Pop Warner - Nightmare???

[Maps05]

I've been reading that accommodation is full in Dec cos the Pop Warner kids are there. We have already booked the first 2 weeks of Dec, only 3rd time to Disney and the 2nd was after 15 years. We went March and us Brits had no idea this was Spring Break. Parks bursting, lots of rides we didn't get to do. Checked this time and beginning of Dec noted as "quiet time". I don't know how many years it will be before we can do Disney again and now really concerned that resort (booked PORS, sooooo excited) and parks will be full to overflowing again. We can't face the thought of missing so much again. Need reassurance from more experienced visitors.....

 

[MinnieM21]

Early December is a perfect time to go, it wasn't crowded at all. I didn't even know Pop Warner was going on until I got back home and read the boards. Don't worry and have a great time. We never had a long wait for any of the rides and were able to experience eveything we wanted to.

 

[Mermaid02]

We are going the first week of December and I am not worried about it at all. We'll see if I change my mind when I get there.... but I'm not going to "borrow trouble"

 

[goofy4tink]

I was there for Pop week in '03...it was not an issue. I even stayed at AllStarMusic, which was full of cheerleaders, dancers and tiny football players!! Yes, they were doing routines in the morning by the pool, but it didn't have any effect on my trip. On the last Sat, the buses were more full than usual. Evidently the kids were pretty much done with the competitions by then and were going to the parks. But, it didn't seem to make the parks any busier. They did close down MGM that Sat night early (around 7ish) for a private party for the Pop kids. Again, we just worked around it.
I wouldn't have any issues going at that time. The time I won't go back at??? Between early June and mid-August...too hot, too many cranky people!! Early Dec is tops in my book!!!

 

[DebbieB]

We always go the first or second week of December and have been there during Pop Warner. They don't affect the parks much. You may see some of the kids in small groups but it doesn't make a big difference. From what I've heard, the big problem is at the resorts where they stay, mostly the value resorts. We always stay at Boardwalk, so we weren't affected.

 

[MdmMim]

I have been going to WDW the first week of Dec. for a long time. The Pop Warner kids were only a problem for me once when I was surrounded by them at the same resort. (A call to the front desk got me away from them.)

They're there first and foremost to play football. You may see them in the parks, but they have Pop Warner activities to keep them busy and shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I really think that any problems from Pop Warner are only at the hotel, not in the parks. And as Goofy4Tink suggested, even that may not be a problem. When I've gone during Pop Warner week, I've always stayed at a DVC resort and I've hardly known they're there. The only reminder has been occassionally in the parks I've seen young girls (maybe 12 yo) with curlers in their hair. Looked so unusual until I remembered-they were probably Pop Warner cheerleaders preparing for an event. That's been the only reminder. So I guess it depends on where you're staying-then it MAY be a problem, maybe not!

 

[Maps05]

We will be staying at PORS. Is this likely to be one of their resorts?

 

[Amy&Dan]

We will be staying at PORS. Is this likely to be one of their resorts?

You should be fine. They usually stay at the All Stars. Also, even if some of them were there, POR is so spread out you probably wouldn't notice it. But I have never heard of them staying at that resort. You will have a great trip, early December is so much better than spring break! Have fun!

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

Me and dbf will be there during Dec. 9-12 and I think they are leaving on the 10th so that should be okay for us b/c on the 9th we most likely will be at DTD and DQ. On the 10th when they leave(?) we will be at MK. So that should work out well for us.

Nicole

 

[flyinglizard]

Hello Maps05- Please have no fears of the Pop Warner crowd unless you are staying at one of the All Star Resorts. The only problem there is long bus lines and late night noise from teens thrilled and excited to be at Walt Disney World. Hey, we were all that young once!

For many years we've enjoyed the "quiet" time at WDW during the first week of December and you have selected an excellent time to be there. You'll notice an increase in attendance during the second week, but nothing that will make you miserable.

You will see some Pop Warner kids at the PORS but from what I have seen, they will be the ones who are there with their parents. It will not be a concern to you.

Pop Warner kids are not street thugs. They are the best of the best in what they do, and I think you'll find that they are far more polite and respectful than many of the teens you will encounter in the park.

Let me just add that my comments are from someone who is not and has never been any part of Pop Warner Football or Cheer Leading.

Have a great time, but when you get back, please take a moment to tell everyone else on the boards that the Pop Warner kids did not ruin your holiday!

 

[WaltD4Me]

We will be staying at PORS. Is this likely to be one of their resorts?

Yes, I am sorry to say, you will find Pop Warner groups at PORS. We stayed at POFQ the same week as Pop Warner in December 2004 and while there were only a couple groups at POFQ, because we shared buses with PORS we saw alot of groups from there. Pop Warner is not only at the value resorts anymore. There were ALOT of groups at PORS in 2004. Pop is getting bigger and has outgrown just staying the All Stars.

That being said, while we did find Pop to be noticeable, it did not ruin our trip! During the day at the parks we saw a few Pop groups and that was mainly at at MK and MGM. I don't remember seeing any at Epcot or Animal Kingdom. They did not effect wait times or make things more crowded though, even at MK or MGM during the day. You will see more groups out at night though, still they didn't effect ride wait lines that much. It's still a MUCH slower time to go than Spring Break! We never needed to get an FP the whole time we were there. Longest wait was 15 minutes for Test Track and I think Dumbo too.

We did run into large amount of Pop groups one evening at MGM and one night at DTD and they closed MGM early one night for a private Pop party (something I found annoying, so find out ahead of time what night their party is so you don't plan on seeing Fantasmic that night!)

 

[Maps05]

Thank you all so much for your help. I feel much better and can just relax (actually, almost impossible, I'm so excited now and building EVERY day!!!) and look forward to the holiday. These boards are amazing, so much help and advice from everyone to make your break the best it could possibly be. I think all the best people in the world must be members!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

[Uncleromulus]

And should you find those stray "Warners" at POFQ disturbing you, don't hesitate to ask that your room be changed. Disney won't do a thing to quiet THEM down, but at least you can be moved to a room where you can get some sleep!!

 

[TR Denise]

We were there last year during that week at OKW. We never saw the kids except for 2 times they took OKW bus and picked up a DTD bus from there they were noisy but no problems .

 

[Simba's Mom]

Pop Warner kids are not street thugs. They are the best of the best in what they do, and I think you'll find that they are far more polite and respectful than many of the teens you will encounter in the park.

Let me just add that my comments are from someone who is not and has never been any part of Pop Warner Football or Cheer Leading.

Have a great time, but when you get back, please take a moment to tell everyone else on the boards that the Pop Warner kids did not ruin your holiday!

OK, I'm here to say I've been at WDW when Pop Warner kids were there, and they absolutely did NOTHING to ruin my vacation. Didn't even know they were there. Except, like I mentioned before, the little girls in the parks with the curlers in their hair. And I thought that was kinda cute. No problems!

 

[elgerber]

I always chime in on Pop Warner threads. I have been twice during Pop Warner times and have had no troubles at all. The first time we were even staying at an All Star resort. Honestly, we did not even see them on our first trip. In 2003 we did see a large group of Pop Warner cheerleaders in the MK, but they were very well behaved, and waited in line just like everyone else. I would not hesitate to go during that time period.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

The only problem with Pop Warner is the screaming pre-pubescent teenage girls screaming and yelling outside the rooms at the All-Stars at the crack of dawn, waking up the other guests.

You shouldn't notice anything at POR, as they stay at the values - and they aren't big enough to make a dent in park attendance in general.

Have a great time!

N.E.D.

 

[wld]

We will be down there the first week in December and December is a beautiful time to visit. We have made a few trips either the first or second week of December and while I don't know how long this has been Pop Warner week, we never noticed a problem in the parks.
That being said we did have an interesting conversation with a cast member a couple of years ago as we checked into PORS.
He said we were really lucky to be checking in today and not the week before. When I asked why he said it was because of all the cheerleaders. I asked how bad could it be...........He said they were screaming and yelling their cheer all over the place. He said it seemed like they were everywhere and it was a very large group. He was very glad they were gone. Now I have no first hand knowledge of this, but it seemed it was more than just a few kids with their parents staying at PORS. But it is a big resort and I would think they could move you away from the biggest part of the noise, although it might mean a farther walk for you. In any case I can't believe it would compare at all to spring break, a time I have never had nerve enough to go during.
We tried to get PORS the first week in Dec and couldn't on the AP best rate, didn't realize it was Pop Warner that week at first. So we'll be at POP unless a better rate appears.
I think you will love your trip at this time of year.

 

[Kapp]

dread your trip, just be aware of what is going on. If you see the dreaded cheerleaders coming, just try to avoid them. They were much worse than the players (who we only saw at night). Both groups were not very well mannered while out and the parents just stood back and watched. I know they are excited about their games and WDW but they don't seem to be aware (and should be reminded by their parents) that there are other guests and they should respect all others at WDW.
Have a great time!