Visiting during Gay Days 2014

[klepton]

Hi guys!

I realized after booking that we'll be visiting Disney during Gay days this year. That doesn't really bother me, and in fact my first thought was that it might be cool to experience. I have no problem with gay individuals and am not afraid to have a conversation with my daughter about it should she have questions.

Then I started wondering if it was going to be a lot more crowded, so started researching and came across this:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-gay-days.htm

Obviously this is one man's view, but this did bother me a bit if it really is like that. Particularly the parts about the host hotel. I did verify that we are nowhere near the host hotel (our hotel did it last year), so we're good there. But I wanted to get some other people's thoughts who have experienced this. Is magic kingdom really transformed to a non-family-friendly place on that Saturday? Are the other parks similar on their designated days? If we avoid the host hotel, and the park that's designated for that day, will we safely avoid the "south beach" atmosphere the link above referred to?

I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here, just trying to make sure I have the information to make this the best possible vacation for my family. Thanks so much!

 

[jpeka65844]

We went once during Gay Days. We had no idea. You'll see more same-sex parents with children but we saw no PDA's or inappropriate clothes.

I think Pete's blog was written years ago and maybe things have changed now??

 

[Brave teacher]

My family and I have been to WDW every year around this time for quite a few years. I must have blinders on when I am in the parks because I don't notice anyone else's behavior (for the most part). I do notice that there are more same sex families in the park on some days later in the week, but I have never seen any behavior that made me think it was inappropriate for public display...whether it be from a gay couple, a lesbian couple, or a hetero couple.

I think your original thought about going during the first week of June was more accurate. I have never been in the MK on it's designated Saturday, so I can't offer you any help with that aspect. I have been in AK and DHS on their designated days, and we had no problems. The description in the article is far different than anything we have ever experienced in WDW during Gay Days.

Hope this helps slightly.

 

[JillyBean1899]

The Gay Days schedule for 2014:
Thu, June 5 - Animal Kingdom
Fri, June 6 - Disney's Hollywood Studios
Sat, June 7 - Magic Kingdom
Sun, June 8 - Epcot

The only change in plans I'd make is to avoid those parks on those specific days. Yes, not all of the gay families will be confined to those parks on those days, but they'll certainly be concentrated there. Which means more people than would usually be there.

Other than that, just have fun.

 

[Planogirl]

I know a gay couple that has been and they said that things only tended to get rowdy at the clubs in the evenings. Those are closed now so the only wilder party places are private and offsite from what I'm told so you shouldn't have any problems.

I would suggest avoiding the park of the day just to avoid crowds. If you go you won't likely see anything that you wouldn't see any other day.

 

[glassslippergirl]

We were in MK on the designated day last year. I did not see anything near what was described in that article. There were many same sex couples and groups of men dressed in matching gay day shirts. But there was nothing that I would consider not family friendly. I saw no PDA's, no couples that made me want to shout "get a room," and definitely no signs if drug use mentioned in the article.

In fact, the worst thing I saw was before we entered the park. A plane was flying over the main welcome to Disney World sign; it had a banner saying, "Warning: Gay Days at Disney." It was both hurtful and unnecessary. I was there with my ten-month-old son. If he had been a little older, I feel like the only thing I might have to explain to him about Gay Days was that banner and how hurtful people can sometimes be.

If you do go and want to really chuckle, check out the Gay Days shirts that many create and wear. They are very clever!

 

[nfouey]

The only inappropriate behavior I have ever seen during theses designated days was two teenage boys walking around counting how many gay people they could find! So yes, I agree with the previous posters, it is a non issue. Just avoid the designated parks to avoid crowds in general.

I have also been to disney during a cheerleader event. That was far more impactful in terms of inappropriate behavior. No lie, on 3 different bus rides, groups of rowdy teenage girls fell on top of me! It became the ongoing joke of our trip!

Whether you have pop Warner, cheerleaders, or other touring groups, your vacation will only be impacted if you let it bother you! Relax, follow the recommended parks, and enjoy the time with your family!

 

[tajz90]

Frequent June visitors during this time for years. Never saw a thing. I can't even say I saw same sex couples since you can't tell them apart from brothers, sisters, cousins.... Who knows family dynamics & travel.

We never even tried to find out what day the designated park was. We always felt the first few weeks in June were much lower crowd levels than the rest of the summer, so we just went and enjoyed.

I wouldn't bother "explaining" anything to my child either. It's not like they're animals in a zoo that need explanation. Go, have fun!

Now Star Wars weekend..... That may need some explanation!

I've never seen anything like the article describes!

 

[DizFanSLD]

We have been during Gay Days for several trips now, and all we did was avoid the specific parks on the schedule those days because of the anticipated larger crowds. The one thing I would avoid is the crowds in Frontierland on Saturday afternoon during the "Bears see the Bears" event. The Country Bear jamboree gets backed up for three or four shows before the crowd thins back out.

Lots of great family groups - some quite large - and many wearing fun matching T-shirts.

We wore our Rainbow mickey pins in support - a Family is a Family!

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I was at MK last year on Gay Days on Saturday, along with my 4-year old nephew, and didn't witness anything out of the ordinary. The park didn't even seem more busy or crowded than usual for a Saturday in the summer. Other than a large number of matching shirts, I probably wouldn't have even noticed an event was going on.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's a non-issue. I was there last year, with my 19 y/o dd. I saw absolutely nothing out of the ordinary happening. As far as that article that Pete wrote goes....it's several years old...actually quite a few years. The only rowdy and obnoxious behavior is at the host resort/hotel as well as gay bars. And the host resorts are not on WDW property! It's just nothing I worry about.

 

[HereForMinnie]

I don't think you have anything to worry about as far as crowds. I ended up at MK on one of the Gay Days and didn't realize what day it was until I saw the red shirts.

I think I'm in the minority because I never try to avoid Gay Days, Pop Warner or tour groups. I find the closed roads, booked spas and inflated resort prices because of the marathons much more annoying.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Back in the early 1990's a co-worker and her college roommate went during gay days because those particular days were during the break between spring and summer session. They had no idea what was being celebrated, but noticed that people were particularly friendly to them - then they finally found the clue bus and go on. They decided that people could think whatever they liked, and if it got them extra camaraderie, Go Gay Days! So I have to wonder if even back in the day, that blog is very accurate. They were two girls from a Christian denomination sponsored university and saw nothing that wasn't family friendly, and, in fact, co-worker still talks about it and says that it was the friendliest crowd of people she's ever been around on a vacation.

If I could only go during Gay Days or during a cheerleader conference, I'd choose Gay Days hands down!

 

[Rosco1]

Now Star Wars weekend..... That may need some explanation!

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

We went the summer of 2012 during Gay Days and are planning another trip during the same time period this year. We loved it. I think all the homophobics stay away so the crowds were very low. I also noticed that the crowds didn't become noticeable until later in the day. We actually started to go to the specified "Gay park of the day" because they were so empty in the mornings. I also noticed that while the sidewalk area may be crowded, the ride queues were very short. All the people in red shirts were hanging out and talking in front of rides.

The only semi negative thing I saw/heard I actually found very funny. My husband was walking about 30 feet ahead of my daughter and myself. He was trying to push our, very big for his age, son in his stroller. DS was putting his foot on the front wheel causing the stroller to veer into the opposite flow of foot traffic. The stroller lurched toward a group of 4 guys in red shirts. They pass my husband who is struggling with DS and the stroller, and as they pass DD and I, we hear them say in a very snarky voice "Ugggh! Breeders!" I couldn't help but laugh.

We didn't have to "explain" anything to our kids, we have always just mentioned matter of fact that some families have 2 similar sex parents. The only thing I had to explain to my children was the plane flying by with a warming about gay days banner.

 

[bcrook]

I have visited often during this time period. it is an exciting time. There is a lot of energy in the air. I have found that the crowds are lower at MK on the designated day - I think some people must avoid it. So I like to schedule that day on my itinerary.

I have consistently found Epcot to be rowdy and extra crowded on the designated Gay Day in the evening. I found it to be like a Saturday during F&W festival. So I avoid that.

Another interesting scheduling option shows up at this time of the year.

On the weekend sometimes there is a day that doesn't have a special event. For example: Star Wars Weekend at DHS, EMH morning at MK and Gay Day at Epcot. When that happens, I circle the leftover park and head there. In this case Animal Kingdom. I enjoy low crowds that day.

 

[klepton]

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I had thought/hoped that this was the response I would get. I just can't imagine things being like the post I linked to. The only conflicting info I've heard now is how crowded the parks (particularly MK) are on the designated "gay day." We'll just have to play things by ear. We'll have the park hopper option so no worries. I do want to at least check it out though. PP said there was a lot of good energy, which I can totally see.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The Gay Days schedule for 2014:
Thu, June 5 - Animal Kingdom
Fri, June 6 - Disney's Hollywood Studios
Sat, June 7 - Magic Kingdom
Sun, June 8 - Epcot

The only change in plans I'd make is to avoid those parks on those specific days. Yes, not all of the gay families will be confined to those parks on those days, but they'll certainly be concentrated there. Which means more people than would usually be there.

Other than that, just have fun.

There was a thread on here jus the other day where some folks were saying they ignored the "warnings" and actually had VERY small crowds in the designated parks. Seems so many people assumed those parks would be crowded that everyone went elsewhere leaving those parks really light. I could see that happening

 

[boBQuincy]

The Gay Days website claims that 50,000 of their group may be at Magic Kingdom on Saturday. I try to avoid MK when *any* group that large plans to be there.
On the other hand, every planning site I read says that Gay Days at the parks do not increase attendance significantly and that the participants arrive late and leave early. It doesn't seem like there is any reason to be concerned or to change plans.

 

[stasijane]

I went last year and while I was at HS most of the time the only reason I noticed it was during this time was the plane that kept flying around with the big Banner that said it was Gay Days.