Grad Nite Advice

[queso2992]

Looking for some advice (or maybe it makes no difference at all!). My DS3 and I are headed to DLR May 21-24 to celebrate his being 40" and getting to ride all the "big kid rides." I've inadvertently created a Disney kid, so he's been begging to go for a while now. Planning on two park days, the 22nd and 23rd. No PH. The 22nd is a grad nite at DCA. Obviously, we want to make sure to ride all the 40" rides that he hasn't been on yet. Are grad nite crowds a reason to avoid DCA on grad nite? Or can we still get all the things done before DCA closes? Hours are obviously longer at DL that day, but they're also longer on Friday as well. Just wondering if there's a preferred order of park days, DL on the 22nd and DCA on the 23rd? or vice versa?

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

My preferred order would be DCA on the 22nd and DL on the 23rd because those are the days those parks don't have early entry for onsite hotel guests, and I always stay offsite. You should be able to get everything done at DCA on the 22nd even though it is a grad night.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Looking for some advice (or maybe it makes no difference at all!). My DS3 and I are headed to DLR May 21-24 to celebrate his being 40" and getting to ride all the "big kid rides." I've inadvertently created a Disney kid, so he's been begging to go for a while now. Planning on two park days, the 22nd and 23rd. No PH. The 22nd is a grad nite at DCA. Obviously, we want to make sure to ride all the 40" rides that he hasn't been on yet. Are grad nite crowds a reason to avoid DCA on grad nite? Or can we still get all the things done before DCA closes? Hours are obviously longer at DL that day, but they're also longer on Friday as well. Just wondering if there's a preferred order of park days, DL on the 22nd and DCA on the 23rd? or vice versa?

Agree with comment above. I find Grad Night crowds at CA to be pretty reasonable until mid-afternoon. Then you start running into both park hoppers from DL and late afternoon arrivals for grad night at CA. Also, DL to me feels more crowded before mid-afternoon on a grad night with those students whose schools choose the option for both parks, as they start in DL before park hopping over to CA for the party.