Grad nights are we in trouble??

[skiingfast]

OP
yes..it's true....you're screwed
as a high school teacher (and one who has chaperoned a fair share of gradnights),.....my advice is to run.....run as far and as fast as you can

I don;t get the allure of gradnights for these kids (and I'm in the LA area) it is expensive as hell ($250!!!) the parks are ten times more crowded than the busiest summer day, and it is LOUD!! I just don't get it. Seems cheaper and easier just to take them during a normal day, especially since we are only 90 minutes away. $250!!

I think it was obvious I was referring to the times I had chaperoned, the prices were still too expensive then and I think my opinon was valid despite me talking about the "old"format.

and it wasn't you I referring to about calling me a liar

I never said such either, I merely tried to correct the poor information in your post.

Here is why it is not helpful at all.

yes..it's true....you're screwed

It's a different year and whole new format so you know little that is relevant to post on here about it.

I don;t get the allure of gradnights for these kids (and I'm in the LA area) it is expensive as hell ($250!!!)

Prices vary. It depend as you noted about the charter bus your school takes, that what the trip encompasses. Some come from very near on school buses. Some from far on planes and need hotels too. There are people with no excess money who just can't go. Many can't visit with there school friends without this oppurtunity. If you can go the price of just the party tickets is much cheaper than a ticket into DL on any other day.

the parks are ten times more crowded than the busiest summer day, and it is LOUD!!

Actually no. You probably were just in the wrong spot at the wrong time all of the time. The parks have a capacity that has been neared in Summer, and are smaller during the grad night. The teens tend to gather at the DJ dance party areas and E ticket attactions.

From what I've heard from reliable sources who are involved with the planning and staging of these parties, this year there will be many less guests per party.


Why worry about it at all until we know how it is going to happen, it's not a repeat of the past.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

They aren't closing early this year..no one panic!

There might be a bigger attendance of teens tho, the pp is correct.

We're going for 5 days..three of them are Grad Nites.

So just for my peace of mind, the parks will NOT be closing early to regular guests, correct? I will be going to DL Tuesday May 8, Wednesday May 9, and Friday May 11. We decided to go Friday rather than Thursday so we could see all the nighttime shows that would not be performed during the week.

 

[mommamonster]

We are heading to the Park on May 11th and 12th. I am prepared for more kids in the Park on Friday, but hoping the day will not be too bad. I will post when we get home and let everyone know how it was. (I am just happy to be making a little trip to get my DL fix )

Thank you! We are heading down at the end of May and last I checked 2 or 3 of our days are grad nights, so I'd love to know how it goes and what to expect.

 

[HydroGuy]

So just for my peace of mind, the parks will NOT be closing early to regular guests, correct? I will be going to DL Tuesday May 8, Wednesday May 9, and Friday May 11. We decided to go Friday rather than Thursday so we could see all the nighttime shows that would not be performed during the week.

Not sure what you mean by "closing early". The regular DL park hours on May 11 are posted as 8AM-11PM. So, no, the DL will not close before 11PM. Grad night guests will be allowed to stay later.

One year ago, on May 13, DL was open 9AM-Midnight. So, DL is closing one hour earlier this year than last year, but also opening an hour earlier.

 

[joelnkelly]

I think everyone is getting way to concerned with the possible crowds during grad nights. I am guessing since they are spreading grad nights out over several weeks and the limited # of tickets allowed each night will greatly reduce the amount of kids descending on the parks. I cant image that most of these kids will show up at 9am and stay until 3 am at night. I am guessing during the mornings and mid afternoons the parks will be regular crowds, but by night the crowds will pick up as the grads start to show up.

Has anyone ever gotten a solid # on how may tickets are being sold for each night for the grads?

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Not sure what you mean by "closing early". The regular DL park hours on May 11 are posted as 8AM-11PM. So, no, the DL will not close before 11PM. Grad night guests will be allowed to stay later.

One year ago, on May 13, DL was open 9AM-Midnight. So, DL is closing one hour earlier this year than last year, but also opening an hour earlier.

Hm, that's interesting. I'm all for 11PM. I think people are worried the parks will close at, say, 9 pm.

I'm also all for 8AM opening time.

 

[Jennifer2983]

I've read that they are limiting the number grad tickets to each event (hence the larger number of events). Im going for 4 days and have grad nights on the last 2. But those days are Wed and Thur which are usuall slower days so hopefully all the grad nights will do is make the crowds a little heavier than normal for a week day. But like pp said we really don't know for sure as its all speculation at this point.

That is good to know they r trying something diff. this year I hope it works out cause leaving the park early was really annoying

 

[Minuet888]

skiingfast -
how can you be correcting my "poor information" when I happen to know that it is correct, do you know what schools charge the students, the specific schools that I have taught at? do you? because if not I don't see how you can determine my information to be poor or incorrect.

And in terms of crowds, it is crowded, I seriously doubt I could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time all the time.

You say that you have heard this from people who plan these things but I have been there and experienced it myself.

I realize there is a new format this year and I have obviously said I am speaking from my PAST experiences.

Students themselves tell me that they didn't enjoy themselves as much as they thought they would because of crowds and the amount of money they spent on it!

I hope this new format does something about students finding their buses, several schools use the same charter company and LAIDLAW is a state wide school bus company it was difficult for students to remember and find out where their specific bus parked.


Now the school I am at now is charging $250 for the kids and we only live 90 minutes away from Disneyland is seems too expensive me for personally, as in my personal opinion, you know, the one I am entitled to have.


So someone tell me what this new format is and how it is supposed to make things better.

 

[coaches24]

skiingfast -
how can you be correcting my "poor information" when I happen to know that it is correct, do you know what schools charge the students, the specific schools that I have taught at? do you? because if not I don't see how you can determine my information to be poor or incorrect.

And in terms of crowds, it is crowded, I seriously doubt I could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time all the time.

You say that you have heard this from people who plan these things but I have been there and experienced it myself.

I realize there is a new format this year and I have obviously said I am speaking from my PAST experiences.

Students themselves tell me that they didn't enjoy themselves as much as they thought they would because of crowds and the amount of money they spent on it!

I hope this new format does something about students finding their buses, several schools use the same charter company and LAIDLAW is a state wide school bus company it was difficult for students to remember and find out where their specific bus parked.


Now the school I am at now is charging $250 for the kids and we only live 90 minutes away from Disneyland is seems too expensive me for personally, as in my personal opinion, you know, the one I am entitled to have.


So someone tell me what this new format is and how it is supposed to make things better.

I'm no expert on it but from what I gather from Google is that now they are limiting the number of grads per event but are holding more events to accommodate everyone. So the crowds of grads will be spread out to more days.

2nd the grads are getting all day park hoppers and the park hours will not be effected very much. Apparently before the parks would close a few hours early on Grad nites for the Grad party. Well this year that doesn't appear to be the case. The grad party itself is from 11 pm to 3 am. Apparently that's a shorter time than before (I know nothing about how grad nights used to work other than what I read are changed).

So fewer grads allowed at each event.
Parks don't close early or open late.
More grad night events through May and June.

The one piece of info we don't know that makes this so unknown is how many grads will be allowed. It would be much easier to predict if we knew how many used to be allowed to each grad night and how many will be there this year. Disney only says "fewer" grads at each party. What that actually means is the mystery.

 

[Mugglemama]

We'll be there on the 1st Grad Nite of this year, so I will post here that day to share my observations.

 

[yoyo93]

We'll be there on the 1st Grad Nite of this year, so I will post here that day to share my observations.

I think we'll all be eagerly awaiting what you have to say! At least I know I am, we'll only be down there for one night when there's a grad night, but we're really worried about crowds.

 

[Minuet888]

thanks for the info coasches, so they can stay at disney during the day then atually attend a "grad party" from 11pm to 3am or are they only allowed in the park from 11pm to 3am?

 

[skiingfast]

For people who need to know about Grad Nites, read the first post and then skip to post 38 for current information.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

 

[coaches24]

thanks for the info coasches, so they can stay at disney during the day then atually attend a "grad party" from 11pm to 3am or are they only allowed in the park from 11pm to 3am?

They get all day and the party is my understanding. Now how many schools come for all day is another unknown.

 

[2boysmom1998]

We were there last year during grad nites and I didn't think that it was too bad. The hotel we stayed at was full of rude teens but as far as visiting the park they didn't seem to really come until the evening when they would let them it. They closed early which was the worst part.

 

[coaches24]

We were there last year during grad nites and I didn't think that it was too bad. The hotel we stayed at was full of rude teens but as far as visiting the park they didn't seem to really come until the evening when they would let them it. They closed early which was the worst part.

Yea it's all changed this year. Grads get a park hopper good for the whole day. The parks won't close early (evidenced by the park hours being posted already for the first GNs). And the grad party is shorter (11-3).

 

[skiingfast]

We were there last year during grad nites and I didn't think that it was too bad. The hotel we stayed at was full of rude teens but as far as visiting the park they didn't seem to really come until the evening when they would let them it. They closed early which was the worst part.

Read my post.

Yea it's all changed this year. Grads get a park hopper good for the whole day. The parks won't close early (evidenced by the park hours being posted already for the first GNs). And the grad party is shorter (11-3).

Read my post.

For people who need to know about Grad Nites, read the first post and then skip to post 38 for current information.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

 

[coaches24]

Read my post.



Read my post.

Why? I was letting the pp know this years GN is not like last years.

 

[skiingfast]

Why? I was letting the pp know this years GN is not like last years.

To help you out.

The Grad Nite thread has details on the OP, and starting with post 39 more information since the changes to this years format.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

 

[coaches24]

To help you out.

The Grad Nite thread has details on the OP, and starting with post 39 more information since the changes to this years format.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2298400

Yea I know I read that long ago. Thanks though but the only thing I don't know about grad night that I'm worried about is how it will effect crowds (and I'm not that worried about that even). I'm just waiting for them to start so I can see some reports on how it goes.