Please no one get upset but....

[apple]

I have to ask a question or two about gay week.

When is gay week? and Would you take you family that is not around people that are gay this week? I don't have a problem with it but I really don't want to have to answer alot of questions on vaction if my 9 year DD picks up on it. Is there alot of special things going on in the Parks/Resort for the group or is it just a time Disney celebrates with them? Will it be that noticable that we might feel out of place?

Thoughts and comments please.
Thanks
Patty

 

[chyam]

Gay week is the first week in June with Sat. being the MK day, and it is usually very busy that week. You can check out the events on gaydays.com. I am not gay and do not have a problem with it although I don't know what it would be like explaining it to a 5 or 6 year old. Disney does not sponser the event it is just something that has been occuring for years now and it seems to get bigger each year. They have different events each day, so by checking the site you should be able to plan your days if this is the time you want to attend. Some say that they see noticeable difference and others have said they don't. I think it would depend on how observant your children are.......just don't wear a red shirt! Usually everybody is there for the same reason, to have a good time.
Sent you a pm

 

[goofy4tink]

If you're planning on being there for that particular time frame, I would suggest you visit a different park than MK. That park seems to be the main focus. I'm sure the other parks have their share but MK seems to be the most popular.

Funny story...when my dd, then just turned 10, and I were in WDW last Dec., she was watching some kids show on the Disney channel. Well, someone mentioned that someone was 'gay'. My dd picked up on it and said to me.."Mom, for some reason I don't think he was talking about the other guy being happy. Is there a different meaning?" So, there we sat, in WDW with me explaining to my 10 y/o dd what being gay means. So glad her dad wasn't there for that discussion. Guess we can go during early June now!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I just explain to my kids what it means to see homosexuals, just as I would someone in a wheelchair, amputees, dwarfs, homeless people, ethnic people, bald people (like me this year when I had no hair), nutty people, etc...they just realize it's part of life and we can see "different" people no matter where we go...we often have long discussions about things that come up and I think it's helped them become more compassionate and caring about others in life, nor are they shocked when they see things as they are bound to...that's how we handle it....

As far as being at Gay Day at MK - don't know if it would be somewhere I'd want to be, just as we don't like being there at the end of the school year when all the teenagers are roaming unsupervised and they're rowdy and obnoxious at times. I'd rather go on a day that was more the "norm" so we could enjoy our time there without the shenanigans. I don't want to be aggravated when I'm on vacation if I can knowingly avoid it.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've had to explain "being gay" to my kids probably at an earlier age than I'd otherwise need to since they have a gay uncle. I've been very matter of fact in my explanation and they've always been accepting. My 4yo is still clueless, but I'm sure in a couple of years I'll explain it to him.

Disney has really come a long way in their acceptance of gay people in the parks. My brother-in-law was kicked out of Disneyland about 25 years ago for dancing with another male (I bet you could google it and read about it even without knowing his name). At that time even non-physical dancing of two males, gay or not, was not allowed. Times have changed!

T&B

 

[autumnfae]

The MK is the focus of Gay Days and will be very crowded, so you should probably steer clear of that park anyhow. Remember that gay people go to WDW every day and that there are gay people everywhere, so your children always have a chance of seeing gay people, even in your home town.

My mom explained to me what being gay meant when I was about 3 or 4, and it made perfect sense and I went about my business and wasn't scarred for life or anything. She said, "it's when two girls or two boys love each other like mommy and daddy do". Simple, short, and to the point. If you need to explain gay to young children, I think this is a good way.

 

[4greatboys]

Actually the only time its really busy during Gay Days is the first Sat of June when the meeting place is MK. We were there this past June during Gay Days (of course skipping MK on a Sat like any sane person would ). The crowds were not really all that big. Of course being June it was busier than the off season but the second week of June was much busier than that first week.
You can go to the Gay Days website and see their schedule so that you can hit a different park if you are worried about the crowds.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by apple
I have to ask a question or two about gay week.

When is gay week?

May 31 - June 5, 2005

Originally posted by apple
and Would you take you family that is not around people that are gay this week?

Yes and no. Yes, I would take them if it was the only time I could go and I would NOT have a problem with it. No, I wouldn't go simply because I loathe crowds. Gay, straight, black, white, old, young - I don't care. I much prefer Disney World at an off-peak time.

Originally posted by apple
I don't have a problem with it but I really don't want to have to answer alot of questions on vaction if my 9 year DD picks up on it.

I understand your concern. I would just answer whatever questions my kids had. And you may be surprised - your daughter may not even ask any questions.

Originally posted by apple
Is there alot of special things going on in the Parks/Resort for the group or is it just a time Disney celebrates with them?

Disney does NOT celebrate with them. Just as local schools take groups to Disney World, Gay Days is just a group of people who decide to take a trip to Disney World. It is not an officially sanctioned Disney event.

There are various events and gatherings throughout the weekend that are associated with Gay Days, but when they are in the parks - that's all they are; in the parks. They don't have any kind of booths or anything. It really is just a gathering of people at a specific park to enjoy the rides.

Originally posted by apple
Will it be that noticable that we might feel out of place?

Thoughts and comments please.
Thanks
Patty

Only if you make it noticeable that you feel out of place.

If you want my thoughts, I think the only way it will be a big deal to your daughter is if YOU make a big deal out of it. If you will have a hard time with that - then just avoid the Magic Kingdom that Saturday!

Please visit this link. There is an article from a mother who was expressing the same concerns you do.

http://allearsnet.com/ae/issue249.htm

Good luck with your decision!

 

[rcraw45425]

I sent you one

 

[missypie]

We will be at WDW during that time. My neighbor thinks I'm just terrible for knowingly taking my family at that time. (She also thinks her 9 year old son doesn't know what being gay is...I asked my kids if they thought he knew...they said "of course!")

I would prefer that my kids not see ANYONE at the parks being overtly sexual...I can't imagine that gays at the parks are anymore overtly sexual than heterosexual couples at the parks. I may be overly liberal, but I just can't see how it will damage my kids if, for example, they see two men holding hands. Frankly, I'd prefer to see mild affection rather than hearing people yelling at their kids.

Funny thing is, one of our best friends from college is gay and lives in Tampa. I emailed him and asked if he ever goes to WDW for gay day. He said that he does, but usually just goes to parties outside of the parks. So, we are going to meet up with him some time that weekend.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Gay-Days are a lot of fun! I think the only thing close to overtly naughty thing I saw were a couple of pretty subtle Tee shirt quotes. What is really the nicest is the children of Gay couples getting to do something "normal", and in an environment where folks don't think their parents are "strange" (or queer for that matter). As for the explanation, I am not sure that much is needed. Just emphasise that God makes us all different, and special in our own way. My kids, 5 and 7, don't look twice as a number of our fellow parishioners at our church are in committed same-sex relationships. I expect that seeing my wheelchair-bound DS will raise more questions in most kids than seeing two men or two women holding hands.

As others have noted, MK seems to be a bigger focus, but I remember lots of same-sex couples in all the parks we visited.

The one thing to be wary of during that time period is the fiarly loud party they have at the culmination of the weekend. There were reports on the resorts and DVC boards about the VERY Loud private party at MGM this last year, that had windows rattling as far away as the Boardwalk. My kids (and DW) really need their sleep, and we would definately want to avoid the Epcot resorts on the final night if the party is at MGM for example. So when planning, find out where the final night's loud party is gonna be, and be sure you are not booked too near it (the same goes for the "Night of Joy", the "Christian" music festival, as I hear that gets a bit loud too).

 

[bluedoggy]

I wouldn't be overly concerned about activity at the parks during that time. We were there a couple of years ago with DMIL & DFIL. Our DD was younger and we had the trip all planned before we found out that it would coincide with the "festivities".... But we actually didn't see anything there that we could run into at the mall in town on an evening out... Like the previous posters said, you may want to avoid the MK on that Sat. Just go and have an awesome Disney Trip!!

I'm so excited - I leave this weekend to spend my 50th BD with Mickey & the gang!!

 

[Chuck S]

As a person who has attended GayDay (week) for the last several years, here are my thoughts:

I attend, usually with my now 81yo Mom, the first year I was a bit apprehensive and kept a watchful eye for anything that Mom may deem "inappropriate". Well, nothing "bad" materialized. Hand holding, pecks on the cheek, the "normal" interactions you see between people in a loving relationship, nothing "shocking". In fact, it is much easier to negotiate Mom's wheelchair through the more adult crowds rather than the young ones who are so overwhelmed with Disney magic they often are not careful of where their running little feet carry them.

As far as taking your 9yo DD, only you can make that decision, but bear in mind that more and more same sex couple are raising children, and many of them attend GayDay and have the same concerns for their children as you do for yours. AS far as "explaining" anything, if your DD has watched prime time entertainment shows on TV, she is probably already well aware of what "gay" is. Unfortunately the days of innocent shows like Bewitched and Beverly Hillbillies are long gone. She will take her cue from you, if you react in a calm, cool way like "so there are gay folks here, big deal", she will more than likely react the same way. If, on the other hand, your reaction is that holding hands or showing any affection is just awful and inappropriate, she will also react that way. Young people pretty much mirror what they learn from their parents until they reach the "terrible teens".

If you think you will feel uncomfortable, I would avoid the MK on Saturday. Other than that, at the other parks you may notice more people of the same sex that are obviously traveling together...but really, you usually see a lot of that at Disney any time of year. It seems that many people, hetero and gay, are putting off forming stable relationshiops until a little later in life in order to concentrate on their careers, and many people travel with friends of the same sex...it doesn't mean they are a couple.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I have been to WDW many times, 3 of these fell with GayDays. Yes, your kids will see alot of gay couples, but they are no different than any other couple. I would stay away from MK on the actual MK Gay Day celebration, only for the crowds. It is super crowded that day...and the day we were there, trying to get lunch was a nightmare.

If you have no problems with crowds, then go, nothing inappropriate is going on.

 

[Brian Noble]

I wouldn't think twice about it, but our family knows and socializes with an openly gay couple with kids, and we have a close family member who is out as well.

As for kids' questions, most can be answered with something along the lines of "everyone finds different people attractive." Going much beyond the biological realities of attraction requres that you answer your kids questions with reference to your own set of moral beliefs.

From my personal perspective, it's important for my kids to see that I accept that some folks are attracted to others of the same sex. Given that, I want my kids to know that the same rules apply to any relationship, be it heterosexual or homosexual: trust, fidelity, honesty, and respect. After all, one of my own kids may be gay, and I want them to be comfortable letting me know that. For many of my own gay friends, coming out to their parents is the hardest thing they've ever done.

 

[tar heel]

We've been there three times with our family and would gladly go back again. Avoid the MK on Saturday, not b/c there's lots of gay people but b/c there will be a huge crowd. Otherwise, if you are really concerned, go to gaydays.com and make your park schedule so it does not match the one there. Also, choose a hotel that isn't an offical gaydays hotel.

You may be surprised at how little your child notices. The only one of mine who ever asked any questions was an adolescent (It created a really good opportunity for a brief discussion with him.) My kids haven't cared when they were older and didn't notice when they were younger. My yougest is 10 and has no idea he's ever been to WDW during Gay Week even though he's been three times.

BTW, your family is probably around gay people, too -- you just don't know they're gay!

 

[missypie]

Just checked the web site. The Royal Plaza is the "official" hotel for the men; the Holiday Inn at WDW is the "official" hotel for the women. From looking at a few of the photographs on the website, I bet that same sex couples with kids avoid those hotels, too...it looks like more of a "singles scene."

 

[steveanddonna]

Just wanted to say you guys are all awesome! I was expecting a lot of ultra-conservative flaming when I saw this thread and I love that I found NONE. I am so glad to see so many tolerant and sensible people on these boards!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

The official hotels are more of a singles scene. Unfortunately, Double Tree Suites, the women's official hotel of last year, was not the place for even singles to be. There was a considerable amount of intolerance displayed there. Note the venue change and loss of revenue for that hotel.

Parents with children tend to stay in places like WDW resorts (All Stars, Beach Club, Poly and the like) to keep the experience a Disney one.

Single folks go to the meet for the Disney (and US/IOA and Seaworld) and the socialization.

Don't kid yourself. Many folks NOT wearing red, who are lesbians and gays also attend. Some of us find the color too hot for June.

I've yet to see a family wearing red (during that time) be mistaken for gay, so put that ridiculous notion aside, ok?

I grow a little weary of the "don't go if you don't like crowds." What a perfectly acceptable way to warn people off. There is never so much concern for others being subjected to crowds as there is over this week in June.

Warn people away from spring break, Fourth of July, Christmas, NYE, most of summer, too if that is your true intent; not just that one week in June.

What do you tell your child if there are questions? Whatever you find appropriate. No one is going to convince you to say something you don't want to. My personal favorite is, "they love each other." Not too difficult to say, is it?

Worry about Cheerleaders, Dancers, Pop Warner too, do you? Those are all boisterous crowds, far more so than any I've witnessed during Gay day or Gay week.

PDA? I've seen extremely offensive actions. Ones that were totally inappropriate and inexcusable for being conducted in public. Every one of those actions was undertaken by a heterosexual couple.

Can't we ever just let it go? Can't we ever just have no remarkable discussion about this time of year?

Someone praised this thread for not being a bashing one. Well, no-it's not openly bashing anyone. But to think that many of the comments here do not give extreme offense is to be incredibly naive.

 

[steveanddonna]

Worry about Cheerleaders, Dancers, Pop Warner too, do you? Those are all boisterous crowds, far more so than any I've witnessed during Gay day or Gay week.

PDA? I've seen extremely offensive actions. Ones that were totally inappropriate and inexcusable for being conducted in public. Every one of those actions was undertaken by a heterosexual couple.

Someone praised this thread for not being a bashing one. Well, no-it's not openly bashing anyone. But to think that many of the comments here do not give extreme offense is to be incredibly naive.

Naive? Only if you think parents should ignore their concerns about introducing a possibly unfamiliar concept to their children. That would make you the naive one. Kids will ask questions and will be curious and it is the smart parent who prepares for this. Extreme offense? Someone seems a bit too sensitive. What exactly did you find offensive? The fact that posters were setting apart gays? Hmm...isn't that what any group does when they choose a week to celebrate their belonging to any community, whether cheerleaders, clog dancers or collectors of ceramic frogs? Many posters DID mention other weeks that they would avoid because of crowds, and there are several other threads here that talk about Pop Warner, football players, etc. etc. etc. To imply that only heterosexual couples are guilty of offensive behavior is truly divisive and prejudiced, as well as untrue. I hope that there is never a time that we DON'T have this discussion, as it is an opportunity to educate the uninformed and unaccepting as well as an opportunity for parents to have a dialogue with their kids.