Gay Days Weekend--Recommended for younger child???

[gsp4ever]

I hope I don't start some sort of controversy. Not my intent at all.

I've been searching the boards and looking at Google images, etc. Plus I didn't want to hijack the "Week of Sept. 23-30" thread too badly; however, we'll be at Disneyland during the time that includes the Gay Days weekend. We have a six year old daughter and were thinking it might make sense to head out for a short weekend trip to visit a relative in SoCal and do some things other than Disneyland and then head back to the parks on Monday, Oct 3.

What's your opinion on this? Another thought was to skip DL and do California Adventure that weekend but I think the crowds will be high either way.

 

[wilkeliza]

What exactly are you afraid of your child seeing? The dress code is still in affect and you won't see people in just jock straps and glitter prancing around Disneyland. It will be couples and families enjoying the parks just like every other family and couple or singles there. If you are so scared of what your child might see at Gay days then maybe you shouldn't take them at all. I've seen teenagers all over each other in the Disneyland lines not during Gay days.

Sad that this comes up every single year. I still don't get why people think gay days turn the park into some awful place full of sex when that is furthest from the truth.

 

[tiffjoy]

Are you talking about crowds? Yes, it will be crowded that weekend. I find it to be crowded most weekends,in general, but I think we were there last year for Gay Days, and it felt slightly more congested in DL than usual weekends. Unless we are using APs, we avoid weekends in general if we go for a longer vacation to DLR, unless we really want to see weekend entertainment during the off season. So, in that sense, you may want to avoid it.

If you are trying to tippy toe around another kind of an angle with your question (and you may not be, so apologies if you didn't mean this), I couldn't help you with that. My children are around gay people in general, so I would never have considered this weekend an issue for anything other than crowds.

 

[ddwlms]

What exactly are you afraid of your child seeing? The dress code is still in affect and you won't see people in just jock straps and glitter prancing around Disneyland. It will be couples and families enjoying the parks just like every other family and couple or singles there. If you are so scared of what your child might see at Gay days then maybe you should take them at all. I've seen teenagers all over each other in the Disneyland lines not during Gay days.

Sad that this comes up every single year. I still don't get why people think gay days turn the park into some awful place full of sex when that is furthest from the truth.

I don't understand why this is so sad. Lots of people stay away from the parks on grad nights. Does that mean they hate teenagers? No, they just want to avoid a particular type of obnoxious behavior that is more prominent among teen agers, and more exaggerated with large numbers of teenagers. If you've ever been to San Francisco during the gay pride parade, then you would understand why the parent is concerned. There are obnoxious people in every group, and there have been reports of the obnoxious ones on gay days, as well as with other groups. The question was not meant to malign, just understand the atmosphere.

 

[jammyjam25]

Gay Days events take place in both parks over the weekend. Disneyland on Saturday and DCA on Sunday. But I agree, crowds will be high at both parks all weekend.

As for the event itself, it is family friendly with many events built into the weekend itself for LGBT families to participate in. If you're worried about your child seeing LGBT couples holding hands, kissing, etc. I don't know what to say except that it's a learning opportunity to show your child that families and love come in all forms.

 

[SMD]

I hope I don't start some sort of controversy. Not my intent at all.

I've been searching the boards and looking at Google images, etc.

Turn off safe search, you'll find the negative reinforcement that you're looking for.

 

[bumbershoot]

I still don't get why people think gay days turn the park into some awful place full of sex when that is furthest from the truth.

I would blame the DIs for some of that. google it and it's even on the wiki page: "Pete Werner, openly gay founder of Disney fan-site WDWInfo, has called the event "disgraceful". Werner's criticism mainly derived from the public displays of affection by the attendees in full view of families". He's got a whole thread about it that people dig up when searching.

When countless other trip reports (by gay and straight people) and discussions say otherwise.

But that's the official word here.


We were at Gay Days over Columbus Day weekend one year, and wow those Columbus Day crowds were intense! All the GD crowds did was wear red shirts, but the CD crowds...yikes.

PDAs from anyone gross me out, and I saw NO PDAs from the gay couples I saw that weekend. Straight couples, though...getta room, people!

 

[wilkeliza]

I don't understand why this is so sad. Lots of people stay away from the parks on grad nights. Does that mean they hate teenagers? No, they just want to avoid a particular type of obnoxious behavior that is more prominent among teen agers, and more exaggerated with large numbers of teenagers. If you've ever been to San Francisco during the gay pride parade, then you would understand why the parent is concerned. There are obnoxious people in every group, and there have been reports of the obnoxious ones on gay days, as well as with other groups. The question was not meant to malign, just understand the atmosphere.

Pride is very different then gay days though. Gay days happens with in the confides of a family friendly park.

If crowds were the issue that is completely different. I don't agree with sterotyping grad nights or gay days. Not all teenagers are rowdy and disrespectful and not all gays are obnoxious. If that is what you are genuinely worried about it is an issue you could have any day grad night, gay days, or neither.

 

[ashley0139]

I don't understand why this is so sad. Lots of people stay away from the parks on grad nights. Does that mean they hate teenagers? No, they just want to avoid a particular type of obnoxious behavior that is more prominent among teen agers, and more exaggerated with large numbers of teenagers. If you've ever been to San Francisco during the gay pride parade, then you would understand why the parent is concerned. There are obnoxious people in every group, and there have been reports of the obnoxious ones on gay days, as well as with other groups. The question was not meant to malign, just understand the atmosphere.

I'm sorry, do you really think Gay Days at DISNEYLAND is the same as going to a gay pride parade in San Francisco? Seriously, that's your comparison? I've met far more obnoxious and public display straight people in my life than gay. There will be plenty of gay families with their children there that weekend. I fail to understand the issue.

It absolutely is sad that this comes up every year.

 

[ImDMous]

I would like to believe that you are asking this in jest, so I will answer with the same:

There will be glitter, large hairy men in Tinkerbelle costumes, and lots of pelvis thrusting. If this doesn't sound like your kind of fun, go some other time.



Seriously?!!??!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

The OP asked an innocent question and does not deserve snarky replies.

Tolerance works in both directions.

MG

 

[tiffjoy]

If you've ever been to San Francisco during the gay pride parade, then you would understand why the parent is concerned.

I've been to Pride in San Francisco. Leaving aside your assumptions about it in general, I wouldn't offer this as a comparison to the OP. Gay Days at DLR is not remotely like Pride. They are very different events and even attendees.

 

[MinnieMouse84]

Gay people are just people. Your daughter will be fine.

 

[gsp4ever]

I don't understand why this is so sad. Lots of people stay away from the parks on grad nights. Does that mean they hate teenagers? No, they just want to avoid a particular type of obnoxious behavior that is more prominent among teenagers, and more exaggerated with large numbers of teenagers. If you've ever been to San Francisco during the gay pride parade, then you would understand why the parent is concerned. There are obnoxious people in every group, and there have been reports of the obnoxious ones on gay days, as well as with other groups. The question was not meant to malign, just understand the atmosphere.

YAY!!! Thank you for this. I read the first couple of responses and then my computer crashed and took forever to restart and I thought, "uh oh, they are gonna come lock this thread before I can even get back to respond"

Gay Days events take place in both parks over the weekend. Disneyland on Saturday and DCA on Sunday. But I agree, crowds will be high at both parks all weekend.
As for the event itself, it is family friendly with many events built into the weekend itself for LGBT families to participate in. If you're worried about your child seeing LGBT couples holding hands, kissing, etc. I don't know what to say except that it's a learning opportunity to show your child that families and love come in all forms.

This information is good to know and I'm glad to know there is a family oriented vibe there. Google images mainly show people in red shirts enjoying the theme parks though there are a handful of raucous pool-party type shots (I can't tell if they are real pictures associated with Disneyland area hotel pools or even the DLR in general during Gay Days)

My biggest fears are insane crowds (that will make me miserable) and also safety and security. As sad as it is to say it, I also worry--in particular, about safety in a crowded Downtown Disney on a weekend such as this. I know this stuff is completely out of my control.

 

[jammyjam25]

This information is good to know and I'm glad to know there is a family oriented vibe there. Google images mainly show people in red shirts enjoying the theme parks though there are a handful of raucous pool-party type shots (I can't tell if they are real pictures associated with Disneyland area hotel pools or even the DLR in general during Gay Days)

My biggest fears are insane crowds (that will make me miserable) and also safety and security. As sad as it is to say it, I also worry--in particular, about a crowded Downtown Disney on a weekend such as this. I know this stuff is completely out of my control.

There is indeed a pool party called "Plunge" but it takes place off site at the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel and doesn't affect the parks or resort hotels at all. There are some late night events in DTD. Here's the schedule from their website if you want it to help you plan - http://www.gaydaysanaheim.com/GDA/index.php/schedule

The vibe inside the park is like you said, mostly families and couples in red shirts, who are just enjoying the park with everyone else.

 

[Niltiac]

Google images mainly show people in red shirts enjoying the theme parks though there are a handful of raucous pool-party type shots (I can't tell if they are real pictures associated with Disneyland area hotel pools or even the DLR in general during Gay Days)

There are separate paid parties held outside of DL, including a pool party, every year. That's probably what you saw pictures of. Since those events require tickets you won't accidentally stumble into them with your daughter. Everything held at the park itself is family friendly (scavenger hunts, lunch meetups, etc.). There's a schedule on their website you can take a look at.

 

[gsp4ever]

There will be glitter, large hairy men in Tinkerbelle costumes, and lots of pelvis thrusting. If this doesn't sound like your kind of fun, go some other time.

Hahahahaha...large hairy men in Tinkerbell costumes sound appealing but pelvis thrusting (from anyone of any age--including the German Shorthaired Pointers in my profile pic) not so much.

The six year old, on the other hand, loves all sorts of glitz, glam and glitter

 

[wilkeliza]

YAY!!! Thank you for this. I read the first couple of responses and then my computer crashed and took forever to restart and I thought, "uh oh, they are gonna come lock this thread before I can even get back to respond"



This information is good to know and I'm glad to know there is a family oriented vibe there. Google images mainly show people in red shirts enjoying the theme parks though there are a handful of raucous pool-party type shots (I can't tell if they are real pictures associated with Disneyland area hotel pools or even the DLR in general during Gay Days)

My biggest fears are insane crowds (that will make me miserable) and also safety and security. As sad as it is to say it, I also worry--in particular, about safety in a crowded Downtown Disney on a weekend such as this. I know this stuff is completely out of my control.

The pool party photos are not from the Disney hotels. This years less family friendly pool party will be at The Anaheim Majestic Grand Hotel. There are some random events in down town Disney but most are super late at night.

If you want to avoid the more club scene type things check out the schedule here http://www.gaydaysanaheim.com/GDA/index.php/schedule

 

[wilkeliza]

Also many apologies for jumping to conclusions. It is just every year someone comes and starts a thread about gay days and tip toes around what they are really asking. Now that you have clarified it is more about crowds and security and not about your daughter seeing gay people then it is completely different. Yes there will be crowds. I imagine after what happened in Orlando Disney (or the Gay Day organizers) may up security for that weekend just as a precaution.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I hope I don't start some sort of controversy. Not my intent at all.

I've been searching the boards and looking at Google images, etc. Plus I didn't want to hijack the "Week of Sept. 23-30" thread too badly; however, we'll be at Disneyland during the time that includes the Gay Days weekend. We have a six year old daughter and were thinking it might make sense to head out for a short weekend trip to visit a relative in SoCal and do some things other than Disneyland and then head back to the parks on Monday, Oct 3.

What's your opinion on this? Another thought was to skip DL and do California Adventure that weekend but I think the crowds will be high either way.

I didn't see anything regarding fear in your OP, even though some of the responses seem to reflect that. I'll answer in the way that I read your post.

My family attended on Gay Days twice unintentionally before it was a big hoopla like it is now. We were going to see the Halloween decorations (back before there were Halloween parties) and to celebrate my daughter's birthday and it happened to be during Gay Days two years in a row. It was extremely crowded by the crowd standards back then. I think comparing to regular crowds now, it probably wouldn't have seemed so over the top crowded. They did one day in each park. There were tons of people wearing red Tshirts. All of their family and friends who were there with them also wore the shirts. I asked someone was it was about. My kids wanted to know, too, so I told them. I don't think they cared at all when I told them.

My daughter used to asked to go for Gay Days every year after that. She gets stuck on traditions and since we went 2 years in a row, it was a tradition. We didn't go again because I told her I couldn't stand the crowds. Fast forward many years and now I have a child who is part of the LGBT community (not the one who always wanted to go to Gay Days) and we decided to go to mini Gay Days last March. It was overcrowded to the point we had to leave the park for a few hours, but we hardly saw any red shirts. It was just a freakishly crowded Saturday. I would attend Gay Days again and just be mentally prepared for major crowds. I do prefer to wear a red shirt when I go.