Thanksgiving, Pop Warner...is it really that bad??

[Tinker1972]

Trying desperately to solidify dates for 2013...but I keep going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth

Ideally, the last week of November, first week of December would be awesome for us...but Thanksgiving falls on November 28th this year. How bad is it really over the Thanksgiving weekend? I'm also hearing about Pop Warner..so if we decided to go the 2 weeks following Thanksgiving, we'd hit PW. Is there a lesser of the 2 evils? lol

Early November isn't out of the question yet...maybe November 13-27th, before Thanksgiving. Any thoughts on crowds during those dates..and are the Christmas decorations up by then?

 

[GATORinaZ28]

We went the week after Thanksgiving last year...Friday after Thanksgiving to the following Saturday. Friday and Saturday were pretty crowded, but beginning on Sunday, the parks thinned tremendously. We are doing the same time frame this year.

Cant answer the Pop warner question though.

Edited to add: The crowds thinned enough that we have no worries about going back during the same time frame this year. We are looking forward to it!

 

[karice2]

I usually go during that time. I never have any problems. Get there on Sunday though. Friday and Saturday are still pretty bad. And to answer your questions, I never noticed the Pop Warner kids.

 

[TACK]

I was pleasantly surprised that I did not notice them (Pop Warner). Maybe not that many checked into Pop Century. They are more noticeable at the resorts that are the designated hotel.

I did not notice the difference at the parks either. I know personally, I am booking that time again. However, I would not book Thanksgiving week - it's more expensive and busy. I normally arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving and last year stayed 2 weeks. It was lovely.

 

[golfertobe]

We went the Saturday before Thanksgiving and stayed til the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 2012. Went to all Disney Parks numerous times, several days at Universal and also Seaworld. Crowds were very reasonable until Thanksgiving Day, but were still not unbareable Thursday and Friday. Spent Thanksgiving Day am at Epcot before going to Magic Kingdom for the afternoon and evening. Wasnt too bad at all. Make sure you see the Osbourn Family Christmas Light display at Disney Hollywood Studios..AWESOME!! I think you will be pleased as far as crowds. You can expect people but not as bad as what I hear Easter, Christmas and New Years are. We are already planning our trip to Disney for 2013 for the week of Thanksgiving again.

 

[Disney_Ohana]

I'd choose PW week over Thanksgiving We saw some groups in the parks but it wasn't bad at all & we didn't see them at our hotel either.

 

[turning into fanatic]

I'm in the same boat as you, originally was going to do Dec 7-14th but after finding out it was Pop Warner week I've decided to do Dec 1-8th. I don't know if I can handle that many teenagers in the hotel restaurants and pool, lol. I just joined Touring Lines and it shows that the crowds should be low after Thanksgiving weekend so that's what I'm going with...for now. Also have heard they don't offer discounts while Pop Warner is there, that would sway my decision as well.

 

[KatMark]

We were there December 6 - 11 this year and are going back December 3 - 8 this year. Pop Warner was and will be there. As long as you avoide the resorts they are staying at (which we unfortunately were and it was brutal as far as the unsupervised kids in the pool, etc.) you will be fine. We never saw them at the parks.

 

[thornton0511]

I'm in the same boat as you, originally was going to do Dec 7-14th but after finding out it was Pop Warner week I've decided to do Dec 1-8th. I don't know if I can handle that many teenagers in the hotel restaurants and pool, lol. I just joined Touring Lines and it shows that the crowds should be low after Thanksgiving weekend so that's what I'm going with...for now. Also have heard they don't offer discounts while Pop Warner is there, that would sway my decision as well.

Ha we are actually doing the opposite! We were going Friday 29th- Saturday 7th but decided to change it to Friday 6th- Saturday 14th. Only because I already knew that the first part of the trip would be busy with Thanksgiving crowds but then when planning I found out the the end of the trip (the following weekend) will probably be the Christmas parade taping at MK so there would only be a small window of nothing going on during our dates. Plus I would rather deal with Pop Warner than the other two on the trip. Also there will be no discounts that week so hopefully smaller crowds and also a little less expensive on rates this week

 

[Clamesa]

Trying desperately to solidify dates for 2013...but I keep going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth

Ideally, the last week of November, first week of December would be awesome for us...but Thanksgiving falls on November 28th this year. How bad is it really over the Thanksgiving weekend? I'm also hearing about Pop Warner..so if we decided to go the 2 weeks following Thanksgiving, we'd hit PW. Is there a lesser of the 2 evils? lol

Early November isn't out of the question yet...maybe November 13-27th, before Thanksgiving. Any thoughts on crowds during those dates..and are the Christmas decorations up by then?

We are low season travelers: January, end of April, first or second week of september. Last November we took our second trip of the year Nov-12 to Nov 23. The week before thanksgiving was busier than we are use to but it was o.k. Thanksgiving week by Tuesday we could see a big diference in crowds, the closer to TD the busier it got. We enjoyed our time, and the Christmas decorations but decided NEVER EVER AGAIN.

 

[aubriee]

I've been there twice during Pop Warner. The first time I was at the same resort they were and it was absolutely horrible. They were so bad, that we asked to be moved to another resort and when the CM at GS told us they couldn't do that, because alot of other people were also asking to be moved and they couldn't move all of us, we actually called Air Tran to see how much it would cost to fly home early. Pop Warner was actually that bad that year. It cost too much to change our flights, so we just stayed and stuck it out, but swore we'd never go down there again during Pop Warner. Interestingly though, we never noticed them much in the parks, but they were horrible at the resort. A few years later, due to work conflicts I had no choice but to go down there during Pop Warner (if I wanted my annual Dec trip). That time, I purposely chose to do a split stay at CSR and YC, so I would not be at the same resort as them. That whole week, I never noticed a single Pop Warner cheerleader and would have never even known they were there, if I hadn't known it was the week for them to be there and hadn't read reports about them when I got back. My point is, make sure you are not at the same resort they are and you will be fine. Crowds in the parks are usually great that week.

As far as your second choice of dates: I was down there Nov 26th-Dec 4th, 2011, so arrived the Sat after Thanksgiving for that trip. It was fairly crowded the first two days, but by Monday the crowds had cleared and it was the least crowded I have ever seen WDW (and I usually go every Sept, Dec, and May, with extra trips thrown in Oct, Nov, Jan, or Feb). Weather was wonderful and most rides were walk on.

 

[tink1953]

We have been there several times during Thanksgiving and week after, its our favorite time to go...Christmas is in full swing and it gets you in the mood for the Holidays.....

Didn't notice the crowds being that bad..... but when is a good time to avoid the crowds during the holidays anyway??

We have our next family trip planned for that time again this year...

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Can't help you regarding Thanksgiving crowds, but i can tell you we have been to Disney during pop warner week multiple times and have never ran into any issues with them. As long as you avoid the resorts that are hosting the teams you will be fine. Generally they stay at the All Star resorts with the spill over staying at either POP of CSR.

You rarely see the teams in the parks during the day b/c that is when they compete. You will see large goups in the evening, but never caused any issues for us.

 

[poohbear13]

If you do book for PW week, I warn you, Coranado is a mess. I was there the Friday after Thanksgiving until the 6th of december.... until wednesdayish, it was horrid at the resort. Parks were a little more crowded for my liking also. I will be booking a week later this year hopefully with a FD discount

 

[JimPGH]

We were there December 6 - 11 this year and are going back December 3 - 8 this year. Pop Warner was and will be there. As long as you avoide the resorts they are staying at (which we unfortunately were and it was brutal as far as the unsupervised kids in the pool, etc.) you will be fine. We never saw them at the parks.

Are you sure Pop Warner 2013 will be Dec 3 to 8? Last time there was a late Thanksgiving, it was the second week of December, according to their website. It might be the following week.

 

[dansdad]

Are you sure Pop Warner 2013 will be Dec 3 to 8? Last time there was a late Thanksgiving, it was the second week of December, according to their website. It might be the following week.

In 2013, Pop Warner will be December 7-14. Pop Warner week always starts 7 days after the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. In 2013, the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend is November 30th. So Pop Warner starts Saturday December 7th.

 

[JimPGH]

In 2013, Pop Warner will be December 7-14. Pop Warner week always starts 7 days after the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. In 2013, the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend is November 30th. So Pop Warner starts Saturday December 7th.

That's what I was thinking, based on 2002 calendar. Seems like Pop Warner Week is to Disney as "What type of oil should I use?" is to motorcycles.

 

[Tinker1972]

Thank you everyone for your input!! Is POP Century usually a host resort for Pop Warner? What about POFQ?? We are leaning towards Nov 29-Dec 13th!!!!

 

[dansdad]

Thank you everyone for your input!! Is POP Century usually a host resort for Pop Warner? What about POFQ?? We are leaning towards Nov 29-Dec 13th!!!!

Historically Pop Warner gets offered 1 value and 1 Moderate. The value is normally one of the All Stars and lately the moderate has been CBR.