question about gay days

[wishiwereindisney]

I just found out my WDW trip is scheduled during gay days. My only concern is that this event will make the parks really crowded - has anyone been during this weekend and how does it effect the crowds?

 

[bradk]

everything i've ever heard is that impact on crowd levels is negligible. they publish their schedules anyway so if you want to avoid their events, it's simple enough. there are 2, without doublechecking, i believe it's both gayday.com and gaydays.com

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

I just found out my WDW trip is scheduled during gay days. My only concern is that this event will make the parks really crowded - has anyone been during this weekend and how does it effect the crowds?

Here's the Gay Days schedule:

Thursday, May 31: Animal Kingdom
Friday, June 1: Sea World
Saturday, June 2: Magic Kingdom
Sunday, June 3: Epcot

(Courtesy of the Gay Days website)

Last year the park that was designated as "the" park for Gay Days was slightly more crowded on that day. However, and speaking only as a CM, I found the crowds to be considerably more polite than on most days.

If being in the park during Gay Days makes you uncomfortable, use the schedule posted above and don't go to that park on that day... and don't wear a red shirt.

 

[wishiwereindisney]

Thanks for the info...I am not uncomfortable about the event, just don't want to wait in long lines!

 

[dbenlee]

We have been over the last few years during this time and the only recommendation I would have is to avoid MK on that Saturday, it is very crowded. Other than that, like has been mentioned earlier, the effect on crowd level is negligible. Have fun and stay cool, its hot in Florida that time of year!!

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

I am not uncomfortable about the event, just don't want to wait in long lines!

This is one of those subjects that I try to be sensitive about... feelings (naturally) range from "It's an unholy abomination and I will not have my children look at two men holding hands!" to "Gay days. Meh." to "Isn't a celebration of diversity wonderful!"

Me personally, I'm secure enough in my heterosexuality to just not care. I firmly believe that a person's sexual preference should only be of concern to me if I'm interested in dating them. And as I indicated above, I personally found the guests participating in Gay Days to be, if anything, more polite, intelligent and reserved than most. I would have no issues bringing my family or friends to the park on those days.

BTW, if anyone is interested or cares, here's Disney's Official Position on Gay Days:

The Walt Disney World Resort is open to everyone, every day. We extend our welcome to everyone and treat all of our guests with respect.

What is generating some controversy is Disney's recent announcement that travel agents who book Disney vacations during the month of March will have a chance to win a night in Cinderella Castle. The catch: The night reserved for this prize is June 2, 2007: "Gay Day" at the Magic Kingdom (meaning the Castle stay prize will NOT be randomly awarded that day). Some folks are claiming that Disney is trying to exclude gays from the promotion. Me personally, I don't see it that way... If they announced that the prize would be awarded anywhere BUT the MK on 6/2, that would indeed be fishy, but such is not the case.

 

[jwfla422]

MK had filled to capacity everytime we've been to WDW during this time. (usually it was a Saturday) I can't deal with the major crowds so we just made sure to go to the parks where events weren't scheduled for that day.

If you don't want to wait in long lines, avoid MK on Saturday and go on another day when events are scheduled at another park.

 

[BamaFan121s]

Honestly, based off the crowd level alone, I would have NEVER known there was a large group there....I only found out when I questioned why so many people were wearing red shirts and a CM that overheard me told me.

 

[rcraw45425]

We were there a few years back, stayed at the CR. I think I remember the parks placing a flyer in the rooms with an EMH at another park that day to try to counteract the crowd levels.

 

[David R]

If you must do the MK on that Saturday, arrive after the afternoon parade as most people will stay for it and then go back to their resort to rest and get ready for the evening parties.

 

[LukenDC]

What is generating some controversy is Disney's recent announcement that travel agents who book Disney vacations during the month of March will have a chance to win a night in Cinderella Castle. The catch: The night reserved for this prize is June 2, 2007: "Gay Day" at the Magic Kingdom (meaning the Castle stay prize will NOT be randomly awarded that day). Some folks are claiming that Disney is trying to exclude gays from the promotion.

I'm aware of the "controversy" but I like you I just don't buy it. There are gay people at WDW every day and any one of them could win the Castle stay. The criteria for selecting the winners is fair and objective. There are also a lot of gay travel agents and all of them stand an equal chance at winning the June 2 prize.

 

[bradk]

i have to agree on not discrimination for a couple of reasons i opt not to get into, but it does bring to mind...

how many gay couples (presumably with children) have opened a park? i've always wondered about that.

 

[tony609]

Hmm ......I find it interesting that Disney higher ups chose that particular day not to award the prize of the night in the castle. I will keep all those thoughts to myself. But I do find it interesting. I bet they'll take all the money that day on food,drinks,park tickets, resort stays etc.....hmmm

 

[bytheblood]

Just avoid Magic Kingdom on saturday and you will not be terribly impacted.

 

[FormyDD]

BTW any of you at work clicking on the links, you're sure to raise some eyebrows of your IT Admins...

 

[maelstrom]

I've been there for Gay Days and I honestly didn't notice that it was any more crowded and I also didn't notice any more-than-usual PDA amongst gay or straight people.

 

[Viki]

i have to agree on not discrimination for a couple of reasons i opt not to get into, but it does bring to mind...

how many gay couples (presumably with children) have opened a park? i've always wondered about that.

You know this is very funny. At our most recent trip during Thanksgiving week a CM was interviewing my partner and I to open MGM (as I stood at the front of the line, right in back of the rope drop, with my flashing MGM hat), and it was almost a go until she discovered the two teens next to us were ours (this might have passed her by because we're Caucasian and they're African American), then it was a no go because there were only two seats in the show car.

I was like, "No problem. The kids can walk!" ... but she wasn't buying it!

So, we were discriminated against not for being gay, but for having kids!

 

[raidermatt]

From most accounts, the Saturday at MK is the only day where crowd levels are significantly impacted. The park of the day on the other days does seem to get a smaller influx, but it might actually be offset by people avoiding that park.

 

[Donnainnj]

It's been almost 7 years since we went during Gay Days
(2000). We had already made Castle breakfast reservations for that Sat. morning, and it was crazy busy. Epcot was very busy the next morning, but by late afternoon it was clearing out. And every day after that crowds got considerably lighter.
Donna

 

[Stinky_Pete]

If being in the park during Gay Days makes you uncomfortable

This is one of those subjects that I try to be sensitive about... feelings (naturally) range from "It's an unholy abomination and I will not have my children look at two men holding hands!" to "Gay days. Meh." to "Isn't a celebration of diversity wonderful!"

Me personally, I'm secure enough in my heterosexuality to just not care. I firmly believe that a person's sexual preference should only be of concern to me if I'm interested in dating them. And as I indicated above, I personally found the guests participating in Gay Days to be, if anything, more polite, intelligent and reserved than most. I would have no issues bringing my family or friends to the park on those days.

BTW, if anyone is interested or cares, here's Disney's Official Position on Gay Days:

What is generating some controversy is Disney's recent announcement that travel agents who book Disney vacations during the month of March will have a chance to win a night in Cinderella Castle. The catch: The night reserved for this prize is June 2, 2007: "Gay Day" at the Magic Kingdom (meaning the Castle stay prize will NOT be randomly awarded that day). Some folks are claiming that Disney is trying to exclude gays from the promotion. Me personally, I don't see it that way... If they announced that the prize would be awarded anywhere BUT the MK on 6/2, that would indeed be fishy, but such is not the case.

...I also didn't notice any more-than-usual PDA amongst gay or straight people.

The OP asks a simple question about crowd levels. Why make more out of the question than it is? We have enough of those threads on this topic.