Greetings, Sarena, and thanks for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Disneyland Resort Grad Nite is an annual tradition that brings high school seniors together for an exclusive celebration at the Happiest Place on Earth! This year, Grad Nite is returning to Disney California Adventure Park on select dates in May and June. The evening includes a dance party in Cars Land, rides on thrilling attractions, and much more! Grad Nite takes place from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM, so the park is closed at that time exclusively for ticketed high school seniors. So, if you’re planning a visit to the Disneyland Resort on one of the Grad Nite dates, Disney California Adventure Park will close exclusively for ticketed students at 9:00 PM. If you have a Park Hopper Ticket, you can then head over to Disneyland Park, since it stays open later on those nights.
Here are the Disneyland Resort Grad Nite dates for 2019:
May 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 22, 28, 29, and 31
June 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14
You may also notice high school students inside both Disneyland Park and Disneyland California Adventure Park throughout the day as well, since students have the option of selecting a ticket with full day’s access at one or both theme parks, or just the Grad Nite event only.
I’ve visited the theme parks on Grad Nite days, and haven’t noticed much of a difference in crowds until later in the day. So I wouldn’t be too worried about visiting on the date you were originally planning. I would, however, recommend adding Disney MaxPass to your ticket, which allows you to make Disney FASTPASS selections directly from your phone using the Disneyland app, which can be a big time-saver. Also, I recommend using the Disneyland app to check wait times, find favorite Characters, make dining reservations, and even mobile order food to avoid longer waits!
Wishing you a magical visit to the Disneyland Resort!
Kristin