Pop Warner Dec 5-11 --> How bad is this?

[stinkerbelle]

From Deb's site:
Disney's Wide World of Sports - Pop Warner Superbowl - December 5-11

What can you tell me about this? Are the parks more crowded this week then normal?

Thanks!

 

[tink2]

NOOOOOO- these are my exact dates! Someone who has been during this time please help!!!

 

[tikilyn]

We are going to be there from the 6th thru the 13th. I want to know also.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I went last year 12/6-12/12, and I think the Pop Warner events were that week. Since I stayed at a DVC resort, I didn't see many Pop Warner types there, but come to think of it, I didn't see many anywhere. It seems I saw a few Pop Warner T-shirts in the parks (which weren' noticeably crowded) but that's the only "sign" of Pop Warner I had.

 

[ILPHIL]

heaven help you if you are staying at the same resort they are.

Large numbers of them descend on the All-Star Resorts and sadly a significant chunk of them feel that manners and repect for others aren't needed at WDW.

Good Luck...you will need it!

 

[WDWorBUST]

If you are staying at the All-Star Sports this is HORRIBLE. When we were there during Pop Warner week we stayed at All-Star Sports - we didn't know that it was the same week until we were already there. There didn't ever seem to be enough chaperones and the kids thought they owned the place. We had more than one confrontation where one child was in line at the food court and saw other kids they knew and tried to get 5 or more kids in the line with them. One friend and I doubt I would have said anything. But repeatedly with big groups - uh uh....aint going to happen - they can wait in line just like everyone else. We did see some unruly groups in the parks....but it was pretty minimal in the parks. I wouldn't deliberately plan my vacation that week for that reason...I would wait one week. But if that is the only time you can go I would suggest not staying at All-Star Sports for sure (I don't know if the other values were as bad but I wouldn't think so) and go with a positive attitude. If it hadn't been for the food court incidents I don't know that I would even have noticed them as much in the parks. It wasn't a vacation ruiner....but it could have been nicer if I had known to avoid All-Star Sports.

 

[tink2]

We are staying at POFQ. Do they just stay at value resorts or do they stay at moderates too? I'm hoping since POFQ is small they won't put large groups like that there.
It makes me feel better about the park crowds. We chose this week b/c it is supposed to be one of the least crowded times of the year and we are so excited about the Christmas stuff- don't want the crowds to be larger b/c of this! We are used to Thanksgiving week crowds and want to experience WDW with much less crowds!

 

[tink2]

BTW- I just looked on Deb's site. It looks like the 7-13 were for last year- under 2003 calendar. The events for 2004 are at the bottom of the page with the December competitions not up yet. Is this right. I realize our chances are very good of it being that week- but did you find the dates for 2004?
If you found them, can you post a link?

 

[ILPHIL]

My understanding is that some of them do get over to the larger moderate resorts, but the worst is at the Values. We have seen them at the ASMo & ASMu. With the PC open now maybe they will head there too.
I agree with WDWorBUST the biggest problem seems to be lack of real adult supervision. They can't keep an eye on the players and cheerleaders very well when they are sitting at the bar getting drunk and obnoxious themselves.

It's a great time to be at WDW otherwise, too bad the ill-mannered, rude, vulgar tiny minority of those involved have to give their group a bad name and make things less enjoyable for everyone else.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by tink2
BTW- I just looked on Deb's site. It looks like the 7-13 were for last year- under 2003 calendar. The events for 2004 are at the bottom of the page with the December competitions not up yet. Is this right. I realize our chances are very good of it being that week- but did you find the dates for 2004?
If you found them, can you post a link?

here's what I found

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/events.htm#1204

If we go during this week...I think we'll be staying at AKL...so no worries about the hotel.

We've been twice before the 2nd week of December...and I honestly don't remember it being particularly over-run with kids.

What exactly *IS* Pop Warner anyway? Little league superbowl?

 

[MeghanNRileysMom]

We were at WDW this past Dec 6 - 12 during Pop Warner. We stayed at the Polynesian and no PopWarner-ites were in sight. The parks seemed to remain uncrowded as expected, but we occasionally ran into a group of cheerleaders. Thankfully for us, the ones we saw were well mannered and polite. We did see a few groups performing impromtu cheers at AK. However, we thought it was cute and my DD's (2 and 5) enjoyed watching them. The only black spot in the stay was our monorail ride with a group of maroon and white clad cheerleaders in rag slippers and curlers on 12/12 going to dinner at 1900 Park Fare... unfortunately so were we

They were rude on the monorail, hanging over the seats and the partition wall. Once inside the restaurant the proceeded en masse to the buffett and it took a good hour for them all to go through. Then some would cut in line of others to go grab more rolls, salad, desserts etc. HORRENDOUS! I have never seen a more ill-mannered group. During dinner they were shouting across the restaurant to each other and cheering at the table.

I am all for youthful exuberance but screaming at dinner was a little much LOL

But I suppose if all week that was the only trouble, I can count my blessings. Don't worry too much, afterall, like everyone says... You're still at WDW!!! Have a great trip!

PS, buy your MVMCP tickets early, we went on 12/9 and it was fabulous!

 

[Pinnie]

We have been there the last 2 years during the time that Pop Warner was there and we did NOT have any problems. In 2002 we stayed at POFQ and this past Dec we were at BCVs. We did see some of the kids at the food courts, and at the McD's at DD. We found all of the ones we had contact with to be well chaperoned and well behaved.

I am gong back again in Dec at this time. It sure wouldn't stop ME!


pin

 

[bjakmom]

We'll be there then, also - does anyone know if the groups usually attend MCMCP or CP while they are there - or do they not pay the extra for these events? Do they compete only during the day, evenings? Yikes ! - I'd hate to run into a large group at dinner - I love teens, but I'm leaving my own teen/big kids behind this trip and bringing my little nephew!

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by bjakmom
We'll be there then, also - does anyone know if the groups usually attend MCMCP or CP while they are there - or do they not pay the extra for these events? Do they compete only during the day, evenings? Yikes ! - I'd hate to run into a large group at dinner - I love teens, but I'm leaving my own teen/big kids behind this trip and bringing my little nephew!

They usually have an after hours party for them at MGM.

I've gone while they were there the past 4 years it wasn't a big deal but we stayed at BWV. I don't think it made a big difference in park crowds.

Here is their website:

http://www.popwarner.com/

 

[disneymania]

and stayed at POFQ with many cheerleaders & Pop Warner kiddies. Pop Warner coaches & parents that we saw ran a tight ship & those boys didn't step out of line. The cheerleaders on the other hand.. so annoying & loud. Running up & down the halls at night etc. They are up & out early too which was noisy at times, although we were up too. Didn't notice them at all in the parks. They were pretty busy during the day with clinic stuff I guess. I would definately try to avoid a moderate too while they are there, if you have a choice. People were trying to move hotels because of them & there were none available. In the end, it really wasn't a big deal but at the time it was a little annoying.

 

[ead79]

We got there just as Pop Warner was ending this past year. No one we talked to seemed to notice any impact in the parks. Ironically the Pop Warner folks seemed to have blocked rooms at the same resorts that my wedding room blocks were at. Some of our wedding guests who stayed at both All Star Movies and Caribbean Beach mentioned seeing lots of cheerleaders. My aunt and uncle and little cousin said that the teens they encountered were nice though--they played with my little cousin (3 years old) and he ate the attention up.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

We were there during the dates this past year. We choose WL to avoid resort problems. We never experenced any problems with the groups at all. The crowds were more than I had really expected in December as we had gone in January in the past and were used to NO crowds. The children we met were well mannered. We attended MVMCP and there were quite a few pop warner kids there. One notice I did make was that at bus stops for many of the values and some of the moderate, the lines of pop warner kids getting back to the resorts were horendous!!! It would have taken several busses to get everyone on and the buses were not comming very fast. If there is anyway you could do a deluxe( WL is beautiful this time of year), you would be quite safe.


Jordans' mom

 

[kbkids]

Okay - just looked at their calendar. What is the event that is scheduled for May 26 - May 29? Says that it is going to be at Coronado Springs - almost booked there - thank goodness I chose POFQ. Not too concerned about the parks, as we've been there before in December with them and never noticed them. But, any chance of there being an overflow to POFQ, or do you think they will pretty much be at the All-Stars and most likely, quite a few at Coronado Springs?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Thank god we leave the 5th. We're staying at Pop. I'd probably change my dates if I was staying at an All Star resort during those days.

 

[Uncleromulus]

There is a post on the restaurants board on how the behavior (or, rather, the lack of it) of these groups can also effect the restaurants---.