Need Help! First Trip Home Disasterous!

[capt1633]

About 8 months ago I booked my first DVC trip home and will be staying in a 2Bdr at BCV. Yesterday I found out through a friend that the week I have reserved is Gay Week in Orlando. My ressie is from June 1st to June 8th.

I am a very tolerant person and very accepting to others with sexual preferences different from mine. "To each his or her own." However, I have done some research into how big this event is, and have viewed numerous pictures of the Magic Kingdom during this event last year, and it appears to be something that I prefer not to expose my family to.

I am a long time reader, not much of a poster, but now I am looking to this site's readers for some suggestions before I contact anyone with Disney. I am extremely upset with Disney and DVC that they did not inform me that this event was taking place during my stay. I have contacted the airlines and it will cost me around $1000 to change my flights to a week later. I do not know as of yet, but I doubt it, if a villa will be availble the following week.

What is my recourse? Any Suggestions?

I know this is not an official Disney function, but also know that they are very much aware of it and I feel they could atleast inform people of this event when they make ressies.

Looking forward to your feedback!

 

[WDWLVR]

Frist - welcome to the DIS.

Second - take a deep breath and relax.

Disney has 4 parks - Gay Day takes place in the Magic Kingdom on a specific day. Just avoid that park that day and take the family to one of the other parks or a water park.

Also the main hotels for the event are in the Downtown Disney area (I believe Royal Plaza). You should be fine at Beach Club as far as being away from major festivities.

If you feel so inclined you can do a search on google that will get you to the organizers page. See what events they have for what days and just plan alternete things for your family.

WDW is a great big wonderful place and I'm sure you'll find that your family can enjoy themsleves for that week.

 

[Chuck S]

1) Disney/DVC is under no obligation to inform guests of any and all convention groups that may be scheduled to attend a park. There are "groups" someone will find unpleasent at the parks almost everyday.

2) The pictures you saw, though I don't know specically which ones you saw, many are taken at times when the park is NOT open to the general public. Notice the wrist bands? Private ticket events are for adults and quite pricey. Private events are scheduled after hours, except at PI, but I would NOT consider PI kid friendly at night no matter when you go there.

3) Generally, you should see nothing inappropriate in the parks. I attend every year with my Mom (80 years young). Many of us also attend with children...so please don't automatically assume everything you read on those sites is the truth. What you will notice...many same sex couples enjoying the parks just like you and your family, possibly some hand holding. I recommend that you simply avoid the park of the day...the impact will be minimal. The schedule is: Thurs June 3, AK; Fri June 4 MGM; Sat June 5, MK; Sun June 6, EPCOT.

4) If you're a long time reader, there have already been numerous posts on this subject on the DIS, and there are EVERY YEAR.

 

[rocketriter]

I suggest that you go ahead with your vacation as planned. The gay day celebration is more confined than you think and easy to avoid.

I don't think your kids will see anything that will change their lives. We have a gay couple among our relatives. Contact with them and their friends, since the time when our kids were little, has neither horrified our kids nor made them want to turn gay themselves.

Disney certainly cannot warn people in advance about an event sponsored by any group. If there were a Jew Day, I'm sure there are people even here in America who would prefer not to attend, but I can't imagine the parks "warning" other attendees about it.

Enjoy your visit. You'll have a wonderful time.

 

[Beca]

I agree...take a breath, and calm down. First, understand that Disney does not talk about Gay Days because they have NOTHING to do with it. Even when Disney does "sponsor" groups (such as cheerleaders, choir festivals, and band competitions), they do not tell other patrons. Remember, Disney is a huge legal target...that CANNOT single out one group and warn others...that would be major legal poopoo.

Follows is a link to a rather "lively" discussion on the subject. I suggest reading it. I have never been to WDW during gay days, but that is only because I hate the heat ...I get enough of that in Phoenix!!! I have heard, however that some people intentionally go to MK on the designated day if they have small children because the "kiddie" rides are easy to get on. I really think small children do not notice much except Mickey Mouse and the princesses....older children are a different story. But, some people have gone to WDW during "gay days" and not even known it was going on until they got home and read about it!! You can go to www.gaydays.com and get their itenerary...which I think is very nice of them to post. I really think that (with a few exceptions) most gay people try not to be offensive to anyone's sensibilities. I'm not sure what your circumstances are, so it is difficult for me to give specific advice, but don't panic...research, and then make a calm decision. I don't think your trip could be "disasterous" just because of this. But, that is just me. I had a 10 month-old admitted to the hospital half-way through our vacation because of a virus she picked up in the park. I still think that was a wonderful trip (until she got sick), and one of the main reasons we decided to buy into DVC. I guess it is all in the way you look at things. Just to get to go to WDW is a blessing. I really wouldn't get too upset by who else is in the park (besides, I have heard that the "groups from Brazil" and "cheerleaders" are a lot more bothersome).

Anyway, please read and decide for yourself. I hope whatever you choose works out for your family.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=526829&highlight=+gay++days



Beca

 

[Beca]

Oh, and PLEASE don't flame me for the cheerleader comment...I personally LOVE teenagers (I am Artistic Director for a children's theatre...mainly because I love theatre, and love kids). I simply was quoting others' opinions on posts. I was trying to make a point that at most times, there will be groups in WDW that will bother some. I was NOT stating that they bother me.

I just wanted to clear that up before anything started.

Thanks!

Beca

 

[tiggerguy2000]

Don't worry be happy!I know others that have made the same mistake and they made the best of it.Next time you need to check what's going on during the time you would like to go.Good Luck with your trip.:space:

 

[Pa@okw95]

This event has been going on the first week in June for a number of years. Keep that in mind if you do not want to attend again in the future. Just follow their schedule and zig when they are zagging. It doesn't matter who they are, if 100,000 show up at a certain place, anyone will want to go to another place because of the amount of people, and for NO other reason.

 

[Diznut84]

My family has been to WDW four of the past five years during Gay Days. I will continue to take them during this time period. To be honest, my DD 9 and DD 6 have never even noticed anything different. I certainly wouldn't mind, however, if someday they did indeed notice and observed that gay people enjoy Disney World the same way that "straight" people do.

Dig deep down into your heart and do what you think is right...

Have a Happy Disney Day!

 

[DISNEYWORLDBORN2SHOP]

The same thing happened to us our first DVC trip home and we also panicked initially. Our boys were 6 and 3 and the time.

1) Yes, our 6 year old did ask what gay meant. Because there were thousands of people with shirts on that said "Gay Days". I was not happy to have to explain it to a 6 year old but it turned out not to be the big deal I thought it would be.

2) We saw nothing in the parks that was unacceptable.

3) We did see some sights in Downtown Disney that were headed to PI so I would recommend avoiding that side of Downtown Disney late at night with children.

4) We have gone the first week of June every year since so it obviously doesn't bother us and in fact is our favorite time of year to visit Disney.

Relax, I just went to Disney for the first time in March and there were cheerleaders everywhere. The cheerleaders were much more noticeable than the Gay Day events.

 

[Granny]

We went to WDW during this period once, and I can say that it was really no big deal.

I will say that we researched the Gay Week schedule, to see which park the focus was on each day. Then we avoided that park...mostly because we figured it would be the most crowded. If you go to the official website for Gay Week, you'll see the schedule, and you'll notice that the "park focus" on any given day will also include Sea World and Universal.

I wouldn't stress out over it.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

My family and I will be in the "world" for the first two weeks in June. I knew that Gaydays was in that timeframe before I booked, and it made not one bit of difference to me. It was actually FAR more important to me that it was in a lower point dvc season.

I do have the specific days that have been scheduled for specific parks listed in my schedule. I will probably avoid those parks on those days due to the extra crowding that would be anticipated. Other than that ... no big deal. If my 10 y/o daughter sees any unacceptable behavior - gay or straight - I would simply explain to her why this is unacceptable and then get on with life.

Of course, when others are running terror-stricken for the front gates that should reduce the park crowding and ride wait times for us

 

[JeffPort]

We have 4 young children and visited DisneyWorld during the first week of June last year. We're doing it again this year -- so we obviously didn't find the situation to be problematic. Here is what we noted from our trip last year:

1.) The beginning of the week was very uncrowded (compared to other summer weeks). There was nothing unusual and we enjoyed ourselves at every park. Many rides had lines of less than 15 minutes.

2.) As the end of the week approached, the crowds did get a bit larger, but they were still quite managable. Fast passes were still readily available most of the day and standby waits for the biggest attractions were all under 60 minutes.

3.) We intentionally avoided the "gay day" theme park on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We never saw anything out of the ordinary in the parks that we did visit. (On Saturday, we did see things that I'd prefer not to explain to my children, but only because we were driving out of our Hotel, the Contemporary next to Magic Kingdom, and that park was an absolute Zoo on Saturday.) Stay away from the Magic Kingdom on Saturday!!

In talking with others, we've determined that the beginning of June is a great time to visit Disney World during summer vacation -- avoiding both the major crowds that show up 2 weeks later as well as the worst of the Florida heat.

We'll see you there -- we'll be across the lake in our new vacation home ... the Boardwalk Villas.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Is the first week in June, Gaydays and all!

We do avoid the MK on Saturday but I would avoid the park on Saturday 52 weeks a year anyway.

I have 2 boys and a very cute DH and Have walked thru the parks family dressed in red (unwittingly) and didnt notice a thing! LOL

I hope to see you there as we are going in 35 days!!

 

[capt1633]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
take a deep breath and relax.

Thanks for all the input!

Due to the economics of changing dates I do not see that happening. According to all the replies it should not be that bad. I have researched which days are for what parks and due plan on avoiding those designated park days.

"Beca" - Thanks for the link to the discussions on Gay Days! That is helpful.

 

[Beca]

Your welcome!!!

I'm sure you will have "magical" trip....gay days and all!!!


Let us know how it goes when you get back!!!



Beca

 

[disneycrazed139]

If circumstances do make it such that you have to explain to your children the meaning of the word, "gay," just do so matter of factly and go on with your trip. They will ask eventually anyway--probably sooner than you think. If they don't hear an explanation from you soon, they will get one from kids at school, so it might as well come from you early on.

I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip, and I think we should be teaching our children tolerance anyway.

 

[JVL1018]

I was in Orlando during Gayday in 2001-it was a nonissue.
I went to gayday.com(I believe) and found out the schedule of what parks which days and just avoided them-not in any way because of gay people, but because of crowds.
The parks were still crowded, but no more or less than the week after, I believe-just your run of the mill crowds. I don't think it had much to do with gayday as we avoided those parks.
Take a deep breat, print out the itinerary and schedule your trip accordingly.

 

[lenshanem]

I agree with everyone here.

Disney is not obligated to inform anyone of this event. It is not official.

Keep your ressie.

We have hit Gay Days before and will again this summer. This is a good time for us to go. Near hubby's birthday, Star Wars Weekends at MGM, school is out, dance recitals are over and we get the jump on some of the other school vacations that let out later.

I checked Gay Days website last year and this year and planned accordingly. We will avoid the parks they are attending for that particular day.

I agree with your concerns. I personally don't want to have to explain sexual preferences to my young kids yet. Plus, most importantly I want to avoid any crowds it brings. I'm very liberal. I had two men attendants in my wedding that are gay and my hubby works in a largely gay dominated career. But, once you have kids... I'm just not ready for that discussion yet. I could keep it simple, but with that amount of people I think the potential for more involved questions would develop.

Even given that I wouldn't stress and change your dates. A little prep work and you should be just fine.

 

[CarolA]

The trip is a disaster and you have not left home yet?

What you have Disney do? "Sir, could you tell us which types of people you don't want to be around so we could tell you if your dates work?" I believe that would be a little hard. They don't tell you the cheerleaders are coming, the Pop Warner teams are coming, the Disers (see early December), the Brazilian tour groups (supposedly much worse then Gay Days) etc...

If you don't freak out, chances are you kids won't either.