Cheer Group in February Question

[Whaleyam1]

I just found out that there will be cheer groups staying at Pop during our trip (Feb 2-10). The competition is at the end of our trip (our last Friday), but do groups come just for the weekend of the competition or do they come earlier in the week?

I originally switched to Pop because the main pool at CBR will be closed, but if there are going to be cheer groups there all week, I might be willing to deal with the quiet pools and switch back to CBR. (I'm not expecting a relaxing resort experience exactly by staying at a value, but I'm worried about cheer teams being loud late at the resort and crowding food courts and transportation).

If the cheer groups are just going to impact the last day of our trip, though, it might not be worth the extra cost to move to CBR.

I'd appreciate any cheer team advice!

 

[SkyGuy]

I just found out that there will be cheer groups staying at Pop during our trip (Feb 2-10). The competition is at the end of our trip (our last Friday), but do groups come just for the weekend of the competition or do they come earlier in the week?

I originally switched to Pop because the main pool at CBR will be closed, but if there are going to be cheer groups there all week, I might be willing to deal with the quiet pools and switch back to CBR. (I'm not expecting a relaxing resort experience exactly by staying at a value, but I'm worried about cheer teams being loud late at the resort and crowding food courts and transportation).

If the cheer groups are just going to impact the last day of our trip, though, it might not be worth the extra cost to move to CBR.

I'd appreciate any cheer team advice!

It will be hit or miss. Do they to come early/stay a few extra days? Yes, but not all, and not all will choose Pop as it’s more $ than the All Stars if those are an option. Do they walk around in large masses and randomly break out in cheers? Also yes. Will they be doing cheers in common areas that could be outside your window? You bet. Will there be large groups in the mornings at the food court? Yep, if they have an early practice or competition time. Will they be in the pool? Mmm, that’s iffy since most of their activities are during the day hours, so if you’re doing a pool day, then you may avoid the chaos- the days prior to and after the competition are a different story, obvs. If you’re doing an after-park swim, you could run into a large group. I would imagine if they are coming early it would be to hit the parks and not to simply hang out by the pool, but that’s just my opinion because that’s what makes sense to me! They won’t crowd transportation to the parks as they will have their own busses to WWoS during the competition days.

 

[fla4fun]

I have been at Pop and at All Star when there were competitions taking place, sometimes for the full duration of my trip. If you only overlap the actual dates by one day, and there is a substantial difference in price to move back to CBR, I would stay at Pop.

You can do things to minimize contact with the crowds. If you can, bring some breakfast items to have in your room (something we do most of the time anyway) or use mobile order and bring your food back to your room for a more relaxing meal. Perhaps budget for using a rideshare or MV once or twice in case transportation is a problem (we have not had transportation issues due to competitions, but it is possible), which would probably be less expensive than moving to a moderate resort.

One piece of advice I would give is to be careful about making room requests. Our experience has been that they try to keep the teams in one area and the regular guests in another, as much as they can. If you request a particular room or building, you might be putting yourself right in the middle of the action. I usually request a top floor room, to increase my chance of a quiet room, and nothing else. I let Disney decide which building and so far it has worked out well.

 

[Whaleyam1]

I have been at Pop and at All Star when there were competitions taking place, sometimes for the full duration of my trip. If you only overlap the actual dates by one day, and there is a substantial difference in price to move back to CBR, I would stay at Pop.

You can do things to minimize contact with the crowds. If you can, bring some breakfast items to have in your room (something we do most of the time anyway) or use mobile order and bring your food back to your room for a more relaxing meal. Perhaps budget for using a rideshare or MV once or twice in case transportation is a problem (we have not had transportation issues due to competitions, but it is possible), which would probably be less expensive than moving to a moderate resort.

One piece of advice I would give is to be careful about making room requests. Our experience has been that they try to keep the teams in one area and the regular guests in another, as much as they can. If you request a particular room or building, you might be putting yourself right in the middle of the action. I usually request a top floor room, to increase my chance of a quiet room, and nothing else. I let Disney decide which building and so far it has worked out well.

Thanks! That's a great tip about the room requests.

 

[SL6827]

I would switch. I have read that some do come earlier.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Just letting you know that we learned last year that Disney has changed things and now they stay at all levels of resorts. We were there last Feb and stayed at AKL Jambo. The cheerleaders were there en masse. It was crazy.

 

[SL6827]

Just letting you know that we learned last year that Disney has changed things and now they stay at all levels of resorts. We were there last Feb and stayed at AKL Jambo. The cheerleaders were there en masse. It was crazy.

They do, but they have a few designated each event. All Stars, CSR, CBR, and AKL seem to be the most common.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

We only overlapped one night with cheer/dance groups at Pop this past spring & it was horrendous - loud & obnoxious packs of them all over the place, screaming & yelling & carrying on until all hours in the pool - if there hadn't been a mAjor wreck between us & home, we'd have left a day early.

 

[SL6827]

We only overlapped one night with cheer/dance groups at Pop this past spring & it was horrendous - loud & obnoxious packs of them all over the place, screaming & yelling & carrying on until all hours in the pool - if there hadn't been a mAjor wreck between us & home, we'd have left a day early.

Yes, this!!

 

[SL6827]

I did research for my trip in January for this. Right now, no found info of them staying at POR then.

 

[HopperFan]

They do, but they have a few designated each event. All Stars, CSR, CBR, and AKL seem to be the most common.

I've been at POP enough times with a group that it is not UN-common there. They also use POR. And many groups use Disney hotels that are not even competing or doing a Disney thing. DS just returned from AllStar Sports and Music - they were not competing at Disney. Previously they stayed at POP.

There is not single source to check for all these groups so it can be a risk no matter what.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

They do, but they have a few designated each event. All Stars, CSR, CBR, and AKL seem to be the most common.

Then AKL became common since 2022 b/c I was told it was new there. The other deluxe I cannot speak of. I know they commonly stay at some mods and definitely values. Had I known they were going to start staying at AKL that week I would have chosen a different DVC resort.

 

[SL6827]

Then AKL became common since 2022 b/c I was told it was new there. The other deluxe I cannot speak of. I know they commonly stay at some mods and definitely values. Had I known they were going to start staying at AKL that week I would have chosen a different DVC resort.

Yes. It's recent with AKL.

 

[SL6827]

I've been at POP enough times with a group that it is not UN-common there. They also use POR. And many groups use Disney hotels that are not even competing or doing a Disney thing. DS just returned from AllStar Sports and Music - they were not competing at Disney. Previously they stayed at POP.

There is not single source to check for all these groups so it can be a risk no matter what.

Yes, they can use other resorts too. So far I haven't seen POR for next year.

 

[eandt]

I just found out that there will be cheer groups staying at Pop during our trip (Feb 2-10). The competition is at the end of our trip (our last Friday), but do groups come just for the weekend of the competition or do they come earlier in the week?

I originally switched to Pop because the main pool at CBR will be closed, but if there are going to be cheer groups there all week, I might be willing to deal with the quiet pools and switch back to CBR. (I'm not expecting a relaxing resort experience exactly by staying at a value, but I'm worried about cheer teams being loud late at the resort and crowding food courts and transportation).

If the cheer groups are just going to impact the last day of our trip, though, it might not be worth the extra cost to move to CBR.

I'd appreciate any cheer team advice!

Rent DVC points, stay at a deluxe and remove all doubt

 

[WEDWDW]

Yes. It's recent with AKL.

Definitely-just started this year AFAIK and AKL is the only Deluxe being used AFAIK.

AKL was one of the Host Resorts for The Summit back in April.

/https://www.varsity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Summit-Bus-Schedule-4-7.pdf

 

[Lisa_lvspplmvr]

At the very latest they would arrive on Thursday the 8th . About half arrive Wednesday. Thursday is a practice day . Cheer is definitely different than danceteam . They practice anywhere not just at ESPN . Dancers usually only practice inside . We were at danceteam nationals last year for my daughter at Coronado. It was still peaceful there . The values get rowdy especially with cheer . I would probably do a split stay and get out of POP at the end of your stay .

 

[SL6827]

At the very latest they would arrive on Thursday the 8th . About half arrive Wednesday. Thursday is a practice day . Cheer is definitely different than danceteam . They practice anywhere not just at ESPN . Dancers usually only practice inside . We were at danceteam nationals last year for my daughter at Coronado. It was still peaceful there . The values get rowdy especially with cheer . I would probably do a split stay and get out of POP at the end of your stay .

Ah, that is good info to know. Does make sense.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Definitely-just started this year AFAIK and AKL is the only Deluxe being used AFAIK.

AKL was one of the Host Resorts for The Summit back in April.

/https://www.varsity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-Summit-Bus-Schedule-4-7.pdf

It started back in 2022 at AKL.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Rent DVC points, stay at a deluxe and remove all doubt

My DVC pts put me in a deluxe and I still had to deal with them so .