"GRAD,NIGHTMARE. 2015

[ADLFAN]

There is no doubt that some adult guests will act worse than the grads!! Thank you for your view as a chaperone. We saw the drug dogs sniffing around DCA last year and were a bit shocked-especially considering the half hearted search in the bags of thousands of adult guests...

 

[lovebug33]

I've been during grad nights. Now, granted, we don't ride big people rides (I have little kids). The worst I saw was really loud kids trying to give each other piggy back rides. While I am sure some grads are rude and disrespectful, I have seen it in regular guests too. Last time we were there, there was darn near a fist fight over people cutting in the stroller tram line. I had to break up the two adults so they wouldn't punch each other in front of their children. So, unfortunately, there are rude people and I think the stress of Disneyland or the excitement can cause inappropriate behavior.

 

[jerseygal]

Thanks for posting. Was "thinking about " crowd levels etc for a possible future trip. Knew the answer but this solidified my decision. Won't be going to DL anytime during grad nights.

 

[calilou]

So I was planning WOC on the non-GN and Fantasmic/fireworks on the GN. Do people think I should try to swap these? Also, which night would be preferable to visit Carsland? I am planning to make full use of EE but did want to experience RSR at night. Many thanks!

Thanks to you both! Unfortunately, I can't switch my WOC night because no times for the BB dining package are available on my only non-Grad night. Thanks, that gives me an idea of the RSR pm fastpass situation.

I would still try to switch your nights. I suggest calling Disney Dining and explain the situation - that you've been made aware of the extreme crowded and often unruly environment during grad nights and you'd like to reschedule your reservation so that you're able to experience F! on a non grad night. Maybe they can help you? Ask for a a manager if necessary.

 

[calilou]

They started giving them all-day park hoppers a few years back, 2012, I believe. I had a similar experience to the OP that first year - bad language, line jumping, rude teens, condom on the ground.. Report your experience. Complain. Hopefully eventually Disney will stop this all-day foolishness and confine the grads to the all-night party instead.

We haven't stayed in the park on a grad night evening since that first year. But, catching a show, riding kiddie rides, scheduling a nice sit-down dinner - all of these would be ways to avoid obnoxious teens (hopefully).

Really?! That shocks me because we've been during this time the last two years on grad nights and never experienced what we did this trip. I just assumed it was a result of a change this year. But it must be more related to the anniversary going ons? Or maybe they increased the number of grad tickets given? Something was dramatically different!

 

[2boysmom1998]

I haven't packed yet and I did find out if I cancel today I will get a portion of my $$$ back but not all of the $1600 I've paid. I'm still undecided. It sounds just so unpleasant I don't think I want to deal with it.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

I haven't packed yet and I did find out if I cancel today I will get a portion of my $$$ back but not all of the $1600 I've paid. I'm still undecided. It sounds just so unpleasant I don't think I want to deal with it.

I would never cancel an entire vacation because of something as minor as grad night, but that's just me. Their presence is definitely noticeable, but they will not ruin your entire stay. It's not like they're going to be doing a line on splash moutain or something. Loud, rambunctious, perhaps a little foul-mouthed, but not dangerous. If you go in with an open mind, you will still have one heck of a great trip!

 

[jlyanks85]

There's smoking allowed in disneyland all around the park? I know in Disney World it's only allowed in designated areas.

Seems odd to me disney would allow kids to smoke around their parks like that and knowing teenagers throwing the buts on the ground.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I miss the days when Grad nights were over night. I know we complained about shortened Park hours but that doesn't seem so bad now!

I still don't get why they stopped doing Grad Nights in the middle of the night. It makes no sense. They did it for over 50 years!!! My step-dad graduated high school in 1964 and the grads had the whole park to themselves in the middle of the night. I just don't get it.

 

[2boysmom1998]

I still don't get why they stopped doing Grad Nights in the middle of the night. It makes no sense. They did it for over 50 years!!! My step-dad graduated high school in 1964 and the grads had the whole park to themselves in the middle of the night. I just don't get it.

I bet they changed it because they make more $$$ off the teens during the day. They buy more drinks, food and souvenirs if they are there all day and into the night.

 

[wenrob]

There's smoking allowed in disneyland all around the park? I know in Disney World it's only allowed in designated areas.

Seems odd to me disney would allow kids to smoke around their parks like that and knowing teenagers throwing the buts on the ground.

No, there are designated smoking areas.

I haven't packed yet and I did find out if I cancel today I will get a portion of my $$$ back but not all of the $1600 I've paid. I'm still undecided. It sounds just so unpleasant I don't think I want to deal with it.

When I scheduled mine we had one Grad night on a Wednesday and I figured no big deal, we'd schedule our sit down dinner that night and make it a point to do the little things. Then a Friday Grad Night was added (or I somehow missed it) which would be our last day. Add those to the Anniversery and a couple personal factors and I felt it could end up being a miserable trip. You can plan for it and you can make the best of it but I had to factor in each person in my family and their tolerance level. So, I pushed my trip a week forward. It's going to cost me a couple hundred bucks more but I can't tell you how relieved I feel having made that decision. Having read your posts, maybe it's the best decision for you as well. As mentioned, outlook has a lot to do with how things go and for me, I couldn't get past dreading it, so no matter how well things may have gone my head just wasn't in the right place to deal with it.

 

[coaches24]

There's smoking allowed in disneyland all around the park? I know in Disney World it's only allowed in designated areas.

Seems odd to me disney would allow kids to smoke around their parks like that and knowing teenagers throwing the buts on the ground.

No DL doesn't allow smoking all over the parks. They have some designated areas that it's allowed but that's it.

 

[starshine514]

Really?! That shocks me because we've been during this time the last two years on grad nights and never experienced what we did this trip. I just assumed it was a result of a change this year. But it must be more related to the anniversary going ons? Or maybe they increased the number of grad tickets given? Something was dramatically different!

Yup. I complained about it on another thread way back when. I think it was 2012, because I went in 2011 and didn't even notice the grads because they weren't allowed in all day. It's possible you just got a rowdier group this year, they may have increased the number of grad night tickets, or the parks are busier in general and it felt much busier with the grads. This is the first year that I've noticed grad nights listed on the calendar. This may have made more groups realize that they could come in the whole day - so more may have taken advantage of the option.

I bet they changed it because they make more $$$ off the teens during the day. They buy more drinks, food and souvenirs if they are there all day and into the night.

This, and they don't stay open all night. So, cheaper for staffing overnight. It also allows them to close and have more time for ride maintenance before they reopen.

 

[taffy]

I would never cancel, yes some teenagers can cause a little trouble but we should not tar them all with the same brush as many are very respectful and mazing young adults. I do laugh on here when many adults talk about holding spots in line for there families but when kids do it they are cutting in line. The hypocrisy is fantastic.

Ultimately go and have a great time. If you feel things are not god then always let a cast member know, we often look for the ones in suits as they usually have radios and can act on things pretty quickly.

 

[allsaintsatx]

We went to DLR during 2 separate Grad Nights (2011 & 2013) and it wasn't a problem. It felt crowded but only because it was the summer and that's how it is. Honestly, it made me kinda jealous that so many teenagers wanted to be in Disneyland and most were wearing some sort of Disney attire: t-shirts, backpacks, ears etc etc. We're from Texas and you NEVER see 18 year olds wearing Disney shirts!! They're too "cool"!! So it was endearing to know that these kids chose to spend their free time at DLR and not the parking lot behind the Gas N' Sip!

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

My DH and I were just there and they had 2 grad nights during our stay. Was it Crowded? YES! BUT we did not have any more problems than usual, occasionally you get a rude person, not always teen...sometimes ADULTS. I don't think we should blame ALL teens when it is probably a very small percentage. JMO!

 

[arichau]

My DH and I were just there and they had 2 grad nights during our stay. Was it Crowded? YES! BUT we did not have any more problems than usual, occasionally you get a rude person, not always teen...sometimes ADULTS. I don't think we should blame ALL teens when it is probably a very small percentage. JMO!

This has always been my experience and my attitude with Grad Nights. I'll take Grads over adults personally. I agree with everyone that if you had a bad experience you should report it to Guest Services - but I don't think people should be so negative about the idea of possibly maybe having a bad experience. If you go on a trip expecting the worse I'm sure you'll find it.

 

[ButterflyKisses77]

No DL doesn't allow smoking all over the parks. They have some designated areas that it's allowed but that's it.

Ya but it sounds like the kids were smoking all over the park and nothing was being done about it. This Grad Night thing has gotten so out of control its ridiculous! They need to either cancel it or get MUCH more security in the parks while they are there.

 

[coaches24]

I completely disagree. I think people blame grad nights for any problem they have whether it was really grads or not. I think grad nights are just fine and they are great for the kids who IMO have earned it after 13 years of school. The issues IMO are very small and isolated and completely blown out of proportion by most.

One group of unruly kids on one night somehow turns into "grad nights are horrible" and "they should cancel all grad nights".

I just can't agree in any way. most of the kids at grad nights are very well behaved and respectful and most of the grad night celebrations go off without a problem.

I have had far more problems with adults acting like jerks on normal park days than I have with teenagers on grad nights. I'm not calling for the parks to cancel normal park days because some adults don't know how to act. I just think that mentality is far more of a problem than anything the kids do.

 

[wenrob]

Ya but it sounds like the kids were smoking all over the park and nothing was being done about it. This Grad Night thing has gotten so out of control its ridiculous! They need to either cancel it or get MUCH more security in the parks while they are there.

The OP said they were smoking, giving the impression it was all over the parks but I've seen people make a huge fuss about people smoking as they walk by the designated smoking areas. Part of the problem is they are making the areas smaller and smaller so if you get a group of say, 10 grads over there smoking added to the other guests who are there it's going to give the impression of a "pack of kids smoking everywhere." The OP would have to come back and clarify that for us but in all the many trips I've been on including some of the busiesiest (premiers, ride openings, New Years, marathons, school groups and Grad Nights) I've only ever seen one or two rogue smokers and they were shut down pretty quick. CMs don't suddenly just quit doing their jobs because the park is crazy busy.

And on that point I'd like to clarify that I didn't push my vacation because it's a bunch of teenagers. My own kid attended a Grad Night and I know her and her friends to be a group of really great kids. I'm fairly confident that a trip to Disney didn't suddenly turn them into a pack of foaming at the mouth crazy people. I changed my dates because of the individual tolerance levels for crowds and waits combined with a couple of personal issues particular to my family. The last thing I need is give my DH a reason not to go again. One night would've been fine, two would be pushing my luck.