9, 2024, at EPCOT. The exhibit was just extended through the end of the year.
Disney Characters dressed for the July 4th holiday: Meet Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, Chip & Dale dressed for the occasion in their “Spirit of ’76” attire – will meet guests throughout the day at The American Adventure in EPCOT
Fireworks: “The Heartbeat of Freedom” will follow Luminous: Symphony of Us at 9:00 PM on July 4th, 2025. In celebration of the holiday, the iconic Spaceship Earth at EPCOT will be illuminated in bright red, white, and blue colors at night.
Magic Kingdom – July 4th, 2025
Park Hours Friday, July 3rd and 4th: Early Entry 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM Park Hours 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Magic Kingdom is the perfect place to celebrate the birth of our country, July 4th. The Hall of Presidents should be reopening any day now and be available on July 3rd and 4th. Liberty Square is home to the Spirit of ’76, where you can see a replica of the Liberty Bell, take on last ride on the paddleboat Liberty Belle. Furthermore, for the more patriotic, the Flag Retreat Ceremony in Town Square is sure to be an emotional moment. Furthermore, fireworks, parties, and special photo-ops are available all day and night.
Fireworks – “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” will light up the nighttime sky over Magic Kingdom Park with a booming nighttime spectacular. A simultaneous fireworks display over nearby Seven Seas Lagoon creates an unforgettable experience for guests in the park and nearby Magic Kingdom Resort Area hotels. July 3 and July 4 at 9:20 p.m. Prepare for patriotism at its finest when Walt Disney World Resort commemorates Independence Day in the skies above Magic Kingdom park! Happily Ever After will not be seen.
DJ Dance Parties – In the Hub, you can dance the day and night away while waiting for Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky, as a DJ will have special lights and party with dance hits playing before the fireworks, plus the party continues after the fireworks end. Tomorrowland at the Rocket Tower Stage, kids can enjoy dancing and playing all day and night. Plus, a DJ will be spinning tunes in Frontierland on the walkway between Country Bear Jamboree and Frontier Trading Post.
Ultimate Guide to July 4th at Walt Disney World 2025: Celebrate with Fireworks, DJ Dance Parties, and Characters
Resorts across Walt Disney World also join in the fun, sometimes offering family-friendly activities like pool parties, games, crafts, and character meet-and-greets in patriotic outfits. It’s a great time to be on property, even outside the parks.
Guests staying along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake can end their day by enjoying the nightly Electrical Water Pageant. This star-spangled display of illuminated sea creatures, including a patriotic grand finale featuring the American flag, is the perfect way to end your day. You can find more information about special activities in your resort’s daily schedule.
The best resorts to see Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky fireworks are the ones located closest to the Magic Kingdom. Fourth Floor of the Contemporary Resort, the Beach at Polynesian Resort & Spa, or the dock at Grand Floridian. The Polynesian Resort will close off most of the beach for guests staying at the resort only.
