Gay Fest when I was planning to go?

[being-dragged-to-DL]

Is it true that Gay Fest is the first week in October this year? How can I find out for sure before I book that week?

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I think Gay Days is in early October, 3 days (over a weekend, like Oct. 6-8.) I remember seeing the Marathon and Gay Days in the timeframe we were looking to go, so scheduled our trip in between.

 

[being-dragged-to-DL]

Alex2kMommy- didnt you go the same time as me earlier this year too? Are you stalking me????

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Alex2kMommy- didnt you go the same time as me earlier this year too? Are you stalking me????

We actually had to cancel that trip, so September will be our first trip ever!
I won't mind, however, if you choose to go the last week in September...

I just checked online, the dates for Gay Days are Oct. 6-8.

PS. DH took DS2 to art class when I had surgery, and was surprised to see DS5's basketball coach with his 3yo DGD. That afternoon he took DS5 to basketball practice, and the little girl was there, too. She blurted out, "Hey! I know you! Are you foll'ing me???"

 

[being-dragged-to-DL]

How funny!!!!

 

[50thisyeartoo!]

Ok, I'm not a prejudice person...but...I was there last year and you DO NOT WANT TO TAKE YOUR KIDS! You wouldn't believe what some of the red t-shirts had printed on them. It was so gross. And we saw drag queens. Do not take your kids unless you want to spend the whole time explaining why some people are so gross!

 

[Disney Fans]

Ok, I'm not a prejudice person...but...I was there last year and you DO NOT WANT TO TAKE YOUR KIDS! You wouldn't believe what some of the red t-shirts had printed on them. It was so gross. And we saw drag queens. Do not take your kids unless you want to spend the whole time explaining why some people are so gross!

Sadly, I have to agree. Where were at WDW this past June and I think it was the last day and there were a lot of questions that where hard to explain when my oldest kept asking. I don't care if you gay or not- either way I don't want my kids seeing people make out( I mean get a room type make out) and to have like what you say gross quotes on hats and t-shirts. There was an artical written by a gay man this year saying he himself will no longer go and was very upset that people he saw where acting so badly and he said Disney is a place about family- not people making out and acting rude to people.

 

[mom2dzb]

Ugh. I'm going with my husband during that time. I don't want to see that! I mean, we've got a sense of humor but if it is at every turn, and it even offends some of the gays I can't believe that I'll enjoy my visit.

I've booked with Expedia and already got my childcare lined up at home so I don't have the option to not go.

 

[Kitty-chan]

There's an excellent article about Gay Days at Disneyland, "Curiouser and Curiouser: Gay Days at the Disney Theme Parks" by Sean Griffin. I found it in the collection Rethinking Disney: Private Control, Public Dimensions. The article is an interesting history of Gay Days, with some commentary. And generally speaking, the book that I found it in is also an interesting collection of thoughts about Disney from a sociological perspective, but which I would not suggest to anyone who isn't interested in reading critical perspectives on Disney's impact on global culture.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Please don't get too wigged out about it, expecting the worst! There was a post awhile ago from a family that went during Gay Days and had the best time they'd ever had. They said everyone they met was friendly, respectful, and basically far-better behaved than they usually encounter at DL.

Go expecting to have a great time. And I hope you will!

 

[disneycutie84]

I would just like to say that I have been twice during "Gay Days" and it was not a big deal at all.
I am not going to get into an argument with anyone here about the issue of homosexuality...but I don't see anything wrong with going during that time.
However, I do understand that some families may not want to have to explain certain things to their children (depending on their age).
Just a heads up that everyone I met was VERY nice and polite, and I have noticed more disruption and rudeness from high school kids that are there all the time than the gay couples walking around.
Thats my little soapbox moment. Hope I didn't offend.

 

[being-dragged-to-DL]

Well, we have just cancelled our trip. Everyone has to go with their own feelings on something like this. I guess it will be the Oregon Coast for us!

 

[crazymomof 4]

There sure seems to be a lot of harsh judgement here! First of all I think it is inappropriate to call it Gay Fest. It just sounds tacky and mean spirited! It is Gay Days! Secondly, being the sister to a gay brother, it really really bothers me when people insinuate that gay people act like animals in heat out in public! Are you kidding me? Have you seen all of the disgusting straight people and teenagers that do this? What is the difference? I personally wouldn't go during any event if possible. But you could of checked the schedule ahead of time right? If you were open minded enough to have any gay friends, you might realize that they have to live with prejudice everyday. So called christians acting like gay folks are sinners and like they actually made the choice to have a harder time being accepted in society. Give me a break! They plan this event because the majority of these people want to get together for just a couple of days where they can have some fun without the prejudice that they deal with everyday! These people are parents, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers to those of us who love and support them. So please don't be hurtful! Keep your comments to yourself if they are only negative!

 

[50thisyeartoo!]

Ok, as I said I am not a prejudice person. BUT. This is what I saw. Apparently anyone who is gay was told to wear a red t-shirt, that way to be identifiable in the crowd? The t-shirt that most wore was the same one announcing the event. Not a DL event, I think it said an ANAHEIM event. A lot of the gay people did not wear these t-shirts. They wore shirts with genitals on them...with obsecene sayings underneath. There were red t-shirts with no pictures, just obscene sayings. I sat for about one hour waiting for friends and some of the things I saw I wrote down and shared them with my husband when I got home. It was disgusting! Absolutely disgusting! As I said, there were plenty of nice gay people there the two days I was at DL...but I did see a lot of "love" being expressed between them...you would see them hanging all over each other, kissing, and groping each other like they were on display. That was really bad. And I saw attitude...what I saw was an attitude like this: Yes, I'm gay and proud of it. So kiss my ____!
If you want to take your children during this time that is up to you. It is really too bad that some have to ruin it for all. But I for one will NEVER go to DL during gay pride weekend. I do not want to see such behavior and I would not want my grandchildren exposed to this.

 

[being-dragged-to-DL]

Crazymomof4... I looked back at all the posts, and I did not see a lot of harsh judgement before your post as you mention. Im sorry if the conversation offends you, but we all have the absolute right to shield our children from any social event, political opinion or anything else as we see fit as their parents. We dont have to accept anything on the basis that it is the open minded thing to do... just as all of these folks have the right to display thier preferences at DL. And get real... for goodness sakes, we all know someone who is gay! What are you thinking? It's just not a time when we want to take our kids... it's that simple. I also planned my trip around the cheerleaders event last year. WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL? I didnt hear any cheerleader accusing me of being harsh and closed minded.... and by the way, Im neither harsh nor closed minded. Again, sorry if you felt threatened or offended or hurt, that was not the intention of my original post. If I'm paying $4000 to take my family on a trip to DL, I want it to be fun and carefree... not politiical in ANY way. (You know, for some of us who live a distance away, its an expensive vacation.)

 

[mom2dzb]

it really really bothers me when people insinuate that gay people act like animals in heat out in public!

I don't believe anyone is insinuating. Some posters here have actually experienced it. They don't claim all gay people act like that.

I personally wouldn't go during any event if possible. But you could of checked the schedule ahead of time right?

It's not an officially recognized Disney event. Which schedules would you suggest we check ahead of time?

If you were open minded enough to have any gay friends, you might realize that they have to live with prejudice everyday.

I am. I do. There was a post earlier about a gay person also being appalled at the behavior exhibited at "Gay Days". I think I've got as much of a right to worry about my experience as he/she does.

Keep your comments to yourself if they are only negative!

I agree.

 

[being-dragged-to-DL]

Fest is short for festival. What is your problem? I am not posting or reading this thread again. I was simply looking for information and you flipped your lid and took this whole topic to a place it was never intended to go. NOBODY was bashing until you showed up! You obviously have some point to prove to the world... prove it to someone else because I really dont care to listen to it anymore. It sounds to me like YOU are the one with some problem agaist gays. Chill. Goodbye.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Only the OP called the event 'Gay Fest', and since she didn't know the dates for it, either, I don't believe she meant offense, just didn't know what the official name was.

I also would not want to go to DL at a time when there would be a big group going; we tried to time our trip so that (hopefully!) the park won't be too crowded, as we really don't like crowds. I know, silly to go to DL at all, I suppose, but at least we do what we can with the info we have.

I would be concerned, too, if I read that a group of cheerleaders were going during our visit, and they tended to be rowdy, or wear obnoxious shirts, or be all over each other with PDAs...or (god forbid!) cheered everywhere. That would get old in a hurry!

Could we just lighten up and not read more into a statement than perhaps what is there?

 

[LukenDC]

A lot of the gay people did not wear these t-shirts. They wore shirts with genitals on them...with obsecene sayings underneath. .

I am gay, I live in a gay neighborhood, and I have never seen anyone with a shirt depicting genitals. I would not even know where to obtain a shirt like that. Disney should not let anyone in their parks who wears such a shirt.

 

[TheZue]

Honestly I can't even see them allowing a shirt like that in there...it seems like the kind of thing that would get you kicked out of the park. If it didn't the cast members were slacking.

Personally I'm glad we are missing Gay Days just because of the crowds. We wanted to go in the fall to avoid the crowds; and that just seems like it would be extra busy without the benifits of the busy season like later hours, fireworks every night etc. And I don't care what large group is at the park...if there is a huge group that you aren't a part of it's going to be weird.