Pop Century during Cheer and Dance Competitions Feb 2019

[joejccva71]

Hi guys,

So we're doing a 6 night stay the first week of February at Pop Century and I had originally intended on doing a 9 night stay but everything was booked up. When I chose a 6 night stay, I was able to get a Preferred Room reservation.

I have a few questions for those that have been to Disney during these dance competitions.

1. How crowded are the parks?

2. How rowdy are these teenagers at the resorts?

3. I've heard that the Value Resorts get so booked by these cheerleaders and dancers during this time that sometimes the resort will move our reservation to another resort of equal or BETTER value.

What are the chances of getting moved to a moderate or even possibly a deluxe upon check-in? Just wondering if anyone has experienced that.

4. How packed will the buses be and the lines getting on the buses?

5. Are these kids behaved or are we talking, running through the parks in huge groups, cutting in lines, and acting like complete dingbats?

Thanks!

 

[AndyS2992]

1. A bit more crowded than usual, nothing major though.
2. They can get quite rowdy, cheering, practicing and making noise outside at night, they completely take over the food court which can get very noisy.
3. Yes this does happen occasionally but chances of it happening are low so don’t go in expecting it as you will almost definitely be disappointed.
4. Longer than usual but again not by that much.
5. Unsupervised teens will be teens. Most will be fine but yes there will be a few small groups of bad eggs running around too.

You’ll be fine. If anything does go wrong, complain and I’m sure Disney will try and help out to resolve it.

 

[TARDIS]

1. A bit more than normal but less than summer months IMO.

2. Annoying. The cheering and loudness can be a issue with some groups, but the more chaperoned ones behave better so it’s hit or miss. To me the cheering on the busses is the worst part. (Or on rides at the parks)

3. Ive heard it can happen but in the four trips I’ve made the first week of Feb at value resorts I’ve never been moved.

4. No more packed than normal.

5. Again depends on the group. Some are dingbats who cheer the whole space mountain ride or scream randomly on pirates . But some are well behaved teens.

* While I find them annoying I continue to go this time of year (but now I stay at a mod to get away)because the weather is great and crowds are more manageable. Don’t let the cheer groups scare you off!

 

[Minthorne]

Just bring an air horn so you can compete with the cheers.

 

[joejccva71]

I appreciate it guys. Originally I had thought about changing dates, but I wouldn't be able to change my airfare so I'll just stick with it. I don't mind them doing their practices and cheers or whatever.

The one thing that will definitely me off is I see a bunch of teenage girls cut in line and have their parents or "chaperones" watch them do it and be ok with it.

 

[Amos1784]

We have been at Pop the past two years during this time.

The parks we have found were very busy (wait times) the past two February's we have been there, but not necessarily due to crowd size it really was due to rides being run at 1/2 capacity, and staff (in park) cuts, so wait times were up. Hopefully, and from what I have heard Disney has learned that it really did impact operations, this year SHOULD be better.

We did not have any problems with the groups while we were at Pop. There were a few times they were out in center areas practicing but it was never too early or too late. A couple of big suggestions.

1. Request a top floor, with the new wood floors bottom floors at Pop we have found are much noisier and carry the noise over more from rooms above.
2. The large groups tend to plan their breakfast around 8-8:30 therefore it always seemed they were getting on buses right around 9. Plan to be there before or after that time and your bus problems will not be bad.

Have a great trip!

 

[joejccva71]

We have been at Pop the past two years during this time.

The parks we have found were very busy (wait times) the past two February's we have been there, but not necessarily due to crowd size it really was due to rides being run at 1/2 capacity, and staff (in park) cuts, so wait times were up. Hopefully, and from what I have heard Disney has learned that it really did impact operations, this year SHOULD be better.

We did not have any problems with the groups while we were at Pop. There were a few times they were out in center areas practicing but it was never too early or too late. A couple of big suggestions.

1. Request a top floor, with the new wood floors bottom floors at Pop we have found are much noisier and carry the noise over more from rooms above.
2. The large groups tend to plan their breakfast around 8-8:30 therefore it always seemed they were getting on buses right around 9. Plan to be there before or after that time and your bus problems will not be bad.

Have a great trip!

Excellent, thank you so much!

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Which event is on your dates? If it's the National Dance Team Championship they will primarily be staying at All Stars and Caribbean Beach Resort: http://www.varsity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/778_NDTC-Travel-Pkgs-Update.pdf

I was at CBR in 2017 at the end of January through beginning of February. There was some sort of cheer and dance event during that time, probably the same one.

I noticed some decorated windows, but no rowdy behaviour. The one time I saw a group practicing they were in the parking lot away from guest rooms.

Occasionally there would be a large group of 12 or more taking the same bus. I never missed a bus due to large groups travelling together. I didn't feel they impacted the bus wait times either coming or going.

The groups were occasionally annoying in the way that a group of teenage girls can be annoying (a dozen girls all talking loudly for the duration of a bus trip). Nothing I would classify as rude or obnoxious in any way.

They do have a private event at Disney's Hollywood Studios one evening. They had an event at Magic Kingdom one night I was there. I honestly didn't notice until closing when guests with lanyards suddenly appeared and were going on attractions after regular operating hours.

I suspect their impact would be felt more at a value resort, but I can't say for sure.

 

[joejccva71]

Which event is on your dates? If it's the National Dance Team Championship they will primarily be stating at All Stars and Caribbean Beach Resort: http://www.varsity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/778_NDTC-Travel-Pkgs-Update.pdf

I was at CBR in 2017 at the end of January through beginning of February. There was some sort of cheer and dance event during that time, probably the same one.

I noticed some decorated windows, but no rowdy behaviour. The one time I saw a group practicing they were in the parking lot away from guest rooms.

Occasionally there would be a large group of 12 or more taking the same bus. I never missed a bus due to large groups travelling together. I didn't feel they impacted the bus wait times either coming or going.

The groups were occasionally annoying in the way that a group of teenage girls can be annoying (a dozen girls all talking loudly for the duration of a bus trip). Nothing I would classify as rude or obnoxious in any way.

They do have a private event at Disney's Hollywood Studios one evening. They had an event at Magic Kingdom one night I was there. I honestly didn't notice until closing when guests with lanyards suddenly appeared and were going on attractions after regular operating hours.

I suspect their impact would be felt more at a value resort, but I can't say for sure.

I'm going to be there Feb 1-6, so I believe it's during the National Dance Team Championship which is Feb 1-3 2019. I'm staying at Pop. I'm also probably going to be taking Uber or Lyft to and from the parks if the bus lines are too long / waits too long, etc.

I thought the private event at DHS was for the Worldwide Championships, not the National championship. So how does that work. Do they close the park early or they close at normal time and then all the dance teams have their block party afterwards?

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I'm going to be there Feb 1-6, so I believe it's during the National Dance Team Championship which is Feb 1-3 2019. I'm staying at Pop. I'm also probably going to be taking Uber or Lyft to and from the parks if the bus lines are too long / waits too long, etc.

I thought the private event at DHS was for the Worldwide Championships, not the National championship. So how does that work. Do they close the park early or they close at normal time and then all the dance teams have their block party afterwards?

The MK event I saw took place after normal park hours. The park didn't close earlier than usual.

 

[Much-Pixie-Dust]

I have been your exact dates and stayed at a moderate that housed many cheer and dance groups. They were as well behaved as non group guests behave. Did notice them practicing cheering in the parking lots of the hotel. This was a few years ago. Went last year and stayed at AKL and a huge group, about 175-200 group of dancers came from somewhere in Louisiana. It was the first time I have seen a teen group staying at a deluxe. They had their own chartered buses, yes buses. Other than in the lobby, I didn’t notice them. This was President’s Day weekend.

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

The domestic tour groups, including cheerleading, tend to be the worst of ALL tour groups. While at Pop, try to watch which line you get in while at the food court, or busing (if you have flexibility on park attending). Stay away from the lines that have only 1 or 2 guests from the team....they tend to hold places in line, and while in line, your line will grow, and grow with the rest of the team showing up!!

With that said, Pop is generally quieter than the All - Stars, with All-Star Sorts being the worst.....

 

[LUVofDIS]

The one thing that will definitely **** me off is I see a bunch of teenage girls cut in line and have their parents or "chaperones" watch them do it and be ok with it.

We were at Disney in 2013 and 2014 during Pop Warner goings on. We stayed at the Dolphin both years and didn't experience anything at the resort. Toward the end of the competition both years we did experience a bunch of line cutting by teens, even with their chaperons. Also, the girls would cheer on some attractions, IASW, Grand Fiesta and other rides. Never on the bigger rides that I can remember. Also, more than once we got cut off while trying to walk to other attractions by large groups of teens. As an example, we were coming off a ride and there was a long line of kids with a lead calling them into formation before marching off. We didn't wait long but still had to wait. It was a little annoying. All this said, it was a slight nuisance, but not a game changer.

We did change our travel dates slightly to avoid this time in 2015 and 2016. But went back in 2017 because of work requirements for my wife.

We didn't experience any of this in 2017, though our last day was December 6. I think we missed the last days, which is when the groups probably visit the parks the most.

I am not sure if the Dance competitions have the same issues, but you should be aware of it I feel.

 

[DisneyJoe]

We were at Disney in 2013 and 2014 during Pop Warner goings on. We stayed at the Dolphin both years and didn't experience anything at the resort. Toward the end of the competition both years we did experience a bunch of line cutting by teens, even with their chaperons. Also, the girls would cheer on some attractions, IASW, Grand Fiesta and other rides. Never on the bigger rides that I can remember. Also, more than once we got cut off while trying to walk to other attractions by large groups of teens. As an example, we were coming off a ride and there was a long line of kids with a lead calling them into formation before marching off. We didn't wait long but still had to wait. It was a little annoying. All this said, it was a slight nuisance, but not a game changer.

We did change our travel dates slightly to avoid this time in 2015 and 2016. But went back in 2017 because of work requirements for my wife.

We didn't experience any of this in 2017, though our last day was December 6. I think we missed the last days, which is when the groups probably visit the parks the most.

I am not sure if the Dance competitions have the same issues, but you should be aware of it I feel.

I've actually had two very positive experiences with cheer/dance squads that impressed me greatly, one was in the walkway near ABC commissary, the other was in Epcot on the path from FW to WS. I am an ECV user, but a courteous one.... so in both cases I was approaching a large crowd of cheerleaders, they were walking ahead of me, they couldn't see me coming up behind them; so I slowed down to a good speed to match their pace, and their chaperones were at the back of the pack. They saw me, and one of them yelled something, and a path opened in front of me through them! I said thank you, and as I went through their pack, I thanked them and gave high fives. One of the groups parted in the middle, the others stepped to the side, so I am not sure if they were the same group or not - but there are good groups out there!

 

[LUVofDIS]

I've actually had two very positive experiences with cheer/dance squads that impressed me greatly,

This is good to hear, I cant think of any positive thigs that have happened to us as a result of the groups, but I am sure that I have had a relatively small positive impact on people at the park myself. I do offer to take pictures for people, hold the door and pick up dropped items, but those are common and I feel expected things on my part.

The impact these groups pose are very small, they can be annoying at times but it is usually brief. The few times that stand out to me is the one I mentioned in my earlier post and the cheer they decided to do in the boat in front us both on the Grand Fiesta and IASW. These were totally different times and I would be pretty sure different groups. That would be weird if they were the same group. And the big one was when a group of two girls asked us if they could cut to join their friends, we said yes and than about twelve or so kids ended cutting in front of us. We were not happy, and this was the first time we experienced this type of line cutting, we were caught off guard. This will not happen again, no sir, wont do it.

 

[joejccva71]

I've actually had two very positive experiences with cheer/dance squads that impressed me greatly, one was in the walkway near ABC commissary, the other was in Epcot on the path from FW to WS. I am an ECV user, but a courteous one.... so in both cases I was approaching a large crowd of cheerleaders, they were walking ahead of me, they couldn't see me coming up behind them; so I slowed down to a good speed to match their pace, and their chaperones were at the back of the pack. They saw me, and one of them yelled something, and a path opened in front of me through them! I said thank you, and as I went through their pack, I thanked them and gave high fives. One of the groups parted in the middle, the others stepped to the side, so I am not sure if they were the same group or not - but there are good groups out there!

That's good news. Yea like I said, I don't really mind them being loud and having fun. What I don't tolerate is the stories of them jumping lines. Just because there are a few of your group members in the front of a line, doesn't mean that 20 more of you can all jump the line to "be with your group". That's all.