Anyone avoiding Gay Days at Disney?

[Allison]

Our first trip in 2004 was during this time. We didn't notice a thing that was inappropriate. The only time we even noticed there was a large group event was leaving MGM one evening and a lot of people were coming in for a private party. No big deal at all.

 

[Bob P]

Make sure you don't go to WDW in September if you are afraid of PDAs...that's when lovebugs have their annual event!

 

[LukenDC]

What a good and honest article.

While Mr. Warner is entitled to his opinions, I find that article outraegeous and VERY homophobic. Mr. Warner seems to have an axe to grind with some aspects of the gay community and what he criticizes a few gay people doing is often common behavior among their heterosexual counterparts. As for men who remove their body hair or women with masculine mannerisms---who cares??

Gay people go to WDW everyday of the year and they are just as entitled to hold hands and give a quick kiss as anyone else. As for excessive PDAs and obscene t-shirts, I wish that Disney would crack down. I see too much of that during my trips, primarily from straight young people.

I do attend some gay events and the most obscene things that I have seen are the posters and pictograms held up by Christian fundamentalists who protest the events.

 

[HunnyPots]

Contrary to your belief, I do think that Gay Days will be different from what I see everyday. We live in rural GA and PDA in same sex/opposite sex relationships is not common behavior in our area. I would feel the same way if it were heterosexual couples behaving in this manner. Also, I don't think that on any other given event, there will be 100,000's of same color t-shirts being worn by a specific group of people.

It is bothersome to hear you say that if I am going to be uncomfortable then don't go, you are right, I have the same right to enjoy my vacation as you, I just choose not to fondle/kiss or probe my husband in front of strangers and/or unsuspecting children. THIS is inappropriate behavior. I shouldn't have to AVOID any parks because a gay pride spectacle is planned for that day!

You will never see my side of the story as I may never see yours, however my goal is to have a fun filled week with my family w/o having to explain same sex relationships and lots of inappropriate conduct to my 5 year old.

OK - I don't get what you are trying to do here. You've never been during Gay Days yet you obviously know more about what goes on than any of us who have actually experienced it. You asked your question. You got a couple of different answers. Take your pick. But what is the point of arguing about something that you truly have no knowledge of?

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Make sure you don't go to WDW in September if you are afraid of PDAs...that's when lovebugs have their annual event!

So true!!!

 

[kandmsmom]

I would LOVE to go to Disney on Gay Day but I hate the heat in May.

As for PDA...of course some behavior is inappropriate..but let's be honest here..any day of the week you go to Disney and you're likely to catch something you'd rather not see....a too tight t-shirt, a rowdy teenager, a rude Mom...

Let's not condemn a whole group for a few persons actions.

When you get that many people together the number of inappropriate acts go up. I think that some use that as a way to do thinks they would not normally do. (like previously mentioned fairy dancing)

 

[LilGMom]

Make sure you don't go to WDW in September if you are afraid of PDAs...that's when lovebugs have their annual event!

It is shocking to say the least!

To me it sounds as if the OP has already made up her mind how she will feel and react to what may or may not happen at WDW during her scheduled trip.

 

[Winston1204]

We will be avoiding Gay Days only because we think it will worsen the crowd situation. We have no problem with anyone being Gay, we are just planning out days around theirs, so we don't have to deal with excess crowds!

 

[calliemom]

Were at Disney over Gay Days 05 and other than avoiding the park on the Saturday (Magic Kingdom) strickly because they were expecting large crowds we did not notice anything out of the ordinary. All the participants wore red shirts and yes we did see them in and around the Orlando area but they had no impact on our vacation at all. We would have no problem vacationing around that time again.

 

[sweetapril73]

Thanks for the info calliemom! Maybe it won't be that bad. I see some have gotten all offensive on here and that was not what I was trying to do. I just wanted to know if it was AS BAD AS it is perceived. That's all.

 

[CPanther95]

Let's not condemn a whole group for a few persons actions.

Let's also not minimize the pervasiveness of those actions during that time out of some misplaced sense of tolerance. Gay Day will only serve to undermine the tolerance and messages you've taught your children because it perpetuates the stereotypes that aren't representative of the gay community as a whole.

I wouldn't want my kids opionins of heterosexual relationships to be formed from a vacation to Hedonism II - and I don't want their opinions of homosexuals to be formed based on what they witness at a Disney Gay Day. Most importantly, I don't want any of their "education" to be accellerated by having to explain things before they are old enough to appreciate and fully understand the answers they are seeking.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

When you get that many people together the number of inappropriate acts go up. I think that some use that as a way to do thinks they would not normally do. (like previously mentioned fairy dancing)

So, so true. As long as it is just that, I have no problem with it. After all, we all go for the fantasy of it all. I, for example, get chill bumps every time I see Tink fly before Wishes.(I am 51 years old), and we go to the castle to have breakfast wiith Cinderella because I want to, as my 3 girls could care less. They go to make me happy. It is all fun and fantasy, a different world.

 

[calliemom]

Thanks for the info calliemom! Maybe it won't be that bad. I see some have gotten all offensive on here and that was not what I was trying to do. I just wanted to know if it was AS BAD AS it is perceived. That's all.

I think this subject is always a touchy one...bottom line is public displays of affection (more than hand holding or a little kiss) are inappropriate no matter who you are...I don't think the topic should be such an issue simply because of gay days! Anyways my only concern when going to Disney is the crowd one...it's only common sense to stay away from a park that is expecting high crowd levels!

 

[hvivona]

We were there during Gay Days last year and it was fine. We never even saw hand holding. You have nothing to worry about.

 

[missypie]

OP, here is my personal experience from 2 years ago. We were in the parks during Gay Days. The conventional wisdom is to avoid the MK on that Saturday, which we did (it wasn't a Tour Guide Mike green day!). Here is what I observed:

1. At Epcot, a group of guys wearing matching "I am what I am" t-shirts.

2. At MGM, two ladies sitting on a bench together wearing matching rainbow bandanas.

3. Coming into MGM at closing time, lots and lots of cute guys in "stereotypical" gay male outfits (Seriously - I bet 75% of them were in tight jeans and black tank tops, as if it were a uniform!)

At the airport at the end of our trip, I asked each of my kids individually what, if any, gay behavior they observed. At the time, the kids were 14, 12 and 9 and are by no means sheltered. Each kid, independently, said "none."

The dress related things I noticed meant nothing to them. The only thing they would have noticed would have been blatant PDA, and we just didn't see any. (Note: I saw very little PDA of any type in the Disney parks; it's MUCH tamer than my local Six Flags where teens will make out in line right in front of you. Ick!)

Before we went, I asked a gay friend from Tampa about it, as he has actually gone to Gay Days. He said that the "official hotels" are where the "action" is, and that the parks are fine.

 

[basas]

I, personally, would avoid it.

 

[Allison]

However, this may be the case at Disney during this time.

Have you not read the posts of the people who have been there during this time? The vast majority have said there were little or no issues. Most people are worried about the crowds.

You don't appear to want to believe these posts or choose to ignore them.

People have tried to be helpful because you asked "Has anyone experienced this event and can you lighten my heart with some good news." You seem to have a tough time letting go of your preconceived idea of what it will be like.

You have to do what you feel is right for your family. Good luck.

 

[sweetapril73]

Calliemom I am not offended by your comment. How would I know if where I am staying is a sponsored hotel? I didn't even know Gay Days existed until one of my gay friends from Orlando called me and said, oh no, your trip is during Gay Days. She said she wouldn't even take her own kids and that I might want to reconsider. So, if a gay person tells me that avoiding the parks is a good idea, then I would expect the crowd to be a bit uncomfortable to me and my family. It is also my understanding that they "warn" you at the gates that Gay Days is taking place. Now that's pretty bad to me.

 

[Allison]

We were never warned at the gate that it was Gay Days. This was in 2004.

 

[sweetapril73]

Have you not read the posts of the people who have been there during this time? The vast majority have said there were little or no issues. Most people are worried about the crowds.

You don't appear to want to believe these posts or choose to ignore them.

People have tried to be helpful. You seem to have a tough time letting go of your preconceived idea of what it will be like.

You have to do what you feel is right for your family. Good luck.

Of course I've read the posts, I'm responding, duh? I have said multiple times that the posts have helped me feel better about my trip. Have you read my posts? I just find it hard to believe that those days it will be business as usual in those parks with the excess of gays and lesbians celebrating their pride! But we will see..............