What is Grad Nite?

[abk96]

We are going to WDW end of April beginning of May and I noticed on the calendar that there are "Grad Nites" scheduled for a couple of the days we are there.

What does this mean? Is it going to be crazy busy because of this? What should we expect? Are the resorts going to be full to capacity with teenagers?

I'm guessing that it's for graduating seniors in high school maybe. But why would it be in April?

Thanks!

 

[mepperson]

We were there last year during grad nights, and planning to do it again. It SIGNIFICANTLY affects your plans at MK, because they close the park early (like 5 or 6 pm) and then re-open and bus-loads of high school seniors are let in. There general public is not allowed in during these times.

So, plan your trips to see wishes and spectro around these times - neither will be shown on those evenings and you will need to go to another park, or plan something else entirely.

We will be there both of those weekends. It really isn't bad with some advance planning. Good luck.

Mary

 

[Feralpeg]

It shouldn't affect the resorts significantly. They are mostly local seniors.

 

[kirbsam]

good to know. sounds like it only affects mk on the nights it is planned. so i am thinking it wont affect the resorts. but it may affect the other parks on the nights that mk closes early, but not much different than mnsshp or mvmcp, i think.

 

[DebbieB]

I was there last year during a grad night weekend and it wasn't bad. MK closed at 7:00 I think, but no fireworks or Spectromagic (not dark yet).

 

[mepperson]

oops - MK closes at 7pm those nights (not 5 or 6 like I said before - that is what happens when I go by "memory"). Indirectly it affects the other parks because AK closes at 5pm everyday that time of year. So, that just leaves MGM and Epcot. Epcot FW closes at 7pm also. Illuminations and Fantasmic will be more crowded those two nights.

No big deal, since you know ahead of time and can plan accordingly. BIG problem for people that do not know in advance and/or do not get park hoppers! I would hate to be them. Thank God for the DIS boards.

Resorts not affected much, but indirectly because the popular dinner shows and restaurants will be harder to get in. Book early.

 

[AJKMOM]

If you stay at a MK resort, it also affects you because the park is open very late and fireworks and music go on late, too. Someone said it is just local teens, but I have read here that people come from as far away as the Gulf and Atlantic coasts to attend Grad Night.

 

[WaltD4Me]

What are the Grad night dates this year?

 

[abk96]

Thanks for the replies. We're staying at an Epcot resort so I guess it shouldn't be too bad. I'll just plan accordingly I guess.

 

[outtonight]

This years dates are April 28/29, and May 5/6.

& I'm pretty certain that a lot of the Georgia schools at least don't stay in the resorts - they get right back on the bus and come home.

 

[DOOM1001]

There could be schools in town for Grad Nite staying at the resorts since schools do come from far away as someone said to attend.When I went to Grad Nite since I live in South Florida we boarded the bus at school at 2pm got to Kissimmee at 6pm where we ate at Medieval Times arrived at Magic Kingdom about 8-9 pm where we stayed until 5 am and drove right back.So it could depend where the school is coming from plus many of the schools that come from further away probably stay 2-3 days and visit other parks.

 

[luvthatduke]

We stayed at ASMo for 2 weeks this year,
and Grad Nights started the weekend we were leaving.
We only had to endure one night and the next morning with them.
All I'll say is DH and I were incredibly thankful we were leaving,
I even think DS (2) was thankful!
That, and we'll never stay at the Value Resorts again while they're there.

 

[TnTsParty]

I am from Palm Beach County (2.5 hours south of the mouse!!) and went to Grad Night back in 1990 so I am not exactly sure what time we left but I do know it was in the afternoon and we got to the MK right when it was closing to the public. I know we didn't stay at a resort we just got back on the bus and went home.