NEVER again in early Dec!

[always quiet]

Well, it looks like this was to be my last trip in early Dec. I have never, in all the past trips to WDW, seen the amount of people in the parks! To add to the headaches, I don't know what the glitch is in Disney's transportation system, but transportation everywhere seemed to take at least twice as long! For instance, after we finished DTD, we planned on popping into AK for a bit. Simple...hop onto the AKL bus, then take a bus into the park from there. Easy! Well...it took TWO hours to get to AKL! Getting from the Contemporary to MGM only took 90 min.

Also, I don't mean to offend anyone here who had family members in either the cheerleader competitions or the Pop football BUT if I see another pack of either group the next time I am down there, I think I will check out on the spot/ The chaparones did nothing to keep their groups in check and literally, one evening, a PACK of early teen football players took over Winter/Summerland mini golf and chased us off the course (we were the ONLY players out there too...it started out pleasant at least....... ) I asked the 'boys' twice to give us some space but nope, they kept coming....when my husband had bent down to get his ball from the hole and three of them all shot their balls at the same time...let's just say it wasn't pretty after that. He asked them to back off, a bit more stern and they laughed in his face. Their coach was too busy on the cell phone to care. I went up to the desk, handed over the putter and ball and told them what had happened. They came over, chased them back to Winterland (where the other 1/2 of the group was playing and they were supposed to be) and offered to refund our cost. Since it was part of the package, we didn't pay but it really just ruined a nice evening. I know they have every right to be there but if you can't act like civilized humans, they need to be kept on a tighter leash.

 

[MomofCKJ]

I am so sorry to hear that. The idea of being over run by teenagers sounds so unpleasant to me (and I have 3 kids of my own who will someday be teens so I am not a disliker of kids). Often, not always, when they are in groups that pack mentality comes out and it can be so aggravating to everyone around them.

I hope you have some good memories of your trip. Were you at one of the hotels they stay at too?

As for the transportation times, yikes! I have budgeted in $$$ for cabs if we choose to and I would definately just gone in a cab rather than wait 2 hours.

Allyson

 

[keliblue]

What were your dates ?? We plan on going December next year and I would like to avoid the teenage nightmare as well.. Sorry you had to put up with that...

 

[keliblue]

I am so sorry to hear that. The idea of being over run by teenagers sounds so unpleasant to me (and I have 3 kids of my own who will someday be teens so I am not a disliker of kids). Often, not always, when they are in groups that pack mentality comes out and it can be so aggravating to everyone around them.

I hope you have some good memories of your trip. Were you at one of the hotels they stay at too?

As for the transportation times, yikes! I have budgeted in $$$ for cabs if we choose to and I would definately just gone in a cab rather than wait 2 hours.

Allyson

I just saw your ticker !!! Allyson have a wonderful Christmas trip...

 

[Smooshdog]

Sorry to hear about that! I hope your next trip is better!

 

[C.Ann]

I won't be going back the first week in December again either - unless they don't schedule so many events for that first week at the same time..

We just got back yesterday - I have posted about our trip on the CB..

I think the days of "low crowds" in December have gone bye-bye.. I hear tell they're booked solid for the whole MONTH!!

 

[lynn71092]

We were there Nov. 29th through December 5th and if they were there we certainly didn't see them. The parks were all walk-ons too!

 

[bawsmom]

Our experience wasn't quite that bad- we were at the Grand Floridian having dinner when a group for 4 cheerleaders came in and sat next to us. There was a table next to them- 2 adults and 1 older teen. I think they were either parents or chaperones... Even my 8 year old was shocked at their eating habits, their manners and the way they treating their server. She even took pictures!!! There did not ruin our dinner but there were very disruptive. The adults with them never said anything. The cheer members were putting the crayons inside the vase with the flowers. That is just a little too much for me when you are talking about girls that are 13, 14 and in a nice restuarant.

 

[deanainnc]

You know we where there this past week with the Pop Warner Kids and we also had a bad experience with a group of football players at the pool at ASMo. I was doing the laundry and my dd 16 and my ds 11 were in the pool well here comes this group of about 12-15 boys and they took over the pool, cursing, boxing, diving and really rough horseplaying every one else that wasnt with the group literly had to get out of the pool. But here is the kicker when the lifeguards finally asked them to leave the players proceded to, I mean actually cuss the life guard out.(In front of every one , including my children, that was sitting around the pool.) She ended up having to get security to escort those kids away from the pool. It was awful.

This same group of boys a little while later were in the parking lot and 3 security guards were called to usher them back to their rooms.

I don't know what was going on with these kids but we will never go back to WDW when they are there again. Really the goings on I saw this week with that whole group and the complaints I heard all over the resort from other guest about these kids are to be enough for Disney to do something about this awful group.

 

[TinaLala]

I understand what you are saying, we just got back and there was one night that it sounded like a party was going on downstairs at around 11pm. We called the front desk and they sent security down to stop them, but the damage had already been done, my 4 yo couldn't get back to sleep.



I have to agree that the crowds were awful. I never thought there was going to be the amount of people there that there was. I will never go during the holiday time again. I did it and will check it off my list. DH was furious about being pushed around during the taping of the parade when we were trying to get off of mainstreet. We were paying guests too why should we be treated this way when the people there waiting for the parade where given such special treatment.

 

[Mara]

Though we did see plenty of cheerleaders through the parks when my family went (last week of November and the first week of December), we DID notice that the crowds were huge! One night at MK, (I believe it was a EMH day 'cause we were out so late), the bus line for Pop was GIGANTIC! It most of been at LEAST 8 buses worth at one time, and people kept comin'. At one point, they had three buses loading at once. The lines for CB and several of the All Stars resorts were also very full, but Pop's definately took the cake.

 

[wild4dis]

A few thoughts......I once visited WDW for a work convention and had a rental car.....this turned out to be awesome, now whenever we go down for family visits we rent a car.....I know it obviously costs more, but not waiting in bus lines (especially after a fireworks show and everyone heads to the bus stop at the same time.. ) is a real worthy perk...we also enjoy heading to other hotels for dinner and not having to build in longer times for non direct or busy bus routes.......Not to mention the opportunity to cruise whenever you want to any Disney hotel for a visit, or snack (beignets for breakfast at POFQ !!) is great.

As far as the crowds of kids...as a hockey team coach who spends lots of winter months in hotels with our team and their families....groups of young boys will be boys (and that does not excuse their behavior!!) but the fault clearly falls on the parents/chaperones for not keeping a close eye on them while they are in public areas...its too bad that had to leave a bad memory of yur trip...hopefully the other Disney magic will override those moments

 

[Tazicket]

Sorry to hear about your experience. DH and I were there last week and we didn't experience anything like that. Before last week, the last time we'd been to the World was March of 05, so we thought the crowds were really light compared to that experience. (Of course, we don't care for a lot of the big name rides, so that might explain our experience).

 

[LAL77]

Last week we were there and the beginning of the week was fine but by the end of the week we started having some not pleasant encounters with the cheerleaders.

At Animal Kingdom we were in line and there were about 30 cheerleaders who insisted on cheering as loudly as possible in the line. Of course, I don't expect things to be quiet at the parks but a group of 30 girls in their cheer voices is MUCH MUCH louder than crowd din... This went on for 40 minutes - the entire time we were in line AND on the ride. It was very disrespectful to other park patrons as absolutely no conversation between my husband and myself or between our kids was at all possible while in line nor were we able to hear any of the ride. The volume was absolutely deafening.

The same day at Animal Kingdom the crowds were huge and just walking down the paths was very tight. Nonetheless, there was a coach leading a group of cheerleaders "marching" through the crowd as though they were on parade. Again they were all shouting chants and cheers and expecting the crowds to part for them as they pushed through the middle. Essentially everyone in their path was forced to one side or the other and it was again very disrespectful.

The last two days of our trip we noticed much longer wait times for our busses to Pop Century and on a couple of occassions I was on busses with older teenage boys and girls and perhaps a chaperone or two and myself and my husband and two toddlers. The kids were monkeying around in the bus so much our bus driver had to warn them several times to tone it down. Additionally, I was standing holding a two year old while the rough-housing was going on. AND, I'm six months pregnant. I was scared to death they were going to push me over. (Not to mention the fact that it would have been nice for one of them to offer me a seat. But I should have just asked.)

I realize that they should have their fun at the parks too, I just don't think it should be at the expense of the other park patrons.

I'm really sorry you had some experiences with these kids too.... We won't go again in December - crowds and Pop are too much!

 

[rntoyota5]

I just got back on Sunday and I will never again go during the first week of Dec. It was crazy. I was really wanting to go during a "slow" time and it definately didn't work out that way! To top it off, 3 of us got the stomach flu while we were there. I spent all day Saturday in the room by myself sick as a dog. I'm bummed. Pretty much my trip was ruined. One thing to say, I didn't see much of the pop warner kids except at MGM one night.

 

[cardramblues]

I agree. I have been to the World 3 times in the summer and all three times were more pleasant than our recent trip 12/1-12/10. The crowds at MK on 12/9 were July size and yes Pop Warner does affect park crowds unlike information I had been given over the last few years.

The fact is Disney is printing money in Florida these days and there is simply very few "off-peak" weeks to go.

 

[tink1978]

Well, it looks like this was to be my last trip in early Dec. I have never, in all the past trips to WDW, seen the amount of people in the parks! To add to the headaches, I don't know what the glitch is in Disney's transportation system, but transportation everywhere seemed to take at least twice as long! For instance, after we finished DTD, we planned on popping into AK for a bit. Simple...hop onto the AKL bus, then take a bus into the park from there. Easy! Well...it took TWO hours to get to AKL! Getting from the Contemporary to MGM only took 90 min.

Also, I don't mean to offend anyone here who had family members in either the cheerleader competitions or the Pop football BUT if I see another pack of either group the next time I am down there, I think I will check out on the spot/ The chaparones did nothing to keep their groups in check and literally, one evening, a PACK of early teen football players took over Winter/Summerland mini golf and chased us off the course (we were the ONLY players out there too...it started out pleasant at least....... ) I asked the 'boys' twice to give us some space but nope, they kept coming....when my husband had bent down to get his ball from the hole and three of them all shot their balls at the same time...let's just say it wasn't pretty after that. He asked them to back off, a bit more stern and they laughed in his face. Their coach was too busy on the cell phone to care. I went up to the desk, handed over the putter and ball and told them what had happened. They came over, chased them back to Winterland (where the other 1/2 of the group was playing and they were supposed to be) and offered to refund our cost. Since it was part of the package, we didn't pay but it really just ruined a nice evening. I know they have every right to be there but if you can't act like civilized humans, they need to be kept on a tighter leash.

These kids were probably why it was packed....I cannot stand to go when they are there....too many kids and not enough chaperones.

 

[MzDiz]

We encountered the cheerleader crowds in mid-March. Nothing breaks that Disney spirit like being forced to yell at a group of girls to put a sock in it for 30 seconds. And while I've never been on a Disney bus (we drive there) I've been flipped off by one of their bus drivers! Ah, magic at it's best!

 

[HollyJoy]

I think this was also the last trip in early December for us! I couldn't believe the crowd levels. Much higher than when we went THE SAME WEEk, two years ago. We had to use our fast passes more often this time. I think just a week earlier (last week in Nov.) would be better.

 

[TigerKat]

This is terrible. DH and I just decided this past weekend to go next year 12/1 - 12/11. Now, reading this, I don't know when to go. We will not go for Thanksgiving week again and thought early December would be great. Do any of you have experience with "a good time to go"???