MK day Crowds before Grad night?

[Magalex]

How would Grad night effect day crowds at MK? I know the grads won't be there until the special event starts for them. MK closes early at 7PM. Will the regular tourists chose another park for that day? Or will it be crowded because it is still on the weekend?

Thanks!
Magalex

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

For the past two years, we've been to DW during Grad Nights.

During the day, we've noticed no big increase in crowds at MK. However, there did seem to be a HUGE amount of people in Downtown Disney on the day of a Grad Night.

Also, on the Grad Night, MGM seemed to be more crowded than usual. Probably because since MK closes so early.

 

[Magalex]

I will make a note of Downtown Disney crowds. Our first full day is 4/23-Sat.
AK has early entry that day. It is our 4 yr old DS's first trip for 8 days. We thought maybe we should do the reverse of the early entry. I don't want to enforce commando operations. We want to make sure we don't pressure him to go full speed but to go at his pace. Be at MK at 9AM and head for Fantasyland. Go back to POP in the afternoon for lunch/nap then maybe go to Epcot in the evening for Illuinations. We will stay away from DTD and MGM.

 

[kjs1976]

We were there during grad nights last year and noticed no big increase in crowds, either. We talked with one group leader of a group for grad night and she said their group had a full day planned out in other places and would not arrive to MK until 7. That was our experience last year! I was warned to be prepared for big crowds and rude kids but that couldn't have been farther from the truth!

 

[estnh]

We always go the last week of April, and almost every year we run into Grad Nights. We have never noticed any impact whatsoever anywhere (other than MK closing early).

 

[mrssmh]

I'm so glad to hear this! Our last day at WDW is Friday 4/29, which is a Grad Night. We want to spend that day at MK, but were worried about larger crowds (we're dealing with the early closure by going to the 7:15 HDDR). I'm glad the grads won't have much impact while we're there.