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olegc
06-13-2010, 11:28 PM
I went to grad night as a high school kid in 1980. I have chapperoned a couple of them in the early 90s. I used to think these were awesome events.

here in Irvine the HS don't go to Grad Nite and I wondered why. I have asked around and I was told the cost, crowd issues, and security concerns were all decision makers (this is not new for Irvine - they have done a local grad night for some time).

Then I read a blog today that hit home. $115 for 3 hours in the park due to operational delays and massive crowds. Wow - what a bummer. I'd pay for my kid to go to the parks - with park hopper - and it would be cheaper on a regular day than grad night.

See the blog posting - CLICK HERE (http://thedisneyblog.com/2010/06/12/grad-nite-loses-its-luster/)

MacBaby
06-14-2010, 06:00 AM
As a Grad Nite Coordinator, I can tell you that that is not necessarily true. Disney charges $59 per ticket (Grad Nite only; Blast Off is another $30ish) and if the you plan it correctly the students can be in the parks by 11:30 pm. The additional cost is probably due to transportation (ie: charter buses vs. school buses) and associated school fees (paying for chaperone teacher's subs the next day.)

I was actually surprised at how uncrowded it was this year for our night. The "security" issues that I have encountered at Grad Nite come with any event I have put on that deals with high school students "celebrating". The amount of undercover security Disney has must be incredible for the issues my students have been caught doing.

Most schools that I know of that do their own grad night parties are charging $100 plus for the event (and it is my job as an Activities Director to be up on this). I know the few times I have looked into it Disneyland was cheaper for my students.

Malcon10t
06-14-2010, 06:54 AM
When MickeyDogMom went, it was about $200, they went to Medival Times for dinner, DL at 1130pm to 5am, slept a few hours at Castle Inn, then off to Universal for 6 hours, and back home. Buss fare and everything was included. This was 2004. In Norcal, the average price is about $175, but the biggest cost is bus/insurance for the trip.

bombardon3
06-14-2010, 08:37 AM
I think it is different for schools here in Southern California. It isn't as special to go somewhere most of the kids have been to and many have annual passes to. I graduated from a school here in Anaheim and we had grad night in our gym. We all thought it would be lame, but it ended up being a great night that was the last night we would all be together. By the time my sister graduated, the school had decided to do grad night at Disneyland. It cost more, but was just easier for them from a planning standpoint. From what she told me, everyone hated it since most of them were used to a regular day at Disneyland and hated how crowded it was and how so many things weren't open.

Security is awesome at grad night though. Last month, I was at DCA before a grad night. I had purchased some wine at the Food and Wine fest that I had forgotten to pick up. We were in the car before we realized it. So I went back and found that I couldn't get to the DCA guest relation/lost and found area since it was blocked off due to grad night blast off having just started. I found someone who radioed for them to send someone to escort me to pick up my wine. There were some people in that area that I first thought to be some kids hanging out. It wasn't until I got closer that I realized they were undercover security with a guy they had just brought in. At a distance, especially in the dark, you would never have thought these guys were security. They really looked like random high schoolers. While waiting for my wine, I saw two kids brought in and handed over to Anaheim PD.

PhiSigDuchessCV
06-14-2010, 09:00 AM
It sounds so different from my grad nite in 1985. At that time we still had live bands play and most of the students were watching one band or another playing somewhere in the park so the rides were empty. Also, my grad nite 1985 was the premiere night of Videopolis so a lot of us were there at some point in the night. The park didn't seem that crowded and we see or do what we wanted to with no problem.

A couple of my friends were chaperones for this year's grad nite. They graduated in the late 90's and said that these grad nites were different then theirs too. There were only DJs or some radio stations playing no live bands so most of the kids were on the rides. They also said the parks were crowded, worse then some regular days. For both these friends, they work at schools where most kids come from low income families. For most of their students this was their first time EVER at Disneyland. They didn't get on lots of rides but that was because they waited over an 1 1/2 for Indiana Jones and more then an hour for Space Mountain. If they avoided those rides they could have pretty much done everything else, Pirates had the next longest wait at 20 minutes. When asked why they waited in the long lines the kids replied this may be their only time they'll ever get to Disneyland so they wanted to make sure to do the best rides first.

Different experiences for different people

Malcon10t
06-14-2010, 10:47 AM
Up here, the kids do "Grad Nite" as a "ditch day", then on the night of Graduation, they have "Sober Grad Night" parties at the schools. They bring in casino groups, have bounce houses, all sorts of interesting things that most of the kids enjoy. The schools are "locked down" so students, even the 18yos, can't leave until the next morning (so no accidents at 3am.)

Escape Artist's "Sober Grad Night", the town pulled together and they did a cruise on the delta.

olegc
06-14-2010, 10:51 AM
from the few posts here it seems there is a wide difference in experience - what day you choose, what other schools attend, and how many kids from each school. I guess if someone did their homework (and it was a selectable thing) your school could plan accordingly for a better experience. I think the comment about the kids' only chance to attend Disneyland is something to note that maybe those schools should be spread out - or something - to try and improve their experience. Although - I understand how tough that would be for Disney to work out in planning and operations.Too many variables..

ogold72
06-14-2010, 02:23 PM
Same subject, different line of thought: I went to the park on a Grad-night day (Thurs 10 June) and had the best day in the park of the five I spent last week despite the shorter hours.

The place was nearly deserted because noone wanted to come to the park when it shut early. It was awesome, there were hardly any lines! I got more done (ride-wise) than with regular park hours. If you are doing multiple days, than having a grad day is fine with me (see fireworks/shows on the other days)

3Princesses1Prince
06-15-2010, 03:58 PM
Same subject, different line of thought: I went to the park on a Grad-night day (Thurs 10 June) and had the best day in the park of the five I spent last week despite the shorter hours.

The place was nearly deserted because noone wanted to come to the park when it shut early. It was awesome, there were hardly any lines! I got more done (ride-wise) than with regular park hours. If you are doing multiple days, than having a grad day is fine with me (see fireworks/shows on the other days)

We are driving up super early this Thursday in hopes that we can have one non-crazy day in the parks, out of the 6 we will be there. Also, its the only day we will have before the other 14 people in the family show up Thursday night.

lola2009
06-15-2010, 04:36 PM
One of my friends had a daughter attending grad night this year. They left at 230 in the afternoon, did the blast off event at ESPN zone then Disneyland from 1230 to 5 am. Then they loaded back on the buses and slept, I cant even imagine doing that. The day they left was the Seniors last day so they were at school from 8 to 2 turning in all there stuff and being cleared from the financial office for graduation. The cost was around $225, I think but we are about 5 hrs away.

CMHusband
06-15-2010, 08:24 PM
It sounds so different from my grad nite in 1985. At that time we still had live bands play and most of the students were watching one band or another playing somewhere in the park so the rides were empty. Also, my grad nite 1985 was the premiere night of Videopolis so a lot of us were there at some point in the night. The park didn't seem that crowded and we see or do what we wanted to with no problem.

A couple of my friends were chaperones for this year's grad nite. They graduated in the late 90's and said that these grad nites were different then theirs too. There were only DJs or some radio stations playing no live bands so most of the kids were on the rides. They also said the parks were crowded, worse then some regular days. For both these friends, they work at schools where most kids come from low income families. For most of their students this was their first time EVER at Disneyland. They didn't get on lots of rides but that was because they waited over an 1 1/2 for Indiana Jones and more then an hour for Space Mountain. If they avoided those rides they could have pretty much done everything else, Pirates had the next longest wait at 20 minutes. When asked why they waited in the long lines the kids replied this may be their only time they'll ever get to Disneyland so they wanted to make sure to do the best rides first.

Different experiences for different people

Disney has a lot of undercover security all of the time. Problems with ticket scalpers, alcohol etc. They do a great job of curbing any behavior that is inappropriate, but keep your eyes open, Under Cover is everywhere.

wenidog
06-16-2010, 06:57 PM
I went to grad nite in 1981...The Pointer Sisters performed from Tom Sawyer Island. We came on a school chartered bus from Phoenix to DL. Arrived in the parking lot around 1100pm, waited on the bus (changing into the dress code sanctioned skirt/dressy stuff), enjoyed the park then, hopped back on the bus and came home. Such a good time...still have a photo taken by a Disney photographer by the castle bridge in Fantasyland.

chris001
06-17-2010, 06:18 AM
Grad Nite 1988...left Stockton around 3, went to a hotel when we arrived, about 6 guys to a room to change into sanctioned outfits. Serious patting down at entrance gates, not sure how anyone could sneak bottles in, but saw a few out later.

Bananarama was performing, some other group I can't remember, and, wait for it, Michael Bolton. Seriously, I don't remember him being very popular with teens.

I remember most of the rides were not long waits, but there were a lot of distractions. There were some other dance areas that had dj's.

I remember a few of the girls getting sick taking diet pills to try and stay up all night. Bus ride back was ugly, snoring, stinky, uncomfortable.

Still remember having a great time at DL that night!

codewoman
06-17-2010, 08:27 AM
I went to Grad Nite in 1978. I ate a "Grad Nite Special" from a kiosk across from the Matterhorn (near the Snow White ride) and became ill. Spent much of my time dealing with nausea, so didn't get to do much. Got some serious street cred, as the kids thought I was drunk or something. We flew in and home. Long wait at the John Wayne Airport before the trip home. I slept on a bench. By the time we got home, I was feeling just fine.

I remember my boyfriend bought me a fake rose at a Main Street stand and I held on to that puppy through the whole trip.

HOOCH21
06-17-2010, 08:37 AM
Sounds like a stroll down memory lane. I went to Grad Nite in 1991. I was living in San Jose at the time. So the bus ride was fun. We had the park from 10pm to 4am.

The bands/groups playing were Timmy T, Stevie B., and En Vogue (I could never remember who the other group was). Or Chaps were the previous years students. Wait on rides were short. What sucked, is they made us dudes where suits and the girls wore summer dresses. One of our guys had a fake id and was able to pick some alcohol at the local liqour store back to the hotel. Plus a little nitrous ha ha. kidding.

Anyway we had breakfast at 8am then CDM beach bbq where most of us slept. The we hit Magic Mtn on the Sunday (Monday was inservice) and the bus ride back got us in at 8am or so in the morning. All I know is that I slept and didn't wake up till 5pm apparenlty when the phone rang.

All in all a good trip.

And now since 96 I've lived here in the OC and most years have an AP but man they have gone up in prices. But I do have the deluxe so my BO dates are mostly Saturdays.

But yeah look out for the Undercovers since some the people I went to college with back in the day (some 12 years later) still do undercover work and look like HS kids. So be careful youngins!

familymemories
06-17-2010, 11:06 AM
My husband and I went to Grad nite as friends 1986. All the rides were open, great food at the Carnation Plaza and we watched some awesome bands. One of them was Gloria Estafons group. They were awesome. Can't remember how much it cost but we were there all night.

MammaSilva
06-17-2010, 12:50 PM
1973 and we left Sacramento at noon...got to the parking lot and turned the busses into dressing rooms...towels in the windows...stayed til they kicked us out and drove home...biggest name in the park that night, Ricky Nelson

candles71
06-17-2010, 01:37 PM
1989- Our class decided to fly (unprecedented at our school), Southwest to Burbank, went to Magic Mountain all day. The charter bus then took us to some Junior Collage (I think), where we used to locker rooms to shower and change. Shakey's pizza on Harbor for dinner. Then we waited on the bus while they cleared the park. New Kids on the Block on TS island, Samantha Fox in the Fantasyland Theatre, and I have no idea but I know someone else was playing. Back on the bus and back to Burbank airport crawled in bed around 10 AM.:D Oh and I still can't figure out what his tie was doing there but as Tucker climbed back on the bus he was yelling excitedly about Samantha Fox stepping on his tie.;) I too still have my picture with a friend and Goofy.

CariBelle
06-18-2010, 08:46 AM
New Kids on the Block on TS island,

So jealous!

I went to Grad Nite twice, once in 1998 as a guest and then to my own in 2000. Both times we left right after the graduation ceremony and got to the park around 11:30 PM. Most of us girls just changed added cardigans over our dresses and I changed into flats. I don't remember any live acts in 98, but we were moer interested in rides anyway. In 2000 I don't think there were any advertsied acts, but Mya showed up and performed at one of the "clubs" in Adventureland.
My parents still have up my picture with Tigger (our HS mascot was a Tiger) in a Grad Nite frame instead of my actual Grad photo because I liked the DL one MUCH better!