How will grad nights affect my vacation?

[Christina78]

Can anyone who has been to Disney during the Grad Nights tell me how this affects park attendance? I am already so disappointed that there won't be Spectromagic or Fireworks Saturday the 3rd. Do I have to worry about droves of high school or college kids making the parks crowded? Not that I have anything against the grads, but I was hoping that the week we chose would be post Spring-break crowd, and a little less crowded.

 

[CuteKatCar]

Christina,

We were at WDW in May 2001 during Grad week. I was starting to freak on the plane because it was filled with kids from one NJ high school. However, I never saw droves of high school kids at any of the parks!! I know that MK closes early and the teens have the park all night and into the wee hours of the morning. We even did an e-ride night and I thought there might be lots of teens there, but nope.

We also had small children so we were up and out early, whereas I think the teens probably are sleeping later . I don't think you'll have any problem.

Anna

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Can someone tell me when are the Grad nights in May - just so I can avoid ?

Thanks

 

[shelly3girls]

I am not sure of all the grad nights, but someone posted a link a couple days back for me. For our trip grad nights are 5/2, 5/3 and 5/9.

 

[mom_rules]

Plus April 25th and 26th I think.

 

[Luvinit]

just to reassure everyone...I have chaproned several grad nite trips... alot of the schools arrive there at night after 9 or so...if i remember correctly it dosen't start until 11 pm or so. Therefore most of the kids and adults are going to be resting until then because they stay at the MK until 5 or 6 am. When FL High Schools go they usually do not stay over at a hotel, its a up at night and back in the AM trip...we would get back to school around 11 am the next day.

Hope this helps... I would not change any of my plans due to grad nite.We never even saw anyone but other HS seniors.

Tracy

 

[tjmw2727]

Generally you won't see many of the HS kids during your stay. For the most part its local schools in FL and they make it a day trip. My SIL is a teacher in a high school about 2 hours away from orlando. They usually have PI closed off for the graduating class in the afternoon (no alcohol of course) with bands and parties, dinner etc. Then after MK closes they have their private party at mk and return home on the bus. A few of the schools make arrangements at hotels, either value or off site but they usually leave the next day.

Other than MK closing early you shouldn't see much difference during grad nights. HTH
TJ