Rescheduling due to Grad Nights?

[donaldstemper]

I've been lurking here for awhile, and man y'all know everything....BUT I just found out about grad nights. I am so glad Hydroguy posted on that - we had planned on going June 14-20th. I don't know what to do. I had everything so nicely figured out 'til now - but it sounds like our nice Disney view room at the HOJO would not be so nice with fireworks twice in the night 2 nights of our stay. DH is a chronic insomniac - I might as well label the trip "sleep dep torture " for him.....it sounds like other hotels/rooms would only be marginally better.

I guess I have to replan the whole thing timewise (and just after I got the Ent. rate for a couple of our nights, too!). When else is not super busy, which is part of what we wanted? I was planning so carefully to get mostly blackout days, too....ugh. Can't really take DD out of school, last day is June 11th, I think.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Sounds like your husband needs to see a sleep specialist. If your husband needs quiet, there are other Hojo rooms that will accomplish that or maybe even another hotel. I would not change due to grad nites!

Jack

 

[LuLusApple]

I agree with Jack we went last year June during Grad night and it was no big deal. They started building stages in front of the castle around 7:30ish. It didn't interfere, it was interesting. We just had an early night the park closed at 9pm. As we started to leave the teens started rolling in it was kind of infectious, their excitement; wish we could of stayed with them lol.
We had a room at Hojo building 2 and I never even noticed the Early morning fireworks.

 

[LavenderPeach]

What about a noise/sound machine to help block out the noise? Would your DH be able to sleep with white noise? I'm not sure if that would block out firework sounds but it might help.

As far as dates, I would probably go in July. Yes, there's summer crowds but the 2 SoCal APs will be blocked and you'll get longer park hours and less things down for refurb.

Good luck with your decision! Welcome to the Dis Boards and feel free to ask any more questions that might come up!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would first switch to a garden pool view.

If you'll be in bed relatively early, I see no point in having a "view" room to begin with; a big reason to have those rooms is for the chance of seeing fireworks from them, right? So if you don't want to be impacted by them, just switch.

Once the pool closes at night, those rooms are lovely and quiet.

 

[donaldstemper]

Yep, we've been to the local sleep clinic. It's not one of those situations where he snores and can get it fixed. It runs in his family. Sadly, if he get woken, he generally can't just roll over and go back to sleep like most of us can.

So, I'm looking into other options. The guy I talked to at the HOJO today said that we would hear the fireworks from our room, and from most any room they have....I'm glad he was honest. I'll call again tomorrow and see what I can work out - maybe if we left a bath fan on? I dunno...

I just don't want to spend the money on a big vacation and have a miserable hubby.

 

[DangerMouse]

It's not just HoJo. You will hear the fireworks from any close-by, walking distance hotel. If you want to stay at the HoJo, I would recommend Bldg. 2, pool-facing, and bring a sound machine (there are no bathroom fans), or perhaps some earplugs (the HoJo keeps these at the front desk as well).

 

[LavenderPeach]

It's not just HoJo. You will hear the fireworks from any close-by, walking distance hotel. If you want to stay at the HoJo, I would recommend Bldg. 2, pool-facing, and bring a sound machine (there are no bathroom fans), or perhaps some earplugs (the HoJo keeps these at the front desk as well).

This is true. We stayed at the Super 8 on Katella last year which is barely within walking distance and we clearly heard the fireworks every night.

One of the bigger hotels further away, like the hyatt or embassy suites, might be quieter. We got the hyatt (through priceline for $50) and I don't remember hearing fireworks but we were only there for 1 night so maybe i just didn't notice. Of course, the downside is that you couldn't walk to DLR.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

OP how many grad nights are there during your stay? I went during the same time frame last year. We stayed at Fairfield Inn in a room facing DL and I didn't hear the late night fireworks. We left the AC on, and I wear earplugs when I sleep. I also have insomnia really bad that's why I have to wear earplugs. Any little sound or movement will wake me up and then I can't go back to sleep. (It runs in my family too.) Good luck!

 

[samkj]

We rescheduled. We are only taking a quick trip, 2 days max, so we need to maximize park hours. We were going to be in the area for a week anyway, so we moved Disney to first on the list rather than last.

 

[blackjackdelta]

It's not just HoJo. You will hear the fireworks from any close-by, walking distance hotel. If you want to stay at the HoJo, I would recommend Bldg. 2, pool-facing, and bring a sound machine (there are no bathroom fans), or perhaps some earplugs (the HoJo keeps these at the front desk as well).

Great idea about the sound machine. We stayed at the RI two years ago and the fireworks sounds were very noticable. I am very explosion sensitive so I went to sleep after they were over.

Jack

 

[donaldstemper]

Did a little more research. One person who was there during the fireworks says that the whole HOJO shakes/vibrates and earplugs or white noise will be next to useless. Given the proximity, I can believe it.

If it was one night, I think we could live with it, but there are grad nights June 16 and 17, right in the middle of our stay. And, in addition to the normal show (which is moved to 8:45 or so, I think), there will be two fireworks shows between 11:30pm and 6 am. We, like so many others, are on a budget. I can't justify the cost of a Disney vacation if DH will feel lousy for half of it.

So I'll have to rework things somehow. Not sure how, but somehow. Different hotel with rental car (parking, ugh), different dates (not easy either....) or non-Disney vacation. icky choices, one and all.

I realize that what I'm fussing about would be no big deal for the majority of the population, but I guess I've come to see that really bad insomnia is no different than any other major health issue - you have to plan around it. Thanks for all the advice, hopefully I can figure something out.

 

[HydroGuy]

Did a little more research. One person who was there during the fireworks says that the whole HOJO shakes/vibrates and earplugs or white noise will be next to useless. Given the proximity, I can believe it.

If it was one night, I think we could live with it, but there are grad nights June 16 and 17, right in the middle of our stay. And, in addition to the normal show (which is moved to 8:45 or so, I think), there will be two fireworks shows between 11:30pm and 6 am. We, like so many others, are on a budget. I can't justify the cost of a Disney vacation if DH will feel lousy for half of it.

So I'll have to rework things somehow. Not sure how, but somehow. Different hotel with rental car (parking, ugh), different dates (not easy either....) or non-Disney vacation. icky choices, one and all.

I realize that what I'm fussing about would be no big deal for the majority of the population, but I guess I've come to see that really bad insomnia is no different than any other major health issue - you have to plan around it. Thanks for all the advice, hopefully I can figure something out.

Better safe than sorry. I think you are making a good decision based on the information you have in hand.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Better safe than sorry. I think you are making a good decision based on the information you have in hand.

When did they start having fireworks at 1130pm and 0630 AM or am I reading it wrong.

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

When did they start having fireworks at 1130pm and 0630 AM or am I reading it wrong.

Jack

Grad nights have fireworks. I have never heard when. Hours are midnight to 6AM for grads. They do fireworks at some point. So it is in the middle of the night.

 

[donaldstemper]

I actually checked with Disney by phone earlier, not wanting to look at rescheduling if I didn't have to - they at first said they didn't think there would be fireworks, but did double check with someone else when I asked them to - and there are definitely 2 shows in the wee smalls.

I am rather surprised that they would opt for the fireworks - seems to me to be the one thing they could drop and people would understand. I'm surprised there isn't a noise ordinance for it, either. But it is what it is.