Gay Days 2015 - Help me a Dad Out

[KateDrake]

I agree with most of the other posts on here - what you'll see is a pretty normal day at WDW, with an oddly large number of people wearing red shirts. Honestly, you probably would not even notice.

If you think you'll have an issue, don't go during that time. There are 51 other weeks of the year to visit Disney.

 

[LaurenT]

It's not anything like a gay pride parade. It's just set days where gay people know there will be a large population of gay people than usual so they feel less out of place than society too often makes them feel.
Nothing will happen that will require an explanation to a four year old. If two people of the same sex are holding hands, that will not likely require an explanation - and if it did "they're friends" would be an honest and simple answer.
I am uncomfortable with PDA's of an intimate nature regardless of the genders involved .... But I rarely see it at Disney.

 

[L&Lfan]

Don't worry about it Ben, you and your family will be fine. My boyfriend and I were there this year and we had NO CLUE til we got home that we had experienced gay days! And we had talked about going for YEARS!

 

[Ronda93]

OP teed it up by stating they raise their kids as conservatively as they can. Then asked for what to expect.

Expect to be uncomfortable. Because it won't be the kids noticing those people. It will be you.

 

[Angel Ariel]

oh well...there we go

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

Thanks to those that tried...

And your question has been answered - by many. You can expect to see families experiencing Disney together. The parks don't become Bourbon street just because there are some more gay people in the parks. Disney still has its standards on conduct, and those don't change for Gay Days.

Is there more a possibility that your kids could see a gay couple kissing? yes...just because of the sheer increase in numbers. Is more than kissing something to be concerned about any more than any other day at Disney? no. If you go looking for it, or expecting it, then sure you'll probably find something...there's inappropriate behavior by straight and gay people every day, so there's always a chance of seeing something.

 

[aaarcher86]

Who doesn't love Buddy Christ???

I'm keeping it handy as we get closer to June! Lmao

 

[Benbuck6]

I completely understand, but the OP then went on to describe atheistic people visiting during Night of Joy. You can't compare atheism and homosexuality on a public message board and expect people to keep quiet. I have trouble keeping quiet on this issue.

AGREED that was a stretch and one bettered not thought of. No excuses...that was not a good example...sorry. All I was trying to say, as a parent I DO NOT AGREE that homosexuality is a subject my kids need to worry about right now. I don't want to discourage them, I don't want to promote it...its a NON ISSUE for them and I would love for it to remain that way until we as a family feel its time to talk about it...if we ever were asked...we never were by the oldest.

And I do NOT want to walk into something and it BECOME an issue w/o we as parents knowing it is possible.

 

[Laz]

No opinion here, just my family's personal experience years ago. Checked in to the All Stars resort on the Saturday of Gay Days. Our DD was 8 years old. The cast member checking us in stated: "You do realize that this is one of the busiest days at the MK? May I suggest you visit Epcot or MGM Studios (No AK at this time)"? So we went to EPCOT. Very small crowds and we had a wonderful afternoon. Couples celebrating Gay Days were obvious because they were wearing red shirts that said: "Magic by day, Pleasure by night." Later we were told that there was a party going on at Pleasure Island that night. Those same couples were some of the friendliest, polite people we met during the trip. Had a blast with them while waiting in what short lines there were at EPCOT. We went over to the MK that night for the parade, and discovered most of the crowd was leaving for Pleasure Island. Only "get a room" type PDA was from a few heterosexual young couples.


Hope this helps you in your decisions.

 

[ashley0139]

AGREED that was a stretch and one bettered not thought of. No excuses...that was not a good example...sorry. All I was trying to say, as a parent I DO NOT AGREE that homosexuality is a subject my kids need to worry about right now. I don't want to discourage them, I don't want to promote it...its a NON ISSUE for them and I would love for it to remain that way until we as a family feel its time to talk about it...if we ever were asked...we never were by the oldest.

And I do NOT want to walk into something and it BECOME an issue w/o we as parents knowing it is possible.

You're the one making it an issue. If you said "they're in love like mommy and daddy are in love" that would be the end of it. The kids don't care. It's YOU making it a big deal. I promise.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

All I was trying to say, as a parent I DO NOT AGREE that homosexuality is a subject my kids need to worry about right now.

Respectfully, I will suggest that you are worried about it. As kids, they likely wouldn't be "worried" about it if the question came up... assuming you answered the question without "worry".

 

[thatgirl08]

AGREED that was a stretch and one bettered not thought of. No excuses...that was not a good example...sorry. All I was trying to say, as a parent I DO NOT AGREE that homosexuality is a subject my kids need to worry about right now. I don't want to discourage them, I don't want to promote it...its a NON ISSUE for them and I would love for it to remain that way until we as a family feel its time to talk about it...if we ever were asked...we never were by the oldest.

And I do NOT want to walk into something and it BECOME an issue w/o we as parents knowing it is possible.

Woohooo my first comment

You didn't ask for this advice, but hey, it's the internet. Talk to your kids now. DD (4) told her whole daycare about how sometimes girls marry boys, boys marry boys and that girls can marry girls. She learned this because of people our family interacts with, so she lovingly shared this with her friends. Kids learn about homosexuality way sooner than you would ever expect. I'm sure some of DD's daycare friends went home and told their parents what they learned.

 

[Benbuck6]

In the end, think we will do it...

sorry for the caps, sorry for the frustration

leaving it at that

 

[B.B. Sots]

We have been to WDW twice during 'Gay Days' and never had any problems with PDA or anything. The resorts were the same as well.

If you don't worry about it and don't point things out, I doubt your children would even notice. They are going to be to busy getting sensory overload from all the Disney things going on around them and will be more concerned with their base needs when not drowning in Disney goodness than noticing other things.

Go and have a good time. Your fears are not rooted in anything that I have ever witnessed or experienced.

 

[plutosbuddie]

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.

I love this!!

 

[rideswithchrist]

You're the one making it an issue. If you said "they're in love like mommy and daddy are in love" that would be the end of it. The kids don't care. It's YOU making it a big deal. I promise.

For SOME people- it is a big deal. For some families- couples are man and woman.

That is what the OP did not want though- people on the board telling him what he should say to his kids and "just get over it"

As as conservative, YUP- my kids have seen women kissing on TV- so yup, they notice it (at 4 and 6)
And I WILL NOT tell them "women love each other too" because that is not in our values. I will however try to keep them away from any ideas of sexuality until they are old enough to understand and until then. It is hard enough to talk to your 6 year old about teenage moms...why add gay people to that conversation- that is what the OP was saying I think-
The OP pretty much sounds like he wanted to know if it was going to be an uncomfortable place where his children will see something on more occasions than just walking down the street.
I also would not go if there was a "teen couples day" because there are things in our family that we just don't glorify.

For my family, it is a big deal and we won't go in June.
If the idea of a heterosexual man wanting to protect his kids makes you feel uncomfortable, then don't read a post from a conservative standpoint

 

[L&Lfan]

And they're off.....prepare to be flamed, my friend!

 

[RealBlast3]

For SOME people- it is a big deal. For some families- couples are man and woman.

That is what the OP did not want though- people on the board telling him what he should say to his kids and "just get over it"

As as conservative, YUP- my kids have seen women kissing on TV- so yup, they notice it (at 4 and 6)
And I WILL NOT tell them "women love each other too" because that is not in our values. I will however try to keep them away from any ideas of sexuality until they are old enough to understand and until then. It is hard enough to talk to your 6 year old about teenage moms...why add gay people to that conversation- that is what the OP was saying I think-
The OP pretty much sounds like he wanted to know if it was going to be an uncomfortable place where his children will see something on more occasions than just walking down the street.
I also would not go if there was a "teen couples day" because there are things in our family that we just don't glorify.

For my family, it is a big deal and we won't go in June.
If the idea of a heterosexual man wanting to protect his kids makes you feel uncomfortable, then don't read a post from a conservative standpoint

Hiding homophobia behind "conservative" ideals! Ok, gotcha! The op should have just said so!

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

1) I have questions/concerns - Don't judge just give me the appropriate info.
2) We raise our kids as conservative as we can and try and tackle issues in a planned/thoughtful way.
3) Saying that - what I don't want is some Extreme Right Homophobic telling me to stay away from Gay Days just to prove a point to Disney. Like I said, we are conservative for the most part but we are not nutcases.
4) We have been to WDW 6 times and see gay couples ALL the time. They are respectful and have NEVER put us in a position to have to have discussions with our kids that we didn't feel they were ready for.
5) Now to "Gay Days", I do not mind sharing WDW with ANY respectable person BUT I would like to be informed on my surroundings.
6) This is what I have heard - On one side... "Don't even worry about it, you don't even know its happening." The middle ..."That there are planned parks to attend for anyone wanting to participate in "Gay Days" and if I want to avoid those parks I can and wouldn't really notice much of anything different as a typical park day." And then to another side "WDW Gay Days is like going to a Gay Pride parade in New Orleans on Bourbon St during Mardi Gras."
7) Just need to know the real deal. What people do in their bedroom is their business...I got enough issues to try and figure out that one and pass judgement on it...but trying to raise my kids is mine, and the encounters we have with homosexual couples at wdw in the past have been nothing but class act. 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...

Sorry for the list form but its how I think. and any help would be great.

I can answer your basic question based upon my experience. We have been 3 times during this time. The first time (2005) I noticed very little to draw attention to couples/groups/families that are a part of that particular "celebration". A lot of hand holding and such, but nothing to make kids ask questions.

The 2nd time we visited in early June (2007) we saw a lot of this group doing things to draw attention to themselves (chanting, a lot of rainbow wigs, being really loud about their lifestyle and such), but nothing of a sexual nature.

The third time (2010) we visited we saw a lot of over the top shirts that should have never been allowed in the park. They referenced genitalia, sexual orientation in an inappropriate way and things of the like. One had a hand pointing downward and it said "gay sausage is better" and his friend had a shirt with a hand pointing down and it said "you haven't tried my sausage". This is not okay, gay or straight!!! I heard one lady politely mention to a CM at a ride entrance that some of the clothing was offensive and the CM responded saying "well, about 65% of our cast members are gay, so I doubt anybody will say anything". We also heard a few groups going around the Magic Kingdom chanting something about 'homophobes are haters, real haters go to hell' or something like that.

If I was concerned about my children witnessing something I do not want them to, particularly if they can read, I would take caution. I am not a homophobe; meaning I am not scared of gay people. (phobia means to have a fear of something, not because you disagree or do not condone) I do believe in traditional Biblical marriage, one man and one woman, however I do not avoid people for living their lives differently. I am only accountable for me and my children. I have had some wonderful conversations with "gay people" in Disney and I knew it before the conversation began. I have also seen hetero couples act RIDICULOUS in a sexual way on rides and while waiting in lines. It comes down to the person and how much attention they are trying to draw to themselves and not their sexual orientation.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Having been to WDW the week of Gay Days a few times, and I have never found it to be an issue. I wouldn't say that you won't notice - because you know it's happening, so you're going to be looking for it, and the couples participating wear the color red to identify themselves, so you might be seeing more of that color than usual. However, when a big group comes to Disney, no matter if they are Pop Warner, cheerleaders, Harley Davidson crew, etc... it will probably be noticeable.

As with any week or weekend that a large organized group visits Disney, I would recommend avoiding the scheduled park for that day to avoid the crowds. Especially during Gay Days, if you're not at the scheduled park for the day, it's actually quite a pleasant time to visit crowd level-wise.

 

[Aggiegrl]

And I WILL NOT tell them "women love each other too" because that is not in our values. I will however try to keep them away from any ideas of sexuality until they are old enough to understand and until then.

Oh lord. It has nothing to do with your values. Refusing to tell a child that two women can love each other when they see two women holding hands is like refusing to tell them that Muslim people exist when you see a mosque. It's right there in front of them. Just because you don't agree with it doesn't make it untrue.