Crowds & Grad Nights in May 2013

[dnamertz]

I was orignally planing a trip to Disnayland/DCA mid-to-late April 2013, but now that might not be possible. Then next best option for our schedule before the summer crowds is the week of May 13 thru May 17, 2013.

Are there many schools out for the year that early in May? How are the crowds?

What impact do grad nights have? Looks like they are scheduled for 3 of the 5 days during that week. I know they used to close the parks early for grad night...do they still do that? Did anyone experience grad night crowds during 2012?

 

[junmatno]

I was orignally planing a trip to Disnayland/DCA mid-to-late April 2013, but now that might not be possible. Then next best option for our schedule before the summer crowds is the week of May 13 thru May 17, 2013.

Are there many schools out for the year that early in May? How are the crowds?

What impact do grad nights have? Looks like they are scheduled for 3 of the 5 days during that week. I know they used to close the parks early for grad night...do they still do that? Did anyone experience grad night crowds during 2012?

Grad Nites are now at DCA and start at 10 pm....since the kids are coming in all day, you might see an influx if crowds those days in both parks as they are given park hoppers to use until the official party starts. I can't speak for hours at Disneyland, but you can look at the calendar from this year to see what they were and get a rough idea.

 

[coaches24]

As far as crowds that is an excellent time to go (way better than most of April which is spring break time).

Grad nights for me atleast was no big deal at all (We went last week of May 2012). The park hours arent effected much if at all with the new format and the crowds dont pick up until later in the day. It does get crowded in the afternoons and evenings but we just did all the popular things early and did the less crowded things later when the crowds were hitting the big attractions.

 

[xXtowerOFterrorXx]

My family and I went May 19-24th this year, It was not that bad but there were a lot more younger teenagers there without parental guidence, they will tend to get a little loud and outta control at times. I personally wont be going back during mid-late May because of the Grad Nights, We will stick to the mid-late October time frame.

 

[dnamertz]

As far as crowds that is an excellent time to go (way better than most of April which is spring break time).

Actually, our trip was originally scheduled from Apr 22 thru Apr 26. From all the research I did, almost all the spring breaks were done by then.

I might try to call Disney and ask how many grad night tickets they offer on these days. I wish they wouldn't have so many grad nights so close together, so that people who are going to be there for that specific week don't have to have grad nights occur on 3 of their 5 day visit.

 

[starshine514]

We went that week last year. Crowds were moderate (9:00 am - 10:00 hours on weekdays). We were only there for one grad night last year - our experience wasn't good - line jumping, bad language, crowds, and a condom laying on the ground... (what's that Mama? Asks my DD7). We're going late April this year instead.

 

[dnamertz]

We went that week last year. Crowds were moderate (9:00 am - 10:00 hours on weekdays). We were only there for one grad night last year - our experience wasn't good - line jumping, bad language, crowds, and a condom laying on the ground... (what's that Mama? Asks my DD7). We're going late April this year instead.

That's not good. I'm not sure why Disney does this (well it's probably profitable)...but of all the groups to invite to swarm the parks, why does it have to be teenagers?

Was there a noicable difference in the evening crowd size on that one grad night compared to the other nights you were there?

 

[dnamertz]

Looking back at some of the Fridays in May 2012, Disneyland closed at 11pm instead of the usual midnight. Is this due to grad nights? Also, on nights where a grad night is scheduled, do they clear the regular guests out of the park immediately when the park closes, or can they still shop in the stores on Main Street for an hour afterwards? It's tradition for us to use that final hour to shop on our last night...it's kind of like you're making that magic last just one more hour.

 

[junmatno]

Looking back at some of the Fridays in May 2012, Disneyland closed at 11pm instead of the usual midnight. Is this due to grad nights? Also, on nights where a grad night is scheduled, do they clear the regular guests out of the park immediately when the park closes, or can they still shop in the stores on Main Street for an hour afterwards? It's tradition for us to use that final hour to shop on our last night...it's kind of like you're making that magic last just one more hour.

Dnamertz: grad nite is now at DCA, and it starts for them at 10 pm. So it's possible they might close DCA earlier, clear it out, then let the Seniors in. But they arrive all day so they have park hoppers to go to DL also before the party starts.

 

[starshine514]

That's not good. I'm not sure why Disney does this (well it's probably profitable)...but of all the groups to invite to swarm the parks, why does it have to be teenagers?

Was there a noicable difference in the evening crowd size on that one grad night compared to the other nights you were there?

Yes, there was a difference starting mid-afternoon, building to heavy crowds as the evening wore on.

 

[dnamertz]

Yes, there was a difference starting mid-afternoon, building to heavy crowds as the evening wore on.

The more I read about grad night experiences from 2012, the more nervous I get.

Our other option would be waiting until mid-late September. I've heard crowds at that time are pretty good, however DL is open three less hours those weekdays than in May (10am-8pm in Sep vs 9am-10pm in May). So, we'd get 12 extra hours for the 5 days in May, but three of those late afternoons/nights would be more crowded, including Friday til midnight (our last night there). Decisions, decisions.

 

[kittycruize]

What nights in May are the grad nights? Also, what is the weather like in May-is it warm enough to swim?

 

[starshine514]

Also, what is the weather like in May-is it warm enough to swim?

In our experience (visiting mid-May in 2011 and 2012), it has not been warm enough to swim. But, we're from Arizona, so we may have warmer standards than others for swimming...

 

[starshine514]

The more I read about grad night experiences from 2012, the more nervous I get.

Our other option would be waiting until mid-late September. I've heard crowds at that time are pretty good, however DL is open three less hours those weekdays than in May (10am-8pm in Sep vs 9am-10pm in May). So, we'd get 12 extra hours for the 5 days in May, but three of those late afternoons/nights would be more crowded, including Friday til midnight (our last night there). Decisions, decisions.

Well, here's my $0.02. After last year, we decided not to go during Grad Nights again. We went mid-late September this year and have motel reservations made for that same timeframe next September.

 

[kittycruize]

What nights are they in May 2013? Or can you tell me where to go look that up?

 

[lvdis]

What nights are they in May 2013? Or can you tell me where to go look that up?

Here is a link that shows all the nights that grad nites are offered in 2013. http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/Events/grad-nights.html

2013 Grad Nite Dates:

May 9th, May 10th, May 11th, May 15th, May 16th, May 17th, May 18th, May 22nd, May 23rd, May 24th, May 29th, May 30th, May 31st,

June 5th, June 6th, June 7th, June 12th, June 13th, June 14th, June 19th, June 20th, June 21st

 

[kittycruize]

Thank you so much!!