Gay Days at the park

Sparky0569 · #1 03-06-2008, 12:44 AM

Can anyone tell me what a family going to the parks from May 31 to June 7th might expect in regards to GAY DAYS?

Not trying to start trouble just want to know what will be going on.

LibertyTreeGal · #2 03-06-2008, 06:23 AM

People in the same color shirts, having fun with their families.

It's sort of like anything else -- adoptive parents enjoy being around other adoptive parents. Deaf people love to be around other deaf people. Gay people enjoy being in a group of gay people. Christians like to hang with Christians. Lawyers like to .... well okay, so nobody likes to hang around with lawyers

It's mostly a comraderie weekend. I guess there have been some incidents in past years on Pleasure Island, but it's easy enough to avoid that.

Rosanne · #3 03-06-2008, 08:01 AM

[QUOTE=LibertyTreeGal;1567237]People in the same color shirts, having fun with their families.QUOTE]

Exactly. It's like anything else at Disney... good clean fun for all.

The only thing I would be concerned about would be the crowds. It shouldn't be THAT bad, but if you want to do research on what park the groups will be at on each day, that would be fine.

Other than that, have fun!

tennantsrwe · #4 03-06-2008, 08:31 AM

I hear it's very crowded during that time, we try to avoid the busy season...if that's possible. I wouldn't go then regardless of what DAYS are going on. GOD BLESS!

trublueeyore · #5 03-06-2008, 09:11 AM

We have been during this time in 2006 and 2007 and are going again this year because this time of year works for us. Yes, it is crowded, but I can deal with that. As far as my kids (dd14, dd7, ds12), all they see is what ride we are going to ride next. As long as everyone is respectful of everyone else, I have never had a problem.

Carol · #6 03-06-2008, 09:20 AM

If you're worried about a certain park being more crowded then another -- you can see the park plan here.

Thursday, June 5, 2008 - Animal Kingdom
Friday, June 6, 2008 - Disney/MGM Studios
Saturday, June 7, 2008 - Magic Kingdom
Sunday, June 8, 2008 -EPCOT

Quote:

As long as everyone is respectful of everyone else, I have never had a problem.

Exactly - and that rings true any day - with any one.

crazypoohbear · #7 03-06-2008, 10:29 AM

Although I haven't been in the MK during gay day, I have been in Boston during the gay pride parade and all you will see is people having fun with family and loved ones. same as any other day in disney.

Just as Hetersexuals don't as a rule engage in overt displays of affection neither do homosexuals.
Go, have fun and tell mickey hi for me!

prttynpnk · #8 03-06-2008, 10:34 AM

We were in Disney last year at that time and felt no difference in atmosphere or behavior. A family is a family.

Tygger7 · #9 03-06-2008, 10:50 AM

On a side note...Star Wars Weekends will be going on at DHS on that same weekend, June 6-8th. That will definitely increase the crowds, but especially at DHS.

Ian · #10 03-06-2008, 11:01 AM

I was down for them in 2001 and it was no big deal. The parks will definitely be more crowded, but it's doubtful you'll see too much bad behavior. In general, the attendees are very respectful of their surroundings and they behave better, as a group, than your average day's attendees do.

Now that being said, if you're uncomfortable being around gay folks, then you're going to be uncomfortable. You will see men holding hands with (and kissing) men and women holding hands with (and kissing) women. If that upsets you, or if you don't want your kids exposed to it, or if it's just not your cup of tea in general, then I'd move your trip.

diz_girl · #11 03-06-2008, 11:08 AM

I can't comment on how Gay Days affect the crowds now, however the last time my family visited WDW in June was the first week of June 1997, and it was the first time that I had brought DH along. It was hot and crowded, and I distingly recall that it was Gay Days, but only from word-of-mouth, as you couldn't tell that it was Gay Days by looking at the crowds. School had already let out in many states and that was impacting the crowds more than anything else. Just bring your rain poncho for the 3 o'clock thunderstorm and enjoy the rides when everyone else scatters because of the rain.

the real Alice · #12 03-06-2008, 12:16 PM

my DH and are planning a trip May 29 - June 2, just a day before the offical days. Is it likely to be just a crowded during that time?

January-2007 · #13 03-06-2008, 12:40 PM

We were there last year for Memorial Day week, and towards the end was the start of the Gay Days. We tended to avoid the parks that they went to just for the sake of crowds. It was crazy at Pleasure Island toward the end of the week, but it would be that way with any kind of huge gathering I think. So yeah, lots of matching shirts and more crowds in some places, but overall not bad at all. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Laughin' place · #14 03-06-2008, 01:38 PM

Id be more concerned about being there during Lawyer Days, which I am trying to organize ( deep evil laugh). Love to all at intercot, a proud disney-lovin' lawyer
PS -- It may have all started with a mouse, but Uncle Walt needed lots of lawyers to buy the land quietly, set up Reedy Creek, etc

kakn7294 · #15 03-06-2008, 04:03 PM

If you research Gay Day Orlando on the internet, you can find their website and get some information and their schedule of which day at which parks. Any events are generally held away from the parks. I don't know how significantly this event impacts the crowds but you can avoid those parks on those days just in case.

WDWFREAK101 · #16 03-06-2008, 04:57 PM

My friends are HORRIBLE at doing research and they just ASSUME that the date that we go to Disney will be open and everything will be fine.
*Sigh* My friends didn't research anything and we ended up going on a Gay Day.

ldc12377 · #17 03-06-2008, 07:05 PM

We were at WDW last year during Gay Days and I will admit that I was a little worried at first just because my kids are pretty young and we haven't really explained a lot of worldly things to them (they were completely stunned that their uncle and his girlfriend could have a baby when they aren't married.

) I just didn't want them to see anything that they may have questions about and then, I would have to explain but everything went great. The adults in our group noticed a lot of red shirts but that was just because we knew red was the "official" color of Gay Days. I wouldn't worry to much about it. Like another post said, the kids will be too interested in figuring out which ride to go to next that they won't have time to see much of anything else and mostly, neither will you

CaptSmee · #18 03-06-2008, 07:34 PM

Yup, lots of people wearing red shirts hanging around chatting with each other. That's what I recall...didn't seem to affect the attractions but it was noticeably more crowded. I think it is a social event more than anything. We had a great time during the same time frame a few years ago.

GrandFlo · #19 03-06-2008, 07:42 PM

We went once during this time and the only thing I noticed was that it was a lttle more crowded and many people had the same color shirt on. I know some people have seen things that they found to be offensive, but there will always be rude people whether gay, straight, etc, etc..

Besides more people in the parks on certain days, if the majority were not wearing the same color shirt you would never know the difference.

Gator · #20 03-06-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WDWFREAK101

My friends are HORRIBLE at doing research and they just ASSUME that the date that we go to Disney will be open and everything will be fine.
*Sigh*

My cousin and family went the same time. If your not OK with your kids viewing this, move it. My cousin wish he had.