NEVER again in early Dec!

[NCRedding]

Good point and I was thinking that also, but the rooms were kind of scattered throughout on different floors. Are they going to be mixing the villas in with the regular rooms in the main building?

The first phase of the villas will be renovated rooms in the hotel on the upper floors. I think these are due to open in the Fall of 2007. Then there will be a separate building with the remaining units.

 

[OhhBother]

We were there Dec. 1-8, and I have to say we had quite the opposite experience. We did utilize TGM's advice, and I believe it made the difference.

We rode all the top attractions (Soarin 3 times, for instance) and never waited longer than 10 minutes for anything. That was for POTC -- everything else, we pretty much walked on. We were in the parks every day from the 2nd through the 8th.

I saw a handful of Pop Warner kids, but the masses obviously weren't on the same schedule as we were.

I wouldn't hesitate to go the first week of December again. I think it's just becoming more and more evident that solid planning and a reasonable tour plan are necessary. You don't have to be a commando, but I think the days of, "Let's just wake up and go with the flow" are over. You pay too much money to leave it to chance -- at least that's how we feel.

 

[joeathome167]

I was originally planning a trip for Nov. 4-11, 2007 but then I considered changing it to Dec. 9-16, 2007 because I read Dec. is off season, where Nov. is in the Moderate column. I also read resort rates are lower in early Dec. We've been in early Nov. before and it wasn't very crowded.

My question should I switch back to Nov. or stick with Dec. ?? any opinions?

 

[micksterlee]

I am surprised to hear that all these kids stay on - site. My DD s high school band is playing in the parade at the MK on Easter Sunday and they will be visiting the parks on Monday and Tuesday. There our 160 kids in the band and with chaparones the group grows to around 200. They are staying at a Rodeway Inn due to the cost of Disney hotels and the band director didnt want the kids to beable to hop on a bus and go back to the hotel without an adult.This whole deal surprised me because I figured Disney gave the kids a really good deal to get them to play in the parade but this doesn t seem to be the case.

 

[azgal81]

Thanks for sharing everyone. I am thinking of going for the holidays next year and have been reading the reports so far seeing when the best time to go is. I'll be sure to avoid the cheerleaders!

 

[Poohbear123]

Yikes, Colleen, and others. I know you talked about this when you called me from Epcot some nights back, hard to imagine. I have been there this time (actually more immediately after Thanksgiving) for the past seven years (had to cancel this year) and never saw anything like that. Holy moly.

Yep, its a good thing you didn't come Dan, you would not have been happy! I walked into POR and ran SMACK into them, really, one of them came flying by me and almost ran into me, I knew than my trip was doomed. No respect for others, no respect for space, nothing, its ME ME ME I am a cheerleader LOOK AT ME!!!! My eyes HURT from rolling them soo much when I was there and heard some of the conversations.

 

[lpbm4]

Sorry you had such a bad time. I thought the streets were a little crowded throughout the parks, but the only Pop Warner we saw was at MGM our last day at WDW. And even then it was a family together, not a big group of kids. We were expecting it to be much slower than it was, but we were happy with the crowds. Couldn't imagine going during a peak time!!!

 

[maddhatir]

I was originally planning a trip for Nov. 4-11, 2007 but then I considered changing it to Dec. 9-16, 2007 because I read Dec. is off season, where Nov. is in the Moderate column. I also read resort rates are lower in early Dec. We've been in early Nov. before and it wasn't very crowded.

My question should I switch back to Nov. or stick with Dec. ?? any opinions?

if you are worried about the POP kids- they may be gone the week in Dec that you are planning.- I dont see 2007 POP dates listed yet. But this year it was 12/3 to the 9th- you might miss them.

also- you have to think if you would like to see the holiday decorations- they wont be there early Nov.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I was originally planning a trip for Nov. 4-11, 2007 but then I considered changing it to Dec. 9-16, 2007 because I read Dec. is off season, where Nov. is in the Moderate column. I also read resort rates are lower in early Dec. We've been in early Nov. before and it wasn't very crowded.

My question should I switch back to Nov. or stick with Dec. ?? any opinions?

Your December dates would be pretty much after the Pop Warner week.

We leave tomorrow and so I will report how crowds are this week...We are hoping for the best?????

I just can not wait too see all the decorations!!

 

[dvcmember98]

Anyone have any idea what the 07' schedule for April and December will be, would like to try to avoid being at WDW at the same time as the POPCHEERFOOTBALL groups if at all possible from now on.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I was at Disney last week , Dec 3-10, and it was insane. First off we were amazed to see the cheerleaders and the football players at our resort Coronado. they took over the pool and the hottub. You seen them at the parks all the time cheering really loud and in huge crowds. It was obvious they were there because we ran into them everywhere. It definetely was packed all last week!!!!!!!!!!! I wasnt too happy either. You should have heard the foul language they used . Also the black boys were saying looking at those stupid white people. I heard it more than a few times.
But we still managed to have a great time. Oh and a huge group of mexicans stayed at Coronado too which may have made it busier too.
I dont know but insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

or how about the group that decided the rules didn't apply to them at the dig site, and they climed to the top of the structure. (shaking head) my brother laughed as one girl was too afraid to get back down, and he thought she is going to fall and it will be her own fault

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I have to agree. The parks were crowded and the language coming from those kids was very bad even to me. We were on H.M and they were taking pictures using the flash left and right. Somebody even yelled out "I guess you don't understand NO FLASH PICTURES!!" They just continued to do what they wanted and didn't care about the other people on the ride trying to enjoy it.

We had about 5 family members and that was there very first trip to WDW and I think it really truly took some of the magic away.

 

[chipmunkfan]

I was there Dec 2-9 and I agree the parks were pretty crowded. I went last year during the same time and the crowds were increased this year. Most of the bus rides were standing room only.

The Pop Warner group is just plain old annoying. The only time I was really bothered by them was during Illuminations. I really was looking forward to hearing the music, but the young football players were so loud and wouldn't leave the damn ducks alone during the whole event. I couldn't hear a thing over their heckling and feeding the ducks pretzels. I stayed at WL and didn't have any of groups there, but I did talk to a lady who stayed at Port Orleans and was up until 2 in the morning dealing w/ out of control cheerleaders.

The biggest problem is they roam in packs....large packs I tell ya! The whole ride line can fill up in an instant.....

I will be changing my week for next December......

 

[Joanna71985]

The castle was closed off during the entire day, not just during shows, and that was true on both Tuesday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Dec. 1. This wouldn't have been as much of a problem if it hadn't of been for Fantasyland being roped off TWICE during the "Party." (In order to get from Tomorrowland to the Haunted Mansion, for example, it was necessary to walk around the castle through huge crowds, making for much more walking and loss of touring time.) If they can't put off the fireworks without roping up part of the park, perhaps they could set off the fireworks a bit further away from the park.

Still had a great time at WDW, and will be back, just not during the holiday season.

Enjoy.

The reason the castle was blocked those 2 days was for taping for the Christmas parade. And Fantasyland is blocked twice on party nights because they do regular Wishes at 6, and then do Holiday Wishes at 9:30. And actually, the majority of the fireworks are shot out of the park. It is only some that are shot in Fantasyland.

 

[TaraPA]

This thread is interesting because we have gone to WDW the first week of December since 2001. The first year we went (granted it was after 9/11) it was almost spooky how empty it was. At one point during the MVMCP in Frontierland we did not see a single person anywhere around us. Each year, it got more and more crowded at this time. This year we skipped, it sounds like we made the right move.

You want to talk about spooky empty - we were there over 9/11/01 - the next day, 9/12 - it was a ghost town! It seemed like just us, a handful of other familes & the CMs.

 

[TaraPA]

We just got back last night & it was much more crowded than I thought it would be. It was however, very sporadic - we'd see a 40 min. wait & then go back about half an hour later & it was a 5 min. wait. So even the rides with long wait times eventually we were able to walk on. The only major let-down was Dumbo - it said 40 min. wait but it was more like an hour. The only thing we didn't do was Soarin - fast passes were GONE both days by the time we got over there (our fault for not heading there 1st) and the wait was 75 min. both other times we checked. At some points Pirates had a line out the hallway & into Frontierland - an hour later we literally walked on. Go figure.

If you didn't have an ADR forget it - and that was everywhere. Counter service wait times were long too, up to 20 min. in line.

Ah Pop Warner - ok we did have a few minor annoyances by them (same complaints as on here - constant cheering throughout the parks & buses VERY loudy - rude & foul language - and pushing/shoving while in large groups) - and I might just email them as someone else did on here. They obviously need more chaperones & adult companions. Honestly I never saw an adult with any of the groups I saw. Once a group was cheering & shoving their way through the crowded park & they knocked my 9-yr old to the ground. Ok - accident - I get it - BUT they turned around & laughed at him & called "sucker" to him. THAT was rude! That is just so uncalled for - and the cursing - oh my Lord if I heard those things come out of the mouth of a teen (or anyone) that I was chaperoning they'd be dragged back to the hotel!

Bus transportation - ugh - but like one poster said it's all in the timing of when you get to the stop vs. when the bus gets there. One incident though that had everyone in an uproar was on 12/6 - leaving MK after Wishes. We were expecting a long wait since the park had just closed but this was ridiculous. We got to the very long line at 8:20 as an AKL bus was pulling out. Ok, no biggie, another one will be along. It didn't come until 9:10!!! 50 minutes! And they would have needed 3 or 4 buses to get everyone back. Every other zone & line was near empty by 9:10 - we saw 4 or 5 buses go to some in the time we waited. There wasn't a single CM in the bus area, and no one wanted to leave their spot in line to go back into MK in case the bus really did come. A few people went to registration at AKL once we got back but they didn't seem to care. 20 min. between buses is just a general time, there are no guarantees they were told. In general bus service to/from AKL was very slow. We waited at least 20 min. every time & that had never happened before at other resorts.

All in all I can say I saw WDW at Christmas & I can check it off my list & go back in early to mid-Nov. when the crowds seemed lighter & no Pop Warner!

 

[Olaf]

Booked solid ... ha!
Get this: We stayed at BCV last Sunday through Thursday. We decided we wanted to stay in WDW Friday night also, extend the trip, so we called CRO and NO deluxs were avail except for Y&BC. I had NEVER been and AKL not be avail and crowds were not that bad. So went to AKL Wednesday night, only to discover from the savannah viewing area that BLOCKS of rooms looked dark.

It's possible, but huge blocks of rooms at AKL are being remodeled at the moment also.

 

[skyhawk]

Well, I came on here to start a thread just on this topic. It appears many people had the samereaction as we had. We purposely booked this week thinking the parks would be empty (thanks alot Birnbaum), and it was overly crowded. Not only was it crowded, but it was mostly teenage girl cheerleaders who insisted on making us all hear their cheers.

I'm not complaining - we still had a wonderful trip - but we made our itineraries based on the assumption of low attendance levels - so everythijng really became messed up.

Oh well - next year it won't be December.

 

[tink4ever]

Someone I know has a daughter who is a cheerleader and they went on this trip. This girls group was staying at POFQ - so most likely a few of the moderates had them too.

I am SO sorry ot hear some of you had such bad experiences.

We usually go around mid December (trying to get in around the 15th out of there before the 22nd) and have had a good time with low crowds. This year we went the week after Thanksgiving and also had a good time and low crowds.

Is this Pop Warner/Cheerleader thing and annual event and usually the first week or two of December. I want to make sure to avoid this like the plague!

Yes the Pop Warner Superbowl is every Dec. during the 1st or 2nd week but also College Cheerleading is the middle of Jan. and High School cheerleading is in March. I understand that everyone gets angry at the kids but I think everyone should remember that as long as Disney keeps inviting them and holding sporting events all year long then the kids will keep coming. It is too bad that Disney no longer has slow or slower weeks anymore. Between sports, conventions etc I think that Disney is always busy. But that will not stop us from going.

 

[LukenDC]

Ah Pop Warner - ok we did have a few minor annoyances by them (same complaints as on here - constant cheering throughout the parks & buses VERY loudy - rude & foul language - and pushing/shoving while in large groups) - and I might just email them as someone else did on here. They obviously need more chaperones & adult companions. Honestly I never saw an adult with any of the groups I saw. Once a group was cheering & shoving their way through the crowded park & they knocked my 9-yr old to the ground. Ok - accident - I get it - BUT they turned around & laughed at him & called "sucker" to him. THAT was rude! That is just so uncalled for - and the cursing - oh my Lord if I heard those things come out of the mouth of a teen (or anyone) that I was chaperoning they'd be dragged back to the hotel!

I tell you, it's times like that that I wish some big, husky, hairy, transvestite cheerleaders would teach those girls a lesson!