VERY Upset!!!!!!!!!

[kakiegirl]

Hey! I understand your frustration. We fanatics all plan our disney vacation down to the last detail so far in advance and then to have a wrench put in our plans is disapointing. Our reservations were originally for the 1st week in June and thankfuly we found out ahead there are special events going on at that time that we would personally rather not be there during. I am just glad we found out in time to change our reservations to the last of June. Maybe you can change your PS to another night, and hopefully they have the Fireworks and Parades on diffrent night to make up for the inconveience to resort guests. Have a great trip.

Grad Night is a great reward for Seniors and it is not just for Fl residents, my graduating class from GA went in 1987 (opps I told me age). We had a blast and made some memories I will never forget. I remember we had to wear dresses and the guys had to wear ties

 

[DizBelle]

why isn't it fair to tourists? because disney actually continues a time-honored tradition by giving up 1 park after hours to the locals? kids down here wait their school years for grad night, it's a perk. like going to epcot on field trips. just change your plans.

The problem is that it isn't occurring "after hours". The park is closing hours earlier than it would otherwise to accomodate this event. It would be different if the park was open until 9 or 10 like it would on other weekends during April, and THEN they had the event. But the park is closing early for it.

 

[WDSearcher]

The problem is that it isn't occurring "after hours". The park is closing hours earlier than it would otherwise to accomodate this event. It would be different if the park was open until 9 or 10 like it would on other weekends during April, and THEN they had the event. But the park is closing early for it.

Interestingly, Grad Night USED to start at 10pm and go until 2 or 3 in the morning. Disney stopped doing that due to the large numbers of guest complaints from people who were staying at the Poly and Contemporary. They complained about noise from the concerts and fireworks, and from all the busses leaving the parks at 3am.

So, Disney decided that they would, instead, run Grad Nites earlier.

Darned if they do .... darned if they don't.

 

[sk!mom]

I'm so excited to be going on a quick WDW vacation during this time that I can't get upset. We have a PS at Whispering Canyon at 5:00- we would have gone back to MK but now we will go to EMH or over to Epcot for a few hours.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I would think they would keep EPCOT open late, maybe change your days around?

 

[cruiseonmagic]

Interestingly, Grad Night USED to start at 10pm and go until 2 or 3 in the morning. Disney stopped doing that due to the large numbers of guest complaints from people who were staying at the Poly and Contemporary. They complained about noise from the concerts and fireworks, and from all the busses leaving the parks at 3am.

So, Disney decided that they would, instead, run Grad Nites earlier.

"Grad Nite 2005" does start at 10pm and goes through 4am. What they have earlier is the "blast off" from 8pm-10pm. Some of the groups go to MK at 8, some have a cookout at FW, and some have functions at pleasure island.

For those wondering about the dress code--it's not exactly strict.

Acceptable for Her--Dresses, Skirts, Shorts, Casual pants (including jeans), blouses and tops

Comfortable shoes (including tennis shoes, dress sandals, and boots)

Acceptable for Him--Casual pants (including khaki style and jeans), Shirts with collar (golf style shirts, dress shirts), Sport jackets, Dress suits

Comfortable shoes (including tennis shoes, dress shoes, and boots)

What's Out-- Clothing with holes or shredding
Clothing with obscene or offensive language or graphics
Backpacks of any type, size, or style
Visible undergarmets
Clothing that exposes excessive portions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate at a school function, e.g., bikini tops and bottoms

Unacceptable for Her--Tops that show the midriff

Unacceptable for Him--Tank-tops, Under-shirts

 

[Vivianne]

This is why I try to check for events while planning for any vacation. It make a difference on hotel pricing, availability and crowds. I learned this the hard way too!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I am shocked this post is still going. I got so ripped apart for it originally that I found out I will never post "bad/judgemental" things about Disney again.

AND I LOVE DISNEY!!!! I was just expressing an opinion, that apparently a lot of others never shared.

Thank you Jovidan for your support, and the very few others who could feel my frustration. Every once and a while it still gets to me, but what can you do. I have my PS for the MK at 5:30 on both our first/last nights until we get kicked out....

I just cannot wait to go, about 4 weeks now.

Wow, you think THIS is being ripped apart???? You should see some of the posts on the DVC thread. Looks like everyone here is being very supportive, save one or two little zings.
I agree that it is a big inconvenience to have MK closed for your big weekends, and I'd feel the same way...disappointed...but it isn't the end of the world (pun intended). There's SO much more magic than what is found in MK!

 

[ladygypsy]

Heck, graduating from kindergarten and 5th grade is a big deal here. We have a graduation ceremony, prom, class trip, yearbooks, the whole thing.

Since chaperones have to attend, there's a dress code, of course no alcohol in the MK, why isn't this event open to graduating 8th graders?

To be blunt, graduating high school is a bigger accomplishment than graduating middle school (or preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school). Almost 100% of the time, the next step after Grade 8 is simply Grade 9. The workload and responsibility level in high school is more intensive than 8th grade. After high school, graduating seniors have adult decisions to make. College? Career? Military? In some states, they could have even chosen NOT to finish high school.

I think it would really trivialize the seniors' accomplishments to have to share their Grad Nights with 8th graders.

 

[Wendy31]

Hmm . . . I'll probably get flamed for this &, being that I'm a newbie, what do I know anyway, right?

But, I tend to agree w/ the OP. There's nothing wrong w/ Grad Nights - it's great that Disney has this for seniors. I would have loved going to the MK for a Grad Night when I was a senior.

W/ that being said, however, not all of us are Florida residents. Not all of us "know" Disney's schedule. I shouldn't have to research historical calendars & dates. I knew about Grad Nights, but I didn't know they closed the park early to other guests. I assumed that Grad Nights were after the normal closing. If I have paid for a full-priced ticket to Disney & my ticket is for the day(s) when Grad Night is scheduled, I'm going to be a little annoyed to discover that the MK is closing hours early on the date I'm scheduled to be there, and, not only that, but events like "Wishes" & "Spectromagic" are cancelled.

Yes, I should plan around that. But, how? If you don't know about Grad Night & its specifics, how can you plan? And, I think it's rather rude for some of you to tell the OP that she "should have known better". Again, how?

It all comes back to Disney & their customer service.

When I call Disney to make my reservations, the CM should inform me of what's going on during my stay. Is it their obligation? No. Is it good customer service. Yes. And I thought Disney prided themselves on excellent customer service.

I am paying Disney. I am purchasing a service through them.

I shouldn't have to buy the Unofficial Guide or research unofficial web sites. And, who knows - the info might be on Disney's site, but, what if I didn't even know about Grad Night to even inquire?

I have 2 young children. If I didn't know about "Gay Day" & planned my trip for a time when "Gay Day" was scheduled, I would appreciate (& expect) the CM to tell me when I called to make reservations.

And, it's just pure pixie dust that our trip isn't scheduled for when Grad Nights are scheduled. Again, I knew about Grad Nights but assumed it happened after the MK was closed.

And, it's not like the majority of these events' dates are posted to the general public in advance. However, most of the time, you schedule your vacation in advance. And, just because Grad Nights or Gay Days might have been scheduled for certain weekends in the past doesn't mean that they will be scheduled for the same weekends in the future. Just look at the EMH's for proof that "historical dates & times" aren't necessarily the best things to look at when planning.

The more things I read & the more encounters I have w/ CM's over the phone, the more disenchanted I become w/ Disney - especially w/ the scheduling. As an example, you have to make your PS's 90 days out, but the park hours aren't out yet. And I read somewhere that CM's don't "volunteer" info over the phone. Why? How do I know the right questions to ask? Why can't a CM be informative? And, why is that too much to ask?

The other night, I was watching a story on "Dollywood" in TN on the Travel Channel. To be an employee at Dollywood, you have to attend "Dolly U". During training, future employees are instructed on how to anticipate guests' questions & give them the info that they're really after but don't know how to ask. I know (or think) that future Disney employees go through training - so where is the evidence of their excellent customer service? And, it may be different when we're there. I hope I'm totally awed by the friendly attitude & terrific customer service of CM's, but, so far, I haven't encountered anything special over the phone w/ any of the CM's.

And, I think, some of you can be a bit more understanding & little less condescending.

 

[Talking Hands]

I understand the poster's frustration.
Well, April is certainly peak season, so for Disney to close the Magic Kingdom to the public at 7:00, just to make a few extra bucks off of grad night....I don't blame the OP for being upset.

Actually the portion of April when Grad Night occurs is not peak season. Peak season part of April is around Easter. And with Easter early this year peak season is oover earlier.

 

[Talking Hands]

W/ that being said, however, not all of us are Florida residents. Not all of us "know" Disney's schedule. I shouldn't have to research historical calendars & dates. I knew about Grad Nights, but I didn't know they closed the park early to other guests. I assumed that Grad Nights were after the normal closing. If I have paid for a full-priced ticket to Disney & my ticket is for the day(s) when Grad Night is scheduled, I'm going to be a little annoyed to discover that the MK is closing hours early on the date I'm scheduled to be there, and, not only that, but events like "Wishes" & "Spectromagic" are cancelled.
I have 2 young children. If I didn't know about "Gay Day" & planned my trip for a time when "Gay Day" was scheduled, I would appreciate (& expect) the CM to tell me when I called to make reservations.

First Florida residents have no more information on what is scheduled than anyone else. We go to the website just as you do. If we can find it so can you. Yes, a few know about Grad Nights because we work in school systems or have children who have attended Grad Night.
Second, as to Gay Day, this is not a Disney planned or supported event so why should it be on their website. It is an event that is set up by a outside group. Do you expect Disney to inform you of every convention group that will be visiting the parks during their convention? McDonalds, Tupperware, etc. Same thing. CM cannot tell you of events that are not Disney sponsored. To be blunt, you have no right to expect that. Btw if you don't want to be there at that time don't go the week prior to the first Saturday in June. And don't go to MK the first Saturday in June.

 

[safetymom]

I can see the people complaining if when they called to schedule their PS or whatever and the CM insisted on telling them everything that was going on. People would be posting here how all they wanted to do was make a PS and the CM went on and on about what was happening in the parks.

Disney is the standard of Customer service. Many businesses schedule seminars to learn the customer service ways of Disney.

 

[Wendy31]

You're right. Gay Days aren't sponsored by Disney. I know that. And I don't equate Gay Days w/ Tupperware conventions.

Last August, I reserved a condo for a week in St. Augustine. When I called to make the reservation, the employee told me that their pool was currently closed due to some hurricane damage. She said that they hoped to to have it open by the Monday of our stay (we were arriving on a Saturday), but she felt it only fair to let me know.

That's the kind of customer service I expect from Disney.

And, no, I don't want the CM to list park hours & events when I call to make a PS. I don't think I said that. I said it would be nice if the park hours were posted at 90 days out so that one could plan PS's a bit better.

However, I don't think it's too much to ask for a CM to inform me of special events like Grad Nights when I make my reservation if my trip is going to coincide w/ the event. Because, an event like Grad Night, would effect my trip.

And, yes, I'm fully aware that "Disney is the standard of Customer service" (or, at least, is supposed to have that reputation). That's why I expect more.

 

[Talking Hands]

You're right. Gay Days aren't sponsored by Disney. I know that. And I don't equate Gay Days w/ Tupperware conventions.
Last August, I reserved a condo for a week in St. Augustine. When I called to make the reservation, the employee told me that their pool was currently closed due to some hurricane damage. She said that they hoped to to have it open by the Monday of our stay (we were arriving on a Saturday), but she felt it only fair to let me know.

Sorry you don't equate Tupperware with Gay Days because the situation is exactly the same. Gay Days is a convention put on by a Gay organization with activities set up for different days of the convention. Tupperware is a convention of Tupperware consultants and their families with different activities set up for different days of the convention. Disney has no right to inform anyone of conventions set up by private organizations.
What if the Southern Baptists or Jehovah's Witness had a big national convention in Orlando and planned for their members to attend the MK for one day. Same thing.
Your example is not the same. They told you of something affecting the facility. Physical damage making the pool unusable. Something you did have a right to know as the pool was an expected amenity. Apples and oranges
Again. No one has a right to expect Disney to inform them of outside conventions which may or may not have activities planned for one of the parks. Just because it is called Gay Day doesn't change that.

 

[ms.ojo]

I am shocked this post is still going. I got so ripped apart for it originally that I found out I will never post "bad/judgemental" things about Disney again.

AND I LOVE DISNEY!!!! I was just expressing an opinion, that apparently a lot of others never shared.

Thank you Jovidan for your support, and the very few others who could feel my frustration. Every once and a while it still gets to me, but what can you do. I have my PS for the MK at 5:30 on both our first/last nights until we get kicked out....

I just cannot wait to go, about 4 weeks now.

I understand. We are traveling at the same time. I was aware of Grad nights so I don't have a PS those evenings...but I'm still bummed there is currently no Spectro magic parade planned for during our stay!!! I'm not quite sure how this thread went from being about a disappointment on no Spectro parades and MK closing early 2 weekends in a row...to Gay Days. But the fact remains, I too wish there was a Spectro Parade sometime during our April visit. I will miss it! But I AM still hopeful one will be added.

 

[Wendy31]

You are so right. Disney is by no way obligated to let me know of outside conventions. And I certainly didn't mean to turn this thread into a "Gay Day" discussion - I was merely using that as an example - for which I was corrected (& attacked) numerous times, thank you very much.

However, I stand by original statement. It is not too much to ask that, when I book a reservation for a CM to be "customer-friendly" enough to let me know if a park is going to close early due to an event that is scheduled during my trip -

"I see that you're going to be here during our Grad Night and just wanted to let you know the Magic Kingdom will close at 7:00 pm on the Friday and Saturday during your stay."

And, just like the pool being closed possibly effecting our stay at the condo, MK closing early effects our stay at Disney.

And, again - What's with the condescending attitudes? Yeah, I'm a newbie. We haven't been to Disney since 1991, & I'm not as familiar w/ Disney as most of you. That's why I come here. Knowledge is a valuable thing.

 

[Talking Hands]

Actually I don't see where you have been attacked at all. And I see no one being condescending either. Because the replies are not to your liking is not an attack or condescention.

 

[2princessintraining]

I am sorry for all the negativety on this thread.

Being from NY I still wouldv'e never known about Grad nites until I went on allearsnet and found out about it. I never heard of them before.

The MK is my girls favorite part of Disney, and being PAYING customers it is not open to us THREE nights of our vacation....that is a lot of time missed!!!

That being said, I am still going, still going to have a GREAT time, and have learned to deal with it....I shouldn't have to though. And yes, I have made reservations in other places and known about conventions, and such.

I am sure if it fell under some of your vacations you would feel the same way, especially if your kids were the ones being disappointed!!

 

[DisneyGirl2005]

I never went to Grad Night even though I lived in St. Petersburg when I graduated from high school. There was no way I wanted to go to Disney in a DRESS. LOL Do they still have that horrid dress code?

I don't know when you graduated but they had the dress code when I went in '87. We never could figure out why we had to get dressed up to go to Disney. But it was worth it cause I had a great time.

I feel bad for the OP and any other vacationers who might have their plans changed because of this. However I have such wonderful memories of my Grad night that I would hate to see Disney do away with it. The best solution IMHO would be for Disney to announce these events much sooner than they currently do. This way vacationers could plan accordingly.