Hi Aubrey! Thanks for your question. You've definitely got the right idea - being prepared is going to help you and your family make the most of your Walt Disney World vacation and will insure that you will all have a fun time. I won't lie to you - the first week of July will be very busy at Walt Disney World. With most schools being on summer break, and many people off of work for the July 4 holiday, you can imagine that lots of people want to spend their summer vacations at Walt Disney World. Having advance
Disney Dining reservations will be a must, so if you haven't done so already, I would suggest going online by clicking the link I've provided and making those now. The weather will be hot, and there may be sudden, heavy showers that disappear as fast as they come. I like to visit my local dollar store and pick up some inexpensive rain ponchos to carry with us to the parks just for that reason. With the higher temps, you may also want to plan a visit to one of the two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. They may be just the refreshing break you need!
It is definitely possible to have a great time despite heavy crowds and hot temps. You just need to set your expectations accordingly - pick some must-do's and try to get to those early in your day, and then everything else will be bonus. Be sure to plan lots of refreshment stops or pool time so no one gets over-heated or frustrated - perhaps returning to your resort in the afternoon for a break, and heading back to the parks in the evening when the temperatures have lowered and the crowds have thinned a bit.
I wish you and your family a very magical Walt Disney World vacation, and I would be happy to answer any other questions you have while planning your trip.
Kristen