How will gradnights, Minnie Marathon etc influence my visit?

[SandraVB79]

Hello you all,

Quite unexpectedly, I have to go to the US for my job, and I would like to extend my US trip with a visit to WDW. I just saw that while I am going to be there (probably May 4/5 to May 9) there is gradnights, Minnie marathon or something, etc. How will this affect my trip? Does it mean the parks are closed and I can't visit?

They don't have things like that at DLP and haven't been at DL when they have specials like that, so I am curious and somehow worried.

I only have two weeks to plan, and have to know tomorrow morning (Belgian time) whether I'll be extending my work trip or not. Please help me!

 

[nowellsl]

We'll be there for a quick 2 day trip 5/6-5/7 so I'm curious about this as well!

 

[jwfla422]

It really shouldn't affect your trip much. Grad nights have been going on for 15 yrs or so, the last weekend of April and first weekend of May. We've been there many times during Grad night "time". The only park that closes is MK. It closes at 7pm to allow for the Grad night parties there, so you shouldn't be inconvenienced much. (keep in mind, during off peak slow times of the year MK closes at that time as well)

Last year we were there the first week of May and during the week we were there they kicked off the Happiest Celebration in the World. Each day one of the parks closed in the mid afternoon (around 3) for press events and really, it wasn't bad because there was always another park to go to. Even though this was the kick off we found the crowds to be manageable and even low.

I understand most of the resorts are filled to capacity the first 2 wks of May however I am also aware that there are many conventions going on so this may add to that.

If you can extend your trip to "play" at WDW, go do it. Remember MK is only 1 of the 4 parks at WDW (and if you choose to go to MK on Fri. or Sat., you still have all day until 7:00). We seem to spend the majority of our time at Epcot, AK and MGM anyway, even with a 7 yr old. Many of the attractions at these parks are not duplicated anywhere else. So they are unique in comparison to DLP-I would go and enjoy!

 

[SandraVB79]

I know there are 4 parks, but MK is the most "Disney" one, in my opinion

Epcot... well... I don't know about futureworld, but world showcase... I live right in between France, Germany and the UK, have been to Tunesia, which is very much like Marocco, I have been to Canada and Italy... You know, I don't have to go all the way to Florida to see the Eiffel Tower,that's only 1.5 hours away from my front door. So, for this trip, Epcot will not be the park where I spend most time in. I think I won't spend a lot of time in each park, 1 day max I guess, with an extra day to do those things I haven't been able to do or to visit some of the resorts I have been reading about. (and to shop of course!)

But thank you a lot for your answer. Going to WDW is very confusing. Last time I went to DL, I made my reservations 11 days up front, because I had to wait for 10 days before I had my new passport. My last trip to DLP was booked 2 weeks before. For those two parks that's not a problem.
For WDW... oh well, one can survive 5 days without real "food", no?

 

[DISNEYDUET]

I woudl like to know this too. My travel plans have me going to MK on Friday 5/5/06. Is the parks crawling with students that have the whole day to play? Or do they start to arrive in the afternoon? Please help! I have a big issue with obnoxious and rude teens!

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

I'm happy to know that most of those events won't impact crowds too much since we'll be there at the same time.

 

[WDWguru]

The grad night parties actually happen overnight, so the students won't be in the parks during the day. They are typically bussed in and don't even stay at a resort (I went to a Florida school, so don't know how big it's become since - it's possible there may be a chunk of students at All Stars or Pop Century during the day). They have admission only for the party and are escorted at all times. If you're staying at an MK area resort you may notice more noise and activity than usual overnight, but otherwise I dont' think you'd even realize it was going on.

 

[DISNEYDUET]

Thanks Kim!! That is great news. By the way, I love the pic in your sig. . We are big Starwars fans. Not going to the Starwars Weekends this year but have been the past 2 years. What fun!!