crowds in November

[CAL2]

Hi, my DD and I are looking to book our first girls only holiday. The date we are looking at is Nov 26 -Dec 6 2018.
I have been looking at different sites to see whats going on around theses dates that may up the crowds and wait times, I have read that this year from Dec 2-9 there will be 400 cheer leading groups and 64 soccer teams. Is this a new thing or does it happen every year? how will it affect the wait times in the evening when the groups hit the parks. also general what dates and days do they film the Christmas special in MK.
thanks for any info
cal

 

[Micca]

I don't know that I'd worry too much about the groups. When you consider the number of people that might entail I think it'd still be only a fraction of the number of people at WDW. That's typically a less busy time so the big groups would pretty much balance out the overall crowd. You'll want to consider that MK will be hosting MVMCP on various nights during your trip so you'll want to either avoid MK on those days or buy tickets and join the fun. I think that's also the time for the CP at Epcot so same principle for that park.

 

[DekrRini]

I go around that time every year and I find the crowds a little less than when I go for my May trip. I've not found that the sports related visitors have caused much of a problem. I'd not stay at a value resort during that time, however. The values are where most of them stay. I believe they also stay at Coronado Springs. I've heard they can get somewhat rowdy at the resorts and the quick service restaurants at the resorts are crazy busy.

I love going this time of year because of all the Christmas decorations and the Christmas storytellers at the World Showcase. It's also my birthday trip so I'm sure that has something to do with it. As the previous poster pointed out, MVMCP is held four nights a week which makes the other three days really busy.

Have a magical trip!

 

[100acreHiker]

The cheerleader groups have been going that week for a long time. We go that week too, but learned that staying in a deluxe really reduces the likelihood of running into the teens too much. It's not so much the parks that get crowded with them (though they are in the parks) as it is the resorts get loud and full of teen energy. If you're looking for an alternative, the week before Thanksgiving (around the 13-18th) is often even better week to go. Also better odds of swimming. We like both of those weeks.

 

[KimBean]

It's called Pop Warner week and has been going on for awhile.

 

[CAL2]

thank you for your replies has helped a lot

cal

 

[Davey Jones II]

If you're going to be staying at a value resort, I would try to avoid the specific dates with the cheerleaders. The problem is not crowding in the parks, but noise at night at the resorts. We changed our vacation dates specifically for this reason.

 

[dreiwhit]

FWIW, we stay off property, so we don't worry about the problems at resorts.

We went the week after Thanksgiving last year. While it wasn't as busy as other times of the year, the parks weren't as dead as people had said it was in the past (especially some friends of ours.) A good strategy, FPs and rope drop helped us do everything we wanted, and then some.

We did go to MK on party days, and it wasn't bad until around 4:15pm-4:30pm, when the party crowd started to come in. But by that time, we had done everything we wanted to do and then some, so we left around 5pm-6pm.

Epcot was busier than our trip earlier in 2016, but I attribute that to the Candlelight Processional. My wife over heard several people say they only reason they came to Epcot that day was to see the CP. At one point, even Figment had a 30 minute wait!