OH! MY! Just realized we're booked on Grad nights!

[TurnR@TheMouseHouse]

Need help to prevent a melt down here!

I know Grad nights take place early at PI and later at MK. (that leaves Wishes out for us)

But for anyone who has been during grad nights can you tell me if the graduating darlings have much effect on the rest of the parks and resorts?

I have heard in the past that the movement of the buses transporting the grads can cause some gridlock. Anyone experience this first hand?

I know the party at MK ends at 4 AM, so I'm wondering if the grads hit the resorts or head home.

Any info on grad nights and what a long ago grad should expect would be very appreciated! Don't get me wrong I hope the grads to have a great time and enjoy the experience, I just want to know if and how much their experience will impact mine.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I guess it really depends. A friend of mine stayed at Fort Wilderness during a grad night and said everyone was up complaining because they could actually hear the grads in MK! There will also not be any EMH. However, there will be more crowds than usual because the rest of the time they go to other parks and (depending on the school) need to be on the same buses, etc. to the same parks. It may be slightly more difficult than usual.

 

[Aidensmom]

We were there last year at grad nite time. There was traffic gridlock at DTD from the buses, but that was the only effect we saw. For the most part, when it ends, they get back on the buses and return to where they came from, they do not stay in the resorts.

 

[YepsenCP]

I worked the parking lot on Grad Nights, moving in all those busses that you speak of... and from my POV it was awesome fun, lol especially when it was pouring rain! But, anyway, back to the point... The grad night kiddies typically don't enter the park until after you will be long gone and back at your resort, and the busses should not cause to much of a hastle, they stay single-filed and are sent onto an alternate route just before reaching the Auto Plaza... Some may cause a hastle, but it should not distract from the magic!

 

[Luv4Disney]

We were there last year at grad nite time. There was traffic gridlock at DTD from the buses, but that was the only effect we saw. For the most part, when it ends, they get back on the buses and return to where they came from, they do not stay in the resorts.

Not true. My grad we stayed at All Star Sports. It all depends on the school. Disney has a deal to make it easy for the grads to stay on property.

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

I worked the parking lot on Grad Nights, moving in all those busses that you speak of... and from my POV it was awesome fun, lol especially when it was pouring rain! But, anyway, back to the point... The grad night kiddies typically don't enter the park until after you will be long gone and back at your resort, and the busses should not cause to much of a hastle, they stay single-filed and are sent onto an alternate route just before reaching the Auto Plaza... Some may cause a hastle, but it should not distract from the magic!

I worked last years grad nites too (from Splash in the MK) it was GREAT fun seeing all the high school kiddies in their finery soaking wet!!
and yes, the MK will close promptly at whenever. but the rest of the parks are opened a little bit later to make up for it. and if you're staying at one of the monorail resorts you'll hear WISHES at midnight and probably the bands playing at 2 am

 

[crzy4dsny]

I didn't notice any affect on the parks. They all come after the park closes. From what I remember on grad nights there are not any fireworks or sractromagic scheduled. The park closes a little early to prepare for the grads.

I remember during the day at the ASMO the pool was packed with teen agers. They were somewhat behaved, just a little rowdy. Only to be expected when you put a bunch of teens together. The life guards had their hands full but did a good job of keeping them in check.

 

[gizfish]

Stayed at AKL last year and would have had no idea it was "Grad Night" had it not been for reading about it on the boards.

 

[new kid at heart]

When is grad night?

 

[LadyLuc361]

I was also wondering what dates the grad nights are? We were at Blizzard Beach last May and there was a big senior trip. I wonder if there is anywhere to find out when those trips are too? It wasn't terrible being at Blizzard Beach when the senior trip was there, but it was a lot more crowded and loud. We still had fun!

 

[Princess Wannabe]

When is grad night?

It's actually 4 nights: Friday & Saturdays, Aprill 22 & 23, April 29 & 30th...I know this because we'll be there from April 22 through the 30th...good timing, huh??!!

 

[kmermaid]

I have tix for La Noube on the 22nd, 6:00pm show. How early to the grads get to PI? Should I be concerned about the traffic that night? Thanks.

 

[shafke]

It's actually 4 nights: Friday & Saturdays, Aprill 22 & 23, April 29 & 30th...I know this because we'll be there from April 22 through the 30th...good timing, huh??!!

We'll be there same time... although I think I prefer this over the next week with 50th celebration kicking off. We will only be affected by two of the nights... 23 and 29... arriving late on 22 so no park and willbe leaving on 30th.