Skipping Graduation for Disney??

[TheDisneyOutsider]

Hi guys, I haven't used this account in awhile, but with another trip coming up I'm back on

Anyway, this June is my high school graduation and for my graduation present my family is going back to Disney and staying at whichever resort I want.

The problem (not really a problem) is that my mom suggested missing my graduation and leaving for Disney early after exams. I am totally fine with this since I'm not much for big crowds and sitting in a stuffy room for three hours. Being in Disney would be 10000000x better!!

However, I recently told my friends about this and they could not believe me. They say it is the last time we will all be together and I will regret missing it.

So my question is what do you guys think? Do I miss it and disappoint my friends, or attend?

Like I said before, I couldn't care less about missing, it's just a matter of people judging my choice.

Also on a side note, which resort would you recommend I choose?? (other than the Grand Floridian.)

 

[CHBDISNEY]

Hi guys, I haven't used this account in awhile, but with another trip coming up I'm back on

Anyway, this June is my high school graduation and for my graduation present my family is going back to Disney and staying at whichever resort I want.

The problem (not really a problem) is that my mom suggested missing my graduation and leaving for Disney early after exams. I am totally fine with this since I'm not much for big crowds and sitting in a stuffy room for three hours. Being in Disney would be 10000000x better!!

However, I recently told my friends about this and they could not believe me. They say it is the last time we will all be together and I will regret missing it.

So my question is what do you guys think? Do I miss it and disappoint my friends, or attend?

Like I said before, I couldn't care less about missing, it's just a matter of people judging my choice.

Also on a side note, which resort would you recommend I choose?? (other than the Grand Floridian.)

I suggest the Contemporary Resort

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

I suggest the Contemporary Resort

That was one that we were looking into today! We loved the idea of having the monorail right there and being so close to MK. But someone told us it was really noisy because of the monorail. That wouldn't really bother me but it may bother others in my family. Is it really as noisy as she was saying? Thanks for the suggestion btw

 

[keri125]

I think this is truly up to you... but since you asked!!
After reading your post I had a few questions...
1. If you do stay for your graduation, can you extend your Disney trip? Or if you stay for your graduation, do you have to miss out on a few days of Disney?
2. Will there be opportunities to see your friends when you get back? Or is everyone taking off (summer plans, jobs, college, etc) immediately after graduaton?
3. Is your graduating class large or small?

The answers to these questions would determine (for me, at least) how I felt about it. If I could extend out my vacation, I honestly would stay for graduation. It is a once in a lifetime moment that you may think you don't care about now, but will be nostalgic about and glad you went the night of. My graduation class had a little over 1000 students, so it wasn't an intimate ceremony, but I was still glad I walked and was there to see my friends graduate. I'm a little surprised your mom wants you to miss your graduation. When I graduated from college I wasn't all that enthusiastic about walking, but my mom made me, saying that graduation is not necessarily about the graduate, but about all those that supported the graduate and helped to see them through. Again, I was glad I did.
Truly, though, only you can answer this question. If you are fine with missing graduation, go and don't worry about what your friends think! You are an adult now (congratulations!), time to start thinking on your own!
(Oh, and I have no recommendations regarding resorts! )

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

I think this is truly up to you... but since you asked!!
After reading your post I had a few questions...
1. If you do stay for your graduation, can you extend your Disney trip? Or if you stay for your graduation, do you have to miss out on a few days of Disney?
2. Will there be opportunities to see your friends when you get back? Or is everyone taking off (summer plans, jobs, college, etc) immediately after graduaton?
3. Is your graduating class large or small?

The answers to these questions would determine (for me, at least) how I felt about it. If I could extend out my vacation, I honestly would stay for graduation. It is a once in a lifetime moment that you may think you don't care about now, but will be nostalgic about and glad you went the night of. My graduation class had a little over 1000 students, so it wasn't an intimate ceremony, but I was still glad I walked and was there to see my friends graduate. I'm a little surprised your mom wants you to miss your graduation. When I graduated from college I wasn't all that enthusiastic about walking, but my mom made me, saying that graduation is not necessarily about the graduate, but about all those that supported the graduate and helped to see them through. Again, I was glad I did.
Truly, though, only you can answer this question. If you are fine with missing graduation, go and don't worry about what your friends think! You are an adult now (congratulations!), time to start thinking on your own!
(Oh, and I have no recommendations regarding resorts! )

1. Yes if I skipped it we would stay in Disney a few days longer since we have two businesses and only a certain time we can go away at the start of summer.

2. I actually did plan on having a get together with my friends before I left, taking group photos and stuff. During the summer there are two birthdays in our group of friends so we would probably get together at least once.

3. My graduating class is fairly large, the largest our school has had in a while, not 1000 but still a lot. That is actually one reason I didn't want to go, because I have anxiety and would rather not be in front of so many people.

I do know it is a once in a lifetime moment and have had people who have missed theirs tell me different things, some regretted it some didn't. My parents both missed theirs and my brother missed his college one. None of them regretted it, but my cousin missed hers and she did.

I don't mean to sound like I'm shooting you down!! I agree with what you're saying and your advice is actually really helpful for helping me go through the pros and cons!!

Thank you very much! You gave me a lot to think about...

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

I love Disney and want as much time there when we go. That said I would rather see my child walk across and not having a picture of DH, the graduating kid and me would be just as tragic as not getting a picture of the kids in front of the castle. I have 5 and 2 steps and I will be at all 7 graduations. JMO

 

[disneydance]

I love Disney with passion and I actually graduated in 2012 and honestly I would never miss graduation for anything. My graduation wasn't exactly ideal I attend a fairly large school in the Seattle Washington area which many people know we don't exactly have the best weather. Instead of having graduation in the local arena our school got this lovely idea to save money and hold graduation in our football stadium. To say the least it poured all night and we were already completely soaked by the time we got to our seats. But honestly that is the one night that everything from K-12 leads up to. Many of our elementary and middle school teachers walk too in honor of us. I wouldnt miss the moment of walking across the stage and being handed my diploma for anything in the world it was honestly a moment of completion we all knew as a class that we had finally done we had sought out to do since we were in Kindergarten. Also I dont know if your school does this but after the ceremony our school hosts a grad night which pretty every Senior attends its pretty much just all nighters with events throughout the state of Washington which are really cool. For example we went to a club on Capitol Hill in Seattle and had dancing, all the food you can eat in the world and the main highlight was hypnotist and the show was amazing to say the least. Then we went to Wild Waves which is Washingtons six flags and had the whole park to ourselves it crazy and so much fun. It was the final moment where our class was altogether and I most likely wont see many of the people in my class ever again. I wouldnt miss graduation for anything but thats just me. Disney will always be there but graduation will not.

 

[theworldneedscolor]

I'm also going to Disney for my graduation gift in 2014

Honestly, I don't think you should skip your graduation ceremony. I'm sure now you wouldn't regret it, but would you in a couple years? 10? 20? You can't know for sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion you would. I'm not thrilled about mine either, because I don't like the majority of my class, and I have major stage fright. But I know that I would majorly regret missing that moment with all my friends.

 

[xApril]

It's really hard to say since everyone's different. To some it may be important, to some not. I know for prom, everyone said I'd regret not going and I have absolutely no feelings of regret. So this may be just like that for you.

However for me, graduation was the last time I saw many of my friends that I spent those four years of high school with for the last time. Just depends on you if that's an issue at all.

I'd suggest Art of Animation. I stayed there for one night back in September because I love the Lion King and I thought it was a gorgeous resort.

 

[asouthernbelle]

]I went to my high school graduation and I really wish that i had gone to disney....high school graduation was a waste of time. I wouldn't skip college graduation for Disney,but honestly if you're going to keep up with the people you're going to keep up with the people otherwise you really wouldn't have hung out with them that much on graduation day anyway. the only person you really want to hang out with in over 4 years is going to be your best friend, and even then, sporadically. Go enjoy Disney and the rest of your life! And congratulations!

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

Thanks for everyone's opinions! I knew I would get mixed opinions on this but I'm glad I got to hear from both sides Really as much as people tell me I will regret it or why would my parents not want to see me graduate? We are just not a family like that. It's not that they aren't proud of me, but after going through two other graduations with my brothers, we saw that really you don't get much time to do anything other than get your diploma sit through hours of rewards to the same people who always win them and then either go to a party full of drinking or go home. For us we just feel like family time is more important and a separate day with my friends where I can actually hang out with them and say goodbye would be better...I still haven't made my decision, because I do understand what you guys are saying but that was just our point of view.

Also I have been looking at AoA and it looks awesome! I love the Nemo room! I can't believe how much I love it for a value resort

 

[keri125]

Thanks for everyone's opinions! I knew I would get mixed opinions on this but I'm glad I got to hear from both sides Really as much as people tell me I will regret it or why would my parents not want to see me graduate? We are just not a family like that. It's not that they aren't proud of me, but after going through two other graduations with my brothers, we saw that really you don't get much time to do anything other than get your diploma sit through hours of rewards to the same people who always win them and then either go to a party full of drinking or go home. For us we just feel like family time is more important and a separate day with my friends where I can actually hang out with them and say goodbye would be better...I still haven't made my decision, because I do understand what you guys are saying but that was just our point of view.

Also I have been looking at AoA and it looks awesome! I love the Nemo room! I can't believe how much I love it for a value resort

Honestly, OP, and I don't mean this rudely, it sounds like you have made up your mind and just want validation for your decision! You know yourself and your family and you know what you want! Go to Disney!! Personally, I think that is a wonderful dilemma to have! LOL! Like a PP said regarding Prom... I went to my jr prom and had an ok time, skipped my sr prom and had an even better time with my friends, so no regrets there. Have a great time and congratulations on graduating!!

 

[DisneyFreak98]

Being homeschooled, I won't have a graduation anyways, so I can't really say what I would do. But if I were you, I would pick Disney! Graduation doesn't sound that important to you, so if it's not, why go?
Also, I love Port Orleans Riverside!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Personally, I wouldn't want to miss my high school graduation. It's your last chance to see most of your friends, classmates, teachers, etc. But if you wouldn't care about missing it, then miss it. It doesn't matter what your friends or anybody else thinks if you skip graduation for Disney. Like I said, I wouldn't pass up graduation, even if it did mean I got to spend more days in Disney, but it sounds like you really want to. Go for it, you may regret it in the future though.
All three of the monorail resorts are my favorite, so I recommend any of them

 

[AVDisney]

In my opinion, high school graduation is a big mile stone in your life. It's something almost everyone has been through and it's a great experience. If I were you, I wouldn't miss graduation! You WILL regret it in the long run and plus it doesn't shorten your Disney trip if you go to graduation!!!

I suggest the Polynesian if you want to be in a resort with a monorail and don't want noise because the Polynesian has different buildings that are far enough away from the monorail that you don't hear it. My family has done this in years past. Though, my personal favorite is Wilderness Lodge so I think you should try that! Though it doesn't have a monorail, it has a boat to the Magic Kingdom and it includes THE BEST restaurant in ALL of WDW...Whispering Canyon Cafe. But I also would like to bring up the point that if you want to go to a specific park for a majority of your trip then pick a resort near that park. For example, if you want to go to Epcot a lot, one of your options (and in my opinion, the best) is the Boardwalk. You can walk to Epcot (and Hollywood Studios, I might add) from there. And the actual boardwalk is amazing!!! The best pool, I believe, is at the Yacht and Beach Club, if you're interested in hanging by the pool. The pool is HUGE and has different attractions (for example, a whirl pool that I could spend hours in.) It also has a beach, of course! So, depending on your interests, your resort choice will be different.

I really hope this helps you and have a great trip!!!

 

[DisneyBalloons]

I know everyone is giving you varied opinions, but it really comes down to how you feel about your high school. As much as I loved high school and would give anything to go back, I would have skipped my graduation in a heartbeat to go to Disney (and I spoke at my graduation!). Graduation is not the last time you'll see your friends if they're truly your friends, but it is technically the last time you'll be in school as a student. So I guess you need to weigh the options, but it sounds like you're leaning towards the happiest place on earth (not counting DL). That being said, why not stay at a hotel on the monorail? If it counts for anything, I prefer Polynesian over Contemporary.

 

[trewin]

I think if you need to do what you feel is right. If you are leaning towards WDW - I say go for it! I graduated 8 years ago and can honestly say I wouldn't have regretted missing it if I had. Like the PP said - you'll see / talk to your real friends regardless. Aren't there graduation parties all summer? And you spent 12 years with your class, you prob have other memories like the class party, dances, all sorts of stuff....Anyways, you won't be the only person missing, surely there are a few who won't walk b/c grades, behavior, maybe they are sick or somebody else is on vacation...I am sure your family knows you, if they thought you'd regret it they wouldn't have made the suggestion!