Grad Night(Is it more trouble than what it is worth?)

[mystic_storm]

Last Saturday my wife and I were at the Magic Kingdom. It was the morning after grad night. There was a lot of damage both inside and outside the attractions. On the walls of the inside the fort in Pirates of the Caribbean there was at least 7 or 8 carved "Class of 2003". Most of the damage I saw did not exist two days before. After talking with security, I was completely shocked with how much destruction kids between the ages of 16 and 18 cause during Grad Nights. I realize WDW has a strict policy to be friendly, but I believe something needs to be done.

 

[nativetxn]

Well, my goodness, that is disappointing to hear.

I've never been at WDW during the time when they are having grad nights. I didn't realize the youg people caused so much damage.

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Disney apparently thinks it is worth it or they would cancel these events.

I'm really glad I don't have to be in the MK when all of this is going on

 

[Safari Steve]

Minor vandalism occurs each year at Grad Nites. It also occurs nearly as often during normal park operation. The Grad Nite damage will be repaired in due course (easy fixes are done immediately, but larger things -ie carved messages will be taken care of after the last GN on 5/9).
I have seen many similar instances of vandalism during normal operation, perpetrated by adults as well. The most common is people chipping away at the sidewalks on Main St. to "take home a piece of WDW"... Highly discouraged, but that's why you see cement patches in the corners of sidewalk panels every now and then. Pretty lame, huh? Grad Nites will continue until they are no longer "worth it", and currently they are quite "worth it."

 

[tonyk]

I was in the MK Sunday morning (May 4) and have to say I was worried at first that the park might look abused. But considering the CMs had less time to clean what was probably a bigger mess than usual, I was very impressed at the overall condition of the park. If I didn't know there was a grad night Saturday night, I wouldn't have noticed any difference (granted though, I did not go to Pirates that day). I did notice a couple of coke and water bottles that had been tossed in hard to reach areas of Thunder Mountain and near the bridge by Splash Mountain.

A side question: what are grad nights like? I could hear the rock music from the beach at the Poly. Not so loud as to disturb, but loud enough to recognize the songs. Is there anything else different about grad nights vs. an e-night?

 

[Samirella]

...and who could forget the story about the year Mickey got thrown into the moat by the kids enjoying Grad Night. Or seniors enjoying "adult" behavior on dark rides like HM or the People Mover...

The difference between Grad Night and E Ride Night is the popular music groups that perform for the students.

 

[Safari Steve]

Grad Nites are very different from the E-ride Nights.
1) live bands
2) DJs in Adventureland and Fantasyland
3) Movies are shown twice nightly in the old Walt Disney Story Theater.
4) The event lasts from 11pm-5am (with pre-event "blast-off" parties starting at 8:30 or so)
5) Comedy Warehouse-style improv shows at the Diamond Horseshoe
6) More attractions are open.
7) There's a dress code.
8) It costs more.
9) longer lines.
10) The character interaction is much more limited and more highly supervised (you can get a photo with Mickey and Minnie or Goofy and Pluto in Town Sq.)
11) There are a lot more Orange County Sherrif's Deputies in the park.
12) Special fireworks show.

How is it similar to E-ride Nights?
1) takes place at MK
2) takes place after park closing.

 

[tonyk]

Thanks for all the info Steve. Very interesting.

 

[erinch]

when I graduated from High school in '76 in S.Cal. , girls were required to wear pantsuits and boys leisure suits or ties and jackets. (gotta love the '70s!)

The ride where you got shrunk down to the size of an atom was always "broken" on grad nite.

 

[cressy]

What are the requirements? Do you have to do it through your school?
There were lots of grad night guests in the parks when we visited April 25-we observed only "typical" teenage behavior-rambunctious, but certainly not offensive or out of hand. Justs lots of young people having a great time, which we enjoyed seeing. We thought how fun it would be for our girls and their classmates to plan such a cool trip!(4 and 7 years away- but would have to be planned pretty far ahead of time-a great thing for kids to save their $$ for).
How can we find out the details?