Visiting during Gay Days 2014

[disnut8]

From the article (he might have started out with this and the tone of the article would have been vastly different) -

"I’ve stayed at Disney hotels, sailed on the Disney Cruise Line and probably eaten in every restaurant on Disney property – on both coasts– and done all of it with my male partner. NEVER ONCE was I treated any differently than any other guest – it was a non issue – the way it should be. That’s Disney's policy and it’s a good one. In return for that, my partner and I act appropriately when we’re in public – the way any couple should – straight or gay."

I think the last sentence is important for how the article was written. Acting "appropriately" can mean different things to different people at different times. He didn't agree with what he saw at the Magic Kingdom in recent years on that Saturday. But I also don't think he saw every single same sex couple in the park pushing their ideas on unsuspecting families. His article title is why *he's* not going to Gay Days this year and that's fine. He's not comfortable with it (and he is gay). Each person makes their own decisions in life and his is to stay home this year.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Have gone many times with no unpleasantness with children and teens. First time we just didn't know. I would avoid parks designated for gay days just because I try to pick parks that will be least crowded. I have never noticed gay people being any more indiscreet or inappropriate than anyone else. Just families of all sorts having Disney fun. Someday this will be a non issue.

 

[monkistan]

I've been twice. Once on my 30th birthday, once on my 32nd. My birthday is in early june, and the first time, I had no idea that i was Gay Days when I went down there. It was justly sister and I. I knew Gay Days happened, just not when.

In all honesty, I don't think I ever saw any real inappropriate behavior. At all. The strangest thing I saw was 6 bears trying to squeeze onto a tea cup. It was pretty jovial and funny.

Overall, we had two of the best disney trips ever. I found the people in the parks to be friendlier, on average, than when we normally go (in the fall), and there was a very positive supportive spirit in the parks. A lot of families. Proud parents of gay children, etc...

I can't speak about the host hotel, but I do know that the parks never felt incredibly crowded. We were in Magic Kingdom on the big day, and it was fine.

I kinda miss gay days, though beware, the weather is HOT!

 

[My sister's princess]

We went a few years ago, avoided the "official" park to avoid the crowds. We only had one bit of unpleasantness. We were in line to ride Buzz Lightyear and two women were doing their very best to make everyone around them uncomfortable. They were making out with each other, making lots of noise but both were looking around at the people in line while doing it, very bizarre! I don't want to see anyone making out in line

That was literally the only thing that made us bat an eye, plenty of couples holding hands and families enjoying their days, but that is just Disney happiness!

 

[blessedby3]

We were there in 2011 during the Gay Days timeframe.
We picked parks other than the promoted Gay Day park to avoid the crowds.
We had a great time and are going back this June but arriving on the last Gay Day.
I avoid any group gathering at WDW as I don't like the crowds. Star Wars weekend….be sure to avoid that one too as it gets crazy crowded.

 

[disnut8]

We went a few years ago, avoided the "official" park to avoid the crowds. We only had one bit of unpleasantness. We were in line to ride Buzz Lightyear and two women were doing their very best to make everyone around them uncomfortable. They were making out with each other, making lots of noise but both were looking around at the people in line while doing it, very bizarre! I don't want to see anyone making out in line

That was literally the only thing that made us bat an eye, plenty of couples holding hands and families enjoying their days, but that is just Disney happiness!

If they were in line, then the only people they could have influenced were the people around them which is a small group. I might have spoken up after a few minutes and quietly informed them they made their point so they should just move on. I'd do that on any day of the year to any couple at any place who felt a need to "demonstrate".

 

[B.B. Sots]

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

We have been to the parks twice during "Gay Days" and paid no attention to what park was listed for the designated day. We found most of the parks had below the 'predicted' crowd volume.

We never saw anything that we had to 'explain' nor did we have any issues with PDA or inappropriate activities. We saw nothing that we would not see on any normal day in any downtown Austin.

As TX schools generally let out the first week of June, this is when we tend to plan our trips and beat the rush of the Snow School states that let out in later June. I don't even think about it when booking anymore... it is a total non-issue for us.

 

[Haley/Hayden Mom]

We have been during gays days a few times and it is no problem. My daughters met the nicest couple of "bears" while waiting to go see the Country Bear Jamboree and they discussed the pins the girls had traded for and also the pins they brought. One of the gentlemen even liked a Minnie my daughter was going to trade and traded her a strawberry mouse ear pin he had bc he said she was soo sweet like strawberries. . They were telling them about the history of the Country Bear Jamboree and it my daughters loved it. You meet some really cool people whenever you go to Disney so don't let the gay days terms scare you off.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I took a trip last year that overlapped with gay days, and I had no idea anything special was going on. The more important park to avoid during this time of year, in my opinion, is DHS during Star Wars Weekends, unless you are an active participant of course. Not that the SW fans are obnoxious, the park is just packed to the gills.

That being said, I have a good friend who is gay and lives in Florida. He loves WDW and visits frequently throughout the year. However, each year around gay days he posts or tweets something about tolerance and acceptance that references and urges people to ignore "the trash happening in orlando." Maybe he had a bad experience in the past like the blog author, but maybe it has gotten better lately.

Like I said, I was there last year and certainly didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. I feel like there are plenty of examples of bad behavior in the parks every day that you may have to "explain" to your children that have nothing to do with PDA!

 

[ajh88]

We've been twice now too during official Gay Days. Haven't had any major issues or problems, didn't feel like crowds were too crazy, and didn't witness any inappropriate behavior (at least not any more than we usually see on a daily basis!). I did notice a couple of what were, IMHO, inappropriate t-shirts at MK one day, but that isn't unique to Gay Days either.

Go and have fun!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

...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.

This is true. We are not a morning people I would fully expect mornings at the Gay Days park(s) to be really light.

 

[plumsiren]

The whole tone of that article rubs me the wrong way. For one thing, the terminology is better suited to 1994 than 2014. Perhaps being from a younger generation of LGBT-ers gives me the perspective on the whole situation...or maybe we're just more likely to police our own than straight people are, especially if we think Disney is some kind of sacred space.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

The whole tone of that article rubs me the wrong way. For one thing, the terminology is better suited to 1994 than 2014. Perhaps being from a younger generation of LGBT-ers gives me the perspective on the whole situation...or maybe we're just more likely to police our own than straight people are, especially if we think Disney is some kind of sacred space.

You know, I can identify with the things Peter wrote. I can't stand the way that some fellow LGBTQ folks dress and act in public. On those grounds, Peter is totally entitled to his opinion.

On the other hand, how many of us have seen really out-there behavior by Disney visitors irrespective of their sexuality? I've seen people acting inappropriately on both coasts. People are going to be people. It isn't just on Gay Days that large groups of people make it less than fun to be in a Disney park. (Peter notes that, too.)

However, I think his definition of what is "family friendly" or appropriate behavior on the park of LGBTQ people differs from what my sense is about mainstream appropriate behavior. I've seen plenty of couples embrace, hold hands, say "I love you", and kiss--sometimes for a long time--in Disney parks. So has everyone else reading this. In Disney's eyes (and this is official policy), that's totally fine no matter whether the two people in question are opposite sex or same sex.

From reading the post, I get the feeling maybe Peter doesn't agree with Disney's take on acceptable behavior in the parks. What is important is this:
If someone complains to a CM that you're holding hands with or kissing your same-sex partner at a Disney park, policy directs the CM to remind the person complainig that Disney is a hate-free zone. If that means guests whose personal values choose to leave, so be it. Disney allows us all to express ourselves and our families in the parks.

I'd carefully note one more thing. Peter's post was in some ways a post about the social mores of Orlando. Although the enormity of WDW is located there, what is considered "family values" in largely rural Central Florida in no way is representative of the values of the entire country or the majority of guests who visit WDW. In Anaheim, this wouldn't be an issue. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[plumsiren]

I'd carefully note one more thing. Peter's post was in some ways a post about the social mores of Orlando. Although the enormity of WDW is located there, what is considered "family values" in largely rural Central Florida in no way is representative of the values of the entire country or the majority of guests who visit WDW. In Anaheim, this wouldn't be an issue. Take that for what it's worth.

I did wonder to what degree my New York City liberal values affected my judgement!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

This will be our 5th year at Gay Days. We are straight. We go to be with our friends. It is a BLAST, and we absolutely can not wait.
I have never seen any inappropriate behavior.
And yes, it is a chore to get everybody rounded up at 8 AM on Saturday if they have been at Riptide until 3 AM. But I manage to do it.

 

[soulmates]

I always wonder what people REALLY mean when they say "There wasn't any PDA" going on. We're not real big on PDA, but then, what married couple really is? However, we are married, we do hold hands and say things like "Babe" and "I love you". If that makes folks uncomfortable...well, their problems are clearly bigger than being around people who are different than them.

 

[momof1princess]

We were at WDW during gay days last year; and as others have said, we hardly noticed. The only issue we had was at epcot. A VERY intoxicated young man, who was, apparently, gay, took very belligerent issue with a man who was asking a CM which park was having gay days that day. I didn't hear the man's question, and he could've been a real jerk about it, but the young man was ready to fight, and his friends had to drag him away. I blame this more on the alcohol. I don't see the need for it at Disney, but that's a thread for another day.

 

[michelle06]

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.

Would you mind clarifying a bit? Which day do actually go to Animal Kingdom? I am curious about the logic here. Thanks!

 

[michelle06]

I have another question. We were thinking of doing the evening parade at MK that Saturday. Will the 50,000 crowd stay for that? It's hard enough fighting the nighttime parade mob. I certainly don't want to go if there will be an extra 50K people!

 

[bcrook]

Would you mind clarifying a bit? Which day do actually go to Animal Kingdom? I am curious about the logic here. Thanks!

If you cross out the parks with something special going on, that leaves just one park. For my example above - DHS had Star Wars Weekend, MK had EMH morning and Epcot was park of the day for Gay Days. So by eliminating those three parks - The Animal Kingdom was the best for my trip. And it was a great day to visit Animal Kingdom.

For this year: I am using June 2013 EMH times because I can't find June 2014. But for an example...

Thu, June 5 -
Animal Kingdom Gay Days
Magic Kingdom - EMH morning

Fri, June 6 -
Disney's Hollywood Studios SWW and Gay Days (I would avoid that one!)
Epcot - EMH morning

Sat, June 7 -
Magic Kingdom Gay Days
DHS - SWW
Animal Kingdom - EMH morning

Epcot would be my choice here.

Sun, June 8 -
Epcot Gay Days
DHS SWW
MK - EMH evening

Animal Kingdom Day for Me!

Now if I really wanted to go to SWW - I would probably go on Sunday.
Oh Well, just my system. I like having the extra variable of the Gay Days for planning.