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More Grad Nite Stories — Part Two

Editor's Note: Thanks in advance to the authors of the stories that appear here today. We'll probably move on from Grad Nite stories after this, so any others that show up in my inbox would only be published (if at all) in the normal email columns

-Kevin

Reading your Grad Nite column brought back memories:

The bad:

The problem with working in merchandise was that all the regular souvenirs were replaced with Plush (at least in Fantasyland). So even though the Grad Nite itself didn't start until 11 pm, we came in at 9:30 and had to box up all the regular park souvenirs and take them backstage, and then bring out tons of plush (stuffed animals) and restock the shop according to the buyers' plush map.

This wasn't so bad. What was awful was after working all night, at 5 in the morning when the grads have finally left the park you are exhausted and sleepy but have to do the whole thing in reverse: Box up all the leftover plush, take it backstage, retrieve the regular souvenirs and place them back in their original positions in the shop. Usually someone has taken photographs of the layout, so this makes it easier, but God help you if you make a mistake. Some of the A's are quite possessive of their locations and will give you hell if the souvenirs are put back wrong.

The menu at the Inn Between was extremely limited on Grad Nights — I think hash browns, eggs, toast, etc. I didn't feel like having breakfast at 1 am — I wanted a hamburger, at least.

Disneyland only has to give you eight hours between shifts so typically I would have to work a grad nite from 9:30 pm to 6 am and then be back to start a full 2 pm to 10:30 pm shift the next day.

Death — one grad nite I was working, an inebriated teen climbed out of the PeopleMover in the Superspeed Tunnel to retrieve his girlfriend's hat \ purse \ shopping bag (who knows?) which had fallen on the track, became disoriented and was struck and killed by the next car.

Violence — another night one teen became offended by a look or comment another made about his girlfriend, pulled out a knife and stabbed him.

Disneyland parking lot was locked down for several hours before grad nights. My first year, I rode my bike to work. Since I lived west of the Park, I would usually ride down Cerritos then through the DL parking lot where Cerritos meets West, across the front of the Main Gate and then lock my bike by Harbor House. Unfortunately, on Grad Nights I had to ride my bike all the way around the park, around Ball and Harbor through rush hour traffic and then in the cast member's entrance on Harbor. They had security posted at every other entrance or exit of the parking lot and wouldn't let me through even when I flashed a Cast Member identity card. What a pain!

The good:

Dawn over Disneyland — the freshness of an empty, just hosed down Park, with the sun peeking over the trees and the birds chirping.

Camaraderie — the shared experience of just having survived something awful together.

Breakfast at Belisle's — going out to breakfast afterward with your fellow CMs.

Night Rate: You get paid more for working third shift.

— Bryan (Fantasyland Merchandise '78'-'83)

Kevin,

I graduated from Redondo Union High, in Redondo Beach, CA, in 1985 and I pulled an "all-nighter." My secret was this: There were 5 buses, at the school, to take the students, so my date and I went on the bus with the less people (about 8) and took a nap on the way there. When we arrived, we woke up and we were ready to go.

When we arrived at the main entrance, they were frisking all the males and searching all the purses, etc. of the women, so it took about 30 min. to get in. Once in, the park wasn't that busy, so we didn't have to wait in many lines for rides. From about 1:30 — 3:00, we saw students asleep on benches, on tables and chairs at the restaurants, and all over central plaza. By this time, we were walking on the rides, sometimes riding them twice in a row. When it was time to go, we got on the bus and fell asleep with the students who were already asleep. I don't remember who the entertainment was, but it was some pop band and I was into heavy metal, so that didn't interest me.

Some notes on that night: Men had to wear a suit and tie with dress shoes and women had to wear a dress at least knee length or a nice pant suit, these garments couldn't be revealing or provocative. If a student wasn't in compliance, that student wasn't allowed in.

On that same night, Magic Mountain held their first or second "end of school" party, which some of my friends went to. At that park, they had two rival gangs that got into a fight where some gang members died. Plus, my friends said that the park was crowded and the lines were long for most of the rides. When I heard that, I laughed at them, because they gave me a bunch of crap for going to D-land instead of with them.

Overall, my experience at grad night was great and it was nice to go on rides without long lines and to see the sun come up while in the park. I pulled another "all-nighter" at the 30th anniversary party a month later, but that's another story.

Jon S.

Kevin,

I have been a Grad Night Chaperone for the last 31 years with the same high school. Yes, way back before Tomorrowland had Space Mountain (in 1977), when we all met in a big top tent, where Space Mountain now sits. I chaperoned for a school in the Los Angeles School System. This school system always has the last grad night of them all, with many other school districts. Almost 10 years ago, Disneyland moved this event for one year, which was held approximately the third Thursday of June, to an earlier date to save money and to extend the summer hours for the park.

This caused many of the schools to find other venues to attend, such as boating trips, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, or events planned at the school. The benefit of Grad Night is to get the students (graduates) off the street to a safe place after graduation. This year (2001), Disneyland again has cancelled Grad Night, during the third week of June, which has caused all the Los Angeles Unified School District to scramble for other venues to attend. Many schools now are just canceling Grad Night. If there is not a safe event to attend directly after graduation, then why, as Chaperones should we go through all the trouble to get students to attend an event that has nothing to do with graduation? Why make an event prior to graduation? Do you have a reception to get married before your married?

Students already have the Prom to celebrate their graduation. It is a fact that many students will suffer from this decision made by Disneyland. Statewide during the last Disneyland retraction of Grad Night, drunk driving, drug overdose, vandalism, excessive vehicle speed, excessive home party police calls, were among the top costs for communities to deal with.

Students today look forward to follow other fellow students to attend this event. Disneyland took a big turn around and pulls the magic carpet from the graduates.

In closing, during Grad Night, I sit there, on Main Street, as Walt E. Disney had done watching his two daughters, as he was imagining Disneyland as they had done on 'Daddy's Day'. It is real rewarding to see thousands of students enjoying their time at the park having an memorial experience after their graduation instead of unsupervised activities. There have even been soft openings of attractions, parades and entertainment. You even get to go back stage, unescorted to go to the Disneyland jail (security).

Rick B

Kevin,

Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories! Grad Night '73 here, We rode Greyhound buses 9 hours from a suburb north of Sacramento, North Highlands, to the park. We arrived an hour early and had to sit out in the parking lot until the witching hour of 10 o'clock rolled around. Ricky Nelson was the headliner, and there was a lot of "contraband" that made it into the park. Riding the skyway buckets was a contact HIGH experience!

My favorite memory was Pirates of the Caribbean, all these Seniors totally in dress code (I don't know if they do that anymore but they were totally dedicated to making us conform at mine) splashing and having "too much fun" and the ominous voice "Please keep your hands inside the boat at all times" then finally "will those of you splashing PLEASE stop, you're lowering the level of the river" LOL. I guess the CM had run out of 'professional patience'.

I am seriously disappointed though, they must have started doing the buttons after ours since we didn't receive one. My mother still has the "formal" picture taken as part of our package.

Margaret S

Kevin,

I had a fun time attending my Grad Nite even though not much went as planned. I'd planned to go to Grad Nite with a good friend of mine; our plan was to meet up at the Park as soon as the busses got there and spend the night having a good time. Unfortunately, since our school had close to 300 people going to Grad Nite (I went to a really big school!) everyone was separated into groups by the serial number on their tickets, and my friend and I ended up on separate busses.

Somehow, even though all the busses left at the same time, none arrived at Disneyland at the same time, and there was no way I was going to pick out the bus my friend was on when there were hundreds of busses that all looked exactly alike parked in Bambi. No problem, I thought — I'll meet her inside the Park. Sure you will, kid. My friend and I didn't see each other until the following Monday! In fact the only time I saw any of my friends all night was when I rode "it's a small world" and found two of them sitting in the row in front of me, even though I hadn't even noticed them in front of me in the queue. How's that for ironic?

I'm told that Miami Sound Machine and DeBarge performed at my Grad Nite; I'll have to take other peoples' word for it — I was having too much fun on the rides to go see anyone perform! Even though I inadvertently ended up by myself all night, I still had a blast.

As a CM, I worked as a busman and runner in Plaza Foods (the Plaza Inn and the late, lamented Plaza Pavilion); for the most part I didn't mind working Grad Nites. The Pavilion had a couple of advantages over most of the Park's restaurants — since our restaurant was buffeteria service, as you said, there wasn't much demand for the kind of food were serving The restaurant was also right across from the Plaza Inn, which was the designated area for the chaperones. Being in earshot of hordes of chaperones ready to pounce on unruly Grad Niters did wonders for discouraging a lot of shenanigans at our restaurant!

Our restaurant was usually pretty quiet for most of the night; the biggest challenges we faced were making sure there was enough coffee available (in case a chaperone wandering over from the PI wanted to refill his cup) and staying awake. We were usually a bunch of smiling, walking zombies by about 5 a.m., but we still looked less exhausted than the Grad Niters!

Two memories of working Grad Nites stay with me. On Grad Nites, our leads usually let us keep a radio running backstage (normally, it would be kept off until after closing for fear that the noise would be heard onstage. One night, we were just about to close up and as I walked past the radio it was playing the Fifth Dimension's "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All"; the minute I heard it, I just burst out laughing — it just fit our whole situation so perfectly!

The other moment that comes to mind is walking back across the Plaza after my shift was done. Most of the time when I walked back to the lockers, there was a lot of activity in the Plaza, but at the end of the Grad Nite shift, there was almost complete silence and there were few if any people walking around. I'd always stop for just a moment or two right in the middle of Main Street and just enjoy the beauty and serenity of the empty Plaza in the early morning light. I always felt like I was getting to do something special, something that few people get to experience and even fewer appreciate.

That one moment in the Plaza always made the long night worthwhile.

Paul S

Kevin,

I thought I just tell you a couple quick stories about my friends who worked Grad Nites last year at Walt Disney World (WDW). The set up is a bit different there. First they had some of the student go to Pleasure Island. They closed the island for outside visitors and the place was packed!! I'm glad I didn't have to work there that night! You know how high school students can get when there's loud music and clubs! Anyway, then they were all shipped off to the Magic Kingdom at about 10 PM to meet even more students who did not go to Pleasure Island. My friend worked the turnstile and said it was just a mad house. Thousands of kids coming in the gates all at once. Then she just had to sit there and be bored stiff all night until the masses exited. At least there really weren't any guests around that area, so the CMs could rest and just hang out.

One of my roommates was working in the Main Street Confectionary. His managers were really cool and let him go watch all the concerts that were taking place on the Castle Forecourt Stage! He saw Destiny's Child, Jessica Simpson, and I think BBMak and / or Youngstown. He had a great time! Anyway, another friend of mine was working Fantasyland Merchandise. She and one other girl were responsible for stocking everything that night. That can be a very tiring job!! Their base was right next to Destiny's Childs' dressing room, so they saw the group off and on throughout the night. Of course Disney provided Destiny's Child with tons of food that they would never be able to eat themselves. The girls of Destiny's Child saw that these 2 girls were working so hard, so they had somebody give them their extra food!! I would have freaked out if Destiny's Child gave me their food!

Anyway, those are just a couple stories I heard. Most people didn't like working Grad Nites, because the high school students had attitudes! I'm glad that I didn't work at the Magic Kingdom for that very reason!

Jason

Kevin,

In May 1989 my senior class and I hopped on a bus and left our Bay Area high school for the long trek to Anaheim. Included in my group was Olympic Gold Medal skater Kristi Yamaguchi (although back then she had "only" placed 2nd in the nationals, and none of us had any idea what would happen three short years later!).

Anyway, we knew that we were supposed to be dressed up in order to be admitted into the Park. When we arrived at the Park, Kristi quickly changed into her dress (a very nice one at that)... but she had forgotten to bring a jacket, and it was a bit chilly. She was cold, so we advised her to go ahead and wear her black denim jacket (even though we knew denim wasn't allowed in the dress code, the girl was freezing for Pete's sake!), which she did. When we arrived at the turnstiles to be let into the park, the Cast Member saw her denim jacket, and refused to let her in. Silly, since she was wearing a prom dress underneath!! Well, after a lot of hassle they made her remove her jacket, and wear one of the spiffy NAVY BLUE polyester jackets (which went great with her black / pink dress, BTW) from wardrobe.

Once inside the park we joked, "Kristi, if you ever win the gold medal, and they try to get you to do one of those cheesy 'I just won a gold medal, I'm going to DISNEYLAND!' commercials, you can tell them to GET LOST!" We all got a big laugh out of that!

Skye

Kevin,

I felt very lucky and relieved that I made it to Grad Nite at all. The class from my high school that had graduated the year before had been dropping acid at DL, and for much of the year my class was worried that we would be banned from Grad Nite because of them. The administration apparently had to do some careful negotiation so that we could go — the last year must have been bad.

Then, once we arrived at DL, I promptly lost all my friends! (I was caught at the dress-code check for wearing Birkenstocks!) The most truly magical moment was when I finally caught up with them at 1 AM. This was when they were having swing dances with a live band over in the Main Street pavilion. I'd always wanted to learn to swing but had never gotten the chance. So I came out from Adventureland, and there was my long-lost, best girlfriend, swinging away with a dance star for our rival school (we were all drama nerds). I'd been a real ugly duckling in high school, and that night turned out to be the first time a guy ever asked me to dance.

For me, Grad Nite was an amazing transition into the next part of my life.

Alexandra

Kevin,

I went to Grad Nite in 1986 — Tears for Fears was the big band of the evening. Two memories of the evening:

It took an hour to get from into the parking lot to into the park. Most of that was spent on the bus, moving VERY slowly through the parking lot. I hope that has changed — Of course, now the parking lot is California Adventure, and there are several places to park.

A fun memory, I went with a large group of friends. I had been planning to split of from the group with a girl I liked. While I was planning, my best friend had been trying to get me to leave the group and go off together. Well, fate intervened. We did get split up, except that the girl ended up with my best friend! I looked for the entire evening, and could not find either.

Well, it is not an unhappy ending. I ended up marrying the girl, although she still has not forgiven me for that night, fifteen years later. She claims I abandoned her! We enjoy Disneyland a lot with our kids these days.

Alan C.