Gay Days 2015 - Help me a Dad Out

[BrookieCookie]

Have been during Gay Days. Saw nothing inappropriate at all. Just everyone enjoying Disney and having fun.

 

[Jennasis]

There is way more inappropriate PDA shown from the BTG'S. You'll be fine.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It won't be either Mardi Gras or Bourbon Street.
It'll mostly be gatherings of people wearing red shirts.
Some folks will be holding hands with their SOs and maybe kissing once in awhile.
Some of the shirts may have suggestive slogans on them. Your kids are too young to read them. Don't worry about them.
It's possible you may see someone going a bit far with the PDA. Nothing that would get them arrested. Just like you could see any day in the parks.
Epcot has booze available every few steps, so the "fun" factor for visiting groups may be amplified.

That's it.

 

[Benbuck6]

This!

Also, in my experience, not just with my own child, (I was a preschool teacher before he was born), kids that age will not notice anything unless it's pointed out to them. So unless you are planning on making a big deal out of it, they won't care. They will be so excited to be at DW, that's all that will matter to them.

Past Disney world trips it HAS NOT EVER BEEN AN ISSUE...my 14 year old started noticing like 4 years ago but my 2 younger ones never have. I guess if the numbers are just so huge I think they will...

 

[PatMcDuck]

Thank you! I completely agree.

Ha, yes, I agree. I don't like over the top PDA from hetero or gay couples. Both make me equally uncomfortable.

We were at DL for a gay days weekend (by accident), and yes we noticed more gay couple and families, but in a positive way. They seemed to be having more fun than average, lol. Especially the groups, they could be hilarious. (we were laughing with them, not at them). I came away from it feeling like I would almost pick a gay day weekend for a trip, over another weekend, assuming all other factors being equal.

 

[surferdave]

WDW won't tolerate open displays of hedonism in the parks and Gay Days don't have a history of it. Don't wear red.

 

[Benbuck6]

This!

Also, in my experience, not just with my own child, (I was a preschool teacher before he was born), kids that age will not notice anything unless it's pointed out to them. So unless you are planning on making a big deal out of it, they won't care. They will be so excited to be at DW, that's all that will matter to them.

It won't be either Mardi Gras or Bourbon Street.
It'll mostly be gatherings of people wearing red shirts.
Some folks will be holding hands with their SOs and maybe kissing once in awhile.
Some of the shirts may have suggestive slogans on them. Your kids are too young to read them. Don't worry about them.
It's possible you may see someone going a bit far with the PDA. Nothing that would get them arrested. Just like you could see any day in the parks.
Epcot has booze available every few steps, so the "fun" factor for visiting groups may be amplified.

That's it.

1) Suggestive slogans around kids on anyone's shirt is wrong.
2) I once watched a man get to 2nd base with his gf in the cue line for little mermaid

That being said, wrong is wrong !!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Past Disney world trips it HAS NOT EVER BEEN AN ISSUE...my 14 year old started noticing like 4 years ago but my 2 younger ones never have. I guess if the numbers are just so huge I think they will...

Oh I just thought of something else that was kind of cool that we noticed. We were riding a trolly at Disneyland and this guy got on with this really cute Crush hat that had moving fins. He had picked it up at Tokyo Disney. He said that he likes to attend the Gay Days at all of the Disney parks and pick up something at each one he hasn't ever seen before. Then he wears it to a new park. We saw him the next day and he had this other neat hat that had fiberoptic stuff coming out of the top that looked like fireworks. Never noticed anything like that before.

In any case, I seriously noticed nothing out of the ordinary other than there were more same-sex couples in the parks than on other trips. They didn't behave any differently than any other couple in the park that day or on previous trips. But they do wear red. It was a big sea of red.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

1) Suggestive slogans around kids on anyone's shirt is wrong.
2) I once watched a man get to 2nd base with his gf in the cue line for little mermaid

That being said, wrong is wrong !!

Then keep in mind that you COULD see pretty much whatever you'd see on a regular day in the parks. On any regular day, some people wear tee shirts with somewhat suggestive stuff on them. Some people overdo the PDA. It's not any different except for all the red shirts. and the fact that there are more same sex couples.

 

[Angel Ariel]

You can expect a lot of people in the parks. You can not predict anyone's behavior on any day of the week in WDW or in the world you live in at home.

All you can expect is how you will react. Simple.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Other than the rocket scientists flying a banner overhead warning people that it was gay days , we found the parks pretty much normal.

^ THIS

And OP, you cannot realistically post about a topic like this and expect a lack of judgment from all who see it. Heck - on here you can't post about your stance on double-wide vs. front-back strollers w/o some judgment. It's the nature of your question and of public message boards.

 

[jenniferma]

I look forward to the day (hopefully soon) when I don't ever have to read a post like this again.........

seriously.

 

[FLchick415]

It's my understanding (and I could be wrong) that most of the Gay Days "parties" and stuff happen off site at the hotels, so there won't be anything (or I should say, there SHOULDN'T be anything) too scandalous happening inside the parks. Just LGBTQ couples/families/etc enjoying Disney like everyone else.

 

[Aggiegrl]

I hate going to WDW and seeing two guys holding hands. Chip and Dale, I'm on to you.

 

[disneyygirrl]

I look forward to the day (hopefully soon) when I don't ever have to read a post like this again.........

seriously.

Thank you. Thank you so much for this.

 

[Benbuck6]

oh well...there we go

just wanted to know what to expect, should have known better.

Thanks to those that tried...

 

[bumbershoot]

#1 - FUNNY
#2 - "the same" is relative. If an atheist walked into "Night of Joy" at MK and saw people raising their hands and falling to their knees crying and praying in worship...that wouldn't be "the same" as their everyday life. They would need to know what they were walking into - of course Disney closes MK late that afternoon and people buy entrance into the event so hopefully they would have a clue what to expect, and in knowing most atheist would avoid the event because it isn't "the same" as their everyday life.

Hmm. What about changing it to an atheist going during December? That might be better. In which case the atheists I know wouldn't give a darn about it. Maybe "oh that's a pretty tree" or something, but nothing much else.

If you had read the OP, you would know that isn't the concern

Are you sure? Because his last sentence is "What I don't want is to put a 3 yr old or 5 yr old in a position to ask questions that I feel they simply wouldn't understand the answers..."

And that sounds like he DOES have some questions, despite the all caps reply. If he just wanted "what to expect" he would have done a search and read allllll the replies to questions just like his over the years. And he would have seen the Dis-owner's ancient article about his experience at GD, which is interestingly opposite almost everyone else's (and since the author is gay himself I find it intriguing that he has that viewpoint), and he would have seen replies to that and all the conversation.

But he closes with not wanting the kids to ask questions they won't understand the answers to, and I've NEVER had my son not understand "people love people", which is about as simple and basic as I've ever kept it. So maybe he's over-answering his kids, or anticipating an over-answer, and ultimately these ideas might help. Despite not thinking so, in all caps.

Is it really that hard to say to a child who questions why 2 men or 2 women are kissing/holdinghands, "Sometimes 2 men/women love each other, Susie, just like Mommy and Daddy do." There, short and sweet.

Except I don't talk in third person.

 

[tajz90]

We went several years in a row during GAY days and never even knew it was gay days . When we found out, we kept going because it's a great time of year.

I am betting the kids won't notice and if they do, won't care, won't question. If they go to public school, they know more than you can imagine even at a young age. A friend of mine just found out her neighbors son was gay and when she asked her child about it, he replied "yeah, so? Known that for years." Kids are growing up in a different culture even when raised conservatively.

You will see the same amount of public affection from straight and gay couples. If you see an inappropriately dressed homosexual, turn around and I bet you will find an inappropriately dressed 16 year old girl.

Good luck. Have fun. If you are truly worried about it, change your dates.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

but, not sure exactly what behavior you are trying to avoid. the couples are not going to stay a foot away from each other at all times nor should they be expected to. You've already been told that it's NOT going to be Bourbon Street and everyone agrees on that. Might you see some PDA on the side away from just handholding and pecks on the lips, yes. Might you see a dude in high heels and a sequin shirt, maybe. Will there be orgies on Main Street, no. Can't be sure at what point in the middle you would consider the tipping point.

And he would have seen the Dis-owner's ancient article about his experience at GD, which is interestingly opposite almost everyone else's (and since the author is gay himself I find it intriguing that he has that viewpoint)

That editorial is several years old and as a previous poster noted, the event has changed. These days most of the real "partying" on gay weekend is done offsite at private venues and not at WDW.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I look forward to the day (hopefully soon) when I don't ever have to read a post like this again......... seriously.

That was my first thought as well.