NEVER again in early Dec!

[Mackey Mouse]

We will no longer go at this time of year...I thought I remembered the cheerleading experience being in March, I did not remember it being the first week in December..

Anyway, I posted my opinions on the other thread about the response from Pop Warner to a disgruntled Diser whose vacation was not good as a result of the Pop Warner participants....

It is is all about the chaperones and keeping the kids in line so that they do not ruin anyone else's vacation with unnecessary antics.....hopefully Disney is reading these boards, as I know they do, and see how upset people are with their trips at the hands of these unruly kids........someone was not doing their job, chaperones, castmembers, someone...

 

[lovethattink]

I agree about the crowds. Never remember a early December this crowded. I think since the start of the F&W festival started, the crowds haven't gone down much, especially weekends.

 

[HayGan]

Looking at all these negative replies about the first week in December I should have responded the same

My response should have been "Yeah, I'll never go that first week in December again. Teriible crowds, horrible weather, lack of decorations. Oh that new ticker in my signature, just ignore that! I just haven't changed it yet "

 

[KevInSweden]

We stayed at the Pop Century (50s building 4th floor) from 27th Nov until the 12th Dec. We had heard about Pop Warner, and thankfully we seem to have avoided most of the trouble.

The parks were busier than I was led to believe, but we had no trouble in doing any of the rides. We did Expedition Everest 6 times on one of the days, all of them walk ons (two early in the morning, 1 fast pass and the other 3 later on in the day at about 4pm). The later rides on EE were probably helped no doubt by the fact it was down just beforehand for some reason - and we were right there to go on it x 3

One day we ignored the TGM touring plans partially and went to the MK on a Saturday.... a mistake, albeit not a massive one. Hordes of the Pop Warner kids were there, was incredibly noisy and the crowds were unbelievable. We still managed to fast pass Splash Mountain and then went on the People Mover a few times.

I'm so sad to read about people who had bad times due to idiots, especially those making noise into the small hours.... so relieved it wasn't me though, as I'd probably have throttled one of them!

 

[dbal]

We were there from Dec 6- Dec 12th - and we stayed at ASMs. The good thing about that was... the pool was closed and it was too cold to swim anyway. I couldn't imagine sharing pool time w/ those groups. On our 1st night we were awakened by cheering at 11:00. That was our worst experience w/ them. We tried to steer clear of them and didn't use the food court except to refill mugs.

Our worst experience w/ them was actually on our flight down from Philly. This squad and their "chaperones" (over zealous moms living vicariously through their children) cheered LOUDLY at the gate and for a good portion of our trip down. The chaperones beamed lovingly and took pictures.

I also have to agree at the crowds this year. Wow! Very different from 2 years ago.

 

[Kristina]

I haven't read this whole thread but just want to say sorry to all the people who had an awful time of it. My dbf KevInSweden (who posted two down) and I stayed at the Pop for 15 nights and at check in when getting our room assignment I mentioned that I was worried about Pop Warner but the girl said they were mostly at the All Stars. We did see just amazing crowds in the Everything Pop counter service area when it was around 9am and also at some parks but that was more during the 2nd week of our vacation, which makes sense since a lot of the kids were finished with their scheduled events by that time. We did have a terrible time of it on the Saturday we went to the MK, but it was Spectromagic day and we just couldn't miss that now could we .

Otherwise the parks were just amazingly beautiful and I am so happy that we went! Probably also because we arrived on the Nov. 27th which made a difference since we had a few days before all the Warner headaches arrived.

 

[jaurban]

We were there from Dec. 2 - 11 and did not experience a significant problem with crowds. I used UG for the most part, espeically which days to attend the parks, with some variations for ADRs we wanted. The most croweded day was Sat., Dec. 9 at MK (and at Downtown Disney) but we went to Bibbidy Boddibi Boutique that morning then to CRT for lunch, and had done some rides on Dec. 5 at MK. After lunch we went to Toontown for a few characters and the playground, then the tea cups, with about a 15 minute wait. DD4 then wanted to sleep, so we went to COP for a rest, and DH got the coats from the car, and we lined up for the 8 parade, since DD was not going to go on rides. Watched that from the circle in front of the castle, and then turned around to see a spectacular shuttle launch right over space mountain, turned around again for Wishes. Not much in the way of rides, but we saw what we wanted that day.

Epcot was always easy, my DH waited only 15 minutes for Soarin on Dec. 11 (Monday) at lunch time, no FP. Our longest wait was probably the single rider line at TT on Dec. 7 (TH), and maybe 20 minutes for Dumbo on Dec. 5. MVMCP on Dec. 5 seemed crowded as far as the first and second Night Before Christmas shows. Got a good spot for the 10:45 parade about 1/2 hour before (in front of the castle). Did not do rides or characters as DD4 got caught up in the dance party excitement and would not leave for an hour, but that is what it's about, I guess.

My DH and I did Mk EMH on Sunday, Dec. 10 and walked on to everything, less than 5 minute wait (and sometimes walking the cue was longer than the actual wait).

Mon, Dec. 4 did MGM and EMH there, seemed a bit more crowded, but saw the 8:30 Fantasmic, and it was not full.

 

[TiggerAllie]

We were there Dec 2-9 at WL and the Poly. We didn't use busses as we had a rental car and used the monorail. We thought the crowds were quite light, except at DTD. The hotels I heard were at 98% capacity all week, and while that was reflected at the TS restaurants (the few ADRs we tried to change were a nightmare!), I didn't notice it at all in the parks. I did see some cheerleaders around, but mostly they were with parents (1 or 2 in a family group) or in small groups, and we never saw any of the loud ones. We didn't follow any touring plans, just went were we felt like it or based on where we had ADRs. We did 2 Xmas parties. Mostly, I noticed that there were tons and tons of families with small (young- or under-school-age) children and hordes and hordes of strollers! Interesting how many different perceptions of the same time period there are!

 

[ericatunc]

We were there from the 3rd-11th and it was crazy. Epcot on Friday was bad. We loved the Osborne Lights and the decorations, but we won't be going back in early December ever again.

 

[magicalcouple]

I was there Nov. 25 through Dec. 3 and it WAS crazy! Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were the worst though. It was much busier than last year, but not near as busy as it was when I was there in May '04.

Transportation WAS a complete nightmare. One of our buses got in a wreck, another got lost, and one broke down. It was crazy!

With all my complaints, it was STILL a magical experience and I plan to go again next year, crowds or no crowds.

Oh, and my tip for any MVMCP doubters, the lines were complete walk ons for us on Nov. 28, a Tuesday!

 

[Robo]

We were there from the 3rd-11th and it was crazy. Epcot on Friday was bad.

Ditto to THAT!

As EMH time got near, the lines for getting wrist-bands looked like folks buying tickets to a Beatles reunion.

There were thousands of guests meanering shoulder-to-shoulder near the fountain area in the center of FW.

We decided to dive out at 9pm while we still could.
When our bus got back to the resort, it instantly FILLED with more guests heading back to Epcot (with hordes of others waiting for the next one to arrive.)
That was also the night MGM closed early for a Pop Warner party.
But many PW folks chose Epcot EMH instead.

Glad we escaped!

 

[oogie boogie]

We found the crowds really minimal! We also tried to stay away from the emh. The day we went to AK EMH (AM) the park was packed! And that's the only day we had to deal with the annoying cheer as loud as u can cheerleader girls. The ride operator on EE threatened to kick them out of line if they didn't stop cause they were cheering INDOORS and it was very loud making it a safety issue. At that point everyone IN LINE CHEERED!!!!!
Please get your cheering done at the competition. I have no problem with being excited and having fun and i understand yelling cause u r enjoying yourself? But please keep the football and the "spirit" stuff at the hotel room. It's the same as brigning in a radio and blasting it really really loud in line.

 

[waughzee]

I just returned home last night, after a 6 night stay at POFQ. We encountered a few of the Pop Warner groups, with the most obnoxious being a group of girls SCREAMING the Wheels on the Bus song on the bus late at night while their chaperones/parents laughed and a group of girls walking through Epcot proclaiming loudly that they could do whatever they wanted because they "owned" Epcot.

I've been to WDW in early December many times and I have NEVER seen the crowds like I encountered this trip. Early December is no longer a quiet time to visit.

 

[NancyIL]

I was there Nov. 25 through Dec. 3 and it WAS crazy! Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were the worst though. It was much busier than last year, but not near as busy as it was when I was there in May '04.

Transportation WAS a complete nightmare. One of our buses got in a wreck, another got lost, and one broke down. It was crazy!

With all my complaints, it was STILL a magical experience and I plan to go again next year, crowds or no crowds.

Oh, and my tip for any MVMCP doubters, the lines were complete walk ons for us on Nov. 28, a Tuesday!

I was there the same time, and thought MVMCP on the 28th was VERY crowded. Fantasyland rides weren't walk-ons - except for Snow White. I've been going to the party for 5 years, so think I've gotten my fill of it.

We were at Epcot on the 25th, and yes - it was crowded as expected. We did well with fastpasses for some rides and the single rider line for Test Track. We had an 8:30 p.m. dinner reservation at Rose and Crown so that's where we watched Illuminations. On Sun. 11/26 - we went to MGM in the a.m. and didn't find it very crowded at all. We went to the MK in the evening for EMH, and even that seemed less crowded to me than MVMCP. On Monday I didn't go into a park until 4 p.m. - and that was Epcot until 7, then to MGM for EMH.