Gay Days in Orlando
Mar 29th, 2006, 06:38 AM
#21
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We were in the parks last year during Gay Days. I did avoid MK on Saturday because I heard it would be crowded. My kids were 14, 12 and 9 at the time and are not what I would consider "sheltered."
When we were at the airport, leaving Orlando, I asked each child individually how many gay people they noticed. Each one said "none."
My husband and I noticed the group of guys at Epcot all wearing "I am what I am" T-shirts. We noticed two ladies on a bench at MGM in matching rainbow bandanas. We noticed the guys entering MGM for a private late night party when we were leaving. (That was the funny one because the attire was so "stereotypical"...loads of cute young guys in black tank tops!) But none of this made an impression on the kids.
Sure, high school kids might notice some of this and snicker, but we certainly didn't witness any overt PDA.
On the subject of overt PDA, I have witnessed tons of it at our local Six Flags (mostly straight teen couples who need to GET A ROOM!) but I really didn't witness PDA in any of the Disney parks.
We have a gay friend in Tampa who has gone to WDW Gay Days several times before. I asked him about it before we went and he said to just avoid the "official" hotels (there is one for the ladies and one for the men.) He said that the "wild" behavior of the young folks tends to happen at the hotel pool or at the bars.
When we were at the airport, leaving Orlando, I asked each child individually how many gay people they noticed. Each one said "none."
My husband and I noticed the group of guys at Epcot all wearing "I am what I am" T-shirts. We noticed two ladies on a bench at MGM in matching rainbow bandanas. We noticed the guys entering MGM for a private late night party when we were leaving. (That was the funny one because the attire was so "stereotypical"...loads of cute young guys in black tank tops!) But none of this made an impression on the kids.
Sure, high school kids might notice some of this and snicker, but we certainly didn't witness any overt PDA.
On the subject of overt PDA, I have witnessed tons of it at our local Six Flags (mostly straight teen couples who need to GET A ROOM!) but I really didn't witness PDA in any of the Disney parks.
We have a gay friend in Tampa who has gone to WDW Gay Days several times before. I asked him about it before we went and he said to just avoid the "official" hotels (there is one for the ladies and one for the men.) He said that the "wild" behavior of the young folks tends to happen at the hotel pool or at the bars.
Mar 29th, 2006, 07:59 AM
#23
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I would agree that your group is not likely to see a lot of inappropriate PDA inside the theme parks, but would also agree that you need to be careful re supervision at night - the hotel pools ( not just the official ones) CAN get pretty raunchy (but note that this is absolutely true regardless of sexual orientation - I'd say the same thing if you were talking about Ft Lauderdale/Daytona/Cancun in Spring Break). I have taken family members to Magic Kingdom during Gay Days and had no bad experiences - but again, we don't have negative values about sexual orientation - but we had to leave the pool area at night because imo it was getting a little too risque for my child. Bottom line, if you put a large crowd of tourists together, you will always have the jack***** in the crowd, but WDW Gay Days are a far cry from Key West Fantasy Fest.
Mar 29th, 2006, 08:34 AM
#24
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is it OK is you happen upon a heterosexual couple making out and kissing...like this never happens at Disney..sure it doesn't.
Apparently that is acceptable for "families" but when Gays do it it isn't.
The people in your group who will be the most "ho-hum" and the least ill-affected by any such behavior will be your band members.
Apparently that is acceptable for "families" but when Gays do it it isn't.
The people in your group who will be the most "ho-hum" and the least ill-affected by any such behavior will be your band members.
Mar 29th, 2006, 10:32 AM
#27
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Yes, I am amazed at some of the responses here, obviously too blind to understand the possible concern. It's one thing for someone to explain that they have been there at that time and nothing is noticeable, but the question was asked out of not knowing how wild the behavior is.
I have friends (or rather acquaintances) who go and I have a pretty good idea how wild they would be there. They love expressing their freedom and would love nothing better than to shock everyone they come into contact with by groping each other visually in public and deliberately trying to gross everyone out. I'm not talking about holding hands or even a little kissing here. I'm sure they're not the only ones who love doing that. I've been to gay pride events and it gets pretty wild -- frankly disgusting -- not because it happens to be two men or two women, but because their behavior is simply gross.
It's comforting, but surprising to me, to hear that such outrageous behavior is not apparent at Gay Days at Disney. I've heard otherwise, including from those who attend and love to brag about the things they did in public!
If someone posted saying she discovered there was a huge convention of over 150,00 "wife swappers of America" who had been invited with an open "show your true self to the world" while they were going to be there and she expressed concern, would everyone be attacking her for being anti- hetrosexual? Gimme a break.
I have friends (or rather acquaintances) who go and I have a pretty good idea how wild they would be there. They love expressing their freedom and would love nothing better than to shock everyone they come into contact with by groping each other visually in public and deliberately trying to gross everyone out. I'm not talking about holding hands or even a little kissing here. I'm sure they're not the only ones who love doing that. I've been to gay pride events and it gets pretty wild -- frankly disgusting -- not because it happens to be two men or two women, but because their behavior is simply gross.
It's comforting, but surprising to me, to hear that such outrageous behavior is not apparent at Gay Days at Disney. I've heard otherwise, including from those who attend and love to brag about the things they did in public!
If someone posted saying she discovered there was a huge convention of over 150,00 "wife swappers of America" who had been invited with an open "show your true self to the world" while they were going to be there and she expressed concern, would everyone be attacking her for being anti- hetrosexual? Gimme a break.
Mar 29th, 2006, 12:19 PM
#30
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I've been three or four times to Gay Days in Disney and I've been to a gay pride march festival in Atlanta and the one in Myrtle Beach.
Two different animals. The Gay Days at Disney is rather tame. Lots of gay families and couples.
We didn't see any partying outside the norm and my husband and I'll kick back with a few cocktails at the end of the night.
Gay Days at Disney is definitely different from other gay festivals.
Gay Pride was more Carnivale/Mardis Gras. Definitely drag queens, partiers, all out flamboyant.
Gay Days was not.
Two different animals. The Gay Days at Disney is rather tame. Lots of gay families and couples.
We didn't see any partying outside the norm and my husband and I'll kick back with a few cocktails at the end of the night.
Gay Days at Disney is definitely different from other gay festivals.
Gay Pride was more Carnivale/Mardis Gras. Definitely drag queens, partiers, all out flamboyant.
Gay Days was not.
Mar 29th, 2006, 01:22 PM
#31
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Here is a link to the Gay Days website and some of the photos.
http://www.gaydays.com/slideshow/ind...al=2004/Disney
http://www.gaydays.com/slideshow/ind...al=2004/Disney
Mar 29th, 2006, 01:43 PM
#32
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Huh, Go Travel, did you read my post?
I clearly said it was comforting to hear from those who HAVE been that it's not the issue that the original poster was enquiring about. I am surprised that it isn't an issue after all, but mainly was trying to defend the right of an individual to simply ask if it might be an issue. Why is that so hard to understand? And why was it necessary for some to call anyone who asks such a question a homophobic? That was my point!!!
By the way, you originally mentioned that you've gone at the end of May because the rates are lower. I was under the impression the rates are not lower during the first Saturday and Sunday in June which is when Gay Days actually takes place. So now I'm wondering if you've been there on those two main days?
I clearly said it was comforting to hear from those who HAVE been that it's not the issue that the original poster was enquiring about. I am surprised that it isn't an issue after all, but mainly was trying to defend the right of an individual to simply ask if it might be an issue. Why is that so hard to understand? And why was it necessary for some to call anyone who asks such a question a homophobic? That was my point!!!
By the way, you originally mentioned that you've gone at the end of May because the rates are lower. I was under the impression the rates are not lower during the first Saturday and Sunday in June which is when Gay Days actually takes place. So now I'm wondering if you've been there on those two main days?
Mar 29th, 2006, 01:52 PM
#33
To clarify, I did not call the poster homophobic. But suggested if that perhaps was the case, that you might perfer to travel at a different time.
When someone states they "don't care to see either heterosexuals nor Gay/Lesbian 'performing' in public... those concerns would certainly be removed by not traveling during the Gay Days event.
When someone states they "don't care to see either heterosexuals nor Gay/Lesbian 'performing' in public... those concerns would certainly be removed by not traveling during the Gay Days event.
Mar 29th, 2006, 01:57 PM
#34
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I've been thinking more about your question, VisitNOLA, in the context of high school band members and their parents.
I live in north Texas, among some VERY politically and religiously conservative folks. One neighbor was sincerely appalled that we would knowingly take our children to WDW during Gay Days.
Now, think of teenagers and the desire of many to shock adults, especially their ultra-right wing parents.
It is not out of the realm of possiblity that band teens wanting to shock their parents will LOOK for "out of the ordinary things" at Gay Days, for the sole purpose of getting their parents riled up when they return and tell their stories. Can't you just hear it? "And then mom, there were these two chicks who KISSED EACH OTHER during the fireworks!!!"
I'm not saying you should change your plans. I'm just saying that those who planned the trip might have some 'splainin' to do if the band teens decide to really play up what they see for the "benefit" of mom and dad.
I live in north Texas, among some VERY politically and religiously conservative folks. One neighbor was sincerely appalled that we would knowingly take our children to WDW during Gay Days.
Now, think of teenagers and the desire of many to shock adults, especially their ultra-right wing parents.
It is not out of the realm of possiblity that band teens wanting to shock their parents will LOOK for "out of the ordinary things" at Gay Days, for the sole purpose of getting their parents riled up when they return and tell their stories. Can't you just hear it? "And then mom, there were these two chicks who KISSED EACH OTHER during the fireworks!!!"
I'm not saying you should change your plans. I'm just saying that those who planned the trip might have some 'splainin' to do if the band teens decide to really play up what they see for the "benefit" of mom and dad.
Mar 29th, 2006, 02:30 PM
#35
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Neopolitan, we always would go the week after Memorial Day which usually runs through the first week of June.
It is usually a Tuesday through Monday thing and only once it didn't run through Gay Days.
However, this was back from around 1997-2003 and it may have changed.
It is usually a Tuesday through Monday thing and only once it didn't run through Gay Days.
However, this was back from around 1997-2003 and it may have changed.
Mar 29th, 2006, 02:37 PM
#36
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It also occurs to me that there are specific single days for the Gay Days events in each park. It is easy to go online and find what those days are. If someone anticipated an issue, it would be easy to go to Animal Kingdom the day the big event is happening at Epcot, etc.
Mar 29th, 2006, 02:38 PM
#37
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dearie, you deserve a medal (or at least a week at your favorite 5 start spa resort) for taking a group of high school kids anywhere!
In terms of their experiences at Gay Days in Orlando - what they will see i n and around the park is likely much tamer and far less surprising / upsetting than what they have already seen on TV and in films. It is NOT like a gay pride festival, which can indeed get a bit risque.
In terms of their experiences at Gay Days in Orlando - what they will see i n and around the park is likely much tamer and far less surprising / upsetting than what they have already seen on TV and in films. It is NOT like a gay pride festival, which can indeed get a bit risque.
Mar 29th, 2006, 02:49 PM
#38
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Yes, there are "official" parks for each day. To make it even more confusing, I think there are two groups which each have different official days at parks. Look at gayday.com and gaydays.com. One of them thinks that Disney does not give them enough recognition, so they encourage their folks to go to Universal.
