What to Expect from a July 2022 Disney Vacation
We can’t spend all our time at Walt Disney World, although that’ll always be the dream.
Sadly, real life gets in the way, as work and school considerations prevent people from traveling throughout the year.
Fortunately, most people can visit during the summer. School is out, and government holidays allow you to save some vacation time.
For these reasons, July is arguably the most popular month for Walt Disney World vacations. As such, you’re probably wondering something.
What’s Disney like in July 2022? Read on to find out!
Let’s Talk about July Visits
I should warn you that July crowds will swell early in the month. Since July 4th is a national holiday, others remain in the same boat as you.
They can take a Disney trip without wasting their vacation days from their jobs.
As such, you should expect attraction wait times to stay high during your vacation. That goes double or maybe even triple during the week of July 4th.
Of course, larger crowds aren’t always a bad thing. Disney will extend park hours in tandem to ensure that everyone has fun.
Also, watching July 4th ceremonies at Disney qualifies as a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.
Then again, most of you will travel to Orlando at other times in July. The holiday represents only a small part of the entire month.
You may wonder whether crowds will slow after the Independence Day celebration. The answer is yes, but it’s a misleading answer.
July remains popular at Disney because of the school holiday. Also, many international travelers like to spend part of their winters in Florida.
So, I would suggest that you purchase Disney Genie+ if you’re worried about wait times.
This add-on will help you save hours of line time during your vacation. It’s much more helpful in July than during months like January and September.
Let’s Talk about the Weather
Okay, let’s be blunt. Florida grows extremely warm during the summer. At times, the weather proves scorching hot.
According to WeatherSpark, daily high temperatures average 90 degrees and rarely fall below 85 degrees.
Now, that’s the high temperature, but it’s still swampy weather for many guests, especially travelers from the north.
I’m used to 100-degree weather as a lifelong resident of the south, and even I find Disney heat somewhat oppressive at times.
Fortunately, Disney has designed its parks in anticipation of this problem. As a result, you’ll find plenty of indoor attractions and other places to cool off.
However, you should understand that Disney rarely falls below 75 degrees in July. Also, July 22nd historically counts as the hottest day of the year.
That entire week could push 100 degrees. So, you should pack/dress smart and remember to hydrate.
Let’s Talk about Disney Events in July
I’ll cover two festivals here. Please understand that one of them remains speculative, though, at least in terms of dates.
We already know that the 2022 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will operate through July 4th.
This event remains dear to my heart, as we’ve visited it more than any other.
Cast members have trimmed shrubbery in such a way that it mimics the appearance of your favorite Disney characters.
Imagine Lightning McQueen as a bush, and you’ve got the right idea. It may not sound like much, but then you notice Fantasia in plant form.
At that point, you’ll probably fall in love with this event. But, alas, if you’re visiting after July 4th, it won’t be open.
However, I strongly suspect that the 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will replace it soon afterward.
The past two years, Disney pretty much married the two concepts as a concession to the pandemic.
Food & Wine lacks the shrubbery emphasis of Flower & Garden. But, overall, the two festivals share much in common.
The various food kiosks sell unique items that you’ll find exclusive to each festival.
So, if you time it right, you can sample the cuisine at Flower & Garden and then try some stuff from Food & Wine as well.
Generally speaking, the menu items at Food & Wine are the best possible, as the name would imply. Drinking and dining remain the focus of this event.
Flower & Garden operates a bit more expansively, which is why I prefer it. Both are destination festivals, though. If either one’s running while you’re there, you’re golden!
Let’s Talk about Central Florida Events in July
I’m happy to report that the pandemic appears mostly over. Still, event planners must allow for all
contingencies.
For this reason, the concert schedule isn’t fully fleshed out for July.
Promoters rescheduled several previously announced performances after a late 2021 outbreak.
For the time being, you’re out of luck unless you’re old enough to remember Ted Nugent or The Backstreet Boys.
The latter band is touring with some sort of 1990s compilation of Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue, and Rick Astley.
In the wildly unlikely event that I’ve just described your Spotify playlist, you’re in luck.
Soccer fans will be happy to know that Orlando City hosts three home games in July, although one of them is on the holiday. I’d pick Disney instead.
Finally, there is one music festival that hasn’t been canceled for July. The Orlando Music Festival lists dates of July 1st through July 3rd.
This looks like the place to be for fans of wind instruments.
Final Thoughts
When you visit Walt Disney World in July, you know what you’re getting. And you know this because so many people do it every year.
The curious can find countless reviews of July Disney vacations online. Most of them are glowingly positive because it’s the Most Magical Place on Earth.
The time of year when you visit doesn’t really change that fact. Sure, the crowds are bigger at times, but you’ll find plenty of ways to avoid them.
Overall, July has proven time and again to be an ideal time for a Disney trip. You’ll love it!
Feature Image: Disney Dining