Freaking over Pop warner week

[BrerMan]

Hello,

I'm worried about Pop Warner week.
I made my reservations at PC for Dec. 1 - 9 now I find out that Pop Warner week is the very same week.

I don't know what to do, we are traveling with two other families, and they are freaking as well.
They want to change dates, should we?
Is it going to be awful that week?

Other possible dates:

Nov. 24 - Dec 2nd or Dec. 8 - 16th

Please HELP.

Thanks

 

[CNMooner]

I've always heard that the Pop kids are totally fine. The parks are so dead that week otherwise that I don't think it will make that much of a difference. Just as long as you aren't staying in a value resort...

 

[BrerMan]

Well... we are staying at value resort (Pop century). but I here that most of the Pop Warner crowd stays at the AS's.
However, I also hear that the overflow winds up at PC.

 

[WVParkfan]

I'm worried about Pop Warner week.

Relax. EVERY week at Disney World is "something" week... Cheerleader week, Spring Break week, College student week, Gay week, Pop Warner week, Fourth of July week, Christmas week, Brazil week, etc., etc.

The first week in December is probably the least crowded week of the entire year (with our without the Pop Warner kids). Most of those kids are well bahaved, and you won't have any problems at all. So, relax and enjoy your trip. You probably won't even notice the football players.

 

[goofy4tink]

It really isn't that big a deal. I've been to WDW twice now at the same time as the Pop kids...even stayed at AllStarMusic at the same time. It was never an issue. The kids are pretty much tied up during the day with competitions, and hit the parks at night.
As far as the parks being dead at this time of year...I've been three years in a row now...I don't consider the parks 'dead' but not as crowded as the holidays/summertime. I think the only truly 'dead' time is Sept..hence the free dining!!!

 

[BrerMan]

Relax. EVERY week at Disney World is "something" week...

Thanks, that makes me feel a little better.

I just have to convince the others that it will be OK.

I'd really, like to hear personal experiences with Pop Warner week.

Any first hand accounts?

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Relax. EVERY week at Disney World is "something" week... QUOTE]

Thanks, that makes me feel a little better.

I just have to convince the others that it will be OK.

I'd really, like to hear personal experiences with Pop Warner week.

Any first hand accounts?

I've been there during that time. We stayed at CBR and I never noticed anything other than a few practicing squads in the common grassy areas in the late morning. I actually liked watching them while riding on the buses through the various stops. In the afternoons, there were some "groups" of them in the parks, but I only noticed them because they tend to dress alike.

BTW, it's the best time to go -- no crowds in the parks make ANYTHING easier to swallow!

 

[BrerMan]

How bout the resort food courts?

Also, do they close the parks early for Pop Warner?

<to self, It'll be OK... It'll be OK...>

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We're booked at Pop Dec. 2-5, and I am a little concerned but not freaking out. Someone said they close MGM early on the Friday of Pop Warner. I am assuming that means Dec. 8. Our trip doesn't cover a Friday so I wasn't too worried about it. I am still hemming and hawing about moving to WL, but I just don't want to spend the extra money. I'll see what's available when AP rates come out, but for now we're at Pop.

 

[C U AT DISNEY]

We were at Disney this year during Pop Warner and they didn't bother us at all. From alot of posts I've read the park being far from dead is right on. It's just not as busy as some other times of the year.


As for MGM closing early for pop warner, that's true they close it on friday at 4pm or 6pm. Not exactly sure which time it is but it is posted on a sign when you are wlaking in to the park.


James

 

[BrerMan]

We where there last year from Oct. 15 - 23
How do you think the crowds are compared to those dates?

 

[dreamalittledream]

we are going the same time, I was worried as well but that is when we want to go so we will deal with it. I know others who have gone at the same time and if you tour it right, you'll avoid them. We have little ones so I don't anticipate alot of problems on Dumbo or Pooh.

I also just signed my DD4 up for cheerleading in the fall and found out it is a Pop league so now I can't say anything else about them! I'm sure she will love seeing the older cheerleaders in the parks if we can stand the chanting!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We were there Oct. 14-23 last year. The only time we thought it was REALLY crowded on that trip was at MK on Wednesday. Crowds should be the same to a bit smaller for December.

 

[bleeps]

We stayed at WL for Pop Warner week this past December, and as others have said the only "impact" was seeing groups of kids together, and cheerleaders doing their thing as they walked around or waited for rides. They did not seem present in the TS restaurants, but were sometimes visable at CS places (but no bother). We found this week to be about equal to the week we spent in October the previous year (arrived the Sat. before Columbus Day and left the Sat. after -- with just the holiday itself being very busy at MK).

 

[mushumadness]

we were there pop warner week in dec 06 had no problems at all, but we did tend to avoid the disney transport

 

[BrerMan]

Ah,

Didn't even think about the buses, something else to worry about.

Does anyone think I should move my ressies up a week from:
Dec 1st - 9th to Dec.8th - 16th?

I mean, if given a choice which would you choose?

 

[goofy4tink]

The food courts tend to get a bit zooey around 7:45-8ish. At least that was my experience in '03 at Music. But, we tried to be done by then...got to the food court around 7ish, and were finishing up when the kids came in. The buses were't too bad during the week days. They did get crowded at night during the week though. That's when the kids went to the parks.
As far as MGM closing, it did close on one night, but not until closer to 8:00. As we were leaving the park, tons of POP kids were streaming in!!! I was very happy to be leaving the park rather than be in there with them!!!

Would I move my trip up? No, I wouldn't. But if you are really concerned about it then do it. Just be aware that you could hit the end of the kids that week-end. A lot of the families stay through Sunday, others leave Sat night.

 

[WillCAD]

I have been to WDW during Pop Warner week (because it happens to fall during MouseFest) for the last three years running.

The problem has been overblown. Sure, you will notice groups of kids in the parks and at the resorts, but they are not a huge problem.

The only problem I have had with them is that the cheerleaders love to sing "RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - REINDEER!!!" at the tops of their lungs on the busses. After 20 minutes, that gets a little old...

Overal crowd levels that week are low, far lower than summer peak levels, but not as low as, say, September. Most attractions are 20 minutes or less, and many are walk-ons. There are certain scheduled events that will make crowds in particular parks go up on certain days, but if you hit one of those, just hop to another park and you'll be fine.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Well, Dec. 1-9 means you will be there for Christmas parade taping at MK through the weekend, but that could be a good thing depending on if you want to watch the taping! If not, you might want to avoid MK on Friday and Saturday during the day. Although folks have said the back of the park stays pretty empty the morning of the taping and fills up later in the day.

My thought on Pop Warner is this:
Kids are NOT out of school the first week of December. Families coming for Pop Warner are probably not going to arrive early because they won't want their kids out longer than necessary, and they may not know at what point their team will be finished. When the tournament STARTS they will be busy. When teams start to get eliminated through to the end I think there will be more kids on the loose. Our other option was to go Dec. 7-10 but I think earlier in the month will be better. We are hoping there will be MVMCP on Sunday Dec. 3.

Good luck getting it all planned out!

 

[BrerMan]

Egad,

I just did a search on Pop Warner, now I really confused.

Some of posts I read makes it sound like a nightmare.
Others like it's no big deal.