Can someone explain how the grad nights work?

[AmyK]

I've seen posts about these happening in June. What happens? They close the park early? Are there just lots of teens in the crowd? If they close it early, do they still do fireworks?

Each of the members of my family have something specific they want to see. Both my girls (who will be 6 and 8 at the time) want to see the princesses. My oldest especially wants to see Belle. My husband (the only one of us who has been to DL) wants to see the Electrical Light Parade because he remembers it as a kid/teen. My main desire is to see the fireworks.

So, given those goals, is it better to go the 2nd week of June before (it seems) most CA schools are out? Or to go in the 3rd week of June when it seems that hours lengthen etc, but crowds could be bigger.

Thanks!

Amy

 

[Faerie]

nevermind, i was thinking FL, not CA

 

[iceskatejen]

In the past I know they've still done the fireworks. The grads are bussed in in the evenings and generally are not in the park until after it has closed to the public. Just know that on nights where there are grad nights, DL will probably do a hard close, meaning the Main Street shops/restaurants will close with the park, not remaining open for another hour the way they normally do.

 

[Disney Dreams]

If I am reading your post correctly, you are thinking about attending the park during a Grad Night. This is not possible.

Grad Night is a celebration evening for graduating seniors and their guests only. It is a 6 hour party that takes place approximately from 10pm - 4am. The concept is that a school signs up for a grad night at Disneyland. Students from that school that have graduated that night arrive at Disneyland by bus (this is a requirement of Disneyland grad night) and once they enter the park, they are there for the entire evening / early morning.

Grad Night was original designed to be all all night party that would ensure no drinking / driving on graduation night. This is part of the reason for the "arrive by bus" and "once you're in - you stay till closing" policiies.

This is an event soley for the students / guests / chaperones of the schools that sign up that evening. No one else is permitted in the park during the event.

I hope this answers your question.

 

[AmyK]

If I am reading your post correctly, you are thinking about attending the park during a Grad Night. This is not possible.

I didn't understand what Grad night was at all. I didn't know if the grads all came during the day and then the park closed for more special activities. I didn't realize they didn't even come until they closed the park.

So, yes and no to your quote. I knew I wouldn't be able to go once the park closed, I didn't know the grads didn't come til then. lol

I am really just trying to figure out how much this would impact our decision of when to go. We are going to have 3 days there, I want to maximize our time and chances of seeing fireworks.

thanks to those who have replied thus far.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I didn't understand what Grad night was at all. I didn't know if the grads all came during the day and then the park closed for more special activities. I didn't realize they didn't even come until they closed the park.

So, yes and no to your quote. I knew I wouldn't be able to go once the park closed, I didn't know the grads didn't come til then. lol

I am really just trying to figure out how much this would impact our decision of when to go. We are going to have 3 days there, I want to maximize our time and chances of seeing fireworks.

thanks to those who have replied thus far.

If what you are trying to determine is the impact of Grad Night on the crowds while you are at the park, the answer is none.

Grad night does not start until the park is closed and empty. Hope this helps.

Now - as for it being the beginning of summer vacation, that's a different issue......

 

[AmyK]

O.k. I finally get it. Gosh, I feel dense, your first post said the times Grad nights usually run. So, it really won't affect us, since I doubt my girls will make it to a close any later than that anyway.

Thank you!

 

[HydroGuy]

Grad Night is a celebration evening for graduating seniors and their guests only. It is a 6 hour party that takes place approximately from 10pm - 4am.

It would not surprise me if they have changed over the last 25 years, but when I did grad night I seem to remember it being from Midnight until 5 or 6AM.

I also understand in recent years grads have been given a choice to go to DL or DCA, but they cannot do both.

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

If what you are trying to determine is the impact of Grad Night on the crowds while you are at the park, the answer is none.

Grad night does not start until the park is closed and empty. Hope this helps.

Now - as for it being the beginning of summer vacation, that's a different issue......

So is Mousesavers wrong about the parks closing early on Grad Nights? I would think if the park closes at 6PM that would DEFINITELY impact some plans, plus I don't see how they'd be running fireworks.

Grad Nites - Usually mid-May through mid-June (2007 dates: May 17, 24, 31 and June 7, 13, 14, 21). A private event for graduating high school seniors is held in Disney's California Adventure, followed by a private party at Disneyland that runs overnight until 7:00 am. Private events are also held at ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney. The parks close to the public on these nights at about 6:00 pm. If you'll be staying at the Grand Californian in one of the rooms overlooking DCA, be aware of the potential for amplified music all night -- you might want to ask for a room on the opposite side from the park.

http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#busydl

 

[HydroGuy]

So is Mousesavers wrong about the parks closing early on Grad Nights? I would think if the park closes at 6PM that would DEFINITELY impact some plans, plus I don't see how they'd be running fireworks.

http://www.mousesavers.com/faq.html#busydl

I think MouseSavers is wrong here. At WDW they only open MK for grad nights, and they do close MK at 6PM on those nights. At DL they open both DL and DCA. Mousesavers was probably incorrectly applying their WDW experience to DLR.

Look at the DLR park hours for June 2006 here:

www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl060605xx#ParkHours

www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl060619xx#ParkHours

You will see that the earliest DL closed during June was 9PM. Those might have been the grad nights last year. The only exception was June 24 when they hosted the POTC 2 movie premiere.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Here is the website with the dates for grad nites. You can check on the Disneyland website for the hours of operation for the dates of the grad nite.
http://www.disneylandgradnite.com/chaperones/home.html

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

I think MouseSavers is wrong here. At WDW they only open MK for grad nights, and they do close MK at 6PM on those nights. At DL they open both DL and DCA. Mousesavers was probably incorrectly applying their WDW experience to DLR.

Look at the DLR park hours for June 2006 here:

www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl060605xx#ParkHours

www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl060619xx#ParkHours

You will see that the earliest DL closed during June was 9PM. Those might have been the grad nights last year. The only exception was June 24 when they hosted the POTC 2 movie premiere.

Good to know for next year I guess. And to think, we sorta arranged our trip so we wouldn't have to deal with going on a grad night. I guess it wouldn't have mattered.

On the plus side, the dates we ended up deciding on now include a weekend day, so if EP is running we'll get to see it.

 

[HydroGuy]

Good to know for next year I guess. And to think, we sorta arranged our trip so we wouldn't have to deal with going on a grad night. I guess it wouldn't have mattered.

On the plus side, the dates we ended up deciding on now include a weekend day, so if EP is running we'll get to see it.

It does matter somewhat. Also, they usually do not do EE after a grad night.

 

[mikayla73]

We were there last year during a grad nite and we didn't even really notice it at all. We were able to see the fireworks and the ELP. Of course one night fireworks was cancelled, my advice would be to make sure you try to see them on your first day or two, that way if they get cancelled you'll still be able to see them. But that is another subject

I looked at the dates and they all seem to be on a Thursday, with one exception that is a Wednesday.