Cheerleaders: Respect the Guests!

[DisneyDefenders]

(My DW chimed in with, "Not everybody wants to hear you cheer.")

What's a DW...Disney Wife? Do you have a different wife when you go back home?

But seriously mate...you must lighten up and don't be such a buzz kill...remember you're at WDW...the happiest place on earth and just because you weren't feeling the magic at the time...don't be a kill joy!

 

[Fievel]

Ok..I have a somewhat unique perspective here.

First: My credentials::

I was in some sort of marching band most of my life. Grade School, High School, and then eventually the University of Wisconsin Marching Band. I have done a TON of traveling with cheerleaders as part of a group representing a school.

Second, I have been to Disney a few times when cheer competitions were going on.

Okay - now.....I hold true to the belief that if you are traveling with a large group of people you have to represent not only your particular organization, but to your school/university and to yourselves. You always have to remember you are only one piece of a bigger puzzle. We were always told that there was a time and place for fun, and a time and place to be all business. Anytime we were by ourselves we could relax a little bit. If we were out in public, we were expected to act certain ways. I witnessed people get sent home on a greyhound for making hotel security angry.

Now, if those cheerleaders were on their own bus and wanted to cheer, that would be fine. However, if I'm on that bus and I have my 1-year old daughter sleeping on my shoulder and they're shouting at the top of their lungs, you better believe I have and will say something. At that point where your own logic can't tell you it's late for some people on that bus maybe it's time for you to not go out as a representative.

I have NOTHING against cheerleaders. In fact, as a member of a band, and the "band geek" persona, I can see how it's not always easy being part of a group that is largely on the outside of what is going on. Your job is to back up your team and your school. If you are there for a team competition, save the yelling for when it counts.

I have heard WAY too many negative reports about cheerleaders on these boards in the last few years. In fact, my wife and I now go out of our way to stay away from cheerleader season, because my wife knows I go absolutely crazy with the way their "group mentality" makes them think they can act.

Now, if you are a cheerleader - take this in mind. It only takes those few bad apples to wreck it for ALL of you. A guest can have one bad experience and complain to somebody about it. If Disney gets enough complaints, you can bet they'll think twice about continuing to host the competition, as it's not good from a PR standpoint. You want people to respect not only you but the sport and competition you love? Be professional. Be exactly what you signed up to be...be a bigger piece of the puzzle. Be adult. If you respect others, they will be more tolerant and have an easier time respecting you. If you disrespect others, you not only do not belong at someplace like WDW as a representative, but you do not belong as a cheerleader, because you are deliberately and maliciously going AGAINST everything that cheerleaders stand for.

 

[slappy magoo]

But seriously mate...you must lighten up and don't be such a buzz kill...remember you're at WDW...the happiest place on earth and just because you weren't feeling the magic at the time...don't be a kill joy!

Unless of course your joy is killed by a large group of people acting obnoxiously, and many other people around you are just as annoyed. In which case, have at it.

 

[palmage]

The most popular SPORT in the world! (Usually cheerleaderless to boot)

That's funny :lol:
Soccer is what your mom makes you play when she doesn't want you playing sports.

1-0 is an offensive battle.

I'm sorry 1- nill

Just kidding, kinda............

 

[MiceysBestPal]

What's a DW...Disney Wife? Do you have a different wife when you go back home?

Stay in school, kids.

 

[PhotoDave219]

But seriously mate...you must lighten up and don't be such a buzz kill...remember you're at WDW...the happiest place on earth and just because you weren't feeling the magic at the time...don't be a kill joy!

The cheerleaders are the buzz kill. All we ask is that they give the same considerations they ask for; IE If they want people to be nice to them, they should try being nice first. Likewise if they want to be rude and disruptive to guests, they should expect similar treatment. Simply treating people how you want to be treated.....

 

[PhotoDave219]

Oh no no, I get it. There are some groups of cheerleaders who are obnoxious during trips. I understand.

I was just saying, please, don't assume it's every cheerleader. Some are nice. :wave:

Yes, well some are nice but that is the exception rather than the rule. Generally they just reinforce their stereotype of obnoxious, rude, loud, dimwitted airheads. Granted thats not all cheerleaders, alas thats the stereotypical ones.....

 

[Skippy]

But seriously mate...you must lighten up and don't be such a buzz kill...remember you're at WDW...the happiest place on earth and just because you weren't feeling the magic at the time...don't be a kill joy!

I've never visited while cheerleeding competitions were taking place, thankfully, but I don't think the OP was being a kill joy. If I only read a few isolated complaints on groups of cheerleaders and their actions in WDW, I would roll my eyes like you have, but the stories and complaints are endless, I'm sure there are many groups of kids who go down and respect the other guests, but there still are many who do not by being loud when it is unnecessary and acting obnoxious towards others. It seems to me like his response was welcomed by other bus riders, and not just him 'not feeling the magic.'

 

[gbrooks135]

What I noticed as well, and I feel really bad for Mousekeeping and the grounds crews are the messes that these kids leave around and what they do to the rooms... all of them decorate the windows -I know they use window paint, but I doubt they clean it off themselves... and after having 4 teenagers in a room for a week - I can't imagine the work that has to be done for the next guests.

Well I can tell you it is no fun. I used to work for a resort here in Myrtle Beach SC for about 8 years in Maintenance, and every year we would have groups of cheerleaders staying, we basically had to walk around with Plungers in hand to unclog the sinks, tubs and toilets, the rooms looked like tornado's went Thur them, and this was after they check out. :hurl: :hurl: :hurl:
we would have other big groups, like band, basball, football, middle and High school groups stay and would not have that problem.

 

[gbrooks135]

My family and I stayed at POR this trip and only had one problem with the cheerleaders this trip and that was at the MK while waiting on the Ferry boat back to the TTC at the end of the night, we were at the front of the line on the dock waiting on the boat when this group of cheerleaders came up in the back and started doing a one side cheer then the other side would do the same cheer. I was able to deal with that OK but what really got me mad was when the gate was open to let us on the boat they started to push there way Thur the group so that they could get to the top deck, any how in the process my whole family got separated from each other, which would have not been all that bad if it wasn't for my 6 year old grandson getting separated from us. also on the way over to the TTC it sounded like they were tearing the boat up, banging on the hand rails that sounded like they were lose, (I kept waiting to see one of the fall off of the top deck :lol: :lol: :lol: )

 

[Gucci65]

Maybe they need to remember that they're at Disney World for a competition NOT for a vacation and time in the parks is a luxury and their cheers should be kept for the competition field, not the parks. The rest of us are paying guests who are there for vacation and to enjoy our time in the parks. If we wanted to see them cheer we would go watch the competition, we do not need to see it everywhere we turn while trying to enjoy our family vacations.

I couldn't agree with you more. I don't wanna see/hear them cheering when I'm in the parks.

Like I said, with my group that doesn't happen - esp my kid. When we are in the parks, we have left the real world behind and really dont' wanna be reminded of it.

Seeing a bunch of kids cheering would crash us back to reality.

I totally agree with everyone else - I don't wanna see/hear them. I was making my claim that the talent doesn't involve the cheering - that was it.

 

[Gucci65]

That's the problem though, it's not just one group it's a majority, not all, but a majority. We've been down on 4 seperate occasions and have had at least one negative experience a day. The most annoying trait is when they send 1 or 2 girls in a line and then (after you've waited 20 minutes) 20 some odd cheerleaders push their way in front of you. It's no wonder people get so upset.:brick:

I've never seen that in the park. Which doesn't mean I don't believe you, I just haven't seen it. Like I said earlier, I saw worse behavior by the football team at PO.

The only time I saw the cheerleaders in the park was over at MGM. We were coming out of Star Tours and a CM had them all loaded up on a wagon to take pictures. The CM was doing then and the kids were cheering. This was not far from Indy, so I thought maybe some competitions were just ending and the CM was involved in that. Don't know, didn't ask - just got the heck out of there before I was brought crashing back to reality.:lol:

 

[Gucci65]

On a random note, Marching Band is more of a sport then Cheer. :lol:

:hurl:

Are you kidding? :lol: Can't remember the last time I saw a marching band do a roundoff-double backhandspring-tuck-into a full-AND stick the landing.

 

[slappy magoo]

:hurl:

Are you kidding? :lol: Can't remember the last time I saw a marching band do a roundoff-double backhandspring-tuck-into a full-AND stick the landing.

That's because they're busy remembering their marching choreography & the music they're playing while wearing hot all-poly uniforms and carrying instruments, some of them heavy instruments like bass drums & tubas.

MAYBE.

 

[rad_rat]

at All Star Sports 12/2-12/6, cheer and Pop Warner time

We just got back from a trip to WDW, where we spent part of the time at All Star Sports. A couple of observations:

A castmember told me that the cheer people are required to sign a code of conduct agreement, where they agree not to do cheers on rides or in the parks, unless it is part of an organized presentation. I don't really know the details of this code of conduct -- and if it doesn't specifically mention cheers on the transportation system, then the 6-8 girls on the bus were not technically in violation of it -- but I suspecect it centers on being respectful of other guests. If so, these girls could be considered in violation of it. I don't know what the repurcussions are for a violation. Does anyone have any details on this?

Our stay at AS Sports was not particlarly eventful. We usually take a trip in early December, and we've seen it much worse with the cheerleaders. This trip was pretty mild. Of course, we were also staying out in Hoops, at the far end of one building, so we might have missed some of the louder activities going on on the courtyard side.

The only issue we did have is that, apparently, one of the coaches or chaperones, staying in the room right above us, decided to make his room party central. Every night there would be from 10-20 adults spilling out onto the walkway on the second floor, sitting on coolers full of beer, and -- I suspect -- enjoying some time away from their charges. For the most part they were okay, and I certainly don't blame them for taking some "adult time" for themselves.

The only problem is that they'd toss their cigarette butts and used ice cubes over the rail, and so we had a nasty collection of their garbage right outside our door each evening. Once my spouse even got hit on the head with some falling ice cubes.

We did notice that, after the first night, there were Disney Security and even Orange County Sheriff cars parked nearby, and some officers often checking to make sure things didn't get out of hand. As I said, I've seen worse, and I think Disney is to be commended for handling things as they did.

 

[claning]

:hurl:

Are you kidding? :lol: Can't remember the last time I saw a marching band do a roundoff-double backhandspring-tuck-into a full-AND stick the landing.

I did that my 8th grade year of high school with a bass drum on. It was pretty impressive. Unintentional, but impressive!

 

[calismic]

I saw this thread and had to post my 'experience' with the cheerleaders last year. We arrived on a Sunday when the collegiate UCA cheerleaders were on their last day. They were all well behaved, never heard a cheer, never saw any bad behavior, they didn't disrupt the park, etc. Great experience.

The following Friday the High School UCA cheerleaders arrived. It was HORRIBLE! Every single group we came across was roudy, rude, inconsiderate and LOUD. The parents were no better. They let them act out, and laughed as they would do stunts and cheer in the middle of the parks. Thank god for the CM's!! I witnessed literally hundreds of cheerleaders get escorted from the park for stunting in the middle of the walkways. The biggest joy was listening in as an entire team was not permitted to compete in the following days competition due to behavior.

I was a cheerleader back in the day in HS. We traveled to both Disney and Myrtle Beach for competition. Had our behavior been even remotely close to what I saw last year, we would have no longer had a squad. We are going back to Disney the same week this year and I know I'm going to have to prepare myself for dealing with the HS girls again. I'm hoping this year there's some behavior change but I have a bad feeling its going to get worse.

 

[daguru]

Well we're going in Feb. I am going armed with my camera and a notepad. If I see bad behavior....CLICK!! Make casual conversation and find out what school. Then email the pics of behavior to the school with a note. If the school doesn't take responsibility for the cheerleaders/chaperones, then they can live with the reputation! Might even post here!
School pride is one thinkg, but disturbing others is rude.

Better be careful with that mate, somone might think you were just taking pictures of underage girls... they might try to report you as a pervert or sexual deviant.....

 

[DisneyDragon]

I have to admit that I just read through this thread, and I am almost in tears. Is it just me? I am finding the complaints rather funny - cheerleaders! The dates are posted - just don't go during that time frame. Simple. Just go the week after, during Star week (don't laugh - I once went to an industry convention that was sharing the New Orleans Convention Centre with an Adult Film industry convention, and the organizers couldn't figure out where all the attendees were...)

I can, however, see problems with the parents. As a soccer coach, I have had to deal with my share of 'sports' parents. And the really classy ones, you know the types, oh yes - the ones who bring their beer to the game, flick cigarettes at the refs, or want to 'drop' the opposing team coach - pure enjoyment.

 

[MickeyTigg]

:hurl:

Are you kidding? :lol: Can't remember the last time I saw a marching band do a roundoff-double backhandspring-tuck-into a full-AND stick the landing.

That's because they're busy remembering their marching choreography & the music they're playing while wearing hot all-poly uniforms and carrying instruments, some of them heavy instruments like bass drums & tubas.

MAYBE.

Neither one is a sport...you have to be talented to do both and you have to be athletic to do both....but neither is a sport.