Grad night questions

[Nemo14]

We are planning a weekend trip in April, and just realized that one of our evenings is a Grad Night at MK. I read about all the transportation issues at MK and surrounding resorts during those evenings, but I was wondering how MK crowds are generally during the day at this time. I'm hoping that since the park closes early that those without hopper options would choose to go to another park that day, so perhaps the crowds would be not bad (?) Has anyone found this to be the case?

 

[DisneyparkFreak]

We usually go in April and have had to deal with gradnights a couple of times. getting out isn't too bad. Worst case scenario would be to walk over to the contemporary and grab a bus to DTD and transfer from there.

The crowds during the day wasn't any different if i remember, may be even a little slower because the park closes at 7 that night so a lot of people skip the MK and go to Epcot or another park. I don't think you have too much to worry about. Plan an ADR at a resort restaurant that night, O'Hana's is pretty good at the Poly. That way you don't feel like you were rushed out of the park because of some rowdy teenagers.

 

[Nemo14]

First - WHERE are you staying? This is important, as it will effect your transportation for the evening.

1) You will have no problem leaving the MK if you leave by 7 PM.
2) Get OUT of the MK area - do not have dinner at the Contemporary, GF, WL, or the Poly, as local transportation around the MK collapses due to traffic and the shutdown of all transportation that touches the MK.
3) You will get little or no advance warning of the transportaion collapse from Disney, or the MK area Disney Hotels.
4) If you cannot do this - plan on cabs. They will be EXPENSIVE, as they will get stuck in local MK Grad Night Traffic.

Best case scenario - you are staying AWAY from the MK area (WL, the Campgrounds, and monorail loop hotels). You book dinner that night in the SOUTHERN portion of WDW property. You spend extra evening hours at any park OTHER than the MK.

...and oh yes - we've been there, done that . Never again.

It was actually your previous posts that alerted me to the transportation issues. We're staying off-property this time and will have our own vehicle. We had originally planned to do MK that day and we're just wondering if the crowds at MK will be lighter than usual during the day since it will close to the public earlier. I would think that people without hoppers would choose a different park that day, but if I'm mistaken about this, we'll change our plans.

 

[Nemo14]

...just bumping this to see if anyone else has any thoughts about crowds during the day during Grad Nights..

 

[Nemo14]

I do . Our observation (and this was a one day thing, so we could be wrong...) - the crowds were lighter. I suspect the locals KNEW what a Grad Night meant, and wisely chose to not attend the MK that day.

Yeah, that's basically what I'm thinking. Why would they go then if they knew it was a grad night?

Anyway, thanks for the advise - it helps a lot.

 

[R W B]

From what I've read here on the forums, Disney doesnt say much about Grad Nights so I have a feeling alot of out of towners/people not on the forums dont know about it so it still might be busy. As mentioned though, locals probabley aviod MK that day.

So when you all keep saying that all transportation involving MK stops at 7pm what do you mean? Buses stop leaving MK at 7pm? What about the monorail? I understand they both stop bringing guest to the MK but I would think they would both continue to bring guests else where that are leaving MK. Can someone clear this up?

 

[Nemo14]

From what I've read here on the forums, Disney doesnt say much about Grad Nights so I have a feeling alot of out of towners/people not on the forums dont know about it so it still might be busy. As mentioned though, locals probabley aviod MK that day.

So when you all keep saying that all transportation involving MK stops at 7pm what do you mean? Buses stop leaving MK at 7pm? What about the monorail? I understand they both stop bringing guest to the MK but I would think they would both continue to bring guests else where that are leaving MK. Can someone clear this up?

You might want to read this thread:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=577972

 

[NewfieFan]

I was wondering the same thing Nemo14 and had the same thoughts as you (hoped that the daytime wouldn't be too bad at the MK).

Glad I read this thread as I never knew about the transportation fiasco. We'll be staying at AKL and relying on WDW transportation.

Guess we will have to avoid that neck of the woods on our last two nights at the World!

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

They are typically moderate to light crowds. Those who do their research and know the park will be closing early without fireworks/parade tend to gravitate to other ones.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Been there, done that, stranded in FW while staying at CR. Never again!. Avoid MK at all costs if possible. If staying at a MK resort, GET OUT of MK before 5 PM. All h*** starts to break loose. Hunker down in your MK resort and let the insanity pass. If staying in other resort, enjoy a different park/DTD that day and eat away from MK and MK resorts that night.

 

[R W B]

Why does DL have 7 grad nights with 3 I think running as late as June and WDW only has 4 starting in late April? Do west coast Schools end the year later?

 

[buseegal]

most California schools get out in June from what u remember it was 8 to 13 depending on when Labor day was.

 

[CP_alum08]

OK, I'm a little ignorant I guess. I just found out we are going to WDW when there is a grad night going on. What exactly happens? I know you said transportation in nuts, that won't matter to us because we are staying at Pop and we will have a car. But does MK close early and only let the grad kids in? Is there a certain time they start coming?

Just looking for a little background info on what grad nights are all about.

 

[ShookieJones]

Yeah..

I got stuck with a couple o' nights for a our trip in May.

As far as how it will effect you - I've heard a couple of different opinions on here from not so bad to it's a nightmare.

If you don't have your own transportation and plan on being anywhere near the MK after 7 it's probably the latter

As far as what it is -- Basically they close the MK down (it's been DHS in the past too) for the evening starting at 7:00PM to everyone except grads, they have national
acts playing etc.

So in short it's cool for the graduates attending and suxx for everyone else..

The good news for non -grads is this the last year they're doing it at WDW!! :sohappy:

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

We are staying at the Contemporary April 28-May 1. We were planning on hitting MK on the 29th for a few hours and heading to Epcot. How hard will it be to get back to the Contemporary from Epcot that night? Should we leave the MK and stay at the Contemporary or will it be safe to go to Epcot until it closes and then go back to the Contemporary?

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

You should be fine - just be ready for a LOOOOOOOONG buss ride from EPCOT back to the Contemporary, if you return this way. You'll hit a major traffic jam as you get closer to the MK.

IF you take the Monorail - I believe the Hotel loop will be running - it just won't stop at the MK. It will likely be pretty crowded, though.

Thanks!

 

[elisatonks]

If you are trying to get away from magic kingdom at the 7pm close you should not hit any traffic, i had no problems getting home from work the one grad nite i didn't work last year, and that was driving from the MK/TTC parking lots.

Also bear in mind grad night does not start till 10pm, most of the coaches started to arrive about 8pm last year, and many faced FDOT inspections before parking up and dropped off grads. I would avoid world center drive going north that evening till after 10.30pm tho, then it should calm down a little until the evening ends, usually in the early hours, when most of us are in bed. The resort monorail and epcot lines should both still be open and the grad night kids are normally dropped of at the MK entrance and only go to TTC to find their coach at the end of the night.

As for me I am keeping my fingers crossed I will be off that night, however fear i may be working.

 

[tink2044]

Grad Nights

What are the dates for grad nights this year?

 

[CLandrum]

Another question...

We are arriving May 7th. We are planning on going to MK around 2or 3 in the afternoon and staying until close, 7pm. We are having a delivery from Garden Grocer at 8:30pm to CSR. Do you think we will make it back to the room by then using the buses?