Grad Night 2007 - How much will this interfere with our vacation?

[RainbowGirl]

We just booked the Poly Apr 22-29 and I'm noticing that Grad night is Apr 27-28. Who has been there when Grad night has been on? How does this affect your touring schedule? How busy does this make various parks around that time? I'm just wondering whether we should have made our holiday a week later and avoided this time since I know very little about it. Any help/advice would be great!!!!

Thanks!

 

[Joanna71985]

I don't know about busy, but the MK closes early on the Grad Nites nights.

 

[Mickey1122]

We were there during the grad nights. Ine large school group of maybe 500 was there. We didn't want to get stuck behind hundreds of people in a line, so we decided to ask the CM who was helping the handlers. We asked when they were leaving, which we were delighted to find to be soon, and found out which days they would be where, and planned accordingly.
I wish they didn't do so many of these little mini promotions. This, the Wiggles, and all the tiny events, (not including big ones like MNSSHP, MVMCP, F&W Festival, and F&G Festival, as these four are over long periods of time, and everyone can enjoy them)
But things like this are treated by almost everyone as just a time when they have to worry about extra crowds. Things like the Wiggles concert don't exactly appeal to the wide majority, and people worry about extra crowds. And unlike the other special evening events, you can't get in unless you are in 12th grade, and it's inconvinient in my opinion. You pay (or most people do-I definitely have heard interesting stories about cheating guests who stay in late without buying wristbands. I know that's a, shall we say, "touchy subject" around here.) If there was some kind of event that anyone could get into, I think it would be fun. You don't have to be a 'grad' to enjoy an evening event.

 

[Seahunt]

If you haven't seen this, allears has some info on grad nites here:

http://allearsnet.com/tp/mk/grad.htm

 

[english rose 47]

We will be there then too and I wondered the same thing. I had checked Touring Plansand seen they didn't recommend M.K and MGM those days so If you do A.K or Epcot it should be finre although after reading what Grad night is I would say M.K. would be ok during the day.

 

[RainbowGirl]

Thanks everyone.

I knew the MK closed early 2 nights but I was wondering do the grads have access to the other parks and when do these groups start arriving? Do they only go to the late-night ticketed events or are they everywhere???? Do they offer extra hours during the week for regular park guests to offset the inconvenience? We may have the option of moving ahead a week to the first week of May and I'm wondering if that will be a quieter week (or do people wait until Grad nights are done and then plan their holiday so the week we're going will actually be quieter...). I know I'm probably overanalyzing a bit but after helping to guide our extended family into selecting this week and spending the $$ on the Poly I want a reasonably hassle-free week. If there's easy ways to avoid the grad festivities and grad crowds while we're there, I'm fine with that.

Thanks again!

 

[Sammy]

Oh no! I had no idea they started Grad nights that early. I thought they were in May. We'll be there the 22nd to the 29th as well......

 

[JerJan]

As a past participant of "GRAD NITE" we were bussed in from South Florida and I believe we had the park (just seniors from schools all over the state) from around 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM.

 

[tjmw2727]

My sil does grad night with her HS every year. Grad Night shouldn't affect most touring except that the MK will close early probably 5is on grad nights. Grads enter about 10pm for the separate event. Most are schools within driving distance so they don't stay the night. Some participate in events before the grad night but again those are exclusive to the grads. My sil said they have a private event at part of PI - where teens get to experience 1-2 of the clubs (dry of course) and dance etc. Another of the offerings this year was a sports party at the sports complex. Both these events end about 9:30 to get the grads to MK and the regular guests back.

So you will find MK closed on grad nights and you may find parts of PI, WOS and other venues closed. Honestly I doubt most people will notice anything other than MK closing early.

HTH
TJ

 

[english rose 47]

My sil does grad night with her HS every year. Grad Night shouldn't affect most touring except that the MK will close early probably 5is on grad nights. Grads enter about 10pm for the separate event. Most are schools within driving distance so they don't stay the night. Some participate in events before the grad night but again those are exclusive to the grads. My sil said they have a private event at part of PI - where teens get to experience 1-2 of the clubs (dry of course) and dance etc. Another of the offerings this year was a sports party at the sports complex. Both these events end about 9:30 to get the grads to MK and the regular guests back.

So you will find MK closed on grad nights and you may find parts of PI, WOS and other venues closed. Honestly I doubt most people will notice anything other than MK closing early.

HTH
TJ

That is how I figured it just avoid M.K that day or plan on hopping to another park in ythe evening. I think it may work to our advatage as others may avoid those weeks making crowd levels lower at least that's what I,'m hoping!!

 

[Magalex]

We were there during Grad nights 2005. It was our DS's first trip at the age of 4. So I was concern. But don't be worried. It did not affect our trip at all. It was a great vacation. We saw small amounts of teens during the day but that was it. MK closes at 7 on special days for the grads.

Have lots of fun! Crowd levels were not a problem at all.