Tonight Ivyboy is going to Grad Nite at Disney World. I just woke him up from his nap and he’s getting dressed.
I went mumbly mumbly years ago with a friend of mine. I remember wearing a dress and flat heels…no way I was trudging around Disney in high heels. It was fun to be at Disney without the adults around, and I bought a Winnie the Pooh t-shirt as a souvenier.
It wasn’t very crowded (on Disney terms), and after we got back we hit IHOP for breakfast.
The thing that’s getting to me, though, is that it’s grad nite. As in, graduation. As in, less than a month my baby will be done with high school, and in another four months he’s going off to college.
He doesn’t have a “date,” but Grad Nite isn’t really a “date” thing. I know he’s looking forward to it, and he bought the ticket with his own money, of which he is very proud.
Anyone else do Grad Nite, or is it just a Florida/California thing?
I went to Grad Nite about … (does math) 14 years ago. Good times, but I wish I could have worn casual shoes. My slingback flats were killing me by the end of the night. I stupidly put my jacket over a wet seat on Pirates of the Caribbean (so I wouldn’t soak my dress), then ended up freezing the rest of the night.
Unfortunately I’m not very good with all-nighters, so I ran out of steam at about 3:45 a.m. I think I fell asleep during the ride home.
I did too, my head in my friend’s lap. Yes, he was a guy, and I don’t think he thought of me that way. Certainly I didn’t think of him that way.
I remember one girl getting up in my face when I bought my t-shirt. I think she thought I cut in front of her in line. As far as I could tell, there was no line at the register, more of a mass of people, and if I did cut in front of her it was unintentional.
I went a couple of years ago. I remember my mom got upset because she works at my school and usually chaperons Grad Nite. I forbade her from going that year. She had already attended my prom, so don’t feel too bad for her.
I went to Grad Nite, here in California. Disneyland, of course. I went with my boyfriend and a group of friends. I remember how odd it felt to be running around Disneyland at night, dressed up (I in fact stupidly wore heels), and I remember specifically riding the Jungle Cruise and thinking how amazing it all looked in the dark.
School had a pancake breakfast set up in the gym for when we got back, and a bunch of the parents served. As I recall, though, I was too tired, so my BF took me home and I slept most of the day away.
I had Grad nite in California too, 20 years ago. I remember wearing flats, and that they just tore my feet up. I’m fuzzy on most of the details, except that I enjoyed it. I’ll have to ask my friend with the memory of an elephant what we actually did, but there’s no doubt that it involved the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
I went to Grad Nite in 1980. It was all washed up disco bands, so the music was definitely not to my taste - Hot Chocolate and K.C. and the Sunshine Band, anyone?
I was in between girlfriends and spent most of the night walking around with a girl who I thought was cute but didn’t know that well. Was falling for her by the end of the evening but she had a boyfriend who was several years older than us.
Net, a pleasant evening, but nothing earth shattering.
Did Grad Night in Florida 16 years ago. Didn’t have a boyfriend at the time, so I went with a bunch of friends. I remember that the Thunder Mountain Railroad ride wasn’t working right and as a joke a friend got all melodramatic (“Oh my God! We’re going to DIE!”). Freakin’ hilarious. Good times.
I did, but I lived in Fort Lauderdale at the time. I’m now trying to spend another night in the park, many years later, just to see what goes on when the crowds aren’t there.
Our grad night was at a local college, so we had a pool and racquetball courts, etc. I remember having great fun, because I was there with my “secret” boyfriend.
I did Grad night, geez, 21 years ago. I remember the 8 hour Bus trip from Scottsdale where my High School was being almost as much fun as running around DisneyLand.
I’m from Los Angeles, but we didn’t get to go to Disneyland for grad night. Instead we went to an improv show in Hollywood and then some arcade/bowling alley/mini golf course. It was pretty fun, but I’m sure Disneyland would have been awesome.
Also, I had no idea people dressed up. That sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I’d never heard of it - then again, I went to high school in Maryland, and Disney World opened during my senior year, so it probably wasn’t an option. And I couldn’t have afforded to go anyway.
I’m pretty sure my daughter went, tho, being a Floridian when she graduated. I’ll have to ask next time I talk to her. There was so much going on during her senior year, between her getting ready for college and me getting ready to move back to Maryland…
There was a party of some kind the night of my high school graduation, but I didn’t go. I went to work that night instead (though my boss would have let me take it off if I’d asked) and made a grand total of something like $45 before tax. Same as any other Saturday night that year.
I graduated from high school early and was spared having to endure going to the ceremony or any other foofaraw, so maybe it was something I missed out on. I’m sure there were parties but I don’t remember the phrase “Grad Night.” Did they have those in the early 80’s?
I remember the day of was known as Senior Skip Day, the theory being since we would be up all night at Disney World, we should have time to nap and rest up for the big event.
At least, that’s what we told the teachers. I think we ended up going to the beach. Ivyboy’s was on a Saturday, so no excuse to miss school.
Ivyboy’s was on a Saturday, so no excuse to miss school.