Gays Days..BIL called me worried. Need help.

[The Mystery Machine]

I did post this on the G&L Board but I am coming to you guys as well.
My BIL just called me and he will be there May 29-June 3.

Someone told him about Gay Days and he is worried about his trip. He has 2 dd's 8 & 10.

He has called me for advice. This is a once in a lifetime trip for his family. What should I say to him? When are Gay Days officially?

Have you ever been there at that time and what was your experience?

Thanks

 

[Microcell]

I think the website about the event is www.gaydays.com and it is usually the first weekend in June, sort of goes all week with trips to Universal interspersed.

I just checked to see if the site is correct, and I saw a calendar there so if you BIL can't change the dates altogether, then he can hopefully avoid the heavy traffic days at MK and whatnot.

I always avoid it in planning because I guess I am just not chic enough to be open minded about it, and I don't want to explain why same gender people are holding hands and or kissing.

 

[AllyandJack]

The days seem to be 5/30-6/4.

I'd check out what the events are and go to different parks. For me, it would be more an issue of crowds. I'd do the same thing for Grad Nights.

It's also Star Wars Weekends and the Flower and Garden Festival, so there are events of all types going on throughout the World. I'd just check the schedule of events and plan to be at the park without any special events.

 

[clarabelle]

I've been that week and it wasn't really a problem.
I was worried -not because of the homosexual issue but because there would be large crowds there to PARTY.
Go to their websites and check the gay days schedule and avoid that particular park on that particular day.
I saw lots of couples -but my kids did not even notice. I saw no unruly behavior.
If I understand correctly the big day is the day at Magic Kingdom. The other days are not as well attended.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Someone at his work told him that men run around with their shirts off yelling "gay pride" and making out in front of everyone.

It is a once in a lifetime trip for them. I told him if it bothers you, then don't go. But then they will be going in July...which would be worse imo.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If I understand correctly the big day is the day at Magic Kingdom. The other days are not as well attended.

Thank you! That is good to pass onto him.

 

[RitaZ.]

We'll be there around the same dates. The problem will be the crowds from GD and also Memorial weekend. We're seriously considering moving our trip to a week later. I don't think it will be fun with huge crowds.

We were there last year during GD. The parks were definitely more crowded.

 

[MzDiz]

Personally, I'd rather spend a day in the parks with 15,000 flamingly flamboyant homosexuals in drag, playing Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, than have to spend it with cheerleaders.

 

[AllyandJack]

It is a once in a lifetime trip for them. I told him if it bothers you, then don't go. But then they will be going in July...which would be worse imo.

Going in July means one thing....Brazilian Tour Groups. I'd rather go with the Gay Day attendees than suffer through those tour groups again.

 

[Chicago526]

Is your BIL worried about crowds or the fact that there will be a large number of gay people at the parks?

If it's crowds, then there are steps you can take to minimize the crowds inpact, like touring plans designed to minimize your wait, going to parks on days when they tend to be the least crowded, things like that. You can get advice about crowd avoidence at the Theme Park Attractions and Stratagies board http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2 . There you'll find a link to Tour Guide Mike, who does customized tour plans of the parks to minimize your wait in line for the rides. Also, the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World has plans in the back of the book you can follow to avoid long waits.

If he's worried about the behavior his family may witness, then I wouldn't worry about it. I've never been myself, but I've heard reports that you really don't notice anything differant at the parks or resorts as far as "public displays of affection" go.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Personally, I'd rather spend a day in the parks with 15,000 flamingly flamboyant homosexuals in drag, playing Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, than have to spend it with cheerleaders.

I told him the same thing! Only I said with a bunch of screaming kids in JULY. Which was his original date.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Is your BIL worried about crowds or the fact that there will be a large number of gay people at the parks?

He is worried about the gay people.
He has never been to WDW and has NO CLUE as to the crowds. We tried to explain it to him, but as you know, until you go you just cannot understand it.

 

[missypie]

We were there last year. We didn't go to MK on Saturday, but were in the other parks all weekend.

Our kids were 14, 12 and 9, and are by no means sheltered. As we were sitting at the Orlando airport, waiting to leave town, I asked each child individually how many gay people they noticed. EACH ONE SAID "NONE."

DH and I noticed them...the group of men at Epcot wearing "I am what I am" t-shirts. The two ladies sitting on a bench at MGM, wearing matching rainbow bandanas. The funny one was that there was a private "Gay Days" party after hours at MGM, so when we were leaving after Fantasmic, there was a parade of guys coming in...the funny thing is that almost all of them were wearing black tank tops (how stereotypical! ). But the kids noticed none of this, and we didn't point it out. We saw no overt PDA. (I actually saw virtually no PDA of any kind at the Disney parks - unlike our local Six Flags.)

The Gay Days guests were just some of the thousands of guests in the park. I guess if your BIL is LOOKING to be upset by the very presence of gay people, he will be. Otherwise, it should nave no impact on his trip at all.

One more thing: We have a gay friend who has attended Gay Days in the past. I asked him about it before we planned the trip. He said that the overt activity takes place in the bars and in the "designated" hotels (around the pool, etc.) The ladies and the men each have a separate offsite hotel that is their "headquarters" for the weekend.

 

[RitaZ.]

making out in front of everyone.

I didn't see anyone running around yelling gay pride, but we didn't go to MK. I did see one gay couple making out at Epcot during MK day. I remember there were a couple of guys that had very suggestive messages on their t-shirts.

 

[pixiepower1971]

We have been numerous times and have no problems to report. I would rather stand in line with a nice gay couple then some foul mouthed teenagers or over active cheerleaders. Tell him to check out the websites and avoid the park they have selected for that day to avoid the crowds. Other then some crowds I wouldn't be concerned at all.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank you for your help!!! I will pass this info to him!

 

[CheshireVal]

We've been several times during Gay Days and it was never an issue. We never saw anything "inappropriate," and crowds were normal. Because we were worried about crowds, we avoided the parks of the day as listed on the website.

No problems, would do it again!

 

[CathrynRose]

Having been there for Gay Day at the MK in 2004 – I have to DISagree about the crowds. We found it rather pleasant….honestly. I think many “families” high-tail it out of there once they realize whats going on.

And I agree – I’d rather be there with gay men, women, whatever – then cheerleaders! UGH!

No one took their shirt off and ran around screaming “Gay Pride”. No one was making out. There was hand-holding – just like my fiancé and I do.

I say – go. Tell him not to worry about it.

 

[eclectics]

Going in July means one thing....Brazilian Tour Groups. I'd rather go with the Gay Day attendees than suffer through those tour groups again.

Hmm. Watching people show affection or watching people be obnoxious? Like others have said, I'd be more concerned about crowds than two men holding hands. If that offends some, then by all means they shouldn't go. I'm sure the gay attendees would appreciate it also. Nobody likes to be stared at with a disgusted look.

 

[Gary M]

Going in July means one thing....Brazilian Tour Groups. I'd rather go with the Gay Day attendees than suffer through those tour groups again.

My experience has been the same with the Brazilian Tour groups. Last year we saw tour groups from Chile, SA and they were no problem at all. When I first saw the Chile group I thought here we go, but what a pleasant surprise.