DLR Grad Days in May 2012

[bgbthomas]

I am thinking of taking my kids (12 & 7 ) to DLR 5/14 - 5/17. The 16th & 17th are Grad days, and I have heard on these days the parks will be packed. Does anyone have thoughts on this? I would like to spend 4 days. Do you feel I would be better off trading the thursday date for the Sunday before, or keeping it the way I have planned? I have not book yet or made any res. I understand the park will be full on Sunday too, but will it be an easier crowd to be with? Also, are the 3 Disney hotels filled with teenagers during this time? ( I ask because I was once one, myself ) Thanks.

 

[skiingfast]

It would be good to go on Sunday regardless. That would give you a chance to see the fireworks and Fantasmic!.

The Grad Nite Days are not going to be packed.

Grads can show up through the day, but many in May, have to go to school, and won't come until after. So they will show through the day.

The problem will be in the late evening. All the party guests will have arrived. While DL is open until 10pm, DCA closes at 8pm. This will cause everyone from DCA to move to DL, this may be only time it will feel anything close to packed.

 

[HydroGuy]

Lots of people have thoughts and they have been posted at length over the last few months. Unfortunately the search feature in this forum is not really working so there is no way you could find them if you tried. Whoever says it will be packed is speculating. This year has a new format so no one knows.

I personally think the parks will be normal during the day and possibly/probably more crowded in the evenings.

If it was me I would hit rides hard during the day and if I wanted to see Fantasmic or any night show do it on a night with grad nights. Nights without grad nights would be better for rides.

 

[coaches24]

We really don't know for sure how the crowds will be on Grad night days. This year the format is new so we are all waiting to find out how it will turn out.

The good of the new format (IMO ) is the parks won't close early for the party.
Supposedly fewer tickets will be sold for grads.

Not so great (potentially) is the grads get a one day park hopper so they have the ability to be in the parks from opening to closing.

The unknown is effects on crowds. It certainly has a
Chance of being more crowded than normal.

We don't know how many schools will take advantage of the all day tickets. Some might still be in school and not show up until the late after noon or early evening.

I think most of us are waiting till the 10th (the first grad night) to start hearing some reports about what the parks are like on grad nights this year.

As for your question about Sunday. I doubt it will be that bad. It's still off season for DL and while the weekends are more crowded than mid week that most likely doesn't equal crazy crowded. We went on a holiday weekend in Jan last year and it wasn't bad at all. There were long lines for rides like SM and Indiana but that's always the case. We didn't have to spend a lot of time in rides and didn't have any issues getting around in the parks (except after F! And Fireworks).

 

[Mugglemama]

Our family will be in the parks the 14th through the 17th as well...however, we'll also be there the week before and have plans to be in DL from opening until 8pm on the 10th (first grad nite of the year). I doubt that will give you enough time to reschedule if you wanted to, but I will post here at DIS throughout the day on the 10th just to let people know what I'm seeing as far as crowds.

 

[HappyHaunt]

Thankfully were going before the Grad nights/days start. Any time we've been there with groups of teens running around, it hasn't always been fun. Lots of running with pushing/shoving, swearing, cutting in line. Just been our experience. So anything that might increase that I'm gonna avoid if I can. Hopefully it won't be bad, fingers crossed!

 

[bgbthomas]

Thank you all very much for your feedback. I am no expert went it comes to the mouse, but I do know over crowded or not the three of us are going to have a great time. I did not realize the fireworks only ran on weekends, I will look more into that - thanks! Your times and advise has helped me plan this trip. Once I nail it down I will be surprising the boys with news.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thank you all very much for your feedback. I am no expert went it comes to the mouse, but I do know over crowded or not the three of us are going to have a great time. I did not realize the fireworks only ran on weekends, I will look more into that - thanks! Your times and advise has helped me plan this trip. Once I nail it down I will be surprising the boys with news.

See "What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

 

[bgbthomas]

Thanks again, Hydroguy. Great thread.