Fourth of July Festivities to Light the Skies at Disney

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 28, 2023

 

Happy Fourth of July!  Now cue the crowds … as Disney’s Fourth of July celebrations bring some of the biggest crowds of the year to the Disney World parks.  (Christmas and New Year’s Eve are likely the only time you’ll see the crowds grow larger.)  It’s easy to understand why, since everyone, Disney included, loves a good party, and the fireworks over Cinderella Castle most definitely bring the bling.

“Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” will be performed on  both July 3 and 4, 2023 at Magic Kingdom. (It takes the place of the “Happily Ever After” fireworks for those two nights.). The shows take place at 9:20 each evening, and are even more spectacular than the normal nightly shows. The Fourth of July productions feature 360° fireworks, surrounding the entire park.

Fireworks aren’t the only highlight to the Independence Day celebrations at Disney World.  While you are enjoying the colorful bursts overhead, you can also join in to the DJ dance parties at Magic Kingdom, happening around the park on both July 3 and 4.

EPCOT is not to be outdone by its older sister park at the Magic Kingdom, and demands its own attention for the holiday. In fact, despite the fact that the EPCOT holiday fireworks only take place on July 4, there really is a bit more of a “patriotic” feel to the EPCOT efforts.  The “Heartbeat of Freedom” is a short, add-on display that takes place after "EPCOT Forever" on July 4, 2023. The Heartbeat fireworks are launched from around World Showcase for a dramatic blockbuster of a tribute.

If you are a fan of the sparkly lights on Spaceship Earth, you’ll be excited to learn that there will be a patriotic red, white and blue salute on the sphere, alternating with the regular “Beacons of Magic” lights on Spaceship Earth. If you won’t be at EPCOT on the Fourth, you may still be able to catch the lights, as they will begin on July 1, and run nightly through July 4, 2023.

The delightful and talented “Voices of Liberty” a capella group performs regularly in the rotunda at the American Adventure, and they’ll be bringing traditional selections from their American songbook for your Independence Day enjoyment.

 
While in the American Adventure pavilion, be sure to keep an eye out for some of your favorite Disney pals, dressed in their patriotic “Spirit of ’76” outfits. It’s a rare opportunity!

And if you’re looking for a sweet treat to enjoy while you are watching the shows, there are a number of interesting selections (including some savory ones, too) around the parks. But don’t sleep on it, because most of these goodies are very limited time offerings. Here’s the highlights, as shared by Disney Parks Blog in their Foodie Guide (it also includes Disneyland treats in California):

 

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT 

 

EPCOT 

 

Connections Cafe (Available July 4 only)

• Fourth of July Liege Waffle: Brioche dough with pearl sugar 

Fife & Drum (Currently available) 

• The American Dream: Frozen Fanta Wild Cherry, vanilla ice cream, and Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry slushy 

Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (Currently available; mobile order available) 

• Celebrate the regions of American backyard barbecue with classic dishes (Some plant-based items available on the menu) 

Sunshine Seasons (Available July 1 through 31) 

• Fourth of July Shake: Red velvet shake with whipped cream and red velvet cake pieces 

 

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

 

Backlot Express (Available July 1 through 31)

• Mickey Apple Pie Cupcake: Yellow cupcake filled with an apple pie filling, topped with a salted caramel buttercream, cinnamon streusel, and garnished with rainbow silver sparkle and red, white, and blue Mickey Ears

Woody’s Lunchbox (Available July 1 through 31) 

• 4th of July Lunch Box Tart: Cherry pie filling, vanilla fondant, and star sprinkles

DISNEY RESORT HOTELS 

 

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 (Available through August 31; mobile order available) 

• 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 (Available June 27 through July 4)

• 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 (Available July 1 through 8; mobile order available) 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 (Available July 1 through 31; mobile order available) 

• 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 (Available June 27 through July 4; mobile order available at The Artist’s Palette only) 

• 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 (Available July 1 through 31; mobile order available) 

• 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 (Available June 30 through July 14) 

• Patriotic Wave: The Mediterranean Wave with the addition of blue curaçao and hibiscus to celebrate both Independence Day and Bastille Day

Le Petit Café (Available June 27 through July 4) 

• Patriotic Top Hat: Vanilla bean cheesecake with morello cherries on a Riviera brownie (New) 

 

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 

 

Roaring Fork (Available June 27 through July 4; mobile order available) 

• 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 (Available June 30 through July 9) 

• 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) 

DISNEYLAND RESORT 

 

DISNEYLAND PARK 

 

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (Available July 1 through 4; mobile order available) 

• Fourth of July Donut: Cotton candy icing donut filled with strawberry compote, red, white, and blue whipped topping and sprinkles (New) 

Plaza Inn (Available July 4 only) 

• Fourth of July Dining Package: Slow roasted BBQ pork, fried chicken thigh, smoked sausage, watermelon wedge, small corn on the cob, broccoli salad, sharp cheddar mac & cheese, bread roll, specialty dessert, and specialty beverage (New) (Reservations strongly encouraged) (Kids version available) 

 

DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK 

 

Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream (Available June 30 through July 5; mobile order available) 

• Red, White & Blue Sundae: Strawberry and blueberry sorbets topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, whipped cream, and sprinkles in a waffle bowl (New) 

 

Disneyland Hotel 

 

The Coffee House (Available June 30 through July 9; mobile order available) Red, White, and Blue Cupcake (New)

 

Downtown Disney District 

 

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes (Available June 30 through July 4) 

• Red, White, and Blue CakeShake: Vanilla shake featuring a vanilla frosted rim with red, white, and blue sprinkles topped with red, white, and blue cake, whipped cream, more sprinkles, and a cherry

Blue Ribbon Corn Dog (Available July 4 only) 

• Fourth of July Mozzarella Dog: Red, white, and blue mozzarella cheese, dipped in batter, rolled in panko crumbs, fried, rolled in sugar, and served with a side of sriracha dipping sauce (New) 

 

Available at Various Locations at Disneyland Resort including Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen, Pooh Corner, Trolley Treats, Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff, and Marceline’s Confectionery (Available June 30 through July 4) 

• Fourth of July Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel with marshmallow ears, enrobed in blue-colored white chocolate and red-colored white chocolate, striped with white chocolate, and sprinkled with sugar stars 
• Fourth of July Marshmallow Wand: Marshmallows dipped in caramel, enrobed in blue, white chocolate and red, white chocolate, striped with white chocolate, and sprinkled with sugar stars
• Fourth of July Cereal Treat: Mickey-shaped cereal treat enrobed in blue, white chocolate and red, white chocolate, striped with white chocolate, and sprinkled with sugar stars
• Fourth of July Cake Pop

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.