Grad Nights - what should I expect??

[danjulia]

We are doing our first Universal trip on April 25 & 26 and I just discovered that those are the same nights as Grad Night parties. I have us checking out of BWV (we're DVC members) and moving over to Hard Rock 4/25 so that we'd have FOL for Fri and Sat. Other than the obvious (both parks close at 6), how crazy will the area be? We plan on eating both nights in Citywalk restaurants - will there be spillover Grad kids in Citywalk? Also, will there be any noise issues over at Hard Rock.

Any feedback would be very much appreciated!!

Sue

 

[wwessing]

I read that there is a pre-party in CityWalk for grad nights that is sold out. I imagine CityWalk with be crazy with teenagers those nights.

I have no idea how many of those teenagers will be staying at HRH, or the other on-site hotels, but their "package", if they purchased one, is for off site hotels.

I'm only guessing here. . . but knowing how teenagers like to sleep in, I'd think you would be safe until late afternoon, early evening when their scheduled activities begin in earnest.

There will likely be folks here who have been around on these type of activities, so will have some actual experience. . . I only know what I read about these activities and my experience raising teens.

Hope this helps.

 

[FireandIce]

My nephew was there last year for grad bash, and he told me they shut the park down just for them. I would say it will be very busy, and although most of the deals are for offsite hotels,they stayed at the RPH. It will probably be very busy at Citywalk when you combine the grad kids with the emptying of the parks at 6.

I have stayed at the Hard Rock more than a handful of times, and I have never, and I mean never, had a noise issue there, and I was there when they had a cheerleading competition. There is no noise issue at the Hard Rock, you will love it.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I used to work at IOA (Hulk Coaster) about 2-3 years back. All I remember of Grad Bash was thousands of high school seniors, extremely loud, tons of bands, and Citywalk was SWAMPED. You have to imagine the amount of kids that didn't buy tickets or the parents of those kids waiting and partying on their own terms.

2 hour lines on about, oh, every ride. I think the height for Hulk was 2.5 to 3 hour line.

About 1 or 2 am the rides closed and some schools took the back route to the buses and some... swamped citywalk. But I think they have finally set it up so that the Grad Bash buses all take the back route into the park and are instantly in IOA (not stepping onto CityWalk)... I hope.

If you are visiting during that period of time then I regret that you will run into alot of loud and rowdy crowds, shorter park hours for yourself, and all of the benefits that the grads get (such as live performances) are in the park when you will not be allowed in yourself.

But hey, do as much during the day as possible. Start early because you probably won't see the influx start until about 4:00 - 6:00.

 

[danjulia]

Thanks for your replies...it's about what I feared. We're early park people so we should be able to get all the rides we wanted (plus we're staying at HRH so we will have Express Pass all day both days).

It's a bummer about CityWalk though...I wanted to spend both of the nights there (Margaritaville one of the nights; hadn't figured out the other). I may still try for Margaritaville in hopes that JB doesn't appeal to many 17 y/o's then eat the other night at one of the resort restaurants. Any recommendations?

Thanks again...Sue

 

[wwessing]

double post

 

[wwessing]

Thanks for your replies...it's about what I feared. We're early park people so we should be able to get all the rides we wanted (plus we're staying at HRH so we will have Express Pass all day both days).

It's a bummer about CityWalk though...I wanted to spend both of the nights there (Margaritaville one of the nights; hadn't figured out the other). I may still try for Margaritaville in hopes that JB doesn't appeal to many 17 y/o's then eat the other night at one of the resort restaurants. Any recommendations?

Thanks again...Sue

I feel ya. . . we would be bummed too if in your situation. It seems that MVille is not likely to be too packed with teens, but more their parents who are waiting on them. I don't think part of their pre-party activities include Mville, but you might call and ask. Maybe you could go for an early dinner, like 5:00 before the crowds really swell then spend the rest of the evening around hrh pool. Again, I think if I were you, I would call Margaritaville and ask if they are part of preparty activities and what they are expecting that night.

Here's the other thing. . . you will have your room key which should give you priority seating.

I've heard good things in a recent tr about Mama Della's at PBH being a favorite. I believe that is the only resort restaurant we plan to visit, I think most of the restaurants at the resorts are pretty good. For us, it's just that all the other meals will be in the parks, citywalk or off site, but we probably could be just as happy with eating only at the resort restaurants. There are menus with prices on allears.net for just about every restaurant if you are interested.

 

[Metro West]

I used to work at IOA (Hulk Coaster) about 2-3 years back. All I remember of Grad Bash was thousands of high school seniors, extremely loud, tons of bands, and Citywalk was SWAMPED. You have to imagine the amount of kids that didn't buy tickets or the parents of those kids waiting and partying on their own terms.

2 hour lines on about, oh, every ride. I think the height for Hulk was 2.5 to 3 hour line.

About 1 or 2 am the rides closed and some schools took the back route to the buses and some... swamped citywalk. But I think they have finally set it up so that the Grad Bash buses all take the back route into the park and are instantly in IOA (not stepping onto CityWalk)... I hope.

If you are visiting during that period of time then I regret that you will run into alot of loud and rowdy crowds, shorter park hours for yourself, and all of the benefits that the grads get (such as live performances) are in the park when you will not be allowed in yourself.

But hey, do as much during the day as possible. Start early because you probably won't see the influx start until about 4:00 - 6:00.

Wow...kinda sounds like an HHN sized crowd.

double post

 

[goofie4goofy]

We have been to USO during Grad Bash nights for the past few years - also again this year. To be honest, I didn't even notice. During the day the parks were quiet. The parks close early for Grad Bash and only participants in Grad Bash are allowed into the parks. There are plenty of places to eat that night other than City Walk. You might want to try The Kitchen for dinner which is in the HRH. You will not have any noise at the HRH from Grad Bash from the parks.

I just booked our trip to USA 2 weeks ago and there was plenty of availability at the PBH - including a free LP upgrade to a suite, which I am never able to get unless I book 4 months out. I did not take it though, we opted for the Club level

I wouldn't worry about it. It's a closed park kind of thing that if you did not know it ws going on you would not notice. You can go to the Universal website and see all the info about the bash. Aslo I don't think that the participants are allowed into the parks until 7PM. The overnight package for GB are for "near Universal" resorts so the USO resorts are not included.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Wow...kinda sounds like an HHN sized crowd.

They're not that bad. Rock the Universe = similar size crowds, but they are ROWDY.

 

[danjulia]

We have been to USO during Grad Bash nights for the past few years - also again this year. To be honest, I didn't even notice. During the day the parks were quiet. The parks close early for Grad Bash and only participants in Grad Bash are allowed into the parks. There are plenty of places to eat that night other than City Walk. You might want to try The Kitchen for dinner which is in the HRH. You will not have any noise at the HRH from Grad Bash from the parks.


Thanks for the information - that makes me feel a lot better!!

 

[callahanjulie10]

I work at a high school and we take our seniors down every year for Grad Nite and Grad Bash. The way it works is that once the pre party is over, the kids are taken into US/IOA. The parks are shut down to the public and the kids aren't allowed to leave the parks. They open a back area connecting the 2 parks. Parents don't pick their kids up or drop off. Buses drop off at the back entrances.