Cheer MADNESS!!!! All-Star Nationals Pretrip

[lilfroggie]

And here we go....

I've never actually done a pretrip report. In fact, I've never really done a POST trip report . However, I absolutely LOVE reading them and so I figured I would give it a try.

I've spent some time over the past month searching and searching for any trip reports or posts with first-hand experience of going to Disney for the UCA Varsity All-Star Cheer Nationals. Other than lots of posts about how rude, noisey, obnoxious, stuck-up and horrible the cheerleaders are I've seen very little from those who actually WENT with the cheerleaders (maybe afraid to show their "faces"????).

So I had an - why don't I write a report

 

[lilfroggie]

OOPs...didn't really mean to post that yet...

Anyhoo...a little cheer background and a little Disney background.

First off, my DCD (Darling CHEER Daughter) is 13 year old and doing her first year of Cheer. Her gym is relatively new and this will be their second year going to Disney. Last year they took one team - this year we are taking THREE! . As of our most recent parent meeting...approximately 100 cheerleaders, coaches, parents and siblings will be going.

Disney-wise, I have been an official "FREAK" since my first trip in 1992. That rubbed off on both of my kids, but my husband would be happy to do anything BUT go to Disney . I found The DIS back in 1999 while planning our one and only family trip in 2000. I spent hours and hours researching every aspect of the parks.

The trip was wonderful, although probably a bit OVER planned .

When it comes to Disney...I can be a bit of a control freak . I like to plan out where I'm staying - get the best deal - plan my park days well in advance - plan where I'm eating - plan, plan, plan.

This time around...that will simply NOT be happening!

Coming up next...We have to stay WHERE?!?!

 

[lilfroggie]

As a major planner and a major control freak...I love to put together my own package when I go to Disney. I love the thrill of getting a great deal on airfare and my hotel - saving on my park tickets - watching for the possibility of a better deal or free dining.

When you travel with a big group, much of that changes. I can't speak for every cheer gym out there, but ours mandates that the cheerleaders all get the same package. The parents can opt for doing their own thing, but that causes all kinds of complications.

This being our first time traveling with the team, I have decided to travel with the team as well. And I've even volunteered to lend a hand in the chaperoning area. Hopefully I won't regret that .

If you are a cheer parents, a great place to get more information on the cost and the packages available is to check out the UCA Varsity Web site (Google). I imagine this changes each year and each gym most likely handles this a little differently.

Here's some of the basic info for us -

Airfare: Our coach has spent some time calling airlines looking for a good deal for a large group of people. Thus far it appears that our best best will cost us approximately $400 per person. That's a hard amount for me to swallow as I traveled to Florida last year (not Disney) for about $200 per person around the same time. Instead of giving discounts for large groups, it seems that the airlines charge them MORE! I'm sure it's more work for someone...and that's how they justify it.

Hotel: UGH! So, since we are with a sports group - they apparently think that we'll all just LOVE to stay at All-Star Sports. Not my first choice (or second...or third...). ASMo was nice when we were there in 2005. I just prefer getting a good deal on a Moderate over a Value. I'm sure our girls and guys will love it no matter where we stay . The competition is over the weekend - Saturday and Sunday. The basic package seems to be Thurs through Monday or Fri through Tuesday. We are adding an extra day and staying Thurs through Tuesday.

Park Hoppers: If you are going for the competition, then you pretty much have to get your tickets from UCA Varsity (at least from what I can tell at this point). This is the only way to get certain perks, like the after hours in the parks - transportation to certain events - access to the competitions. Our package comes with 4 day park hoppers, and you can add on a 5th day for an additional fee ($30 this year). You supposedly can not upgrade these PH's in the parks because they are not normal PH's.

Additional fun stuff: With the cheer package, the kids (parents, coaches, and whoever books the UCA package) get some fun perks. I have heard two different things, and will have to see how it is when I actually get there. One person told me they keep parks open late just for the Cheerleaders every night we are there. Based on what I have seen on the Web site, they keep MK open late Friday night and Studios open late Sunday night. I don't see anything for Saturday night - unless it's a normal Disney EMH night.

The kids also get a fun party at Planet Hollywood on Friday night. As a parent, I can opt out of this one and not pay for it. I've decided to let my daughter go without her mommy for this one activity .

Up next: How do you plan anything?

 

[Tracyee]

Hi! My daughters (4 & 11) are attending UCA Nationals. It will be our first year attending. My fear is that I will have to be in 2 places at the same time. I have a level 1 and a level 4. I wish it was more like some Jamfest or Cheersport with multiple floors in one place.

Anyway, good luck to your cheer teams and I look forward to your postings on the pre-trip planning.

 

[lilfroggie]

Hi Tracyee!

How exciting to have two teams to watch! I can certainly understand your concern. I believe that the L1's are competing at the Studios and the L4's are competing at the ESPN complex. BUT...I also heard they will be running special buses/shuttles for the coaches, parents and cheerleaders between the two venues. So hopefully the timing will work out for you to see both your girls perform .

Good luck to your teams in March!! We are getting more and more excited...

 

[lilfroggie]

Very carefully! LOL

So I've been looking at park hours, I've talked to some parents who went last year, and I've talked with my daughter. I think we have a "skeleton" plan of how things will go for our time at Disney. We do have two additional gals staying in our room that we will have to consider, but it appears that they are Disney newbees. I think we will be able to show them a good time

We arrive on Thursday March 10th in the early afternoon. I know that check-in will be different, and it will take time to get everyone figured out for room assignments and to pass things out. Plus, I'm sure we will all be famished and ready to hit the Food Court. Provided the weather cooperates, it will be an afternoon and evening of R&R at the pool. I am hoping to get to bed early so we can hit the ground running Friday morning

I really debated about where to go on Friday morning. I typically do not like to do just one park in one day. I always find it refreshing to visit on in the morning, take a break and then hit a second park for the evening.

The main issue is that I think that for your first time at Disney, it's good to have the first morning walking down Main Street USA. So Friday morning should be a MK day...but Friday evening will be a MK night (due to my assumed understanding that it's a special late entry night for the cheerleaders). At this time, I'm going to plan on MK for the day with a break. The girls will have a break when they hit the Planet Hollywood party (and I will have a break with fellow mom's WITHOUT cheerleaders LOL).

Saturday and Sunday are Cheer days, and as of right now, we do not know when we will compete or what times we need to be where. My only plans at this point are to hopefully make Epcot Saturday night and MGM for Sunday night (including the late night cheer party).

Monday morning will be hard, but I'm hoping to get the girls out of bed early and hit EE at Animal Kingdom. We'll spend as much of the day there as they want, before finishing up at MK for the evening.

Tuesday, our team departs for home; however, my daughter and I are staying an extra day. We're going to hit EE at Epcot and end our night at MK. We might go back to AK or Studios if we missed something.

The hardest part, is not knowing how Sat and Sun will break down. The second hardest part is the influence of fellow cheerleaders and parents. I can plan for Epcot Saturday night, but if a large group of the girls want to go to MK instead, my daughter will want to go there. At times I wonder if I should just "go with the flow" but then I fear that we will get there without a plan and end up standing around trying to figure out where to go, instead of just GOING!

I just have to keep in mind that no matter what, it will be a fantastic time...because we'll be at Disney World

 

[Lee23]

Hey lilfroggie! Love your pre-trip report!

I'm also going with my cheer-daughter to the UCA Nationals as a chaperone/disney freak.
But I'm confused...

Our dates are February 11th to the 15th.
You're going in March?
My DD's a sophomore in highschool. Is that the difference?

Just wondering if it's a typo or perhaps there really are 2 different comps....

 

[woodkins]

DD 8's cheer gym is also brining to teams to UCA All Star Nationals in March, Junior 3 & Senior 4. Our gym runs the package pretty much the same but every girl has to bring a parent, and all must book the package from UCA and stay at the All Star. Our girls get very little free time or time in the parks and aren't allowed in until after competing. Last year they booked gym time on Friday, so that is most likely what is happening this year as well.

This year is alot more pressure than last as our J-L3 is defending their title and the L4 got 2nd last year by 2/100ths of a point so they are hoping to avenge their loss. My fingers are crossed for both of them & I wish all the cheerleaders good luck!

 

[Lee23]

Ok, so Woodkins, your daughter's competition is March also?
Then I guess there must be two.

 

[woodkins]

Ok, so Woodkins, your daughter's competition is March also?
Then I guess there must be two.

Is your daughter competing with her high school team or is she competing for an all star team? My daughter competes as an all star cheerleader for a cheer gym, not for a school or rec squad, they compete in a different sanctioned event.

 

[Lee23]

Yes, my daughter is competing with her high school varsity cheer squad.
She's 15.
They competed for and made their bid to Nationals.
This is the first year her school has ever gone to Nationals so we're new to it all... well not to WDW, but to UCA @ WDW!

 

[lilfroggie]

Yep...two different comps. High School cheer and All star cheer are different. We don't do the cheers portion that High School cheer does, and I think that our performance is longer.

Not sure if we will do much practice time while at Disney. I know that our arrival day (Thursday) is a free day and Friday is a free day until the Planet Hollywood dinner. As of right now, our coach is not instituting curfews. But that could change once we know when we are performing. I think I read on the UCA/Varsity Web site that they should have that up in mid-February.

Good luck, Lee and Woodkins, to your daughters

 

[draybook]

We'll be there too in March. March 18th-20th for Nationals. DeSoto Starz!!

I'm not too big on being at Disney when 1)there's tons of cheer girls and 2)lots of people in general, but since we're going to be there already we're going to stay for the week following the competition.

I will say though, my daughter is VERY well behaved and doesn't like running around the others making a big scene.