Help me with my schedule! (2-3 days in May, trying to avoid grad night crowds...)

[Bebella]

So a little background, we're a family of 4...DS will be 3, DD will be 17 months

We're visiting my cousins in San Diego the week of May 21-28 (they have APs and will be with us...family of 5, DD is 5, DS & DD twins will be 2 months old) and have decided to visit DL & DCA May 22-24th, staying at Best Western Stovall's Inn...So we'll be driving up from SD (our original plan had been to visit DL later in the week, but because of my cousin's work schedule, we need to do it earlier...otherwise, we would have flown into LA and flown out of SD to limit travel time to and from DL).

We've never been, and will most likely not go back (for awhile, if ever...since WDW is cheaper and more convenient for us in the Midwest)...so we want to maximize our time and experiences...

I've just checked the grad night schedule and our ONLY full day there (May 23rd) is a grad night... Which totally puts a damper on my original plan, as it was (we will have 3 day park hoppers)...

May 22nd Arrive early afternoon, check-in...Evening at DCA
May 23rd - DL all day
May 24th - DCA before we leave in the early afternoon

Our plan is to take a break for naptime and some pool downtime on the 23rd before heading back to the park for the evening...which being a Monday night, I assumed would be slightly less busy, but now being a grad night...I'm pretty sure that's out...Aside from moving our trip back a day and doing May 23-25th, so that the 24th (a non-grad night) would be our full day...what can I do to make this work the best??

Are LA kids out of school by May, so they can attend a Monday grad night all day/evening? Or would they not show up until later? Don't they have school on Tuesday?

Anyway...thanks for any input and tips you can provide!!

 

[sherilaine]

The actual Gradnite party occurs after park closing in DCA from 10PM to 2AM - however, the grads do receive a full day PH so I would suggest you start off very early on your full day visiting DL in the morning and then after you do your nap/break return to DCA since you do have Park Hoppers. The grads will more than likely be in DL during that time since they have DCA to themselves after it closes. If you want to see fireworks though, I'd do your first evening in DL since there is the parade and fireworks and it's open later, although not sure how late you would be there with younger kids.
Gradnites run from mid May to mid June as many schools in the country participate, and I am sure the schools accommodate the students travelling to this event.

 

[agamble]

Curious about your tickets. You said you were buying park hoppers, but then you don't mention hopping between parks in your plan above. If you plan to only do one park each day then don't pay the extra $50 for the hopper feature.

The grad nights are not that big of a deal since they no longer close the park for them. Generally the locals stay away during the grad nights. So you're trading local visitors for grad visitors. Many of the schools come from far away. So they may not show up until later in the day. Some could show up earlier, but they have to come as a school, not as individual students.

With your little ones you'll likely be spending a lot of time doing kid friendly attractions, which aren't as big a draw to the teens anyway. Just get to the park before it opens and do as much as you can. Use your FPs with the big rides you want to ride, and don't forget about rider swapping.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

I went unknowingly during grad night once and during the day it wasn't bad. Just I think I remember there being a certain area closed off for the grads or something. I don't remember which area but do remember it not affecting me at all.

 

[Bebella]

Curious about your tickets. You said you were buying park hoppers, but then you don't mention hopping between parks in your plan above. If you plan to only do one park each day then don't pay the extra $50 for the hopper feature.

The grad nights are not that big of a deal since they no longer close the park for them. Generally the locals stay away during the grad nights. So you're trading local visitors for grad visitors. Many of the schools come from far away. So they may not show up until later in the day. Some could show up earlier, but they have to come as a school, not as individual students.

With your little ones you'll likely be spending a lot of time doing kid friendly attractions, which aren't as big a draw to the teens anyway. Just get to the park before it opens and do as much as you can. Use your FPs with the big rides you want to ride, and don't forget about rider swapping.

Should have mentioned that they are military park hopper tickets, so they are cheaper than a standard 3 day ticket

And thanks for your advice! My husband and I will definitely take advantage of rider swap!

 

[Bebella]

The actual Gradnite party occurs after park closing in DCA from 10PM to 2AM - however, the grads do receive a full day PH so I would suggest you start off very early on your full day visiting DL in the morning and then after you do your nap/break return to DCA since you do have Park Hoppers. The grads will more than likely be in DL during that time since they have DCA to themselves after it closes. If you want to see fireworks though, I'd do your first evening in DL since there is the parade and fireworks and it's open later, although not sure how late you would be there with younger kids.
Gradnites run from mid May to mid June as many schools in the country participate, and I am sure the schools accommodate the students travelling to this event.

Thanks! First night in DL for the parade would definitely be better for the kids...we'll see how they do about staying late for fireworks ...luckily it's a quick 10-15 minute walk back to our hotel so we can always leave if needed!

 

[figment_jii]

Our plan is to take a break for naptime and some pool downtime on the 23rd before heading back to the park for the evening...which being a Monday night, I assumed would be slightly less busy, but now being a grad night...I'm pretty sure that's out...Aside from moving our trip back a day and doing May 23-25th, so that the 24th (a non-grad night) would be our full day...what can I do to make this work the best??

I've been during a Grad Nite and, personally, I wouldn't re-do my plans because of a Grad Nite. As mentioned, you might notice more high school aged groups than what would normally be seen on a school day, but I didn't feel like it was an overwhelming amount. The actual Grad Nite happens in DCA after the park closes to general public (they don't shorten the hours at DCA for Grad Nite, so in that way there really isn't a big impact). The kids are, for the most part, like any group of teenagers; you'll get some that are rowdy, but most seem to be fairly well-behaved.

Are LA kids out of school by May, so they can attend a Monday grad night all day/evening? Or would they not show up until later? Don't they have school on Tuesday?

Grad Nites are not limited to LA area kids. Some of the attendees will be "local" but others will be coming from a distance. Most of the major Southern California School districts appear to still be in session until early June.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

Grad Night normally happens while the students are still in school. They get excused for Grad Night, and I live in Nevada and had a chance to go to Disneyland Grad Night, so like Figment said it's not just LA kids.

 

[Minniekins]

I found that there will be a grad night on May 13th, our last night there, and really unsure what to expect from grad nights. No idea how they work at all and how they will effect our last night in DL. I know we'll want to see fireworks and ptn, and, well, I still have a lot of planning to do, lol, but hoping grad nights won't interfere much. Is that possible?

 

[sherilaine]

I found that there will be a grad night on May 13th, our last night there, and really unsure what to expect from grad nights. No idea how they work at all and how they will effect our last night in DL. I know we'll want to see fireworks and ptn, and, well, I still have a lot of planning to do, lol, but hoping grad nights won't interfere much. Is that possible?

May the 13th is a Friday, ooooh lucky! But that means the park will be crowded regardless of grad night. Technically the grads can see PTN and Fireworks before heading to DCA for their party but not sure how much you will notice them affecting crowds.

 

[Minniekins]

May the 13th is a Friday, ooooh lucky! But that means the park will be crowded regardless of grad night. Technically the grads can see PTN and Fireworks before heading to DCA for their party but not sure how much you will notice them affecting crowds.

Ha, oh yeah, it is, lol! Well, hopefully we'll have a lucky last day and as you suggest, maybe the grads won't effect crowds much that night, besides the regular Friday crowds. That would be good! But, wondering why you think that? Isn't that one of the first grad nights? What would need to be avoided, tons of obnoxious kids? Just going to DCA after 10 p.m.?

 

[sherilaine]

Ha, oh yeah, it is, lol! Well, hopefully we'll have a lucky last day and as you suggest, maybe the grads won't effect crowds much that night, besides the regular Friday crowds. That would be good! But, wondering why you think that? Isn't that one of the first grad nights? What would need to be avoided, tons of obnoxious kids? Just going to DCA after 10 p.m.?

I think all the grad nights sell out - so the first is not going to be any busier than the last - they will all have the maximum number of students in attendance each night.

and yes, not all the grads are obnoxious but you know they are going to be a bit louder as they are there together and celebrating graduation at DLR - I mean that is going to rev up the behavior. Thrill rides will draw their interest, we saw a lot of them in line for Space and Indy - but they were everywhere honestly. I'd just make the best of the earlier part of the day - you can get a lot done then!

 

[bcinohio]

Where do you find the dates for grad nights?

 

[agamble]

Just don't wait until that night to see the fireworks and parade. See them on one of your other nights. Many of them may want to see the shows before heading to DCA for the night.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Definitely agree with what @agamble said about not waiting to see the DL shows on the grad night. We tried to see fireworks on a grad night late in May, never again!

I also agree that with a little bit of pre-planning you can still enjoy the parks despite a Grad Nite event, so don't let it stress you out you are definitely on the right path coming here! You mentioned aren't the LA kids in school? The answer to that is yes. BUT, there will still be plenty of crowds there. I'm not talking super crowded Christmas or 4th of July stuff here, just pretty crowded. We've gone that time of year the last couple years and they were running 7 out of 10 on our wait time app. Also, there will plenty of other school age children there to make up for the LA schools not being out yet. Some with families but most with school groups. In all honesty the first time we went this time of year a few years back we were surprised at how crowded the parks were at the end of May with the various kids groups. We could tell it was the groups because our hotel, GCH, was pretty quiet and the pool was quiet, but the parks pretty full. There are large groups of junior highers and elementary and even high school age non-grads in the parks during the end of May.

My best advice:
-start early, like be there at rope-drop early because those first couple hours are the best crowd wise. Sometimes 11pm-midnight can be good too but with little ones I don't think that time period will be on your radar
-3 day park hoppers you say? I believe those include 1 early morning entry to Disneyland? Use it! That gives you one hour early entry to rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland
-Stay away from the "big ticket" rides in Disneyland on the actual Grad Nite starting in late afternoon (Indy, Matterhorn)

You mentioned WDW is closer, have you been? If so this is the go to thread by HydroGuy on what WDW vets need to know about DL. May be helpful in your planning http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/

 

[Diszona]

Where do you find the dates for grad nights?

Here are the dates I got off one of the travel agency websites that was selling grad night tickets.

• May 13
• May 14
• May 18
• May 20
• May 21
• May 23
• May 25
• May 31
• June 1
• June 3
• June 4
• June 7
• June 8
• June 10
• June 11
• June 15
• June 17

I was originally worried about grad nights occurring during our trip, which is the reason I picked the second week of June, but I am thinking of moving our trip up a week and just not worrying about it.

 

[Minniekins]

I think all the grad nights sell out - so the first is not going to be any busier than the last - they will all have the maximum number of students in attendance each night.

and yes, not all the grads are obnoxious but you know they are going to be a bit louder as they are there together and celebrating graduation at DLR - I mean that is going to rev up the behavior. Thrill rides will draw their interest, we saw a lot of them in line for Space and Indy - but they were everywhere honestly. I'd just make the best of the earlier part of the day - you can get a lot done then!

Hmm, well that's one thing, we aren't thrill riders! Starting early is not our best thing, lol, but we'll try to get out early, looks like we'll have to this trip! Maybe the first night will be less crazy, lol, and they'll just get worse as the end of school nears? Ah, probably not, just being hopeful, lol!

Just don't wait until that night to see the fireworks and parade. See them on one of your other nights. Many of them may want to see the shows before heading to DCA for the night.

Oh definitely plan to see both before that! We plan to go any night they are open, so probably at least the Saturday we get there, and Sunday, and if they are doing fireworks/parade other weeknights, we'll probably go then as well. Not sure, but thought they were doing fireworks and parade every night during this 60th anniversary?

 

[Bebella]

Definitely agree with what @agamble said about not waiting to see the DL shows on the grad night. We tried to see fireworks on a grad night late in May, never again!

I also agree that with a little bit of pre-planning you can still enjoy the parks despite a Grad Nite event, so don't let it stress you out you are definitely on the right path coming here! You mentioned aren't the LA kids in school? The answer to that is yes. BUT, there will still be plenty of crowds there. I'm not talking super crowded Christmas or 4th of July stuff here, just pretty crowded. We've gone that time of year the last couple years and they were running 7 out of 10 on our wait time app. Also, there will plenty of other school age children there to make up for the LA schools not being out yet. Some with families but most with school groups. In all honesty the first time we went this time of year a few years back we were surprised at how crowded the parks were at the end of May with the various kids groups. We could tell it was the groups because our hotel, GCH, was pretty quiet and the pool was quiet, but the parks pretty full. There are large groups of junior highers and elementary and even high school age non-grads in the parks during the end of May.

My best advice:
-start early, like be there at rope-drop early because those first couple hours are the best crowd wise. Sometimes 11pm-midnight can be good too but with little ones I don't think that time period will be on your radar
-3 day park hoppers you say? I believe those include 1 early morning entry to Disneyland? Use it! That gives you one hour early entry to rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland
-Stay away from the "big ticket" rides in Disneyland on the actual Grad Nite starting in late afternoon (Indy, Matterhorn)

You mentioned WDW is closer, have you been? If so this is the go to thread by HydroGuy on what WDW vets need to know about DL. May be helpful in your planning http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/

Thanks! Yes, I've been to WDW a few times (it's been awhile) but I am much more familiar with Fastpass+, Magic Bands, ADRs and restaurants, etc... at WDW ....a lot of it thanks to the DIS since we're also planning our first WDW family trip with the kids for 2017. I'll check out that link!

We'll definitely be taking advantage of rope drop, and probably leaving the parks in the early afternoon for naps and pool time.

Thanks for the advice!!

 

[Bebella]

Grad Nites are not limited to LA area kids. Some of the attendees will be "local" but others will be coming from a distance. Most of the major Southern California School districts appear to still be in session until early June.

I guess I didn't realize it was available to a lot of different schools and areas ...which is pretty neat, I would have LOVED to do that when I was a senior in high school. But then I also remember how I used to act as a senior in high school, haha. I'm not sure I would have wanted to be around me and my friends either.