pop warner week

[brian95]

planning next trip first or second week of dec. I read pop warner is the first week. How are the crowds? we were there last memorial day it was busy but with rd we did everything we wanted. Also my biggest concern is that I read on here some where that there are no discounts offered that week. is this true? TIA

 

[jewels1916]

I was there during Pop Warner about five years ago, and I couldn't even tell a difference. No big groups of kids, no overwhelming amounts of crowds congregating in one place. Granted, it's been five years, but I didn't have any qualms about booking my next December trip during the week I know Pop Warner is going to be there this year. I'm booked the 7th-13th!

 

[mike the canuck]

I was blacked out of free dining because of that week in 2012. The crowds were ok. There was big groups in the parks but we just went the opposite way when we saw them. Other than that they barely even affected our stay.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

They were there the second week of December 2013 the same time as us. Noticed lots of big cheer groups, but they're easy enough to avoid because they usually wear matching t-shirts. I couldn't tell for sure if *they* were impacting the crowds because it was unusually crowded anyway. We had a wonderful time. The only bummer was as PP said, free dining was blacked out for those dates.

 

[Itinkso]

Last month, on December 11th, Pop Warner had reserved DHS for the evening. Because the park closed at 6 p.m., it wasn't crowded at all. TSMM Fp- were gone before 10 but most rides, throughout the day, were walk-on.

 

[jk and ek]

we ended up being there during pop warner week in 2011 and i was VERY concerned beforehand, but it ended up not being an issue. we weren't staying at any of the resorts that teams/cheerleaders were at and we avoided MK/DHS on the day that was supposedly their 'free' day.

i'm a big planner and i obsess over details and was so worried that everything would be messed up... but if i hadn't known ahead of time about it, i would never have noticed based on our experience.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I was there during Pop Warner this year, and didn't notice anything at all in the parks. I was staying at Pop Century, and I definitely noticed them in the pools. There were two large groups at our pool the day we tried to go - one was very well monitored and well behaved, the other was a disaster, and was warned multiple times by the lifeguards that they were about to be ousted from the pool if they didn't start listening/following the rules. Bottom line - if you like to go to the pool at your resort, I would stay away from the values during PW, but otherwise, they were absolutely fine.

If you are going to stay at a value during PW, book a preferred room. While certainly "noticed" them (read: were annoyed by them) at the pools, we didn't hear a peep at night, and their rooms weren't anywhere near ours. I suspect they do not book blocks of preferred rooms. Crowds at the parks were very low.

 

[sunburnin]

We were there in 2009 and didn't know PW was the same week. Didn't know what it even was to be honest. It was such a non-factor, that we went the same week again in 2011 and 2013. Great time of the year, typically great weather, and lowish crowds.

• The teams stay at one of the values and usually a moderate. I think it was Coronado springs for some this past year. Just be mindful of where you stay.
• Due to practices and competitions during the day, they are mostly in the parks in the later afternoons and evenings. Many leave throughout the week as their competitions and games end. Heavy the Saturday before and then taper off through Thursday.
• We followed easywdw's recommendations, hit the parks early, and only went to a EMH park in the evenings when we had to for the night parade and fantasmic. It really was a non issue.
• As for discounts, we had free dining in 2009 and 2011 and a room discount in 2013. 2011 was lucky though - they offered free dining, I booked, then they adjusted the dates, but grandfathered us in.
• They usually shut down DHS for an evening for a party for the competitors and families. This past year it was Wed, but I think it was on a Thursday before. The park calendar won't show it and they don't update it until 1-2 months ahead of time when the finalize plans.