First Week In Dec 2005- What Up?

[Princess Dad]

Long time watcher first time writer----Can someone please tell me what may be going on the 1st week of Dec (specificaly Dec 1-6)? I have a room at AKL but when I was looking into other avaliability, there does not appear to be much. Also, I noticed on the latest (pending) discounts they blocked a few of these dates. I thought I was booking during light traffic flow, but now I am a little concerned. Does anyone know what kind of crowds I should anticipate??

 

[scriv2]

I think it is because of Pop Warner week which is December 5 - 9th.

 

[Princess Dad]

What is Pop Warner week?

 

[scriv2]

It is when cheerleaders and football players are down in Disney competing for Nationals. It is their big competition.

 

[keishashadow]

Pop Warner is sort of midget/pee wee football superbowl/tournament, etc. (pitiful explanation, but you get the drift).

I'm thinking Mousefest (Passporter) which runs that week, along w/a DCL cruise is a big factor.

Lastly, early December is a very popular time with DVC'ers, who typically like to save their points and stay @ one of the WDW resorts from Fri thru Sat.

 

[zzammmi]

I've heard Pop Warner should have minimal impact on park crowds (but folks staying in the budget hotels where these kids stay might notice a difference). I wouldn't imagine that one cruise ship would have a big impact either but maybe there's more than one or the impact is bigger than I'm thinking it would be? (@3000?) I don't know. Crowds are in the 10's of thousands though so again it seems like these factors would be easily absorbed. I don't know what the passporter gathering entails though - how many people are we talking about for that? I'm going that week too and, like you, selected it for typically low crowds (the lowest in fact). Of course if we're talking about a few thousand here and a few thousand there, it adds up. I'm interested in what people have to say about this issue too. It seems a bad sign that things are booking up. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

 

[lovmy2girls]

Me too ! could not GF, CT, Poly or WL for that week or weekend. Kind of struggling because I love the monorail resorts and would like to try WL too.

 

[beehive123]

I'm thinking the black out dates in December are just because of
the Pop Warner, they probably figure, they can get more money
for those rooms since so many kids will be going.
As for the parks, I went in 2003 the first week of December also,
the resort (CBR) was crowed but the parks were not that
crowded, I didn't really wait in many lines for the rides. But
I remember it being a little chilly at night and in the morning.

We're going again this year the first week, because you can't
beat the holiday decorations.

 

[Princess Dad]

I hope someone will be able to help us figure this out???? The only other thing I can think of is maybe with all the huricanes maybe people just postponed until early Dec, that would have gone earlier. I just hope that the resorts being booked full, does not result in full parks. I have to be hones if the park are packed this will be disapointing and we would not have picked this week (too late non-refundable airfare).

 

[dpic]

Lastly, early December is a very popular time with DVC'ers, who typically like to save their points and stay @ one of the WDW resorts from Fri thru Sat.

I agree with this. We're staying at WL Dec 3-11. I've been checking capacity online for a while now to gauge the chance of getting our room type. Both weekends are filled, but during the week has vacancies. If we don't get our bunkbeds on Saturday, I'll ask Sunday morning when there seems to be plenty of open rooms.

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone around this time the past 7 years. Weekends are usually crowded but weekdays are pretty quiet. Pop Warner usually does not affect park crowds much, they are doing their competitions at Wide World of Sports during the day.

 

[Hugpug]

I believe it is a combination of Pop Warner as well as Mousefest not to be mention as well as a lot of guest are going this time with the start of the holiday season. I avoided this week because of Pop Warner and going the following week. Waiting for Dec. hours to be posted and re-haps.

 

[Princess Dad]

When will Dec hours be posted?

 

[zzammmi]

I was reading something about Mousefest and it sounded like there were less than 500 people there last year. It seems like that would not affect crowds significantly. I believe a moderately crowded day would attract about 50,000 guests. That being said, it's a bad sign that the resorts are booking up (I believe we can count on most of those folks attending the parks). I'm also disappointed about the increased crowds during that week but I've made the mental adjustment and am determined to enjoy myself anyway. I'm going with a good touring plan though, that's for sure.

 

[tink2]

I went this time last year and plan to go again next year. Like you all, last year I was worried b/c resorts were full, pop warner, and mousefest. Honestly, the parks were not affected by these things much at all. We never waited in line more than 5-10 minutes for anything- and most things were walk ons. The kids at pop warner are busy during the day- so unless you are staying at one of their resorts (value and some moderate), you shouldn't notice them much. Once or twice we did see a large group of say 50 cheerleaders getting on a ride- we simply went to the next ride and came back to that one. Now, that said, we were not in the parks during a weekend. I hear the weekends can be very busy. They also usually tape the Christmas parade the first weekend in December- we arrived that Sun. and noticed a few spot tapings throughout the week- mainly of characters or a few people gathered together to scream for the camera. Nothing intrusive to our day. Don't worry- you are going during a wonderful time of year, low crowds and beautiful decorations!!! The biggest crowds we saw last year were during MVMCP on a Tuesday night!!!

 

[CharlesTD]

Pop warner has little impact on teh parks most of the time the kids are competing and spend their time at teh pool or at the sports complex. They have specific days for the parks but we have found historicaly they tend to hang around the pool more often than not.

 

[angey77]

Last year, the first week of December, CR's tower was booked up when we stayed there. There was a big medical convention going on at CR from what the CM told me at the front desk.
Also last year, ESPN and just about everybody who is anybody in college football was there for the Home Depot College Football Awards which was held Dec. 9. Its an annual event which also spans activities throughout days leading to it, such as player meet-and-greets at ESPN Zone.

 

[rlduvall]

angey77:

Oh yeah. I was there last year the 1st week of December and I now remember on December 9th, they had the most incredible display of fireworks late at night by the Boardwalk. I called the front desk at AKL (where we stayed and could see them perfectly) and asked what was going on and they said a VIP party. It was an unexpected and magical ending to the day. I'd forgotten that memory.