I hear folks talking Good and Bad about it and I am just wondering how many are there? Is the group that big? No Flames please it is just a question. Some say they affect crowds some say the don't. Some say they affect resorts. Just how many attend. Thanks
I think it is in the 1000's. We went to ASsp in 2000 for my daughter's cheerleading competition which was not Pop Warner but against other high schools nationally. There were 1000's then too. It seemed to me as if the majority of people there at ASsp had something to do with the competitions going on at Disney Wide World of Sports that weekend. Some groups were louder and more disrespectful than others. I can only vouch for my own daughter and say that we did not allow her to be loud and disruptive. But remember, many of these kids go there under the supervision of the coaches not their parents. Two coaches can not watch 20 teenage girls as well as their own parents would.
I have heard that in 2004, Pop Warner increased at WDW by 25 or 50% more than 2003. I have also heard that it will increase even more in 2005. I am anxiously awaiting the dates so that I can make sure my vacation does NOT coincide with Pop Warner week again this year. Pop Warner crowds definitely affect the value resorts and the moderates. The groups were also easy to spot in the parks as well.
When we went in the second week of December in 2002, we were booked in a value resort. But then I learned about the PW's and that most of them stay at the Values, so I moved us to POR. When I called to do this, the CM told me that there were 20,000 of them. Yes, 20 THOUSAND! That being said, the only time I noticed any major groups of kids, was late night at the pool. No issues at all in the parks though, that I saw. I believe they spend most of their time at the Sports place anyway.
According to the pop warner site, there were 8 divisions w/7 teams each at the championships for football. So that's 56 teams. 89 cheerleader teams participated on the final day. If it's 20,000 and they stay 4 to a room, that's at least 5,000 rooms that they need. I would think they have to nail down a date so that Disney can hold that many rooms.
