Photo TR-Disneyland Grad Nite 2009

[spacemtfan]

Well, I'm graduating from Beaumont High School tonight, and that means that last night while many of you were asleep, I was partying and having fun at Disneyland Park.

 

I thought the Grad Nite experience was unique and wonderful. True to what Jahan says in his report, the overall atmosphere is different, but many of my friends loved it, saying that "Disneyland knows how to throw a good party".

 

We left school at around 9:30 p.m. and got to Disneyland around 10:30 p.m. and we got into the park at 12:30 a.m. First, our bus driver was confused as to which bus parking she was supposed to go and once she did find out, it took about an hour and 30 minutes to go through the massive line of school buses.

 

We parked into the Pinocchio parking lot and we sat down for a few minutes as security guards came in and gave us a set of rules that we had to follow. Some were no-brainers (no weapons, no drugs in the park, etc.), but some rules just astounded me (no shirt logos bigger than your fist, no water bottles). I mean, I understand why those rules were in place, but still...to think that teenagers have become so unruly that water bottles aren't even allowed inside Disneyland.

 

Anyway, we were given wristbands and clear plastic bags to put all our stuff in. There were no trams in service, so we had to walk from the Mickey and Friends tram station to the Entrance Plaza.

 

Now, for some reason, when it's during the day, security is usually strict but lax as well. Grad Nite, they were super-strict. They separated the students from the boys and girls and they pat us down for anything suspicious.

 

Again just shocked at how up-tight security was. Many kids had to turn their T-Shirts and jackets inside-out because they had logos bigger than a fist.

 

After we went through security, I finally entered Disneyland park with my friends. Main Street, as well as the rest of Disneyland, was definitely different than usual. There were bright lights, wacky-wailing-inflatable-arm-tube-men, Hondas, and loud music throughout the park. I really didn't care much for that, since I knew it was only for one night.

 

First thing we did was grabbed a spot right in front of the castle for the 1:00 a.m. showing of Grad Nite Explosion, which was a fireworks spectular designed "exclusively" for us graduates. I thought it had a great finale, but otherwise, it was okay.

 

After Grad Nite we headed into Tomorrowland and rode Star Tours, which was only posted at 15 minutes. Space Mountain was posted at 90 minutes. Many of us knew that lines were going to be bad, so we braved the long line. But, thanks to amazing CM-operations, it only took us about 60 minutes to get onto the ride.

 

Now, for tonight, it was the regular Space Mountain running and not "RockIt Mountain". One thing I noticed was that in the inside queue, all of the emergency lights were on. Why...I do not know. Though, one thing I was disappointed about is that when Jahan went to Grad Nite, they did this:

 

For my Grad Nite, they didn't do that.

 

The ride, however, was fun as always and it was running smoothly and much better than it would be during normal park hours.

 

Seeing as how the Matterhorn and Autopia both 101'd (broke down), we went into Adventureland and took a quick ride on the Jungle Cruise. Indiana Jones was posted at 90 minutes, so we skipped it and headed into New Orleans.

 

At this point, my back was killing me, so taking long rides on Pirates and the Haunted Mansion was heaven for me...and my spine.

 

After that, we took a circuit on the Disneyland Railroad and then Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. At that point, the sun was rising and everyone was feeling drowsy and tired.

 

Here are the pictures I took from Grad Nite:

The sign in front of the entrance into the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Much cheering was done by the students of Beaumont High School, upon seeing this.

 

The people that me and Marissa were hanging out with. Unfortunately, some things erupted between them, so we broke away.

 

The massive amount of people waiting to get into the park. Taken from the Pinocchio parking lot.

 

This was the bag they gave us to put all our stuff in.

 

The sign hanging over Main Street, welcoming and congraduting us, the class of 2009!

 

One of the many Honda cars on display at the park. They even pointed them out on the Grad Nite maps.

 

Me and Marrisa in front of another Honda car.

 

The dance floor and KIIS FM DJ in front of the castle.

 

A group shot of us in front of the castle. The only time Mike (far left) smiled on the whole trip.

 

A better shot of the DJ and dance floor...

 

The following are pictures from Grad Nite Explosion:

 

 

 

 

Waiting in line at Star Tours...

 

Space Mountain waiting time...

 

Space Mountain, lit up at night...

 

Another dance floor in Tomorrowland...

 

Marrisa, rubbing the magic lamp, for 50 cents...

 

Morning rising over Disneyland at 5:35 a.m.

[dino]

Cool TR. Looks like it was fun (even if your friends didn't seem at all excited to be there in the 2nd pic). What's with the Honda's though, is that just like advertising?

[YoshiFan]

It's likely no water bottles were allowed because some kids put vodka in them.

[ethans_dad06]

Great TR, it seems like the crowds weren't to bad either from your pictures, at least compared to my grad night. I remember my grad night was crazy, there was a problem with the bus I was in and the security gaurds, so even tho we were one of the first busses there, we were the last people in the park ( there was only maybe 30 people behind me that entered the park after me). Although it was a bad night I still enjoyed the atmosphere, it was neat being able to see the park like that. And even back in 2001 when I went the security was overkill. They didn't even allow ANY logos on clothing back then, and no cell phones either.

[spacemtfan]

Cool TR. Looks like it was fun (even if your friends didn't seem at all excited to be there in the 2nd pic). What's with the Honda's though, is that just like advertising?

 

Actually, they're not happy because they have been boyfriend and girlfriend since our Knott's trip on Monday. But on the bus ride over to Disneyland, they broke up.

 

The Honda's are supposed to be advertising and they sometimes showcase the new models coming out.

 

It's likely no water bottles were allowed because some kids put vodka in them

 

That's what the teachers at my school kept telling us.