Marathon Week or Pop Warner Week?

[have2getaway]

Hi Everyone:

Which week is less busy in both the parks and hotels? We are trying to decide which week to go the week of Pop Warner or the week following the Marathon Weekend? Any input is appreciated.

 

[Harligirl]

Hi

That is a tough one. Each week has its perks. December is a beautiful time to go. Depending on where you would stay, I heard Pop Warner is not that bad (they tend to stay at All Stars and sometimes overflow into moderates). Although I have read horror stories! But then others said it was okay....

January is a great time to go also- excellant weather and a pretty slow time of year.....

Good luck!
Lisa

 

[shellybaxter]

At first I thought this was an easy choice. We went during marathon week last year and we saw little to no impact in the parks. The only impact at the hotels was people running everywhere, not really a problem. The only annoyance is the traffic the day of the marathon. It was difficult to get anywhere, even by bus. But it wasn't that bad. We drove from the BWI to WL (changing hotels that day wasn't the best choice) and it took about an hour. We then got on a bus to MGM and it took less than a half an hour (this was about 11:30). So my first thought was - easy choice, marathon week. Then I realized that this year we are going during Pop Warner week. Two factors chose this time. One - our APs will expire the very first part of January. And two - I really wanted to do the Christmas things ( Mickey's Christmas Party and Candlelight Processional) and see the decorations at the parks.

If your only concerns are crowds and annoyance factor, I'd choose marathon week. If you are willing to put up with a few more people and some annoying people for the Christmas stuff, choose that week.

 

[alicenwonder99]

We were at WDW the week before the marathon this year. On the day of the marathon, we slept late and got to MK around noon for our PS at Cindy's. There was no problem getting around at all. MK did seem a little bit busier that day, but nothing major because it really is a slow season.

We were at WDW during Pop Warner week a couple of years ago and we didn't notice any wild cheerleaders. We are going again during the end of Pop Warner week this year, but I made sure we weren't staying in a value.

If you haven't seen WDW decorated for xmas, then you should go during December.

Mary

 

[have2getaway]

I have a cheaper rate for Jan. (62.99) at ASMovies as compared with 77.99 in Dec., also at ASMovies, so this is a factor. I was concerned with the numbers I have heard that stay at values at this time as well, but won't just as many people be at values in Jan.?

Another factor is that my husband has comp time he wanted to use that expires at the end of Dec.

Our main conern is crowd level! we will have our 3 year old with us and he is VERY impatient. The less people the better for us.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

We arrived at BWV on the day of the marathon in 2004, we had not problems getting from All Stars to BWV, we left about 7:30 am, took the bus over to TTC, then rode in the front of monorail to MK, and we were there for the park opening, the crowds in MK that day were non existent, we did everything we wanted to and we were back to BWV around 6PM, then dd and I went to Epcot and did Test Track and the ball 2 times.. Our longest wait that week was Start Tours and that was about 15 minutes, I would love to go january every year but this year we took advantage of the free dining and will be sweating it out in August.