Thoughts on Gay Days?

[san2ting2mom]

Anyone been to WDW during Gay Days? This usually takes place the first weekend in June, and this year, it will be from May 31 to June 5. Was it more crowded during those days? Did you feel it affected/influenced your visit in any way? Positive? Negative?

I've read that some organizations claim open acts of public promiscuity during those days. That's hard for me to believe, so just wondering if anyone has any "first-hand" accounts to share.

Any other comments/thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Linda

 

[momof404]

My inlaws took my nieces and nephew a few years ago on Gay Day. They were surprised such a thing existed, but didn't have a problem with it.

I've read that some organizations claim open acts of public promiscuity during those days

I don't know about promiscuity, but apparently so peoeple were going at it pretty heavy in some parts of the park. That's inappropriate behavior for anyone, hetero or otherwise, IMO. That's the only complaint my MIL mentioned.

I don't see a problem with Gay Day at all, except for the issue above.

 

[debbiedoo]

My vacation last year overlapped the last two days. We only went to the sunday day at epcot. I tried to get the family to go to another park for our first day, but the kids wanted to go to Epcot. I explained that if it got to busy then we would park hop to another park. we did not see anything out of the ordinary. Everything was pretty much laid back. I have heard to avoind MK on saturday. Which we do most of the time anyway--due to crowds. . .

You will probably see more at the resorts and PI, I would think. . .may be wrong. . .

You can go to two of the websites:

http://gayday.com

http://gaydays.com

They have schedules posted. I would plan to work around theirs and you should be fine.

Last year I was at SSR, and this year VWL and BCV

Hope this helps. . . . .

 

[ScottieDog]

I've read that some organizations claim open acts of public promiscuity during those days. That's hard for me to believe, so just wondering if anyone has any "first-hand" accounts to share.

Any other comments/thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Linda

Linda...I visited one site (created in opposition to Gay Days) that had several pictures of men behaving badly i,e simulating acts, groping etc... The pictures were akin to one of those "Girls Gone Wild" videos that are sold on TV. In defence of those guys, they all seemed pretty young, pretty drunk and from what I could see they were most likley on Pleasure Island.

I've never been to a Gay Day event but I'd be willing to bet that the folks who make apoint of going will be there with their children and have zero interest in causing a scene.

Cathryn~

 

[Bellefan66]

Cheers Scottiedog I have to agree, I really think things will be great. I'm like the average person out there...I love to hold hands w/ my hubby, and smooch him,but he's not a PDA kinda guy. Most people just hold hands, and I'm okay with that. I always feel like I'm the one intruding when you see ANY couple all over eachother. It's just plain tacky.Hopefully, you'll have a great time,hey, It's Disney,that says it all!

 

[DisneyVillain]

I'd be willing to bet that the folks who make apoint of going will be there with their children and have zero interest in causing a scene.

While we did avoid MK on Sat., I would say that this is very much a true statement.

I also think that there are close to as many people avoiding the gayday park of the day, as there are gays attending that park. Except for the MK on Sat., these people are not there to make a statement, they are there to enjoy Disneyworld.

I will also note that many of those who went to MK on Sat., migrated to Epcot in late afternoon and evening to avoid the huge crowd. These were louder and more "open" than those we saw at other times during the week, but we still didn't see anything worth complaining about. In fact, these people were very much there to have a good time, and I think that the mood was somewhat infectious. We wouldn't hesitate to return during gaydays.

 

[Bellefan66]

I also wanted to add, most people participating in Gay Days, bring their familes as well as extended familes. Just like you and me,when it comes to their love for Disney!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We were there in 2003 without knowing that there was such a thing. It didn't bother me in the least. The worst thing we saw were several couples holding hands. I've seen much worse from hetero couples!

 

[pplasky]

I wouldn't go if I could avoid it. I would not want to be put in the position of having to explain why two men or two women were kissing each other. We got caught in a gay day a few years ago with our now older children and, while no one was "going at it" there were men with visible nipple piercings and both gay men and lesbians showing quite a bit of affection towards one another that it made us uncomfortable. I guess the question is, how tolerant are you and how much do you consider too much for your children to be exposed to.

 

[mshrm]

I found out that our vacation overlapped the "Gay Days" (from the Unoficial Guide) and called WDW to ask about this. The operator I got didnt have a clue and said WDW was not part of the event and it was not planned for the park. THEN I went to the website gayday.com and looked at their schedule and WDW is most certainly in the plans.

Just like another poster stated I dont have the desire to explain to my young children why 2 men/2 women are kissing. Since we are going in a large group we informed all and then voted. The whole group chose to move our dates to the weekend before(memorial) and to leave out on the Friday that the GayDay events really begin at WDW.

I think with all things it just depends on how everyone feels about these things.

 

[NotUrsula]

The operator I got didnt have a clue and said WDW was not part of the event and it was not planned for the park.

The CM was telling you nothing but the truth. WDW is NOT contracted with the sponsoring groups to provide any services or special hotel rates/packages. Disney does not advertise the event or otherwise promote it in any way. Therefore, it does not appear on WDW's internal meeting calendars. Attendees just buy their tickets just like anyone else and present them at the gate. They also behave just like anyone else does in the theme parks, and get called on innappropriate behaviour just like anyone else would.

There are some private parties that are held at PI and at the waterparks after normal opening hours. The water-park parties are closed to the general public, so there is no chance that you might stumble over them without knowing in advance. PI being PI, there is always a chance that you might stumble over behaviour that is rather outre for a public place.

 

[WorldlyWise]

I've never been to a Gay Day event but I'd be willing to bet that the folks who make apoint of going will be there with their children and have zero interest in causing a scene.
Cathryn~

Sorry Scottie but we witnessed some disturbing behavior, even in MK. It is true that many participants bring their family and are not there for anything other than fun but some were on a rage.

I understand that the majority of the partying is done at PI. The year we happened to experience this event the theme was "A Day of Magic and a Night of Pleasure". You can probably witness too much PDA among any couples when music and alcohol are involved so PI events did not concern me.

At the park, my DD was only mildly curious about the men in Minnie ears (and bride ears) and I tried to take it as a joke. However, we did see a few men and (mostly) women behaving very inappropriately - especially given that it was the middle of the afternoon at MK. Really inconsiderate acts that made us very uncomfortable in the happiest place on earth.

LST - We are careful to avoid the parks on those days.

 

[fam4jc]

We went last year the first day of our trip. Didn't notice a thing. Although I was nervous about it before hand as we had two young dd's with us.. not a problem at all. I wouldn't hesitate to go again during that time, except I would go earlier in June or late May just for crowd control!

 

[Momof5cubs]

We went during Gay Days last year and saw zero disturbing behavior from any same sex couples. As a matter of fact, we didn't notice many gay couples, and the ones we did see were just going along having a good time like everyone else.
As far as PI is concerned, I would bet that people get drunk and act outrageously there all the time. You could probably go any weekend and take pics of questionable behavior, it's just not a big deal because those people aren't gay.

 

[Ahrizel]

We've hit gaydays twice, the first time by accident-simply didn't know about. The second time we knew and didn't care. We were also there for another event-'family pride'?-last June. Frankly, except for the red shirts that many were wearing for the event, I wouldn't have really noticed anything. In the parks I don't think anything past a pg level would be acceptable. But hugging, kissing, and holding hands are certainly normal behavior-Disney is a romantic vacation for many people. If you have to be told to 'get a room', you're over the line. But the same line should apply for both same and opposite sex couples. Truthfully the worst displays I've seen have been from hetero couples, never seen a gay couple go over the line in the parks. Pleasure Island is a much more adult atmosphere, many clubs have a age limit. It was always designed to be an adult playground-I would expect an entirely different class of behavior-not really for the kiddies.
As for gays at the parks, you do realize that gay people are at the parks everyday, both as guests and cm's? There are simply larger numbers during gaydays. By rights Disney really should do gaydays officially, they are a large group that brings in a great deal of business. They certainly do with many other groups.
I would avoid the park of the day, especially the MK. When the crowds are large enough to potentially close the gates, I don't want to be there! Other then that gaydays aren't really a problem, certainly better then oh say, the cheerleader invasions that occur periodically.

 

[colleen costello]

We were there last year during Gay Days. The main thing I noticed was groups of good-looking, impeccably dressed young men at the resort restaurants. These guys stood out as compared to the usual schlubby tourists (of which I am one!)

I actually considered going to the parks on designated days with my "Straight but Not Narrow" Tshirt to show support for the idea that familes come in all shapes and sizes. It was near a hundred degrees that weekend, though, and we wound up just hanging out by the pool. I was worried about heat plus crowds.

 

[crisi]

Gay couples, like straight couples, go to Disney World year round. Most of them behave appropriately in public year round...a few couples (straight and gay) need to get rooms!

We've seen same sex couples holding hands and kissing (public appropriate kissing, not sloppy tongue twisting kissing) when Gay Days isn't happening. If you really don't want to risk answering these questions for your kids, Disney may not be a great choice in vacation, as it is a year round popular choice for same sex couples (and lots of gay CMs as well, who occationally visit in civvies on their off days).

 

[lclark0621]

Gay or Straight, Black or White, Green or Purple... Really who cares?

If a straight couple is "going at it" in the parks, I would have a problem.
If a gay couple is "going at it" in the parks, I would have a problem.

It does not matter who is kissing who. What matters to me is if they are over the top & not behaving appropriatly in the parks.

As long as everyone plays nice, I could care less who you are there with.

Can't we all just get along?

 

[Momof5cubs]

Gay or Straight, Black or White, Green or Purple... Really who cares?

If a straight couple is "going at it" in the parks, I would have a problem.
If a gay couple is "going at it" in the parks, I would have a problem.

It does not matter who is kissing who. What matters to me is if they are over the top & not behaving appropriatly in the parks.

As long as everyone plays nice, I could care less who you are there with.

Can't we all just get along?

Well said, Lynn

 

[san2ting2mom]

Thanks to everyone for answering with your comments on what it was like there during past Gay Days. That's all I asked for. I was just curious what the park was like during those days, since I had read that last year, thousands and thousands of people converged at WDW just for the event. I was curious about crowds, and I was also interested in hearing some first-hand accounts. That was it. I was not questioning anyone's morality or lifestyle. I appreciate your responses, and especially to those who sent me private messages. I thank you for your honesty.

Linda