cheer week and misc questions

[czkmom]

We are contemplating a vacation the first week of March. I know that there is a cheer competion the last weekend of Feb and the following first week in March.

I know everyone says to stay away, but compared to Christmas time at WDW, what might we expect?

Also: We've been to DL once before in October and stayed at the Carrousel Inn. Last year we spent the 10 days before Christmas (left at noon Christams Eve) at the Poly in WDW. Can someone explain the actual benefits of wanting to stay on sight at Disneyland (I don't even recall the monorail being a convenient stop for the hotels but maybe I'm wrong).

We have discussed going back to WDW this week just to miss the chearleaders.....but I want to try a disney cruise in 2009 so that would mean a third trip to WDW before ever getting back to DL.

One more question: Are trading pins as fun at DL as they are in WDW for kids?

Thanks all!

 

[lilpixie]

We went to DL during a cheerleading convention, and let me tell you, I would never had booked during that time had I known. It was February of '06 right after President's Week. I thought that the *end* of Presidents Week would be a good time to go (I had never been to DL before and didn't do enough research, so that part was my fault!!!). Anyways, the cheer convention went on the last 2 days of our 3 days in the parks. Yikes -- tons and tons of teenagers. It was packed!! I work with teenagers -- I like being around them . . . in *small* groups LOL. All I remember is so many teenagers trying to act "cool", the girls in skirts so short they barely covered anything (this was their "regular" skirts, not the cheerleading uniforms). They closed down the Hyperion Theatre so we weren't able to see the Aladdin show in DCA. I mean, it wasn't horrible, but not the best timing. We are going next month and am so excited! I think the crowds will be much better.
It is all in the expectations. We didn't know about the convention and how packed it would be -- so we were a bit disappointed, but still had a blast with our girls. If you are prepared for the bigger crowds and it doesn't bother you too much -- go and have a good time.