Pop Warner 2019

[brandoko]

Hi,

I'm planning a Christmas 2019 visit to Disney World for my family. We've never been at Christmas time, and this will be our second trip to Disney World ever. We're very excited to attend the Christmas Party at MK and see the new Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at HS. We originally intended to travel over the dates of Dec. 7-15, but we found out that the Pop Warner Championship is over that week (Dec. 6-13), which we recently heard should be avoided. Would it be advisable to change to the first week of December (Nov. 30 - Dec. 8)? I've looked at a few crowd calendars, and it seems the second week is usually recommended due to Thanksgiving crowds having thinned out and Pop Warner generally happening the first week. With it now happening the second week, I'm not sure. Can anyone who has been at this time advise? I'm less concerned about the hotels and more about the park crowds.

Thanks!

 

[TikiBabe]

Hi,

I'm planning a Christmas 2019 visit to Disney World for my family. We've never been at Christmas time, and this will be our second trip to Disney World ever. We're very excited to attend the Christmas Party at MK and see the new Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at HS. We originally intended to travel over the dates of Dec. 7-15, but we found out that the Pop Warner Championship is over that week (Dec. 6-13), which we recently heard should be avoided. Would it be advisable to change to the first week of December (Nov. 30 - Dec. 8)? I've looked at a few crowd calendars, and it seems the second week is usually recommended due to Thanksgiving crowds having thinned out and Pop Warner generally happening the first week. With it now happening the second week, I'm not sure. Can anyone who has been at this time advise? I'm less concerned about the hotels and more about the park crowds.

Thanks!

Pop Warner is Dec 6-14th and then there is also a Soccer group (non Pop Warner) that will be there the week of Thanksgiving.

 

[sharonabe]

Can anyone who has been at this time advise? I'm less concerned about the hotels and more about the park crowds.

The parks will get busier as the week progresses and teams lose in their tournaments. There may also be an early closing at one of the parks one night toward the end for them to have a special celebration.

If you can change to the week prior for the same cost, I would change. If it's going to be a significant increase to change, I would just stay where I was.

 

[Timothy02359]

We avoid Pop Warner week. Been there, done that...never again.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I'm going from 12/2-12/6, and I'm very nervous about crowd levels. Nearly every resort is booked. On the plus side for me, the All Stars are priced just about as low as you'll ever find them for that brief window of time. I would not go during Pop Warner if you can help it.

 

[mamaofsix]

I'd go the week after Thanksgiving if it were me. That's the week we went in 2018 and it was fabulous. Also, with Thanksgiving being so late this year, if you wait until Pop Warner week, you are that much closer to Christmas itself and the crowds will be that much higher.

 

[jaysmom4285]

We've been at WDW many times during that week in December, which was often the Pop Warner week, and we didn't feel that it had much impact on park crowds. The participants are pretty involved with their competitions for most of the week. Even when many of them are done, the most you will see is a few random groups of cheerleaders in the parks. The people who seemed to be affected the most were those who stayed at the same values or moderates as the Pop Warner participants (we always made it a point to stay elsewhere). There are many reports that they can be quite loud and somewhat disruptive to a quiet resort stay. But we saw very little of them in the parks. If it were me, I wouldn't change. But the week before is a good week, as well, so, if it gives you more peace of mind about your trip, then go ahead and change.

 

[evlaina]

Hi,

I'm planning a Christmas 2019 visit to Disney World for my family. We've never been at Christmas time, and this will be our second trip to Disney World ever. We're very excited to attend the Christmas Party at MK and see the new Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at HS. We originally intended to travel over the dates of Dec. 7-15, but we found out that the Pop Warner Championship is over that week (Dec. 6-13), which we recently heard should be avoided. Would it be advisable to change to the first week of December (Nov. 30 - Dec. 8)? I've looked at a few crowd calendars, and it seems the second week is usually recommended due to Thanksgiving crowds having thinned out and Pop Warner generally happening the first week. With it now happening the second week, I'm not sure. Can anyone who has been at this time advise? I'm less concerned about the hotels and more about the park crowds.

Thanks!

We went during Pop Warner 2018. It was totally fine, there were no differences in crowds at all in our opinion, and we thought it was a fantastic week to go. Keep in mind they're at games/cheering all day. The only thing I would advise against is staying at a resort they stay at - we stayed at AKL so we never even saw the kids, but where are you booked?

 

[chelleb1974]

We've been at WDW many times during that week in December, which was often the Pop Warner week, and we didn't feel that it had much impact on park crowds. The participants are pretty involved with their competitions for most of the week. Even when many of them are done, the most you will see is a few random groups of cheerleaders in the parks. The people who seemed to be affected the most were those who stayed at the same values or moderates as the Pop Warner participants (we always made it a point to stay elsewhere). There are many reports that they can be quite loud and somewhat disruptive to a quiet resort stay. But we saw very little of them in the parks. If it were me, I wouldn't change. But the week before is a good week, as well, so, if it gives you more peace of mind about your trip, then go ahead and change.

This has been my experience in the past as well. We are going 11/30-12/8 this year and staying at Pop. I didn't know the Pop Warner dates when I booked, but wasn't too worried about it if it had coincided with our trip.

 

[matheke]

We have been during Pop Warner only about 10-12 times. We never had a problem. They don't add much to the crowds at the parks. They have a show on the resort TV that covers the games that are played, kind of like a mini sports report.

If you see some of the kids (They are usually wearing their jersey's) try engaging them and their families. We ask how the team is doing and where they are from. For many of them this may be the only time they ever get to come to WDW.

 

[Pamela M]

Good to hear parks aren't impacted to much as we are going the 7th thru the 14th. We are staying at ASMu. We are going in expecting it to be loud and noisy. We are putting in for a top floor room away from the pool so hopefully that will help.

 

[FastPasser.]

Except for the first post, there's been no mention on this thread of how the opening of Galaxy's Edge will affect crowd levels.

 

[Love Tink]

Except for the first post, there's been no mention on this thread of how the opening of Galaxy's Edge will affect crowd levels.

Probably because it has nothing to do with whether it is advisable to try to avoid Pop Warner week.

OP, I've been during that week twice and did not notice any impact in the parks, FWIW.

 

[brandoko]

Thanks everyone for your responses. We've decided to stay from Nov. 30 - Dec. 10. I think overall, we'll likely have some low crowd days. We're planning on doing Mickey's Christmas Party on that Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Hollywood Studios on Wednesday, Dec. 4 for Star Wars Land. Those are our two biggest priorities and from your responses and what I've read online, I think those should work out well. Or at least, they should be lower crowds than most of December. Crossing my fingers Rise of the Resistance will be open by then. I'd camp out at Hollywood Studios just for Star Wars Land, haha.

 

[FunkyDuckToo]

I have asked the "pop warner crowd" question in a previous thread. We are staying 8th-14th and I was having a panic attack over it. I am really happy to hear these responses regarding park impact, etc. We are staying Gran Destino, Coronado Springs...I am hoping that the resort will not be too bad. We have to go this week due to college schedule for one of our members...I didn't want to push to the next week because we would be that much closer to Christmas crowds. Everyone in agreement that sticking to pop warner week versus closer to Christmas crowds is the way for us to go??? TIA

 

[evlaina]

I have asked the "pop warner crowd" question in a previous thread. We are staying 8th-14th and I was having a panic attack over it. I am really happy to hear these responses regarding park impact, etc. We are staying Gran Destino, Coronado Springs...I am hoping that the resort will not be too bad. We have to go this week due to college schedule for one of our members...I didn't want to push to the next week because we would be that much closer to Christmas crowds. Everyone in agreement that sticking to pop warner week versus closer to Christmas crowds is the way for us to go??? TIA

Pop Warner/Cheer groups do stay at Coronado Springs. I'm sure they won't be at Gran Destino at all, however I'm not sure how buses, pools, and dining would be affected at the resort as a whole.

 

[jaysmom4285]

I have asked the "pop warner crowd" question in a previous thread. We are staying 8th-14th and I was having a panic attack over it. I am really happy to hear these responses regarding park impact, etc. We are staying Gran Destino, Coronado Springs...I am hoping that the resort will not be too bad. We have to go this week due to college schedule for one of our members...I didn't want to push to the next week because we would be that much closer to Christmas crowds. Everyone in agreement that sticking to pop warner week versus closer to Christmas crowds is the way for us to go??? TIA

Yes, Pop Warner week is better then going close to Christmas. Late November/early December are fairly low crowd times (as low as it gets these days, anyway), and, if you get within a week of Christmas, the crowds will increase dramatically. You should be fine from the 8th-14th. I would expect Christmas crowds to really pick up later the next week, as schools start to close for Christmas vacation.

 

[FunkyDuckToo]

Pop Warner/Cheer groups do stay at Coronado Springs. I'm sure they won't be at Gran Destino at all, however I'm not sure how buses, pools, and dining would be affected at the resort as a whole.

I did talk to a cast member and he put me on hold to check with the resort/group bookings for info.....when he came back on he said they could not say for certain, but CSR may not be used this year for Pop Warner. I am crossing my fingers. Again...he wasn't sure, but he said he would be surprised due to the new tower, etc. Of course I will not believe anything until it actually happens.

 

[Pamela M]

I did talk to a cast member and he put me on hold to check with the resort/group bookings for info.....when he came back on he said they could not say for certain, but CSR may not be used this year for Pop Warner. I am crossing my fingers. Again...he wasn't sure, but he said he would be surprised due to the new tower, etc. Of course I will not believe anything until it actually happens.

I think if you go online right now you can figure out which will be used for Pop Warner. All the Value resorts are showing as not available for that week. I'm guessing they've got those rooms on hold for Pop Warner.

 

[emily nicole]

We are booked Dec 8-16. I did try to move my trip to the first week in December, but found little to no resort availability. But still plenty of availability the week I am going. I wonder what that means in terms of crowds?