GradNite….how worried should I be?

[GoofyforDisney3]

I just found out that there will be two GradNites during the three days we will be at DLR for our first visit. Do these really increase crowds and should I be worried?

My plan currently is to transfer from our hotel in LA (Hollywood) on Wednesday (5/17) morning and we’d just get a later start, but since that’s a grad night now I’m wondering if I should consider transferring Tuesday evening. We will also be at DLR on Thursday and Friday (5/18 & 5/19). I already decided to get park hoppers, but as a someone totally new to DL, although we’ve been to WDW a ton, I don’t know how much time is eaten up doing that.

 

[sophy1996]

The parks face each other across a plaza. It takes about 5 minutes to park hop.

I would transfer Tuesday evening to avoid LA traffic. The first couple of hours at DLR are golden; you can get so much done.

 

[mdmost]

I agree with above. Try to get in Tuesday evening so you can get to DLR for rope drop on Wednesday. We faced a similar situation last summer. We always start at DLR and then do CA the next day so it worked out given we started on Wednesday and the Grad Nights were Wed and Friday. So we went to CA on Thursday and it was great. We park hopped on Friday to ride Guardians before the park closed for Grad Night and it was fine. It wasn't too crazy but we are early risers and try to get as much done as possible early before the crowds get crazy.

 

[ClaraOswald]

What time do the crowds for grad nights start rolling in, typically?

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

What time do the crowds for grad nights start rolling in, typically?

I’ve been reading a little and some say early like 10 am and others say afternoon like 3ish. That’s why I kind of started to freak out a little.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I agree with above. Try to get in Tuesday evening so you can get to DLR for rope drop on Wednesday. We faced a similar situation last summer. We always start at DLR and then do CA the next day so it worked out given we started on Wednesday and the Grad Nights were Wed and Friday. So we went to CA on Thursday and it was great. We park hopped on Friday to ride Guardians before the park closed for Grad Night and it was fine. It wasn't too crazy but we are early risers and try to get as much done as possible early before the crowds get crazy.

I’m going to look into it more. All depends on what I can do with the hotel now. Did a quick search and the price is quite a bit higher as the room rates have already increased even for the same time frame I’m already booked. I did really want to start out at DL, but it’s not the end of the world if we start at DCA and then hop to DL. Any idea on what time they close the parks for the party and in general? Nothing is on the website past the beginning of April so far.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I’m going to look into it more. All depends on what I can do with the hotel now. Did a quick search and the price is quite a bit higher as the room rates have already increased even for the same time frame I’m already booked. I did really want to start out at DL, but it’s not the end of the world if we start at DCA and then hop to DL. Any idea on what time they close the parks for the party and in general? Nothing is on the website past the beginning of April so far.

DCA should close at 9 PM for non-grads.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

DCA should close at 9 PM for non-grads.

Wow, I was thinking like 4 or 5. that’s something I can work with. Thanks!

 

[ClaraOswald]

I was looking at the ticket options they had for grad night attendees. There is an option for an all-day ticket at DCA as well as an all-day hopper. I wonder how many of them buy those as opposed to just going to the party.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I was looking at the ticket options they had for grad night attendees. There is an option for an all-day ticket at DCA as well as an all-day hopper. I wonder how many of them buy those as opposed to just going to the party.

I’m hoping the cost of the hopper deters kids from getting that option. LOL

 

[ClaraOswald]

Same. But I imagine there are a LOT of wealthy kids out there that won't bat an eye at the price.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We went in June during grad nights several years ago. It wasn't horrible, but the crowds of kids at DL were definitely noticeable. As the day went on, there were more and more large groups of kids walking around, standing in lines, etc. Most were a non-issue. Some were being loud, which I expected from kids who were excited about graduating and being at DL with their friends.

As we were in line for POTC, we saw security guards waiting at the unloading dock. A boat came around with several kids in the back rows, standing up, yelling, being unsafe and obnoxious. Apparently they had been standing up during the ride and the CMs had security waiting for them. They were pulled aside and talked to before being marched off with security. When we got into our boat there were two rows of grads behind us. A CM came over and said, "Hey guys, see your friends over there? They didn't follow the rules and they won't be going over to DCA for the party tonight. Make sure you don't end up like them." We didn't hear a peep from them during the entire ride.

I'm sure this is a more isolated incident as most of the kids were fine. I noticed crowds increasing around mid-morning on those days. The kids basically started disappearing from DL around 9:00 p.m. as they migrated over to DCA to line up for the party beginning at 10:00 p.m.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

We went in June during grad nights several years ago. It wasn't horrible, but the crowds of kids at DL were definitely noticeable. As the day went on, there were more and more large groups of kids walking around, standing in lines, etc. Most were a non-issue. Some were being loud, which I expected from kids who were excited about graduating and being at DL with their friends.

As we were in line for POTC, we saw security guards waiting at the unloading dock. A boat came around with several kids in the back rows, standing up, yelling, being unsafe and obnoxious. Apparently they had been standing up during the ride and the CMs had security waiting for them. They were pulled aside and talked to before being marched off with security. When we got into our boat there were two rows of grads behind us. A CM came over and said, "Hey guys, see your friends over there? They didn't follow the rules and they won't be going over to DCA for the party tonight. Make sure you don't end up like them." We didn't hear a peep from them during the entire ride.

I'm sure this is a more isolated incident as most of the kids were fine. I noticed crowds increasing around mid-morning on those days. The kids basically started disappearing from DL around 9:00 p.m. as they migrated over to DCA to line up for the party beginning at 10:00 p.m.

Yikes! I’d hate to have been those kids. Thanks for the first hand account. I’m committed to my plans now so fingers crossed. LOL

 

[Lisa24jks]

As we were in line for POTC, we saw security guards waiting at the unloading dock. A boat came around with several kids in the back rows, standing up, yelling, being unsafe and obnoxious. Apparently they had been standing up during the ride and the CMs had security waiting for them. They were pulled aside and talked to before being marched off with security. When we got into our boat there were two rows of grads behind us. A CM came over and said, "Hey guys, see your friends over there? They didn't follow the rules and they won't be going over to DCA for the party tonight. Make sure you don't end up like them." We didn't hear a peep from them during the entire ride.

I'm sure this is a more isolated incident as most of the kids were fine. I noticed crowds increasing around mid-morning on those days. The kids basically started disappearing from DL around 9:00 p.m. as they migrated over to DCA to line up for the party beginning at 10:00 p.m.

I was there on a grad nite day last year and got on a boat for IASW with some teens and was like... uh oh... they were a bit loud and chatty, but the ended up being really nice and talked with me for a bit. But the funniest part is one of them asked me if there really was a Disneyland Jail, and I was like, wellllll, yeah, in a sense, but it's not like prison bars and Mickey doesn't slap the handcuffs on you. So one of the other friends was like, "Why are you asking?" and he held up a text message he got and was like, "Kid's Name is in Disneyland jail" and everyone just started cracking up. Kid never said what he got put in jail for, but I guess they were going to find out after IASW.

So I'm glad I was on THAT boat and not the one with the kids standing up during POTC!

 

[alleighboo]

Same. But I imagine there are a LOT of wealthy kids out there that won't bat an eye at the price.

I think I read that the price for all-day/hoppers has gone up a good bit from years past. My high school did Grad Night in WDW (back farther than I care to admit) and the school handled everything and we just paid the school. I think the tickets really depend on what the school decided to offer and I think there are probably plenty of schools that don't offer the highest ticket. I'm going the first week of June (Wednesday after, hopefully, the Memorial Day crowds have left) and since we did Indigenous Peoples' Day week in October of last year, I feel pretty confident I can handle 2 Grad Nights

 

[rowan1813]

I’m hoping the cost of the hopper deters kids from getting that option. LOL

As the Grad Nite Coordinator for my Title 1 school, we actually chose park hopper + party tickets on purpose for our kids. For many of our students, this is the first and maybe only time, they will be able to go to Disneyland. For our kids, they have large families who cannot afford the expense of tickets for the entire family and the cost of a hotel. Our Grad Nite allows them the option to just go on their own because it is cheaper than if they were going with their entire family.

Our Grad Nite is actually May 17 and in the past, the earlier dates are generally (not always) less crowded. This year, Disney upped the price for Friday and Saturday Grad Nite tickets so they know that the middle of the week dates are less desirable. We get to the parks around 12pm and we notice that a lot of other schools do similar or get there later (because we are having to drive for a few hours). My advice would be to try to get as much done as early as possible and just prepare for heavier crowds as the day goes on and for an influx of people into DL as DCA is shut down for the Grad-only party at 9pm.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

As the Grad Nite Coordinator for my Title 1 school, we actually chose park hopper + party tickets on purpose for our kids. For many of our students, this is the first and maybe only time, they will be able to go to Disneyland. For our kids, they have large families who cannot afford the expense of tickets for the entire family and the cost of a hotel. Our Grad Nite allows them the option to just go on their own because it is cheaper than if they were going with their entire family.

Our Grad Nite is actually May 17 and in the past, the earlier dates are generally (not always) less crowded. This year, Disney upped the price for Friday and Saturday Grad Nite tickets so they know that the middle of the week dates are less desirable. We get to the parks around 12pm and we notice that a lot of other schools do similar or get there later (because we are having to drive for a few hours). My advice would be to try to get as much done as early as possible and just prepare for heavier crowds as the day goes on and for an influx of people into DL as DCA is shut down for the Grad-only party at 9pm.

That’s a very good point. I honestly didn’t think of it that way but I can definitely understand why that would be the reason to pick it. I’m sure being the coordinator isn’t an easy job and I appreciate the insight.

The 17th is our first day and I hope we will be at the parks by 9 or 10, but circumstances prevented me from changing plans and coming down from LA the day evening before so we are just going to take our chances. I did get genie plus so hopefully that will help some. If it’s busy at least I’m at Disneyland and not at work. I typically go to WDW with the attitude that the parks aren’t going away and I can always go back. Maybe time to take my own advice and apply it to DL too.

 

[laura&fam]

Did they change the grad night dates? I was certain the first time I looked it was May 11th, the night before we got there. (Which seemed weird because it was a Thursday night.) Now it's the day we get there.
My plans are set as well and we'll deal with whatever. I was hoping for smaller crowds because my sister hasn't been to Disneyland in 20 years. But it is what it is.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Did they change the grad night dates? I was certain the first time I looked it was May 11th, the night before we got there. (Which seemed weird because it was a Thursday night.) Now it's the day we get there.
My plans are set as well and we'll deal with whatever. I was hoping for smaller crowds because my sister hasn't been to Disneyland in 20 years. But it is what it is.

Not sure, but when I first saw something about them all the dates I saw on blogs were for 2022. I had to find the official Disney site to get 2023 dates, which I thought was odd.

 

[laura&fam]

I have solved my mystery. They did not change Grad Night. I looked up Star Wars Night dates.
It seems like there's a 'Night' every night in May.