Our 8 Must-Dos For the 4th of July at Walt Disney World

It’s a privilege to celebrate our nation’s independence every year, but even more so at Walt Disney World. Our family has been afforded the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World for the 4th of July on several occasions. It’s one of our favorite times to be in the parks.

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World on the 4th of July in 2024, you might want to attend a few events and festivities exclusive to the holiday. While it’s hot (like any other summer day in Florida), we consider these eight must-dos worth the extra effort. Thankfully, a few things are offered on July 3rd, so guests don’t have to make the tough decision as to where to spend the holiday.

My family prefers to let freedom ring at Magic Kingdom on the 3rd. Then, on the 4th of July, we like to hop around a bit between the parks and resorts, ending the day with the evening fireworks at Epcot. Both spectaculars come in at the top of our list.

Spaceship Earth on the 4th of July with the American Flag — We love to spend the 4th of July at Epcot.

1. See the Fireworks Spectaculars at Both Parks

Both Magic Kingdom and Epcot have special holiday fireworks offerings. We’ve listed each one below with the scheduled showtimes for 2024 and viewing tips.

Disney’s Celebrate America!

Magic Kingdom hosts an exclusive Fourth of July fireworks spectacular on the eve of Independence Day and the actual holiday itself. This performance is called Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky. Per this announcement on the Disney Parks Blog, we’ve listed the showtimes for both nights below. (Unfortunately, the times are not currently listed on the Walt Disney World calendar.)

Viewing Tip: We recommend securing a spot for fireworks 2.5 hours before they begin (at Magic Kingdom). The primary viewing area in front of the castle will likely reach capacity at some point.

2024 Scheduled Showtimes: July 3 and July 4 at 9:20 p.m. (Disney’s Celebrate America!)

Resort Tip: If you’re staying at one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts, you might prefer to watch the fireworks from your resort. You can do so from Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, or Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The best resort viewing location will be at Disney’s Polynesian. However, the resort has been known to restrict the viewing area to only guests of the Polynesian.

The Heartbeat of Freedom

Epcot hosts a special holiday tag called The Heartbeat of Freedom at the end of their regular fireworks performance. So at 9:00 p.m., guests can watch Luminous: The Symphony of Us, and at the end, the performance will transition to The Heartbeat of Freedom. It is a dazzling finale that will leave you breathless, among other things.

Viewing Tip: Most locations around the World Showcase Lagoon will work. However, avoid areas with trees that might obstruct part of the view. We recommend securing a spot approximately two hours before the performance.

2024 Scheduled Showtimes: July 4th at 9:00 p.m. (Luminous: The Symphony of Us followed by The Heartbeat of Freedom.)

Resort Tip: If you’re staying at one of the Epcot Resorts, you can watch the fireworks from outside the park. Many guests watch from the bridge that leads to Disney’s Boardwalk. We checked out this location last year, and it was packed. If you’re visiting during the holidays, this is a scenario when a park-hopper ticket is warranted. The fireworks are much more viewable from inside the park.

Cinderella Castle American Flag projections for Independence Day holiday — Cinderella Castle will have special projections on the 3rd and 4th of July.

2. Participate in DJ Dance Parties at Magic Kingdom

We don’t get many opportunities to dance the night away in theme parks. But you can do just that on the 3rd and 4th of July. DJs set up on the Cinderella Castle Stage, the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland, and a makeshift area in Frontierland. If you’re watching the fireworks from the hub, the DJ will help keep the crowd entertained while you wait. But it’s not until after the fireworks that the real party begins.

Well, usually. As of a few weeks before the holiday, the parks aren’t scheduled to stay open as late as they usually do. We hope this is an oversight on Disney’s part and the hours are adjusted. Check the My Disney Experience app for exact park hours on the day of your visit.

a DJ spinning tunes on the 4th of July at Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom — Join in the dance party after the fireworks at Magic Kingdom!

3. Take a Picture with Cinderella’s Coach

Cinderella’s Coach usually makes a special appearance on the 4th of July and then again on New Year’s. The coach is stationed on the castle wall in Fantasyland behind Cinderella’s Castle and Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel when available. A PhotoPass photographer is often present to take photos of guests with the coach.

Cinderella's Coach on display as a photo opportunity on the 4th of July — Cinderella’s Coach only comes out for rare occasions.

4. Meet Classic Characters in Patriotic Costumes at Epcot

We always like to go to Epcot on the 4th of July to meet a few rare characters. We typically visit the park, meet the characters, and have lunch at Regal Eagle Smokehouse. Then, it’s time for a break to see the golf cart parade at Fort Wilderness. We return to Epcot later to see a patriotic Spaceship Earth followed by the fireworks.

Last year, we met Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto under the partially shaded area on the right of the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot. They wear colonial costumes in red, white, and blue with traditional Tricorn hats. This is a fun tradition and an excellent place to take a family photo. However, as with any special characters, be prepared to wait. We waited over an hour for this meet-and-greet last year.

Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto in patriotic costumes at Epcot on the 4th of July — Be prepared to wait in long lines to meet characters in their patriotic best at Epcot!

We also waited approximately 30 minutes to meet Chip and Dale in their festive holiday outfits. They met guests on the opposite side of the American Pavilion at Epcot.

Chip and Dale at Epcot on the Fourth of July — Chip and Dale in Tricorns and sashes.

5. See the Portraits of Courage Exhibit at Epcot

While you’re in Epcot’s American Pavilion, a couple of other things are worth your time. This year, we recommend seeing the new Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors exhibit. This gallery is in the colonial mansion where the Voices of Liberty perform. It features over 60 portraits of our country’s war veterans hand-painted by President George W. Bush.

6. Take in a Special Performance of the Voices of Liberty at Epcot

We always recommend seeing the Voices of Liberty at Epcot, especially on the 4th of July. The performers sing under the rotunda’s center and are joined by additional singers who surround the second-floor balcony. A special lighting package adds a patriotic touch. As you can see from last year’s crowd, it’s a performance not to be missed. Times for multiple performances will be listed in the “entertainment” section of the My Disney Experience app.

the Voices of Liberty performing for a crowd on the 4th of July at Epcot — The Voices of Liberty on the 4th of July at Epcot.

7. See Spaceship Earth in Red, White, and Blue

She is beauty, she is grace, and she is patriotic on the 4th of July. I’m referring to none other than everyone’s favorite Ms. America, Spaceship Earth. Typically, the light display will transition to the American flag a couple of days leading up to the holiday. However, with it getting dark so late this time of year, you’ll only be able to see this offering for a limited window of time.

Spaceship Earth as seen from the monorail platform with red, white, and blue projection maps.

8. Venture to Fort Wilderness for the Annual 4th of July Golf Cart Parade

I couldn’t finalize our 4th of July must-do list without a nod to Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Each year, they host a golf cart extravaganza parade. Guests staying at the Fort elaborately decorate their golf carts in their best red, white, and blue. Last year, they had over 100 entries! We have a report with photos and videos below if you want to learn more.

Learn More>>Fort Wilderness 4th of July Golf Cart Parade

We hope you have a happy 4th of July holiday and get to do some or maybe all of the items on our list! Remember to plan accordingly, stop for breaks as needed, and drink plenty of water. If you try to do too much, you could end up exhausted and miss the fireworks. I know because it’s happened to us!

For other seasonal holiday guides, you might enjoy the following:

In the Comments

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