In Issue 23
Gay Days Is Here!
GayDays began in 1991 as a single designated day (always the first Saturday in June) when the LesBiGay community and friends were encouraged to “Wear Red and Be Seen” while visiting the world’s most popular theme park. From its beginnings (spearheaded by the GLBT Community Center, local activists, businesses, and the online friends and users of Compu-Who) with 3,000 attendees, this one-day park visit has evolved into a week-long, citywide celebration offering round the clock activities including multiple theme park visits, cocktail soirees, concerts, and a host of internationally renowned parties. Gay Days attracts over 135,000 celebrants from across the nation and around the globe! One sign of the event’s refusal to die has been its relentless expansion. What began as a single-day visit to the Magic Kingdom has expanded to a weeklong vacation celebration attracting more than 135,000 Gay Days revelers to more than 40 citywide events. Attendees from across the nation and around the globe will infuse an estimated $100 million-plus into the local economy. Year after year, old events continue and new events add new life is added to this annual event. Local business and club owners add to the excitement with special nights and expanded entertainment options aimed at Gay Days attendees. But the growth of this phenomenonal event was gangly and chaotic, with no central hub of activity, no Gay Days information center, and most regrettably, no central agency to help visitors acquire tickets for the myriad of events. Gay Days was gaining popularity, but it was getting more and more difficult to plan for.
When GayDayS.com launched in April of 1998, not only did Orlando’s Gay Days gain an impressive state of- the-art marketing tool, it acquired the first ever year-round staff of professionals dedicated to establishing Gay Days as a fully recognized and respected addition to the Central Florida tourism and cultural calendar.
Below is a list of the major Gaydays.com official events as well as some other events we know about at press time.
Thursday, June 4th GayDays Expo with over 100 vendors at the Royal Plaza and is free and open to public – 15,000 + attended last year. All ages welcome. Free giveaways, sampling, entertainment and more. The hours are noon to 8 pm. The welcome pool party stars DJ Ricky at the Royal Plaza pool and is free and open to the public. There will be a cash bar and buffet. The pool party is from 6 pm to 2 am. Miss Gay Days Pageant takes place at the Royal Plaza Harrington ballroom and benefits the center (GLBCC). Doors open at 7 pm with the pageant starting at 8 pm. General admission is $20 advance/online and $30 at the door. VIP admission is $45 advance/online and $55 at the door.
Friday, June 5 GayDays Expo with over 100 vendors at the Royal Plaza and is free and open to public – 15,000 + attended last year. All ages welcome. Free giveaways, sampling, entertainment and more. The hours are 10am – 8pm. The Blue Pool Party at the Royal Plaza pool with free admission for Royal Plaza guests and $10 for outside guests. This event is from noon to 6 pm and is sponsored by Manhunt and stars DJ Ronny Boy. Wet hosts Gay Days Bud Light Pool Bash at the Royal Plaza hotel pool, which is free for hotel guests and $10 for outside guests. The party is from 6 pm to 2 am and stars DJ Joshua Bula from 6 pm to 10 am and DJ Peter “Jester” Savas from 10 pm to 2 am. The Hard Rock Live presents out stand-up comedienne Wanda Sykes live at Citywalk for a night of guaranteed laughs. Get your tickets before the show sells out. 7:30 pm door open; 8:00 pm show. East Gate Events presents Let’s Go Play 2009, the magical Friday night party at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park. This lively event brings together over 5,500 gay men and women from all over the world and takes place from 8 pm to 2 am. $69 Gay Days official welcome party takes place at the Royal Plaza Harrington Ballroom from 9 pm to 3 am. A portion of the proceeds benefit the human rights campaign. Admission is $25 advance/online and $35 at the door. The night stars DJ David Harness and Jade of RuPaul’s Drag Race and hosted by super nova Cyon Flare. Tiffany in concert at the Parliament House Resort at 12 am with a $20 admission.
Saturday, June 6th Gaydays at Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World 19th Anniversary with regular park hours. GayDays Expo with over 100 vendors at the Royal Plaza and is free and open to public – 15,000 + attended last year. All ages welcome. Free giveaways, sampling, entertainment and more. The hours are Noon to 6pm. Red Pool Party at the Royal Plaza pool with free admission for Royal Plaza guests and $10 for outside guests. This event is from noon to 6 pm and is sponsored by Manhunt and stars DJ Randy Bettis. Wet hosts Gay Days® Bud Light Pool Bash at the Royal Plaza hotel pool which is free for hotel guests and $10 for outside guests. The Party is from 6 pm to 2 am and stars DJ Joe Bermudez from 6 pm to 10 pm and DJ Andy Ajao from 10 pm to 2 am. Gay Days® comedy night at the Regal Sun Resort ballroom starring Kate Clinton with the doors opening at 7 pm with the show being from 8 to 9:30 pm. Admission is $30 general advance/online $40 general at the door, if available $45 preferred advance/online, and $60 VIP advance/online $500 VIP table for 10 advance/online only. Gay Days® Bear Dance Eufuria at the Royal Plaza Harrington ballroom from 9 pm to 3 am. Admission is $30 advance/online and $40 door, if available. Deborah Cox In Concert at the Parliament House Resort singing her hit songs “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven” plus her huge hits “Nobody Supposed To Be Here,” “Things Just Ain’t The Same,” “Who Do You Love,” “Easy As Life” and “Absolutely Not.” The concert is at 12 am and is only $20. Sunday, June 7 White Pool Party at the Royal Plaza pool with free admission for Royal Plaza guests and $10 for outside guests. This event is from noon to 6 pm and is sponsored by Manhunt and stars DJ Seth Cooper. Wet hosts Gay Days Bud Light pool bash at the Royal Plaza hotel pool which is free for hotel guests and $10 for outside guests. The party is from 6 pm to 2 am and stars DJ Deanne from 6 pm to 10 pm and DJ Hazmat from 10 pm to 2 am. Jennifer Holiday in concert at the Parliament House Resort singing her hit songs “And I Am Telling You”, “A Woman’s Got The Power”, “No Frills Love” and more! The concert is at 12 am and admission is only $10. Pulse Nightclub Presents a Gay Days kick off celebration on Thursday, June 4th and then on Friday, June 5th they are featuring 2009 Man of the Year Reese Rideout along with the 8th wonder of the world, 3 time national title holder Dena Cass. Don’t forget every Friday and Saturday they feature their sexy strip contest with a $100 prize.
Wonderland Presents a two act party on Sunday, June 7th at Hard Rock Live/Café Orlando from 8 pm to 2 am. Act 1 is the Mad Hatter Tea Party and stars DJ Brett Henrichsen and Act 2 is Alyson in Wonderland and star DJ Alyson Calagna. Admission is $60 in advance and $75 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at CircuiTicket.com MOS Global & Shaun N Paul Presents Gay Disney reimagined, reborn, released with 2 parties. On Friday June 5th they present Block Party at Destiny Nightclub starring DJ Skribble and on Saturday, June 6th the present Motion at Disney’s Pleasure Island starring DJ Manny Lehman. For info and tickets go to www.GayDayReborn.com Revolution Nightclub On Friday, June 5th they present, direct from New York City, Amanda LePore live in concert debuting her latest CD “Cotton Candy.” The night will also star Circuit DJ Joe Bermudez, DJ Lui Lui, JD from the Real World Brooklyn and the Majestic Ladies with 3 shows. On Saturday, June 6th they present Unity night, where men and women play together. The night stars DJ’s Joanie and Infinite along with the Les Vixen dancers. On Sunday, June 7th they present REHAB T Dance, where they invite you to recover from all the Gay Days partying.
