Credit: Inside the MagicGuests are facing some major queues at Magic Kingdom today.
Holidays always bring dense crowds to Walt Disney World Resort, but Magic Kingdom and EPCOT often face the brunt of the chaos. Every year, the parks introduce patriotic fireworks and entertainment to celebrate Independence Day – and with 2026 marking America’s 250th birthday, this year is bigger and better than ever.
This weekend, Magic Kingdom guests can enjoy Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky at 9 p.m. today and tomorrow. The show was also performed last night in lieu of Magic Kingdom’s regular fireworks display, Happily Ever After.
Main Street, U.S.A., is dressed in patriotic bunting, with special performances from the Dapper Dans, the Main Street Philharmonic, and daily Flag Retreat ceremonies. Guests outside the park can also catch the patriotic finale of the nightly Electrical Water Pageant on Seven Seas Lagoon.
Over at EPCOT, the wildly underrated fireworks show Heartbeat of Freedom follows Luminous: The Symphony of Us as a patriotic finale. There’s also equally patriotic lighting on Spaceship Earth, special performances from Voices of Liberty, and special character experiences.
Main Street is already INSANE. #america pic.twitter.com/b9WAxZRDng
— Magic Next Door (@magicnextdoor_) July 4, 2026
Crowds Reach Intense Level Over July 4 Weekend
Unsurprisingly, crowds are intense today, with videos shared on social media showing a particularly busy Main Street, U.S.A.
The most notable crowding seems to be happening at EPCOT, where the queue to meet Mickey and Friends in their Spirit of ’76 costumes at The American Adventure reportedly hit 4.5 hours as early as 9.30 a.m. this morning.
4.5 hours for a photo with Mickey and the gang in their colonial costumes is a hard pass for me. Footage from friend @survivingspontaneous over on IG.
4.5 hours for a photo with Mickey and the gang in their colonial costumes is a hard pass for me. Footage from friend @survivingspontaneous over on IG. pic.twitter.com/1i0jaBi64n
— Magic Next Door (@magicnextdoor_) July 4, 2026
Despite the holiday crowds, attraction wait times remain relatively reasonable. At EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is posted at 85 minutes, Test Track at 80 minutes, and the recently debuted Soarin’ Across America at 45 minutes as of writing.
Over at Magic Kingdom, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has the longest posted wait at 60 minutes, while TRON Lightcycle / Run is temporarily unavailable.
Disney World has prepped for crowding across the resort. Both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT ran out of Annual Passholder reservations for July 4 in advance. However, passholders have the ability to access EPCOT without a reservation after 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has restricted access to its beach and pool area – from which guests will be able to see and hear Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky later tonight – to resort guests only. Those staying on property will need to show a wristband to access both areas this evening.
Are you in the parks for the Fourth of July?
