3 p.m. to 3 a.m.: 12 hours of Gay Days Weekend

With the weather clearing, a good crowd is growing at the pool party. I'd estimate it to be about half the size I saw last year (when you could barely move), but still a lot of people. They seem happy, upbeat, and in no mood to talk about the drama or politics of Gay Days Weekend. And they're from all over: Montreal, Toronto, Boston, New York, Atlantic City, Milwaukee, Louisville... you name it. Seems like very few locals. The music is good... this is a fun party. 

Checked in to the Regal Sun Resort (sold out), conveniently midway between the Buena Vista Palace and the Hotel Royal Plaza (sold out) -- host to all of the GayDays.com events. As I'm checking in, a tall man from Britain is pitching a fit at the front desk. "We've traveled all the way from England and you're telling me we have to put up with this all weekend? I have small children!" I looked around and could see absolutely nothing out of the ordinary except four lesbians quietly waiting in line to check in. This is the Girls at Gay Days host hotel, and he'd apparently seen some displays of affection at the pool. The hotel employee, who didn't speak very good English anyway, just looked at him befuddled. I didn't hang around for the result. 

The Gay Days Expo at the Hotel Royal Plaza is still packed, and so is the pool party outside. This hotel is buzzing, and from what I could tell Thursday's day-long blackout is a distant memory for most. As always, the variety of booths is staggering... from greyhound rescue to tooth whitening to a table of straight women who write gay erotica. 

Outside, the pool party is getting sloppy -- in a good way. This hotel has ground floor rooms with private poolside patios. Each one has different people, but they all have a liquor table with setups. Some of these rooms were bought by companies with banners like Manhunt.com, some by friends from the same city, and some by friends of the same ilk (there's a big bear party in one). 

Back at the much quieter Regal Sun, Gay AA Roundup attendees are getting ready for drag bingo. Out by the pool, the loud thumping from the nearby Hotel Royal Plaza indicates that Beach Ball Luau has started. That doesn't deter a group of about 8 women doing Jell-O shots. One begins passing them out to women nearby, and pretty soon lawn chairs are scraping across the pool deck. By the time I left the pool, there were close to 40 women having the time of their 20 lives.  

Inside, I see the British guy back at the front desk... "They were kissing!" What does he think the hotel can do about this?

There's a lot of standing around -- and a lot of empty space -- at Beach Ball Luau. For a party that runs from 8 p.m to 1 a.m., this should be peak time, but there appear to be fewer than 500 people there. After the change of venue from Typhoon Lagoon, Johnny has tried to make this a memorable event. The sound and music are great. Lights dance against the 30-story hotel tower. There's smoke, stilt walkers, fan dancers, drag queens handing at leis. And there aren't many people. A circuit event needs a certain critical mass of people to achieve the right energy... it's not here. But those in attendance are making the best of it. A couple from New Orleans share that their friends just texted them that the there's a long line waiting to get into Typhoon Lagoon. "Oh well," one says.

Someone working for Johnny who didn't want to give his name admitted the turnout was disappointing. "It's a shame, because I think we really did a good job putting this party together," he said. But he also said the pool party that day was great, and that ticket sales f or Saturday and Sunday night parties were good. "They're going to be a blast," he said. 

It seems like there are two camps: those who can't get enough of the speculation about Johnny and the other parties and event organizers, and those who just want to have fun. 

Over at Disney's West End, there's a very long line waiting to get into a packed Bongo's for the Girls in Wonderland party. Women are waving from the packed balconies upstairs, and there's loud music and happy hooting from inside. The women in line outside want in... bad. And I've gotta say... there are some really beautiful women here. Again, they're from all over, Key West to Canada. And because it's late, this party line is pretty sloppy, too... in a good way. Congratulations Girls in Wonderland! This party (and their Saturday night party, too) have become iconic, a very important draw for Gay Days Weekend. 

Happy stragglers from the Girls in Wonderland party and Let's Go Play across the street at Typhoon Lagoon are making their way to their cars at Disney's West End parking lot. Asked if they had fun, two women from Panama City say, "Sooo much fun." and then kiss. I asked the same question to some guys spilling out of the shuttle bus from Typhoon Lagoon. "Dude... so fun I can't even talk about it." From the glaze in his eyes, and the weaving of his walk, he's probably right.