Should we avoid Grad Night, if possible?

[buzzrelly]

Hello!
We just linked our Military Salute tickets and made our park reservations this am. Currently, this is what we have:

May 21-27 Disneyland Hotel

May 22 Disneyland
May 23 DCA
May 24 break day-maybe a beach?
May 25 DCA
May 26 Disneyland

I see Grad nights are scheduled for May 25 and May 26. Would we be better off changing our day off for May 25 to try to avoid one of the grad nights?

This is our first trip and you all have been so helpful so any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[TinkerTay]

I would say that if you want to really maximize your time in both parks, I would absolutely avoid one of the grad nights. If you don’t mind going back to DL during the GN time, you can totally do that, just be aware that DL will be busier with all of the people hopping over there, once the GN time officially begins… however, those particular grad nights are in the middle of the week, so DL may not be quite as bad as if they were weekend nights, at least later in the evening…

 

[wowzadisney]

I think grad night starts at 10 pm. One might usually leave by then depending on your family dynamics... But weekend days is when they have the most entertainment so wouldn't switch a grad night weekend day for a weekday. My opinion

 

[DisneylandFan22]

Grad Nights usually start after DCA closes at 10:00 PM but this year they are starting at 9:00 PM. So you just lose an hour in DCA. You can plan to be in DL at that time. Grads can buy all day tickets for around $119 so there might be more teens in the parks during the day. Personally it is not something I think is worth actively avoiding.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thank you all for your advice. I still can't make up my mind! I like the idea of having a break on day 3 and it sounds like maybe GN isn't that big of a deal? I'm thinking maybe coming from the East coast, I'll be spent by 9-10 pm anyway! I just hope it doesn't significantly increase daytime crowds.

 

[MillauFr]

Not worth avoiding. Agree with others here.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Personally I would try to ditch the first Grad nite and make it break day. I’m one of those who is not a fan. I wouldn’t not go but given the chance to avoid one I’d take it. Do opt for the later parade if it’s after the party starts on a grad nite.

A lot of the schools opt for the add-on ticket where they can do Disneyland during the day so in the first few hours you won’t notice much but then you start seeing large groups of teens. Some behave great, some are lousy. One other tip- do HM early! I did it on a grad Nite, the kids screamed so much in that ride my ears were ringing. And not the usual “*****!” “f word” etc stuff they yell out in lines, they just really liked screaming bloody murder in that ride.

ETA: hahaha triggered the auto sensor

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks, everyone!

I went ahead and switched it. As much as I liked the symmetry of our previous plans, we don't mind going to the parks three days in a row...we're used to it with WDW! So now we have DL, DCA, DL, break day on Wednesday, DCA. I expect we'll hop out of DCA on that last day if things get too crazy.

Thanks for all the advice, it's much appreciated!

 

[TikiTikiFan]

In terms of grad nites... does it really matter then what park you start your day at other than DCA closing at 9PM? My thinking was to start at DCA and hop to Disneyland to avoid it but sounds like it may not matter?