If you’re not sure when to book your Walt Disney World vacation or already have booked a trip to Disney World in July, use this monthly guide to plan your stay.
In this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know about July at Disney World, including what to expect with the weather, special events, what the crowds are like, and what’s closed for updates.
All dates and information subject to change throughout the year. This post will be updated frequently, but for the most up to date information on what’s closed and what’s reopened, check out my post about Disney World closures and what’s new.
Weather in Orlando in July
As you likely guessed, the weather in Orlando in July, as well as the surrounding Walt Disney World resort area, is hot, humid, and rainy.
In short, the weather’s not that great. Thank goodness for air conditioning in all the resorts, indoor rides, and shops!
Heat-wise, the average high temperature is 92° F and average low is 76° in July (source).
More than likely, the temps will be between 80-95° F all day, so don’t let that average low temp fool you!
Add a layer of the notorious summertime Florida humidity and you’ve got some miserable weather.
Make sure to beat the heat at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon water park, to help you cool off.
Or hop on a water ride, like Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, or make a bee line for an indoor ride or shop for an air conditioning break.
And of course, you can always take a dip in your resort pool!
In addition to the heat, July is within hurricane season for much of the Southern US, not just Florida.
It’s pretty rare for hurricanes to hit the Orlando area directly, as it’s in the center of the state, but it can happen.
Plus, even if a hurricane is forecast for the surrounding states, such as Georgia, the weather can still be impacted. Which in turn can mess up airplane schedules.
July is the 2nd wettest month with an average of 7.1 inches of rain (source).
Don’t be surprised if there’s a torrential downpour nearly every afternoon – even if the day starts off super sunny!
Afternoon rain showers are very common in the area, especially during hurricane season, though much of the time, it’ll just be for 20 minutes or so.
Rare exceptions are made regarding refunds due to inclement weather when the parks need to close, like it did for Hurricane Irma in September 2019.
Disney World’s theme parks are still open on rainy days, so don’t expect a refund if it happens during your stay. Besides, there’s plenty of fun things to do at Disney World in the rain.
What to wear to Disney World in July
I recommend wearing light-colored loose clothing and shoes that will keep your feet comfortable in hot weather with lots of walking.
Only you will know what’s best for your feet – some people swear by sneakers, while others will prefer sandals when it’s Summer.
Personally I hate wearing sneakers in hot and humid weather – so I stick to sandals with good traction to ensure I don’t slip if the ground is wet due to rain.
Don’t forget to throw in a swimsuit or 2 so you can cool off in the Summer heat at one of Disney’s water parks.
As for extras to take into the park with you, my top 3 recommendations are sunglasses, sunscreen, and a disposable rain poncho.
No one wants a sunburn to ruin their Disney vacation, nor do you want to get drenched in the rain, forcing you to waste time running back to your hotel room to change!
Aside from that, check out my post on what to pack for Disney World for more recommendations, plus get a free printable packing list to help you stay organized.
Special events
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival runs through July 5 in 2023, making it your last chance to check out the Garden Rocks concert series, food booths, special gardens, and elaborate topiaries.
If you’re visiting for the Fourth of July, you’ll be treated to special fireworks displays at Epcot and Magic Kingdom to celebrate US Independence Day.
At the Magic Kingdom park, the fireworks are formally called Disney’s Celebrate America, which started in 2008.
Although this show has been running for over 15 years now, it has had many updates since then.
Epcot’s show is called Heartbeat of Freedom and it typically runs after its usual nighttime show.
Plus, you can catch the a cappella group singing patriotic songs in the rotunda at the America Adventure pavilion. In past years, they’ve also performed a concert at the America Gardens theatre in the evening, too.
Lastly, you bet there will be all kinds of American treats to celebrate at all 4 theme parks, like strawberry shortcake, apple pie cupcakes and other red, white, and blue themed snacks and drinks.
If you’re planning to visit later in the month, you might be able to catch the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, which sometimes starts in mid-to-late July.
As of last update on January 19, the dates for this festival in 2023 are not yet available. As soon as they are, this post will be updated!
July crowds at Disney World
July is one of the busiest months at Disney World.
First, you have the 4th of July weekend in which many people take their Summer vacation.
With schools also out for the Summer, many families with children visit the parks in July.
In addition to families, the end of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and start of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival are bound to draw big crowds at Epcot, with spillover to other parks.
Overall, expect high to moderate crowds throughout the month.
Attraction and ride closures
There are a number of rides and attractions that are closed for updates or maintenance.
Animal Kingdom
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, the Colors of Mo’Ara face painting station in Pandora is still closed with no re-open date as of January 19, 2023, so it’s possible it will still be closed in July.
Character flotillas, or boats that look like parade floats, have replaced many of the in-person character meet-and-greets.
It’s not clear if this is permanent or if they will return. This includes Pocahontas, Russle, Dug, Timon, Rafiki, and others.
Epcot
Tokyo Dining in the Japan pavilion is closed for refurbishment and expected to reopen in Summer 2023. As of January 2023, it is not know yet if it will be open in July.
Over in the Morocco pavilion, The Brass Bazaar, Casablanca Carpets, Marketplace in the Medina, and Restaurant Marrakesh remain closed.
El Ranchito del Norte in Mexico, the Trading Post between Canada and the United Kingdom pavilions, Village Traders between China and Germany, Der Teddybar in Germany, Sportsman’s Shoppe in United Kingdom, and the Mitsukoshi Kiosk in Japan also remain closed.
Hollywood Studios
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, the following rides and attractions are expected to be closed in June:
- Citizens of Hollywood
- Meet The Incredibles
- Jedi Training Academy
- Star Wars Launch Bay theater
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid
In addition, the following shops and food stands are closed:
- Disney Studio Store
- Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost
- It’s a Wonderful Shop
- Neighborhood Bakery
- Stage 1 Company Store
- In Character
Magic Kingdom
Several meet-and-greets at Magic Kingdom have been closed for quite a while with no return date announced as of January 17, 2023. It is possible that they will still be closed in July.
- Meet Gaston near his tavern
- Meet Alice at Mad Tea Party
- Meet Tinkerbell at Town Square Theater.
Lastly, Splash Mountain is closed permanently. In its place, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open in late 2024.
Too bad that it will be closed in Summer 2023 and likely Summer 2024 – it’s perfect for a hot Summer day!
Outside the parks
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Disney Springs and Grand Floridian Resort is still closed as of January 17, with no opening date announced, so it’s possible it might still be closed in July.
Are you ready to visit Disney World in July?
Personally, I’m not a fan of the weather and crowds in July at Disney World. But I would love to experience the 4th of July holiday at Disney at some point!
I hope this guide helped you sort out your plans. If you have further questions, drop me a comment below.
Next up, check out more of our Disney vacation planning guides:
Lastly, for more monthly planning guides, check out these posts:
This blog post was originally published on June 16, 2021. It was last updated on February 19, 2023.
Disney World in September: Everything You Need to Know • The Park Pixie
Thursday 8th of July 2021
[…] Orlando area in September is just as hot, humid, and rainy as it is in July and […]
Disney World in August: Everything You Need to Know • The Park Pixie
Wednesday 16th of June 2021
[…] The Orlando area in August is just as hot, humid, and rainy as it is in June and July. […]