Grad Bash 25, a highly anticipated celebration for high school seniors took place on April 7th, 2025. The event took place in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure Orlando and included a special night of live entertainment, thrilling rides, and countless memories. The event marks the beginning of the end, one of the final steps to a student’s high school graduation.
“Grad Bash was bittersweet because even though I was excited for it, It also reminded me that this year is almost over and soon high school will be too,” Senior Mia Prina said.
The schools arrived at the event between the timeframe of 4 PM to 6 PM where they were immediately greeted with enthusiasm and cheer from the Universal workers. The students were led through an ultimately easy screening process and then given direct access to the park. From there, students dispersed and began exploring the magical and unique atmosphere of Universal Studios.
“Walking into the park it was like I immediately felt happier and couldn’t wait to get on the rides and explore,” Senior Andrea Milan said.
Whether it was the fantastical nature of Universal’s Diagon Alley, the life-sized delicious donuts in the Simpsons area, or the utter nostalgia of seeing bright yellow minions roaming the park, it was clear that there was magic in the air. Between the countless laughs and sugar rushes, the park brought together thousands of teenagers for a fun night of childlike glee.
“Throughout the night I felt so much nostalgia, It was like I was a kid again and experiencing the theme park for the very first time,” Senior Summer Lucas said.
In terms of the entertainment, there were multiple live DJ’s in different corners of the park the whole duration of the night, making the night even more unforgettable. Students could be seen singing and dancing to the live music, enjoying all the park had to offer.
“I think the music really set the tone for the night and it made walking around more fun even if you didn’t ride the rides,” Senior Keani Sanchez said.
However, the night was not without hiccups as the lines for the most popular rides such as velocicoaster, The incredible Hulk, and Hagrid’s motorbike Adventure were extremely backed up with wait times as long as 200 minutes.
“The park was super fun but the lines were very long, I only got to ride 2 or 3 because that’s all I had time for,” Senior Sofia Paz said.
Despite the brief disruption, the event remained one of the best parts of a seniors graduating experience. Thousands of students were not only bonded by the event but also allowed to celebrate their vast achievements through a high-spirited night of fun where they were allowed to be a child again. Grad Bash 2025 will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most exciting events and a fitting farewell to their high school careers.
