What’s more fun than going to Disneyland? Going to Disneyland as a community. This is what Gay Days at Disneyland is all about, an unofficial Disneyland event where members of the LGBT community enjoy Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California with the general public.
To be held on October 2-4, the 18th Annual Unofficial Gay Days at Disneyland is expected to attract more than 30,000 LGBT members from California and all over the country. Members are encouraged to wear red shirts (though the official shirt is also available at the Gay Days at Disneyland website) in order to identify each other and to show their strong numbers.
Events at the Gay Days in Disneyland
Headlining the 2015 Gay Days in Disneyland will be six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald in her first-ever live concert for the event. McDonald has an upcoming live-action film version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and has also performed all over the world, with concerts at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and Tanglewood.
Other guests during the weekend include: RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Manila Luzon and Ben de la Creme; Revenge star Nick Wechsler, Jai Rodriguez, and Glee’s Dot Jones; Alec Mapa, Well Strung, and Disney Legend Bob Gurr; Ben Rimalower, Miss Coco Peru, and the cast and producers of ABC Family’s The Fosters.
Moreover, DJs Ray Rhodes, Zach Moos, and Kimberly S. will be spinning at the three signature parties. The Gay Days in Disneyland events will be held at following places: the Grand Californian Hotel; Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen; and the House of Blues Anaheim. Moreover, the Gay Days Anaheim pool party, PLUNGE!, will happen at its new home, the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel.
More fun at the Gay Days in Disneyland
Aside from the parties during the Gay Days weekend, there will also be a family scavenger hunt, a group photo, a lesbian ice cream social, group meet ups, ABC screenings, and other events for families, youth, bears, couples, and Mouseketeers of every age. Furthermore, there will be a family pool party, a Teen Dance, film screenings, mixers, and more.
But remember: though Disney is pretty supportive of the event (PRIDE, Disney’s LGBT diversity group, helps in integrating the event as much as possible into Disneyland’s schedule), this isn’t Disney-sponsored. So don’t go calling Disneyland for information about Gay Days in Disneyland.
The Gay Days in Disneyland first came about after the yearly Disneyland party for gays and lesbians was cancelled in 1998, and was based on its sister Gay Day event in Orlando. The first Gay Days in Disneyland event– which happened in that same year– brought in 2,500 people and has become a full weekend event.