HydroGuy
A Pirate's Life For Me
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
Updated February, 2020
Note from August, 2017 about 2018
See this DIS thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...ybe-for-the-better-for-regular-guests.3630528
There is a new format started in 2018. See link below.
https://www.disneyyouth.com/our-pro...ad-night-dlr/#categories-disneyland-grad-nite
Here is a link to the grad night website: http://www.grad-nights.com/gradnightcalifornia.htm
Here is a link to a DIS page on grad nights: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/Events/grad-nights.html
Here are the dates for 2020 (at DCA):
https://www.disneyyouth.com/program...ite-disneyland/?CMP=ILC-DPFY18Q3wo0607180029A
May 8, 9, 15, 16, 20, 26, 27, 29 or 30
June 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 or 13
Note that additional dates are often added as the season approaches.
Here were the dates for 2019:
May 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 22, 28, 29, and 31
June 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14
Here were the dates for 2018:
May 4, 5, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 29, 30
June 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9
Here were the dates for 2017:
May 5, 6, 10, 17, 19, 20, 24, 30, 31
June 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17
Here were the dates for 2016:
May 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 31
June 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17
Here were the dates for 2015:
May 13, 15, 16, 18, 26, 27, 29, 30
June 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19
Here were the dates for 2014:
May 16, 17, 21, 22, 24, 28, 30, 31
June 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19
Here were the dates for 2013:
May 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21
Here were the dates for 2012:
May 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31
June 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 21, 22
In year 2011 and before the DLR grad nights were held from midnight to 6AM and caused changes to regular hours, entertainment and Magic Mornings. Starting in 2012 this changed.
1. Each grad gets a 1 day parkhopper ticket good for entry any time that day. Thus grads are mixed in with regular attendees during regular hours.
2. The last few years grad night has been held at DCA but DL has been in the mix a few times
3. The park will close by 11PM on these nights for regular guests.
4. Grads can stay for the special "party" from 11PM until 3AM
5. There will be a performance of Fantasmic or WOC after 11PM only for the grads
What does this mean for the regular guest?
o Regular guests no longer need to pay attention to early park closures or reduced entertainment or modified Magic Mornings because of grad nights. So many of the past grad night "gotchas" will no longer be an issue.
o Attendance on grad night party days will have a higher number of high school seniors there during the regular hours.
o For years where grad night parties are at DCA there will be extra noise from grads and WOC until 3AM that will mostly impact GCH hotel guests because they are closest. FWIW, most GCH guests in the past have reported - including me - that noise in the GCH rooms from the parks is not a significant issue if you have the windows closed. Light sleepers may be impacted though.
How should I modify my DLR touring if visiting on a grad night?
Grads can show up any time during the day but tend to arrive in the afternoon and evening. Reports vary but grads do contribute to extra crowding but not in any overwhelming manner. Grads are teenagers and like all teenagers they can be loud, use profanity and be especially affectionate with their dates. Some guests say they do not notice grads very much while others have reported experiences with grads significantly impacting their visit. Here are some tips:
o If you have young children who are not accustomed to some of the crude language they might be exposed to, you may want to modify the hours you visit. Arrive extra early that day and then leave early.
o Since crowds will increase a bit later in the day as grads arrive, if you want to stay in the parks that is a good time to arrange for a longer table service dinner and to see shows. So plan for Fantasmic or World of Color on grad nights. This will keep you out of some of the lines that may get longer than normal because of the grads coming in. If you are on a multi-day trip then use your evenings that are not grad nights to go on more rides.
Note from August, 2017 about 2018
See this DIS thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...ybe-for-the-better-for-regular-guests.3630528
There is a new format started in 2018. See link below.
https://www.disneyyouth.com/our-pro...ad-night-dlr/#categories-disneyland-grad-nite
Here is a link to the grad night website: http://www.grad-nights.com/gradnightcalifornia.htm
Here is a link to a DIS page on grad nights: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/Events/grad-nights.html
Here are the dates for 2020 (at DCA):
https://www.disneyyouth.com/program...ite-disneyland/?CMP=ILC-DPFY18Q3wo0607180029A
May 8, 9, 15, 16, 20, 26, 27, 29 or 30
June 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 or 13
Note that additional dates are often added as the season approaches.
Here were the dates for 2019:
May 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 22, 28, 29, and 31
June 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14
Here were the dates for 2018:
May 4, 5, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 29, 30
June 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9
Here were the dates for 2017:
May 5, 6, 10, 17, 19, 20, 24, 30, 31
June 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17
Here were the dates for 2016:
May 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 31
June 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17
Here were the dates for 2015:
May 13, 15, 16, 18, 26, 27, 29, 30
June 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19
Here were the dates for 2014:
May 16, 17, 21, 22, 24, 28, 30, 31
June 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19
Here were the dates for 2013:
May 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21
Here were the dates for 2012:
May 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31
June 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 21, 22
In year 2011 and before the DLR grad nights were held from midnight to 6AM and caused changes to regular hours, entertainment and Magic Mornings. Starting in 2012 this changed.
1. Each grad gets a 1 day parkhopper ticket good for entry any time that day. Thus grads are mixed in with regular attendees during regular hours.
2. The last few years grad night has been held at DCA but DL has been in the mix a few times
3. The park will close by 11PM on these nights for regular guests.
4. Grads can stay for the special "party" from 11PM until 3AM
5. There will be a performance of Fantasmic or WOC after 11PM only for the grads
What does this mean for the regular guest?
o Regular guests no longer need to pay attention to early park closures or reduced entertainment or modified Magic Mornings because of grad nights. So many of the past grad night "gotchas" will no longer be an issue.
o Attendance on grad night party days will have a higher number of high school seniors there during the regular hours.
o For years where grad night parties are at DCA there will be extra noise from grads and WOC until 3AM that will mostly impact GCH hotel guests because they are closest. FWIW, most GCH guests in the past have reported - including me - that noise in the GCH rooms from the parks is not a significant issue if you have the windows closed. Light sleepers may be impacted though.
How should I modify my DLR touring if visiting on a grad night?
Grads can show up any time during the day but tend to arrive in the afternoon and evening. Reports vary but grads do contribute to extra crowding but not in any overwhelming manner. Grads are teenagers and like all teenagers they can be loud, use profanity and be especially affectionate with their dates. Some guests say they do not notice grads very much while others have reported experiences with grads significantly impacting their visit. Here are some tips:
o If you have young children who are not accustomed to some of the crude language they might be exposed to, you may want to modify the hours you visit. Arrive extra early that day and then leave early.
o Since crowds will increase a bit later in the day as grads arrive, if you want to stay in the parks that is a good time to arrange for a longer table service dinner and to see shows. So plan for Fantasmic or World of Color on grad nights. This will keep you out of some of the lines that may get longer than normal because of the grads coming in. If you are on a multi-day trip then use your evenings that are not grad nights to go on more rides.
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