We got a Free Disney day for our bad experience

[Butterfly123]

Oh dear...this is kind of freaking me out. Three out of our four days are going to be grad nights...and the fourth is going to be The Lone Ranger premier. *sigh* I'm just glad that my kids are older teens themselves. They are used to hearing that language at school, unfortunately. I figure if we go with the big rides early, and plan for shows in the evening, we will manage. But I will plan on letting the CM's know about problem behavior. We had one week that the whole family could go together on this trip, so we will grin and make the best of it, and be happy that we are all at Disneyland together.

 

[sherilaine]

Oh dear...this is kind of freaking me out. Three out of our four days are going to be grad nights...and the fourth is going to be The Lone Ranger premier. *sigh* I'm just glad that my kids are older teens themselves. They are used to hearing that language at school, unfortunately. I figure if we go with the big rides early, and plan for shows in the evening, we will manage. But I will plan on letting the CM's know about problem behavior. We had one week that the whole family could go together on this trip, so we will grin and make the best of it, and be happy that we are all at Disneyland together.

Yes, I'd have my hip pressed against that rope if I were you, by mid afternoon it will get problematic. Would be interesting to see what your kids think, the language was not the issue as much for us as was the completely obnoxious behaviour, like they knew they would not get in trouble. Try to make the best of it and if stuff goes wrong, complain to city hall!!

 

[Shelly S]

Oh dear...this is kind of freaking me out. Three out of our four days are going to be grad nights...and the fourth is going to be The Lone Ranger premier. *sigh* I'm just glad that my kids are older teens themselves. They are used to hearing that language at school, unfortunately. I figure if we go with the big rides early, and plan for shows in the evening, we will manage. But I will plan on letting the CM's know about problem behavior. We had one week that the whole family could go together on this trip, so we will grin and make the best of it, and be happy that we are all at Disneyland together.

We are there at exactly the same time, staying at VGC. Originally I was not planning on early entry every day, but after reading all these posts I am getting everyone there for early entry and then leave to rest/swim when the crowds get bad and go back for shows in the evening. I am wondering how the night shows are affected by the grads. I am also planning on informing cast members of problems. Two years ago at the same time of year we had no issues when the grads were let in after hours. They should not have changed it. I don't understand why security is not out in full force. Everyone should be able to enjoy the parks, not just the grads taking over.

 

[Disney Dory]

I posted a reply on this very issue on another thread. This does seem to be a huge problem and Disney needs to address it! In my other post, I asked if anyone knows a way to send these posts to someone in DL that can do something about this obnoxious behavior. Maybe put all these threads together so they can see just exactly how many vacations are being ruined because of the grads taking over DL during the day and causing so much Chaos!!

 

[dtnrhi]

Semi-related question...

Anyone have any suggestions on dates so we can experience the Christmas magic without the crowds? We will have one day in each park.

 

[Disney Dory]

These posts get longer and longer of DL guests having to deal with these obnoxious grads and the havoc they are causing in the parks during the day. Maybe one of the moderators or a seasoned Dis vet can let us know how to send these posts (and other threads that deal with this same issue) to the people at Disneyland so they can possibly change the grad nights back to after park hours again or do away with grad night all together?

 

[starshine514]

These posts get longer and longer of DL guests having to deal with these obnoxious grads and the havoc they are causing in the parks during the day. Maybe one of the moderators or a seasoned Dis vet can let us know how to send these posts (and other threads that deal with this same issue) to the people at Disneyland so they can possibly change the grad nights back to after park hours again or do away with grad night all together?

I don't know about sending threads to Disneyland, but I contacted them directly about the problem via the Disneyland website. I would encourage everyone who has had a bad experience to do so, because I agree - Disney needs to know that it is a problem.

 

[thymed]

Oh dear...this is kind of freaking me out. Three out of our four days are going to be grad nights...and the fourth is going to be The Lone Ranger premier. *sigh* I'm just glad that my kids are older teens themselves. They are used to hearing that language at school, unfortunately. I figure if we go with the big rides early, and plan for shows in the evening, we will manage. But I will plan on letting the CM's know about problem behavior. We had one week that the whole family could go together on this trip, so we will grin and make the best of it, and be happy that we are all at Disneyland together.

This is making me sick on my stomach! We have booked a DL vacation for June 17th - 22nd, 3 of the nights will be grad nights and one the Lone Ranger Premier! This will be our first visit to CA (WDW is our stomping ground, only a 2 day drive) flying from the East coast. I am going to be so sad if the place is so crowded with rowdy teenagers that we will be unable to enjoy much in the parks. This vacation is not inexpensive and I can't believe that DL lets this go on 3 days in a row. Once a week would not have that huge of an impact on everyone else's vacation plans. It doesn't seem like they have thought this through. I am hoping for the best but now I am really concerned....

 

[SingWithFlowers]

I don't think I'll ever go during Grad Nights. I graduated two years ago, but didn't get to go because my school got banned. I wasn't even sure I wanted to: I knew how the kids at my school would act. But now I'm realky wondering what they heck they did to get banned since bad behavior seems standard. It was probably drugs.

Sorry it ruined your Disney day, but it's awesome that guest services gave you pixie dust and now you get to go during the most magical time of year!

 

[Disney Dory]

I don't know about sending threads to Disneyland, but I contacted them directly about the problem via the Disneyland website. I would encourage everyone who has had a bad experience to do so, because I agree - Disney needs to know that it is a problem.

Thank you for this helpful tip. I will be contacting them through the Disneyland website as well. I hope if enough of us do this they will make a change

 

[rramstad]

I have to say that I was kind of amused, in an odd way.

When reading your post, I thought by "seniors" you meant senior citizens.

Read the first post, and think of it that way... it was really quite silly, until I realized that I had got it wrong, and the poster meant seniors as in high school seniors... took me a while, got me a belly laugh, for sure.

I am sorry to hear of the problems on your trip. There are many things that can go wrong, and only so many that Disneyland can really handle and take responsibility for. I'm sure when they scheduled these Grad Nights, they thought it would be fine... and at this point, they probably can't do anything about it for this year... but agree that if people have bad experiences, write, and I'm sure they'll consider changing it...

I guess I'm lucky, most of the peeves I have about DLR are things that Disney can't control (my biggest issue is probably the large tour groups, some of which can be unbearably rude and loud) and so I don't have anyone to complain to... LOL

 

[LBIJim]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience but glad Disney made it right. We were there last Wed. (another grad night) and based on what you related I'm glad we left around 2. Looks like it was a good decision.


What did you think of Knott's? We went there for AP preview day early Thursday a.m. and then finished our day at Soak City.

My wife and I had plans to visit DCA on a specific date in mid May, then we discovered it was a grad nite, and that grads had access to the parks during the day, so we wisely switched our plans to visit a different day. No sense going when potential problems are likely.

Unfortunately, we went to Knott's instead. We didn't know in advance that there would be several hundred school busses there, many apparently from the scuzziest high schools in the Orange County area. We debated whether to actually go in, but we had already paid for parking so decided to chance it. Bad mistake.....the usual, crowds of unruly teens screaming, running, cursing, cutting in line, etc. No apparent supervision or chaperones. By no means were all the kids like this, but an uncomfortably large amount were. We could only tolerate about 90 minutes before we had to leave. We asked for a partial refund. Guest Services said they couldn't do that, but they did give us comp passes to return a different day. I take it they realized they were either unprepared or unable to control the situation.

A return visit a few days later was much better. The newer area and attractions weren't open yet.

This was our first visit to Knott's in May. All our previous visits were in the fall, when the park was virtually deserted.

Jim

 

[Barry Browning]

I wish I could tell you what really happens at grad night late here but I wll leave it to your imagination.My son has to work these.It is way worse than you can imagine, avoid it at all costs.Disney security gets a real workout.

 

[hjgaus]

How do these grad nights work? Does each school sign-up their seniors for a specific night to come? Or, if you say you are a grad., then that's enough to get in?

If it is done through the schools, then a code of conduct should be given in advance (not that they shouldn't know how to act in public), and if there are problems then they risk not being allowed to sign-up next year.

They def. need more CM though. As Sherilaine said, when I was a senior, I would've never behaved the way I see young people behaving today, and it is a sad commentary on our society, as well as a poor outlook on the future knowing these same kids will some day be "leading" this country.

I would be pretty irritated if our seven day, every other year trip was impacted by grad. night behavior. I do think more people need to inform Disney about these incidents, otherwise how will they know? And, not with the expectation of being compensated, but just to inform.

Glad there aren't grad nights in late Oct.

Most schools put a Grad Nite committee together at least a year ahead to decide what to do such as secret supervised party somewhere or at a amusement park (Magic Mountain or Disneyland). During my older son's Junior year a friend of mine asked if we had our committee set up for our son's graduating class (2011). I say" don't know but you should check."
She checked & says okay I'm the committee now wanna join?" I did not join but she decided that she DID NOT like doing the secret party thing but wanted to let the kids KNOW what WILL be planned for that night & HAVE THEM decide if that is where they want to be for Grad nite. She called Disneyland said we would like to attend this such date with around 600 graduates. They say fine & any tickets not sold need to be returned.
So start of our senior year the kids got flyers with a price for grad night now people had LOTS of time to plan & decide! At first not a lot of response BUT towards the end of the year ALL tickets were SOLD!! I was also asked to chaperone but said "HECK NO!" I STILL had to help with the send off to Grad nite so was stuck in the high school gym with 600 ROWDY teens waiting to get on the bus... some rude & mostly the girls! I think our year there WAS the LAST for the TEENS ONLY all NIGHT then switched 2012!!! According to my son he said it was STILL crowded with the long lines BUT had great fun just meeting new people from other school ALL his age!! The dancing was what they like the most! My friend was only aware of a few kids (out of 600 kids) from our school creating problems they were detained then their parents had to pick them up! (we are locals) I don't remember what they did to get kick out but knew who they were .... NO SURPISE!
YES... I think it SHOULD go back to "JUST them for THEIR nite but maybe they changed it because some people felt they weren't getting their $$ worth?
I'm not sure BUT I think which ever park you hold a Grad Nite it will be rowdy cuz they are just TEENS! NO excuses for REALLY RUDE behavior but at least we now know to maybe change up our plans during those times!!

 

[mikesroberts]

Hi guys,

How can you find out when the grad nights are?

 

[sherilaine]

Just got a call from Disney replying to an email I sent them about grad nights - she said they have been overwhelmed with complaints about grad nights and that all of them go to the grad night department and they are going to review all of the complaints and decide if changes need to be made - she certainly implied that changes may very well be coming for next year as the "park hoppers" have totally changed the dynamic of the grad night and are impacting regular park guests and they do not want that to happen.

 

[Disney Dudette]

Just got a call from Disney replying to an email I sent them about grad nights - she said they have been overwhelmed with complaints about grad nights and that all of them go to the grad night department and they are going to review all of the complaints and decide if changes need to be made - she certainly implied that changes may very well be coming for next year as the "park hoppers" have totally changed the dynamic of the grad night and are impacting regular park guests and they do not want that to happen.

I am so glad Fingers crossed that they make some much needed changes!

 

[starshine514]

Just got a call from Disney replying to an email I sent them about grad nights - she said they have been overwhelmed with complaints about grad nights and that all of them go to the grad night department and they are going to review all of the complaints and decide if changes need to be made - she certainly implied that changes may very well be coming for next year as the "park hoppers" have totally changed the dynamic of the grad night and are impacting regular park guests and they do not want that to happen.

Even more reason for everybody who was adversely effected to contact them. I encourage you all to do so.

 

[cmusschoot]

Planning a trip for several months...and we will be there on the 18-22, 3 grad nights AND Lone Ranger premiere...I am trying not to worry.

The night of the 18th there isnt a grad night, so I might have to try to get my kids to stay up late that night.

I do however want to be prepared.

Is there a huge impact on DL or is more of the impact on DCA?

 

[gelandnick]

Oh no...after hearing all of the terrible things about grad nights I also checked our dates. There will be 2 grad nights while we are there (June 13 and 14). Just like PP asked, if anyone has additional information so we can be prepared please post! I know kids will be kids, but I want to enjoy my vacation!