How bad is Pop Warner?

[momof2chipmunks]

We (myself, DH, DD-4, DS-2) are planning our first trip to DW. We would like to go the first week of December 2009. But it has come to my realization that this is typically Pop Warner week. We want this vacation to be perfect and picked this week hoping that the weather will be mild, christmas decorations will be up, and the parks will be less crowded. However, if Pop Warner is a nightmare maybe we will rethink our decision. We plan on staying at either CBR or one of the Port Orleans resorts. I am not sure if these resorts get many of the Pop Warner crowds? Any advice would be helpful.

TIA

 

[Pirate at Heart]

Hi and WELCOME to the DIS!

We are passing up a PIN code that would save us $$$ on our POLY LVC reservation because using it would mean going during Pop Warner week-- not on your life! But that's just us. Many on the boards report no problems at all with them yet some do. Myself, I wouldn't take a chance.

As far as where they stay, I think mainly the value resorts. I'm sure someone else knows for sure.

Have a magical trip with you little ones!

 

[Bugsmom73]

Welcome to the Dis.

I would look at either CSR for a moderate or any deluxe to avoid Pop Warner crowds. We were there in 2006 and had one small problem at the park with a group of boys and a CM took care of it quite quickly and we were very pleased.

 

[MouseFan71]

We visited during Pop Warner last year and had no problems, we plan to go the same time this year. You can check the PW website for exact details but I think if you avoid Port Orleans Riverside and All Stars you should be fine. We stayed at POP and never saw them except for a few girls cheerleading in the parks. They typically don't effect crowd levels all that much and if you avoid the hotels they stay at you probably won't even know they are there. I highly recommend the first 2 weeks of Dec, the weather is great, the decorations are beautiful and the crowds are low.

 

[Disney 'Ohana]

We visited during Pop Warner last year and had no problems, we plan to go the same time this year. You can check the PW website for exact details but I think if you avoid Port Orleans Riverside and All Stars you should be fine. We stayed at POP and never saw them except for a few girls cheerleading in the parks. They typically don't effect crowd levels all that much and if you avoid the hotels they stay at you probably won't even know they are there. I highly recommend the first 2 weeks of Dec, the weather is great, the decorations are beautiful and the crowds are low.

I agree. It wasn't bad at all. Just don't stay at the hotel they stay at. Stay at Pop.

 

[ntsammy5]

Historically, I don't think CBR has anyone from PW staying there. Unlesss you're looking for them you'll never notice them in the parks. Mid week, they have MGM all to themselves after 7PM, typicall on a Wednesday.

 

[JennyDrake]

I am not a Child Friendly Person, and I have been three times during Pop warner week with NO issues. BTW, I was also in value resorts.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We stayed at CBR for 2 years when there was PW going on and the only time we noticed them was first thing in the am at the food court, it was nuts but the next day we went a bit later, around 9:30 and they were all gone....

Dont worry it is not that bad

 

[musicmom3]

Remember that the girls are there to compete. They spend much time in practice and at the actual competition, and not so much time in the parks. Our coaches were always specific about early bedtimes. Some posters on these boards have complained about cheering practices taking place early (and late) in the grassy areas of the various resorts. Our coaches did not allow the girls to do this, and we were always lucky in that the surrounding teams had coaches who had the same "early to bed" mentality.

 

['OhanaMama]

I agree. It wasn't bad at all. Just don't stay at the hotel they stay at. Stay at Pop.

Love your name! From one 'ohana to another

Aloha!

 

['OhanaMama]

We're planning on going Dec 3 - Dec 7. When does Pop Warner post their dates?

 

[TinkandPooh]

In response to this thread.
We too will be there from the 2nd of Dec through the 8th of Dec and the POP dates are already posted on their site on the calendar and I am happy to report for those of you worried about it.....if you are going in the 1st week of Dec POP will not be there.
POP starts on the 7th so for those of you who are going and a couple siad they were staying through the 7th you will be leaving as they are coming in.
I am ok with them coming on the 7th becuase we are leaving on the 8th so 1 day will not harm us.
I assume that the 1st days there for them are all about business anyhow.

Hope this helps.
Enjoy your trip

 

['OhanaMama]

In response to this thread.
We too will be there from the 2nd of Dec through the 8th of Dec and the POP dates are already posted on their site on the calendar and I am happy to report for those of you worried about it.....if you are going in the 1st week of Dec POP will not be there.
POP starts on the 7th so for those of you who are going and a couple siad they were staying through the 7th you will be leaving as they are coming in.
I am ok with them coming on the 7th becuase we are leaving on the 8th so 1 day will not harm us.
I assume that the 1st days there for them are all about business anyhow.

Hope this helps.
Enjoy your trip

I looked it up as well. It starts the 8th and assuming they come in a day early on the 7th. That works for me. I was more worried about hotels being sold out then bothered by kids.

 

[maxtomsmom]

We were there from Dec. 1 - 10, 2006. Pop Warner was there for some parts of our trip. It was a little more crowded at night, but not too bad, not enough to make us regret the time we went. In fact, it was a great time, very festive. There are so many wonderful things going around the parks during that time like Osborne family lights, candlelight procession, holidays around the world. It was so pretty. We enjoyed MVMCP.

One word of caution. We didn't know that Regis and Kelly film their Christmas special that far in advance. One of our days at MK was the worst day ever because Regis and Kelly were filming that day and couple that with the Year of A Million Dreams (which they let in a ton of people and their families in for free), you can imagine the nightmare. Unfortunately, we didn't know and my brother, SIL and nephew all had come down for the day to visit so we couldn't park hop. They had to do MK so my nephew, who was 11 mos at the time, could benefit the most. It was so bad that we left at 7:00. I think we saw 8 attractions the whole day. Other than that day the parks were ok.

 

['OhanaMama]

We were there from Dec. 1 - 10, 2006. Pop Warner was there for some parts of our trip. It was a little more crowded at night, but not too bad, not enough to make us regret the time we went. In fact, it was a great time, very festive. There are so many wonderful things going around the parks during that time like Osborne family lights, candlelight procession, holidays around the world. It was so pretty. We enjoyed MVMCP.

One word of caution. We didn't know that Regis and Kelly film their Christmas special that far in advance. One of our days at MK was the worst day ever because Regis and Kelly were filming that day and couple that with the Year of A Million Dreams (which they let in a ton of people and their families in for free), you can imagine the nightmare. Unfortunately, we didn't know and my brother, SIL and nephew all had come down for the day to visit so we couldn't park hop. They had to do MK so my nephew, who was 11 mos at the time, could benefit the most. It was so bad that we left at 7:00. I think we saw 8 attractions the whole day. Other than that day the parks were ok.

How do you find out when Regis and Kelly will be filming?

 

[snomofinn]

I know they say PW is in December, but we go every year in March and run into cheerleading competitions then?? We stay at the CBR and there always there, does anyone know if thats PW? I was just curious.

 

[MouseFan71]

I think they typically film the first weekend in December. The website says it was Nov 30th and Dec 1st for 2007 but I thought for sure it was on the 8th, we were at MK on the 8th and it was pure madness.

 

[ntsammy5]

The website says it was Nov 30th and Dec 1st for 2007

We went on the 1st specifically to see it and it was definitely an experience.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Everytime someone asks about this I say the same thing...

We (family of four) stayed at POR the exact days of Pop Warner (actually plus a day or to on either side) this past December with ALL of the cheerleaders.

We heard NO cheering.
The food court was busy but not crazy. We found a seat every time we were there and only waited behind one or two people ever.
The buses were fine, a little crowded on the way back from late nights at the park (EMH and MVMCP) but even then we only waited a total of 15-20min.
The parks were awesome. The only way we noticed any Pop Warner families was if they were wearing shirts or jackets, no cheering or behavior issues.
The pool wasn't crowded and there weren't any behavior issues there either.

We did meet many Pop Warner families on the buses and at the resorts. They all seemed hugely proud of their daughter's accomplishments (seems it is VERY prestigious to make it to the championships at WDW) and were there for the competition and for their families to have fun at WDW too.

I WDW in early December...it is my favorite time to visit. I wouldn't hesistate at all to stay at POR again during Pop Warner.

 

[momof2chipmunks]

Thanks so much for the info. It seems as if most of you don't mind the PW crowd. I am confident that we will go that week. Wow! Now I am even more excited knowing the dates. Just need to decide where to stay!!!