Originally Posted By LuLu Hi all, My DD asked if there is FastPass on Grad Nites. While I'm asking the good people of LP, I thought I'd also ask for any other tips about Grad Nite. I'm sure it's a whole 'nother animal from a normal day in the park! Thanks for any advice. LuLu & DrFrootLoop
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 When I went to Grad Nite a couple of years ago there were no fastpasses and I assume that hasn't change. As we pretty much all our on LP...I LOVE Disneyland and I absolutely HATED Grad Nite. The lines are absolutely insane...Matterhorn was double wrapped. I recommend finding 4 people who want to stay together and do the same things. Plan on having to wait in lines and being ok with it. Other than that....good luck! Ha.
Originally Posted By dlkozy Don't count on eating the same things that you normally would eat while on a trip to Disneyland. On the trip that I chaperoned a couple of years back each "venue" had the exact same menu and it was very limited. Anything that you plan on buying do it EARLY on-and put it in the lockers. Otherwise you will wait in the longest lines that you have ever seen at the DLR. Wear comfy shoes because you will be standing in loooooong lines no matter where you go-bathrooms, rides, stores, etc.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Like our DD said about going during Spring Break this year, "we just went for the atmosphere" Last year we saw the CM's checking the lighting on the castle for Grad Nite, it was awesome to just watch that part. Pretty sure (as always, I could be mistaken) PirateBrittany went last year, as another LPer who knows Disneyland like the back of her hand, I'll bet she has some great suggestions Have fun Dr. FrootLoop!
Originally Posted By BigJim89 Went last year, no fastpass. Lines were fairly long (90 min. for Space), but we still managed to do a lot. If I remember correctly we made it on: Buzz, Space, Matterhorn, Splash, Toad, Thunder, and Pirates. Eight rides in 5 and a half hours considering the crowds, not bad. Prepare to walk, our bus parked outside Mickey and Friends and we walked all the way to the gate, no tram available. And word of advice, don't ride fron seat of splash at 4 in the morning. Have fun!
Originally Posted By LuLu Thanks everyone! I'll pass your info along. I bet DrFL is planning to enjoy the time with her friends and not worry *too much* about how much she gets to do - but at the same time trying to help those "inexperienced" to see as much as they can. I really appreciate all the heads-ups
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Amazed, you are correct. PB did go last year, and I asked her to chime in but I guess she hasn't yet. I'll let her fill in the details, but I know for a fact there were no fastpasses, and most of their time was checking out guys from the other schools LOL!!
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>" Prepare to walk, our bus parked outside Mickey and Friends and we walked all the way to the gate, no tram available."<<< THAT has to be the LONGEST walk ever! After a full night of fun-I am surprised that all of those kids made it back to the buses! Wished I had taken pictures!
Originally Posted By piratebrittany Hi LuLu! When I went to Grad Nite there were no FastPasses. They weren't really needed though, all the lines were fairly short. There's so much to do and a considerably smaller crowd that DrFL and friends should have no problem doing everything at least once. I do recommend the firework show. It was amazing and COMPLETELY different than I expected. There were three showings throughout the night, and all were really crowded. I suggest getting there a half an hour early. The most crowded areas were the areas with dance floors. This may vary per night depending on what schools are there (meaning the type of music each school listens to). I can't say much about the food options. All my friends and I ate before leaving, so short of a churro or two, we didn't eat anything there. There WILL be a LONNNNNNNNG walk back to the buses. I hope DrFL and friends have tons of fun!
Originally Posted By Disneyland Guest " They weren't really needed though, all the lines were fairly short. There's so much to do and a considerably smaller crowd that DrFL and friends should have no problem doing everything at least once." That certainly was not the case when my Son went. He said that those that chose to ride the Matterhorn just about gave up half of their whole night waiting in line to ride just once.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ It probably varies by how many schools are signed up for a given night. I imagine on a maxed out night, the lines are pretty long. I'm in shock right now. My son says he may not be going! None of his friends can afford the $200 cost (from the Bay Area) and, of course, he doesn't want to go if his friends don't
Originally Posted By piratebrittany Our Grad Nite was the second to last one of the year. I'm sure that had something to do with the attendance. Alot of the friends I met in college that went graduated two weeks before I did and they all said it was a nightmare and they barely had time to ride anything. I do remember now though that Space Mountain had the longest wait. It was about 90 minutes. My friends and I didn't ride that at all. But we got to do Mansion, Pirates, Splash, Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, Teacups and Big Thunder a few times throughout the night. Some more than others. We did the teacups about five times (they let us just stay on) seeing if we could take all the spinning. I don't recommend that. LOL.
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 Wow piratebrittany you are lucky! It was packed from my Grad Nite a few years ago. We went in May and I have a feeling more schools go then. I just wanted to recommend to eat some sort of a decent meal before going into the park. I became rather disoriented and wanted something filling and not sugary and there wasn't much available along those lines. Ah yes...the trek back to the buses. I was rather out of it but I remember it was verry long. And when you finally get to the buses there are oh about 50 buses to choose from. Maybe 10 schools had a map of where there bus was but not ours. It took forever to find it and we then had to wait for everyone else to find it while smelling the exhaust from all the buses. NOT FUN!
Originally Posted By LuLu Thanks so much Brittany! I think DrFL's Grad Nite might be the very last one, so that would be awesome if it's not jammed like I've been warning her! Thanks for the tip on eating pre-park, 8_8. DrFL "crashes" if she waits too long to eat. Wow, SuzieQ, I'm surprised! It seems like the families around here would buy their kids anything, I'd be amazed if they refused a couple hundred for a graduation celebration. Hope it works out! Thanks again to everyone for the tips!
Originally Posted By LuLu DrFL got back from Grad Nite a couple hours ago (much earlier than I expected). She said they went to Space Mt first thing upon arriving and the line was already 3 hours. The "biggest" ride they tried to get on was BTMRR which broke down as they neared the front of the line. So they went on things like Teacups, Carrousel, etc. She did say it was a lot of fun and was happy that Royal Verandah was open with her beloved gumbo I'm sure I'll get more of a report later, but sounds like it was very crowded! Unlike PB's experience on the same date last year. But, I'm sure it's a blast anyway.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Travis's was packed, too. He said Space Mountain was 2 hours and Tower went all the way down to Award Weiners! But they had an absolute blast! He said he was so glad he went
