Celebrate the red, white, and blue this Independence Day at Walt Disney World without stepping foot inside a crowded theme park, and most of the top 10 is FREE!
Fourth of July is a time for patriotic celebrations across the United States, and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will commemorate the holiday with with star-spangled fireworks spectaculars. dance parties and more, and the great thing is you don't need a theme park ticket to enjoy the celebrations!
For whatever reason you don't want to go to the theme parks, be it that they are too busy, or too expensive, or you can't get a park reservation during the 4th of July holiday period, you can still enjoy the fireworks and more.
Read on for how to celebrate the 4th of July in Disney World and have fun without being in a theme park!!
1. Watch The Magic Kingdom Fireworks For Free
This year the 4th of July fireworks spectacular, "Disney's Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky" will again be presented on July 3 and July 4, at 9.20 pm.
You can easily watch the fireworks from outside the park, yes they can get a little busy, but you will still get a great view, and enjoy the show.
Locations include:
Ticket and Transportation Center, this is a great spot, its convenient location across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Magic Kingdom making it an excellent place for watching fireworks outside the parks, and you can get back quickly to your car or resort before the crowds leave the park!
Another popular location is outside the resorts around the Seven Seas Lagoon, you can get great views from both the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts, especially the beaches, over at the Contemporary you can view the fireworks from the car park area, or head inside and watch from the observation deck located on the 4th floor concourse, or as many folks do, or from the stairwells of the hotel, hundreds of guests will be doing this too!
Please note that on July 4, the beaches at Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts are restricted to hotel guests only, as is the observation deck at the Contemporary.
(This does not affect the July 3 performance.)
Another option is to catch the fireworks from the Ferryboat that travels between Ticket and Transportation Center and Magic Kingdom, if you time it right, it is possible to get a spectacular view of the fireworks from the ferryboat as it crosses back and forth!
2. Catch The Military Flyover at Magic Kingdom For Free
This 4th of July, the U.S. Air Force will conduct a special military flyover of Magic Kingdom at approximately 10:30 am on July 4, honoring 100 years of aerial refueling excellence, and of course celebrating Independence Day!
The flyover will include one KC-135 'Stratotanker' flown by the 91st Air Refueling Squadron based at MacDill Air Force Base.
It will be joined by several F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft flown by the 33rd Fighter Wing based at Eglin Air Force Base. which will soar over Cinderella's Castle.
Much like the fireworks at Magic Kingdom, you can easily catch the flyover from the same spots as we have highlighted for the fireworks.
Anywhere around Seven Seas Lagoon, or at the Ticket and Transportation Center will give you a great view of the flyover.
3. Enjoy Limited Edition Eats And Treats
Celebrate Independence Day at Walt Disney World with lots of yummy limited edition patriotic goodies!
You will discover lots of treats throughout the resort hotels. Let's check them out!
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Intermission Food Court, World Premiere Food Court, and End Zone Food Court
Sweet Summertime Favorites: Hot dog éclair with chocolate buttercream, iced sugar cookie ‘fries’, and raspberry dipping sauce
Disney’s BoardWalk
BoardWalk Deli and Carousel Coffee
Independence Day Cupcake: Cinnamon cupcake, apple pie filling, and vanilla mascarpone cream
Freedom Cheesecake: Red velvet brownie base, vanilla cheesecake, sweet cream, crisp pearls, and white chocolate garnish
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Contempo Café
Fourth of July Fruit Tart: Blackberry custard topped with fresh berries and a vanilla panna cotta popsicle
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill
Star-spangled Brownie Bar: Graham cracker crust and chocolate chip fudgy brownie topped with a brown butter caramel mousse, popping candy, and chocolate décor
Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Good’s Food to Go and The Artist’s Palette
Fourth of July Layer Cake: Layers of red velvet cake with white and blue buttercream filled with a patriotic sprinkle surprise
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, Riverside Mill Food Court
Star-spangled Brownie Bar: Graham cracker crust and chocolate chip fudgy brownie topped with a brown butter caramel mousse, popping candy, and chocolate décor
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Bar Riva
Patriotic Wave: The Mediterranean Wave with the addition of blue curaçao and hibiscus to celebrate both Independence Day and Bastille Day
Le Petit Café (
Patriotic Top Hat: Vanilla bean cheesecake with morello cherries on a Riviera brownie (New)
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Roaring Fork
Lemon Mousse Cake: Lemon cake and white chocolate lemon mousse with a blueberry compote center and chocolate star décor
Available at Various Disney Resort Hotels
Red, White, and Blue Colada: Bacardi Raspberry Rum blended with flavors of coconut, pineapple, and raspberry purée topped with a float of Bols Blue Curaçao
Red, White, and Blue Gin and Tonic: Empress 1908 Gin, tonic water, and cranberry and pomegranate juices (New)
4. Watch The Electrical Water Pageant For Free
Don't miss the Electrical water Pagent, included in the procession is a stirring and inspirational medley of patriotic songs while stars and stripes float along the shimmering water.
Watch the Pageant from viewing spots along the shore at these locations:
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (including Narcoossee's)
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
5. Enjoy The Free Entertainment at Disney Springs
Discover lots of free entertainment throughout Disney Springs on the 4th of July, including bands, DJ and more.
Highlights include Drey-C on the Advent Health Stage, Rexine at Waterview Park, and Sugar Vibe at Orange Node.
6. Join In Chip 'n' Dale's Free Campfire Sing-A-Long
Roast marshmallows, sing songs and share hugs with Chip 'n' Dale this 4th of July at Fort Wilderness Campground.
Bring your own marshmallows and sticks, or purchase a s’mores kit from the Chuckwagon Snack Bar. After you enjoy the gooey goodness, croon along to old-time favorites led by a guitar-playing cowboy, as Chip ‘n Dale visit for photos, autographs, smiles and fun.
After the cowboy sing-along, cozy up for a classic Disney movie in a theater under the stars. As night falls, the fun moves toward the giant screen, where cowpokes of all ages can delight in a favorite Disney movie shown in the fresh evening air.
7. Visit Tri-Circle-D Ranch For Free
Stroll through the stable this 4th of July to visit Cinderella’s Ponies and the majestic horses of Main Street, U.S.A.. Discover the Dragon Calliope—the horse-drawn musical instrument that Walt Disney purchased for the Mickey Mouse Club Circus Parade at Disneyland Park in the 1950s.
Animal lovers of all ages will delight in the variety of breeds that live at Tri-Circle-D Ranch, including Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons and Quarter Horses, plus Shetland Ponies.
8. Enjoy A Good Old-Fashioned Wagon Ride
Enjoy a good old-fashioned Horse-drawn Wagon Rides at the Disney Fort Wilderness Campground this 4th of July.
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The Horse-drawn wagon leaves from the front of Pioneer Hall near the back side of the Fort Wilderness Campground, at 6 pm and 8.30 pm.
9. Don't Miss The Fourth of July Parade at Fort Wilderness
A much loved tradition at the For Wilderness Campground is the golf car parades to celebrate the holidays throughout the year, and The Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade at Fort Wilderness usually includes a band, or a rider on horseback carrying the American flag.
It’s a fun parade with cast members, and guests staying at the resort decorating golf carts, displaying the red, white, and blue proudly.
10. Catch The 4th Of July Fireworks at EPCOT
A Fourth of July fireworks tag, 'The Heartbeat of Freedom," will follow the regular nightly performance of the "EPCOT Forever" nighttime fireworks spectacular at 9pm.
You can watch the fireworks at Disney's Boardwalk Resort.
For the best view of the fireworks, watch from outside the Atlantic Dance Hall. Or you can watch from Disney’s Beach Club Resort beach.
Oh, and if you catch a monorail from Ticket and Transportation Center, you can travel through EPCOT and check the park out, plus you can watch the light show on Spaceship Earth at EPCOT in celebration of Independence Day. from outside the main Ticket Plaza.
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