Grad Night & Disney Ruin Magic Kingdom Stay

[Pinnie]

I think 4:00am is ridiculous for loud music. Would you put up with that in your neighborhood?

WDW is NOT a neighborhood. It is THEME PARK! If you book a room because it is close and convenient to a THEME PARK, expect noise! Are they supposed to turn the noise down at "naptime" too?

Sheesh.

pinnie

 

[mjmcca]

I read the entire thread and some of his posts on other boards.

--He didn't ask to move after the first loud night.
--He claims he didn't see or didn't get the note that other guests have said was placed under their doors. In other forums he mentioned the note and in his letter to Disney he asks for a copy of it. The only question is if the CM forget his room or if it got discarded as junk.
--By inference he stated he wasn't asking for any compensation but just posting to warn others, yet he's asking for 2 nights free and already turned down a 25% discount. He thanked the posters who, incorrectly, stated Peter wasn't asking Disney for anything.
--He complained about an extra fireworks showing at midnight. The noise from that isn't any more than from a thunderstorm. Sounds like his family are light sleepers and big complainers.
--He said you could hear the music even wearing earplugs.
--He is the only poster who said the noise was so bad they couldn't sleep. The Contemporary is pretty soundproof.
--He posted that other guests had also signed his letter but he later retracted that claim.

TAKE A LOOK AT HIS WEBSITE. Peter likes to complain.

IF HE HAD ONLY STAYED ONE night I'd give his posts some credibility but come on. After one bad night he didn't ask to be moved. I don't know exactly how grad night was announced but others got notices. I'm sure the stages were still set up.

Thank you all I am saying is his story doesnt add up.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

TAKE A LOOK AT HIS WEBSITE. Peter likes to complain.

The guy's blog is nothing but complaints.

The more I read, the more I truly believe this guy really is PaulT's evil twin. And that's saying a lot!

 

[DebbieB]

WDW is NOT a neighborhood. It is THEME PARK! If you book a room because it is close and convenient to a THEME PARK, expect noise! Are they supposed to turn the noise down at "naptime" too?

Sheesh.

pinnie

No, I would not expect them to keep the noise down during the day. But you would not expect noise like that in the middle of night, if it was as the OP described. Fireworks at midnight is one thing, constant loud music until 4:00am is another.

 

[Pinnie]

constant loud music until 4:00am is another.

That is subjective. I have a feeling the OP is trying to get something for nothing.

pinnie

 

[BCV23]

WOW...I had no idea they SPEND the eve @ WDW! Not even CLOSE to the manner in which this annual event plays-out here in Southern Cali each spring. DD is taking part in this rite of passage at the end of next month, and here are the details of their GRAD NIGHT @ DISNEYLAND:

At the end of the BBQ, @ approximately 8:30 pm, all students participating in the DISNEYLAND GRAD NIGHT event shall board the two commerical buses (w/chaperones) rented specifically for this evening. After a short transport (about an hour by way of bus), the students will arrive at DISNEYLAND for a late-night/early morning memorable time shared in the MAGIC. At approximately 5:30 am, the students will board the bus for a ride back to the school. Exhausted (expectedly), they will enjoy a Post-GRAD NIGHT catered breakfast inside the hall, and proceed to their homes for some much-needed REST!

Students are NOT permitted to drive themselves to the event. ONLY Senior students & school chaperones are permitted in Disneyland for this event. Students are NOT permitted to spend the evening in Anaheim, and MUST return on the bus to the school. No parents/family members may attend this event, or meet with students before/after this event.

The rules which were outlined during a mandatory meeting last Wednesday eve, were more strict than I realized! None of the following will be permitted/tolerated:

*purses, bags, fanny packs, cell phones, sports team shirts, any school/group/club-affiliated clothing, hats/beanies/wigs, baggy or torn clothing not in good repair, inappropriate or revealing clothes, shoes with skate wheels are not allowed, laser pointers, weapons, knives, chemical irritants of any kind, prescription medicine (with the exception of an inhaler after it has been checked by medical personnel) must be given to a chaperone, over-the-counter medicines, tobacco products of any kind, and related materials (lighters, matches, pipes) etc.

All belongings must be safely stored in rented lockers with the exception of cash and a camera. There were even personal items listed such as eye drops, sunglasses (after all--it's at night) and lip balm which can NOT be carried by ANYONE. If anyone is caught violating any rule, the item(s) will be confiscated and they will be escorted out of the park and onto the bus, where the driver is resting (waiting). If warranted, the student may even be arrested/charged for the violation. They do NOT tolerate any messing around.

As DebbieDoo wrote, I presumed this policy was standard across the boards (thus blanketing all the parks, etc). It would be impossible for ANY student from DD's school to SPEND the NIGHT in any resort, unless she returned to the park AFTER she had returned to the school on the bus with the class. On top of that, I believe most of these kids will be EXHAUSTED...and not in any condition to PARTY! They are going to want to SLEEP. LOL. It's comforting to know that my DD will not be bothering or even interacting with any other guests during this event. Perhaps WDW should implement this strategy as well.

*As far as the "noise" from the parks after hours? Both Disneyland and Disneyworld are frequently "Testing" NEW Firework shows, and other attractions (standard maintenance and upkeep). Therefore, we have heard noises and loud booms many times over the years while staying on property. It's never consistent, repetitive, or even lasts long enough to bother us.

Actually, dreamflight99, your description of grad night at Disneyland is just like those I've read about grad nights at WDW. I don't think the grads can access any hotels.

 

[disneylizzy]

Yes, Lewisc my thoughts exactly. The OP is a big complainer. Not only did he have a miserable time on his vacation, but he will make himself (and prob. everybody around him) miserable for the next month and half complaining. I don't believe him about the noise and I think is it wasn't grad night, it would be something else.

 

[Minnie1156]

Didn't you ever graduate? Think of the grads. It is just one night!!!

 

[woody1967]

The easiest thing in life to do, is to complain. Lets look at this for a quick moment. He is on VACATION, at WDW, at a nice resort, watching fireworks, and he is COMPLAINING. I just don't see it. There are literally BILLIONS of people in this world who would die to trade places with him. They are living in cardboard boxes wondering where they are going to get food for their families (how much sleep do they get?). Some are wondering how do they get to the market to get food without getting blown up by a car bomb (how much sleep do they get?). Some in this country are by their childs hospital bed watching them die of cancer (how much sleep do they get?). My point is this: It is easy to get comfortable in our own situations and only see things from our perspectives, and feel we are getting the short end of the stick. Instead of complaing, be happy with what you have and know there is allways someone who is worse off than you and would change places with you in a heartbeat. Life is to short to complain. Enjoy life and BE HAPPY.

 

[DawnCt1]

Didn't you ever graduate? Think of the grads. It is just one night!!!

Nah, it would mean that the "world" would have to be shared with someone else.....and perhaps during nap time.

 

[Pinnie]

The easiest thing in life to do, is to complain. Lets look at this for a quick moment. He is on VACATION, at WDW, at a nice resort, watching fireworks, and he is COMPLAINING. I just don't see it. There are literally BILLIONS of people in this world who would die to trade places with him. They are living in cardboard boxes wondering where they are going to get food for their families (how much sleep do they get?). Some are wondering how do they get to the market to get food without getting blown up by a car bomb (how much sleep do they get?). Some in this country are by their childs hospital bed watching them die of cancer (how much sleep do they get?). My point is this: It is easy to get comfortable in our own situations and only see things from our perspectives, and feel we are getting the short end of the stick. Instead of complaing, be happy with what you have and know there is allways someone who is worse off than you and would change places with you in a heartbeat. Life is to short to complain. Enjoy life and BE HAPPY.

AMEN, Woody

Beautiful, truthful post!

pinnie

 

[DawnCt1]

The easiest thing in life to do, is to complain. Lets look at this for a quick moment. He is on VACATION, at WDW, at a nice resort, watching fireworks, and he is COMPLAINING. .

I can see complaining if you receive poor service, poor value, a poor meal, if the company was unresponsive to a complaint that was legitimate, a rude cast member, uncontrolled guests that the hotel refused to do anything about, but an event that it operating within the venue delivering what was promised to the group that purchased the private event which is producing some noise, that I can't see. Most kids, when they are tired can sleep through absolutely anything. Just take note of all of the kids that fall asleep in their strollers at park closing, parades and fireworks. If they can't, perhaps those children are too young to travel.

 

[Chuck S]

You know, there are private ticket events all though the year at WDW. Some are offical "Disney" events like MVMCP & MNSSHP. Others are corporate events rented by private people or corporations. I would not expect Disney reservations or hotel front desks to inform me of every private convention group that is having an after hours private function. For one thing, those folks renting parks have a right to not make their presence or plans public for any number of reasons, including security. So, should Disney then make specific distinctions between corporate private events and things like Grad Night and MVMCP? I see a potential for problems if the CMs have access to that sort of info, "Oops, sorry , I know your private party wasn't supposed to announced...sorry the CM memo was in error, or the CM didn't see the privacy notation, or the CM had their own agenda because they don't agree with your group, etc." Multiple privacy policies would not work well for a venue as large as WDW, and would leave Disney open to potential lawsuits.

Other convention towns, like Las Vegas, certainly don't tell you everything that is going on when someone calls to book a hotel room, why should Disney?

 

[Ladyhawke10]

The easiest thing in life to do, is to complain. Lets look at this for a quick moment. He is on VACATION, at WDW, at a nice resort, watching fireworks, and he is COMPLAINING. I just don't see it. There are literally BILLIONS of people in this world who would die to trade places with him. They are living in cardboard boxes wondering where they are going to get food for their families (how much sleep do they get?). Some are wondering how do they get to the market to get food without getting blown up by a car bomb (how much sleep do they get?). Some in this country are by their childs hospital bed watching them die of cancer (how much sleep do they get?). My point is this: It is easy to get comfortable in our own situations and only see things from our perspectives, and feel we are getting the short end of the stick. Instead of complaing, be happy with what you have and know there is allways someone who is worse off than you and would change places with you in a heartbeat. Life is to short to complain. Enjoy life and BE HAPPY.

My sentiments exactly. I think that also comes from a sense of not being comfortable in your own skin (I'm saying this generally, not directing this at OP); that's what causes the compulsion to look elsewhere to either criticize, make yourself miserable (by focusing on this type of junk) or becoming overly sensitive to outside stimuli (i.e. other's standards, service, treatment) to compensate for feeling basically unhappy internally (we are inundated with cultural material that gives us unhealthy messages about ourselves). I think the best remedy is to remember to feel grateful as much as possible. At least that's what works best for me, and what I try to remind myself to do

 

[d4est]

A lot of wasted energy here...complaining about complaining...

 

[DawnCt1]

A lot of wasted energy here...complaining about complaining...

Heck, its a rainy day. What else is there to do.

 

[castleri]

My DGD and a number of her friends will be among those grads who are there tonight. They are not allowed to leave the park until the end of the party. At that time since they are from Rhode Island they will be transported back to ASM to finish packing to leave for the airport at 6:30am tomorrow morning. Yes the music is probably loud but so far in not one resort at WDW have I had anything so loud that it caused thumping in the room. Not even when we were at BCV in a room opposite the garden area in England. The beatles band was practicing and sometimes performing and the only way to hear it was with the door to the balcony open. It seems to me that I have never seen a compalnt about the noise that happens on NYE- Like many have said why not just ask to be moved the next day so you didn't have repeat problems. The good thing is your children are so young they will never remember what a lousy time they had - unless you remind them. Maybe some day they will be the ones there celebrating that wonderful achievement of graduating. The students from here have saved for a long time (some of them several years) to be able to attend this event and part of the fun and appeal is the all night nature of it. There are students from all over the country there. If you had made it clear at check in that a quiet room for the needs of your children was the most important thing they may have explained about the noise you might hear if you really wanted that park side view for the fireworks and then given you an option of quiet or fireworks.

 

[DawnCt1]

My DGD and a number of her friends will be among those grads who are there tonight. They are not allowed to leave the park until the end of the party.

If you talk to your DGD, be sure to ask her to instruct the band to turn the volumn down at midnight....grumpy guests may be sleeping. Seriously, I hope she has a wonderful time.

 

[Talking Hands]

I would have been annoyed too Chapel Hill!!
Why doesn't Disney put the grad night participants in a certain area/hotel and not put other families near? It's not like they don't have enough hotel rooms and I'm sure they know every year so they can "hold" a block or building or two, three however many from their past experiences would need. It sounds like it has been going on for years, HELLO!!!!
Tess

Most Grad Night participants come only to Grad night. They do not stay on property. In fact, most come up on buses for it and go home on buses after it is over.

 

[barb45]

How awful for you. I too am a light sleeper and even though are children are older and can sleep through anything, I would find this totally unacceptable. I would think that it is not too difficult for Disney to be able to warn people when they are booking (not when they are checking in and it's too late) that there could be excessive noise due to grad night. Like someone said that kind of information could pop up on the screen when the reservationist plugs in the dates you are requesting and then you could choose a different hotel. I also don't see the need for rock bands to be playing until 4:00am - it's just inconsiderate! I hope your complaints help improve the system. Thanks.