Grad Nite

Disney's Grad Nite (sometimes in early years termed "Grad-Nite") is an event hosted in April, May, or June for graduating high school senior classes who can gather for an exclusive, all-night party at Disneyland and at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (moved in 2009 to Disney's Hollywood Studios, before returning to the Magic Kingdom for 2010) featuring live performances by some of the most popular contemporary artists. There are also optional Blast Off parties that begin prior to the main event, and create a full day of activities for students.

Disneyland

History

Walt Disney introduced Grad Nite to Disneyland in 1961. Disney invited 8,000 students from 28 Los Angeles area high schools to Disneyland after hours as part of commencement celebrations. The event has since grown into an all-night event, with several dance floors, giveaways, and live performances. 2011 was the last Grad Night at Walt Disney World. It will continue at Disneyland.

Blast-Off!

Upon the introduction of Disney's California Adventure and Downtown Disney, Disneyland introduced "Blast-Off!" in 2001. Schools can add admission to Disney's California Adventure from 9:00pm - midnight. As Disneyland itself must go through an extensive load-in process for the night's festivities, Blast-Off! serves as a pre-party for schools who look to avoid late departures and student-run pre-parties.

ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney also offers a Blast-Off dinner event, with graduates being escorted to Disneyland Park after their meal.

Grad Nite

Grad Nite at Disneyland begins with Main Street and the main dance floor in front of the castle opening at 10:30pm, with the rest of the park and dance venues opening to a fireworks launch at 11:30pm. Many attractions are opened, with smaller or lightly attended attractions closed. Higher-capacity events in late May and June see increased attractions to offset crowds for others. The event runs until 6:00am, with Graduates contained inside Disneyland until about 5am. For the occasion, Disneyland is decorated with temporary props, sponsorship booths, and several dance clubs. Parade route lighting chases in time to premixed contemporary background music based on top-40 and dance songs of the year. Lighting facilities used for Fantasmic! illuminate the walkways and the water around the Rivers of America, and special lighting is installed to illuminate darker areas, such as Big Thunder Trail and Adventureland.

In addition to school chaperones, security is increased at these events to ensure their safety. Each dance floor is staffed with both Event and Security Cast Members.

Dance Floors

Disneyland typically features 4-5 dance floors with varying musical tastes to offer the graduates.

Klub KIIS

The primary dance floor at Disneyland is at the Castle Forecourt. Hosted by local radio station KIIS-FM, this dance floor features an extensive lighting package, with several temporary light structures installed for the duration of the season. Sleeping Beauty Castle itself is also fitted with several intelligent lighting fixtures as well as powerful strobe lights. Projectors throw images onto the castle, and onto two screens flanking the dance floor staffed by Disneyland Entertainment Cast Members serving as go-go dancers. Twice a night, usually at 1 and 3am. Klub KIIS is also the site of Grad Nite Explosion!, a 10-minute low-level pyrotechnic show featuring a mix of the year's most popular songs, traditionally bookended by a rendition of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" sung by Eden Espinosa, with a finale featuring Sorcerer Mickey.

Klub KIIS remains open until the conclusion of the event.

Club Super Estrella

Rancho del Zocalo

Hosted by KSSE, Club Super Estrella serves as the Latin-flavored dance floor. Hosted in the seating area for Rancho del Zocalo restaurant in Frontierland, Club Super Estrella features lighting and fog effects to Reggaeton, Cumbia, and Latin pop music. Though a small area, it is usually heavily attended, and often features a line to enter.

Club Super Estrella remains open until the conclusion of the event.

Power 106-FM Hip Hop Arena

Festival Arena

The largest dance floor is the Power 106 arena. Occupying Disneyland's Festival Arena and Big Thunder Barbecue area, this area features hip-hop music and his hosted by local radio station Power 106. This area is typically one of the most crowded areas during late-May and early-June Grad Nites, and, despite its large size, often requires a short wait to enter.

This venue closes an hour before the conclusion of Grad Nite.

TLT Dance Club

Tomorrowland Terrace

Occupying the Tomorrowland Terrace dance floor and stage, this dance area features techno and house music dancing. This high-energy area is the smallest dance floor in the park.

Club TLT remains open until the conclusion of the event.

Walt Disney World

With various pre-parties, Disney's Hollywood Studios is generally open to seniors by 8 p.m. The park closes at 2:00 a.m. The usual background music is replaced by loud contemporary music, which is played by a DJ. There is a wide selection of parties for seniors to attend while inside of the park. The parties vary from year to year, and from park to park, and there is usually a foam zone party, with lasers, strobe lights, and techno music, and foam jets shooting out at large crowds.

When held in Magic Kingdom Park, the biggest party is in the heart of Tomorrowland; one of the largest venues resembling a large night club. A "party boat" has had three departures and arrivals during the Grad Nite events which take the students aboard a steamboat with circles through the park's water interior partying for about 20–55 minutes.

At least one dance floor is opened, with another DJ. Most of the major rides are open except for some smaller ones, rides that involve passage over water, and seas. Special T-shirts and other merchandise are available. At midnight, there is a special fireworks show, set to the years's top contemporary song hits and replacing the current fireworks show in the park - only for the duration of Grad Nite.

In addition to the students, chaperones are also present in the park. Security is generally heavy, as with Disneyland, and the students are not permitted to leave early without making special arrangements.

A similar event for graduates of elementary/junior high schools, called "Disney's Eighth Grade Jam" is held at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida, but to be held at Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2009. Disney's Grad Nite returned to the Magic Kingdom in 2010.

Disney announced on March 9, 2011 that they are discontinuing the Grad Nite program after 2011.^[1]

Live performances

Each year, various performers have provided live entertainment for Grad Nite. In recent years, artists have included: Ryan Cabrera, Yellowcard, Ciara, Kevin Lyttle,, Fall Out Boy, The Fray, Cartel, and Cassie.

For the 2008 events in Orlando, Ne-Yo was the headline attraction, joined by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Last Goodnight and Cheskob.^[2]

Live performances for the 2009 event in Orlando were Metro Station, Lloyd, and Katy Perry.

2010 was headlined by Paramore and included performances by Keri Hilson, All Time Low, Hey Monday, Boys Like Girls, and Mario. Two groups from MTV's America's Best Dance Crew also performed: Beat Freaks and Quest Crew.

2011 was headlined by 3OH!3 and Taio Cruz.

Other past performers over the years include Oingo Boingo, Michael Bolton, The Aquabats, Cheap Trick, The Miami Sound Machine and Suburban Legends. By comparison, in 1963 at Disneyland, performers included The Elliott Brothers Orchestra, The Strawhatters, The Spacemen with Kay Bell, Jimmy Henderson and his Orchestra, Ward Singers, Young Men From New Orleans, Firehouse Five Plus Two, Gonzales Trio, The Yachtsmen, Royal Tahitans, Folk Singer, and Folk Duo.^[3]

Dress Code

Grad Nite is considered a special school event and a dress code is enforced. Attendees of both the Blast Off Parties and Grad Nite must adhere to the dress guidelines or will be denied admittance. Offensive or revealing clothing along with school-related jackets, non-Disney hats and heelys (sneakers that have roller skate wheels) are not allowed, nor are weapons or drugs (excluding inhalers). Schools have gained notoriety for being excluded from Grad Nite for failure to follow the rules.

Dress code examples include, wearing polo style shirts, jeans (allowed as long as they are in good repair), and basically any other semi-casual nice clothing.

In earlier times, the dress code was significantly more stringent, requiring jacket and tie for boys, and similarly "dressy" attire for girls.

Problems

In the past, both Disney parks have seen their share of unfortunate events happen. Disneyland has seen three deaths from the carelessness of attendees (or in one case, a would-be attendee)[1], students have been turned away from the gate for possession of alcohol or drugs, students have passed out in attractions, shows, or around the park from lack of sleep, and students have taken over attractions such as Tom Sawyer's Island at Disneyland. Disney has adjusted its policies on which rides to open. Attractions such as "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" have been closed, as students will use them for romantic getaways or to sleep. Generally, the rides that involve travel across water have been closed.

Competition

Universal Studios, began their own similar program, Grad Bash over 10 years ago. In response to Disney ending Grad Nite in Orlando, Grad Bash added another (5th) event night for 2012.

Six Flags Magic Mountain in California has been hosting Grad Nites since 2009. Highlighting the most extreme coasters in the world, limited attendance and offering a completly private secure experience, Six Flags Magic Mountain is the #1 attendance increasing Grad Nite event in Southern California. With packaging that offers Dance Clubs hosted by major radio stations, an early Dinner Dance, FREE Hurricane Harbor ticket and a FREE souvenir photo, Six Flags Magic Mountain's Grad Nite Xtreme has grown from 2 dates to 7 dates per year that sell out in September of the previous year.

Knott's Berry Farm has tried to market parties for graduating seniors or teens but no longer do so, as they were markedly less successful than Disney. [

External links

• Official Walt Disney World Grad Nite Website
• Official Disneyland Grad Nite Website

References

1. ^ http://y100.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=122821&article=8274496
2. ^ Grad Night Website Accessed 9/25/2007
3. ^ As taken from the eBay Auction: 3rd Annual Grad Nite Flyer-1963 Accessed 9/25/2007 Flyer Image