Hi there Heather! A trip to Walt Disney World for your boys will
surely be the highlight of their entire summer vacation!
The
4th of July can be a truly magical time to visit, especially with the fantastic patriotic fireworks displays typically offered at Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. However, you will likely experience higher crowd patterns during the days before and after this holiday. I would recommend a trip in August, nearer to the start of school for your family. There are some wonderful
special offers available right now for resort discounts most nights from August 15th- September 27, 2012 that would give you extra spending money for celebrating your soon-to-be 9 year old's birthday. Also, having previously visited Mickey Mouse and Pals in August with my family, I can tell you that the closer to the start of school you make your trip, the shorter the queue lines will be for attractions!
A great
unofficial resource for evaluating the best time of year to visit the theme parks based on attendance levels is: www.touringplans.com. This website can help you make a final decision on your travel dates and even offers suggestions on making the most out of your time spent touring the parks once you arrive.
Thanks so much for visiting us here at the Walt Disney World Moms Panel! Feel free to send more questions my way in the days leading up to your family's summer birthday vacation!