g** Days: 20 years of celebrating at Disney World and beyond

[ericpabear]

http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/06/ ... nd-beyond/

OrlandoSentinel
The Daily Disney

g** Days: 20 years of celebrating at Disney World and beyond
Featured, Matt Palm, Nightlife, Things to do — By Matt Palm on June 3, 2010 at 4:07 pm

This is the time of year when the tourist corridor turns red, as in the red shirts that g** Days participants wear. The big day is Saturday at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, where visitors throng around the Cinderella Castle hub to watch the afternoon parade.
In 2003, g** Davs revelers listened to the marching band before the Magic Kingdom's afternoon parade.
About 150,000 people are expected to attend g** Days this year, says Chris Alexander-Manley of g**.com, and that’s nearly 10 times the number who showed up 20 years ago.
Back in 1991, Orlando resident Doug Swallow and a group of friends planned a social outing in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, “much like many groups of 15 to 20 people might conceive of going to Disney together,” Swallow recalled in a Web post years later.
They promoted the idea in g** nightclubs, made plans to wear red shirts so those who attended could find one another, and between 1,000 and 1,500 people showed up.
“The mood of the country wasn’t the best toward g** and lesbians,” recalls Alexander-Manley. “I don’t think anyone looked ahead to the future to what it would mean and how much it would mean to so many people.”
After two decades, the party continues in an expanded, weeklong format. [It started Tuesday.] And it continues to grow.
This year, Alexander-Manley says, the event’s headquarters had to move hotels to offer more rooms to visitors and more space for the free business expo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, which features everything from fashions by Bloomingdales and Macy’s to pet adoption and health services.
“We’ve just totally outgrown the Royal Plaza,” where the festivities were hosted for many years, Alexander-Manley says. “We just knew we had to grow.”
The new host hotel, the Doubletree Resort, has more rooms set aside for visitors and more free parking for those who attend the expo.
“It looks like it’s going to be a banner year for us,” Alexander-Manley said.

For more about g** Days including milestones in g** Days history, check out Theme Park Rangers

[Jacca5660]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

[ericpabear]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

It took me a minute to get the "Country Bears" comment. That's a good one.

[Jacca5660]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

It took me a minute to get the "Country Bears" comment. That's a good one.

Thanks!! I'm glad somebody got it!!

[Amy]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

It took me a minute to get the "Country Bears" comment. That's a good one.

Thanks!! I'm glad somebody got it!!

Ok, I'm slow...do the Country Bears wear red shirts?

[ericpabear]

The red shirt thing is a sign of being homosexual. If you have one on at WDW during this event, it lets all know you are one of them.
My son was a cast member during one of these events. (This is a NOT a Disney sponsored event) He said Disney would give any unknowing "straight" person who wore a red shirt, a free Disney shirt. I don't know if that was Disney policy.
The "bear" thing, is a reference to big hair homosexual men.

[MmeLeota]

Thanks for the explanation...I didn't understand that either.

[mindflipper]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

Really? If we're going to bad g+a+y-Disney jokes,there's soooo many other attractions that could fit...

There's Peter Pan Flight- a guy who goes running around in tights and hangs with a fairy.

Or the Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT? As the song says "We're three caballeros...three g+a++y caballeros..."

Are they still wearing red shirts like they did 20 years ago? Last year the Sentinel reported that some wore rainbow tye-dye.

[Jacca5660]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

Really? If we're going to bad g+a+y-Disney jokes,there's soooo many other attractions that could fit...

There's Peter Pan Flight- a guy who goes running around in tights and hangs with a fairy.

Or the Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT? As the song says "We're three caballeros...three g+a++y caballeros..."

Are they still wearing red shirts like they did 20 years ago? Last year the Sentinel reported that some wore rainbow tye-dye.

T M I !!

[ericpabear]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

Really? If we're going to bad g+a+y-Disney jokes,there's soooo many other attractions that could fit...

There's Peter Pan Flight- a guy who goes running around in tights and hangs with a fairy.

Or the Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT? As the song says "We're three caballeros...three g+a++y caballeros..."

Are they still wearing red shirts like they did 20 years ago? Last year the Sentinel reported that some wore rainbow tye-dye.

You are right. I guess I never realy thought about it that way. There must be hundreds of corny jokes.
I do know they love Tinker bell, and thats not a joke.
As for the red shirts, yep, it's still their color. There is a web site http://www.g**.com that tells more details.

[Jacca5660]

I'm gonna guess that the Country Bears are real big during G+A+Y days! Dads, don't wear that red shirt!!

Really? If we're going to bad g+a+y-Disney jokes,there's soooo many other attractions that could fit...

There's Peter Pan Flight- a guy who goes running around in tights and hangs with a fairy.

Or the Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT? As the song says "We're three caballeros...three g+a++y caballeros..."

Are they still wearing red shirts like they did 20 years ago? Last year the Sentinel reported that some wore rainbow tye-dye.

You are right. I guess I never realy thought about it that way. There must be hundreds of corny jokes.
I do know they love Tinker bell, and thats not a joke.
As for the red shirts, yep, it's still their color. There is a web site g** that tells more details.

Whata ya mean they?

[Amy]

Now I'm tempted to wear red so I can get a free t-shirt, although now I know...so I guess I can't be unsuspecting
Nope, still holding out until December for the next trip Can I wear red then and plead ignorance on the time of year? I would love a free t-shirt

[ericpabear]

Now I'm tempted to wear red so I can get a free t-shirt, although now I know...so I guess I can't be unsuspecting
Nope, still holding out until December for the next trip Can I wear red then and plead ignorance on the time of year? I would love a free t-shirt

I don't know if that was a Disney policy.
I have never heard of a free shirt, till my son said they did it. (a few years ago, 6+-)
Still worth a try.

[Jacca5660]

Now I'm tempted to wear red so I can get a free t-shirt, although now I know...so I guess I can't be unsuspecting
Nope, still holding out until December for the next trip Can I wear red then and plead ignorance on the time of year? I would love a free t-shirt

What about my slinky red dress? would they give a whole new outfit?

[Amy]

What about my slinky red dress? would they give a whole new outfit?

Good one! Probably depends on how nice it looks on you