Pop Warner problems...again!

[aka_emilicious]

From talking to my neighbors, who are both teachers who have been involved in taking high school students on trips to Disney, this is standard methodology - the children are all put in rooms all facing the same direction, so the chaperones can sit in chairs facing the rooms to keep a watch on the students. This allows them to see the maximum number of rooms from a single vantage point.

They should take turns patrolling the floors.

Apparently some adults take this more seriously than others.

This is how it was done when I was in high school on (band) trips. Our director actually taped our doors closed so he would know if any of us opened the door. Parents were ALWAYS in the hallways. We did have some problems (as I think any hs aged group would) but it was very minimal.

 

[slappy magoo]

Well, I'm a big bleeding heart liberal, Johnny-innocent-until-proven-guilty.

But considering a: Pop Warner isn't exactly a Constitutional right and b: there is a pattern for bad behavior within the organization...

Disney should start (if they're not doing this already) initiating huge cash deposits for each team going to Pop Warner, and coupling that with a zero-tolerance policy. If security has to be called for any reason on a Pop Warner team, THAT team forfeits its deposit, or at least, fine ar taken out of the deposit depending on the transgression (is it just a noise problem? Or did they do physical damage that requires Mousekeeping or even repair people?). Likewise, if Disney has to relocate other paying guests because of the noise problems caused by Pop Warner, then the money used to move those guests should be taken out of that team's or teams' deposit. And if something happens that can be attributed to a Pop Warner problem, but no one can be sure which team it is, each team's deposit takes a hit.

Whether those teams have to raise their own deposit funds, or local businesses are willing to underwrite it, I don't care. But some of these kids are so out of control when out of their element with so little supervision, even the risk of being kicked off of Disney property is no big deal. But tell them they're responsible for a 5 thousand dollar deposit, maybe that will help keep them in line. At least, it MAY keep their chaperones in line, to know they're not just taking a vacation but on the hook for some serious dough-re-mi.

 

[flavious27]

Laying in bed at All Star Sports at 12:20am. Disney Security finally taking care of the mongrels. Yelling, screaming, running up and down the halls, no supervision, and every other word is the f-bomb. Called front desk and about 5minutes later I hear someone yell to get back on their rooms. That lasted about 2 minutes. Called again, same results. Called again and now they are all running back and forth between the rooms and its 11:30pm. Called AGAIN. This time Disney Security showed up in force. I could hear them talking outside my window and I went to talk to them. They caught a bunch of them in the stairwell. Now they are making the coaches do a he'd count, but I can hear the coaches saying that when they knock on doors, nobody answers. This is just fantastic.

So no sleep and they can't round up all the kids so they can put an end to it. I change my vacation date a week later just so I wouldn't have to put up with this crap, so much for that. I'm thoroughly ed at the 2 hour response and inability of these Pop Warner coaches to be able to keep their flock in check. I think its like 3 coaches and ZERO parents with this team.

We stayed at Polynesian for our honeymoon, and the neighbors next to us caused us to request a new room. For some reason they did not get adjacent rooms, so they left the door lock bar out and kept slamming the doors against it. We called the front desk and they sent someone up to tell them to stop but after they left, they continued.

We were in sports a couple years back during some softball tournament and thankfully did not have the same experience as you. The only inconvenience we had was a crowded food court with coaches walking in and using non-disney mugs to get free drinks.

It would make sense for disney to isolate any sports team into buildings with only those guests involved with the sporting event.

 

[trr1]

how many people are in the pop warner group?

 

[celtic20]

A Brazillion.

 

[Vernonpush]

A Brazillion.

That's a different group!:lol:

 

[loveofamouse]

how many people are in the pop warner group?

This is a difficult question to answer but I'll try to paint a picture.

Pop warner is for ages 5-17. Typically, each athletic association has 1 squad for each age group. There are 5-6 age breakdowns. Most major cities have more than 1 association. Squads can be anywhere from 10-30ish. So we'll avg that to about 15 girls per squad. Multiply that by about 5 age groups per assoc., that's approx. 75 girls per assoc (Many are WAY bigger than that). Then multiply that by the assoc. in a city and participating cities.....you are seriously talking thousands of girls EASILY. In Jacksonville, we have some assoc. that are way bigger than that. MAA has several squads per age group in addition to an age group for every breakdown. That assoc has about 500 girls, last numbers I heard.

Then you add in coaches, managements, spectators and parent chapereons.......



*I was going to make this way more of a math breakdown but the cold meds are kicking in. lol

 

[Kobe!!]

Disney will never in a million years turn that group away, maybe a group here or there if they are out of hand but be prepared to see Pop Warner in the future.

As a CM, I've never had problems w/ them in the parks but I guess the resorts (at the late hours) can be a different situation.

As for the OP's story, I really don't believe you since you cant even tell the time frames that this happened. I'm not saying it does not happen but you can't even type a legit story that would make me want to believe you. :hammer:

We all know if you complain enough Disney will do something about it. The fact that you had to tell us the same story that we have all read and heard numerous times before about this group is getting out of hand. :-/

 

[rlm919]

We just got back from our trip (4th-12th) and honestly had 0 problems with pop warner. Granted, we stayed at WL so that helped but even at the parks they seemed to be non- existant.

Regular guests actually proved to be more annoying. :lol:

 

[LordHelmut]

This is how it was done when I was in high school on (band) trips. Our director actually taped our doors closed so he would know if any of us opened the door. Parents were ALWAYS in the hallways. We did have some problems (as I think any hs aged group would) but it was very minimal.

Um, that works right up to about the time that you break *everyones* tape.:goodnevil

And then when they get wise to that, no one, repeat no one EVER thinks you'll remove the A/C unit.:lookaroun


Mini Rant Mode On

I've been on both sides (kid partying and adult preventing mayhem), perhaps it was just the 80's but when we got out, we certainly didn't hang around to get nailed in our own backyard. We went to the poly or elsewhere... that was the great thing about the buses, ran everywhere. If you were out tooo late, security gave you a ride back to the hotel !

Kids now-a-days don't believe they will get caught, do the stupidest things (usually within 10 steps of their own room) however when faced with a stern, motivated and forceful individual usually back down, or at least they move on to easier targets/hassles. (Hint, if you can't do a good R. Lee Ermey impression from Full Metal Jacket, don't try this)

Kids I've chaperoned learn very quickly I'll bend to allow as much fun as possible, but there are firm limits beyond which consequences come down hard.

Rant Off

No real excuse for either groups/Disney to continue the actions of a 'few'. It's fairly easy to have a few static security positions with roving patrols that could cover areas where you'd find issues. Failing that, it would take very little $ to cover areas with even a off-the-shelf wireless camera system that can cover significant areas from a central point. (Including recording capacity, just in case you wish to make a point later)

 

[flavious27]

I understand the issues with Pop Warner kids and Disney's failure to control them. But I don't really understand why people with 500 posts and who claim to be "certified disney dorks" would stay at the all star sports resorts during pop warner week and not expect there to be any problems. :shrug: To me I look at it as poor planning and research prior to the trip. Kind of like traveling to the Caribbean during hurricane season, its a risk.

It would have to do with not thinking that disney would allow hundreds of under supervised kids on property, disrupting the hotels and resorts and causing profitable guests to rethink repeat trips.

 

[flavious27]

Um, that works right up to about the time that you break *everyones* tape.:goodnevil

And then when they get wise to that, no one, repeat no one EVER thinks you'll remove the A/C unit.:lookaroun


Mini Rant Mode On

I've been on both sides (kid partying and adult preventing mayhem), perhaps it was just the 80's but when we got out, we certainly didn't hang around to get nailed in our own backyard. We went to the poly or elsewhere... that was the great thing about the buses, ran everywhere. If you were out tooo late, security gave you a ride back to the hotel !

Kids now-a-days don't believe they will get caught, do the stupidest things (usually within 10 steps of their own room) however when faced with a stern, motivated and forceful individual usually back down, or at least they move on to easier targets/hassles. (Hint, if you can't do a good R. Lee Ermey impression from Full Metal Jacket, don't try this)

Kids I've chaperoned learn very quickly I'll bend to allow as much fun as possible, but there are firm limits beyond which consequences come down hard.

Rant Off

No real excuse for either groups/Disney to continue the actions of a 'few'. It's fairly easy to have a few static security positions with roving patrols that could cover areas where you'd find issues. Failing that, it would take very little $ to cover areas with even a off-the-shelf wireless camera system that can cover significant areas from a central point. (Including recording capacity, just in case you wish to make a point later)

When we stayed off property, the hotel had hired some scary looking russian dude that would watch out and see if anyone was opening their doors to get out. Over 200 seniors and no one tried to get out. Though we did have some shenanigans in the hotel rooms, atleast we weren't loud.

 

[flavious27]

I'm shocked that nobody included Pop Warner as a contact to complain to. It's what we did last year. Now their response wasn't exactly what we wanted to hear but I imagine that if they receive enough complaints they might act on it.

Only will effect them if they get sponsorships pulled and their teams are denied playing fields.

 

[aka_emilicious]

Um, that works right up to about the time that you break *everyones* tape.:goodnevil

And then when they get wise to that, no one, repeat no one EVER thinks you'll remove the A/C unit.:lookaround:

Lol, I didn't say I went with the smartest group of kids ever.

And the AC? Genius! :lol:

 

[LordHelmut]

Having a quart (yup, a quart) of "Lens Cleaner" - 190 proof grain.... can be a powerful motivator. The A/C unit was held by two very worn bolts.

The trick is to not have the roommates you've annoyed put the bolts back in after you've left....

 

[Testtrack321]

If it counts for anything, of the groups in parks I've seen all were somewhat well behaved and had better manners than the Six Flags crowd.

I'm all for Disney closing off a whole remote section of a resort and have the perimeters patrolled by Disney security, a la Escape From New York.

 

[Bluewaves]

This is how it was done when I was in high school on (band) trips. Our director actually taped our doors closed so he would know if any of us opened the door. Parents were ALWAYS in the hallways. We did have some problems (as I think any hs aged group would) but it was very minimal.

sounds like we had the same band director

 

[flavious27]

I really and truly despise that despite these problems, which we read about EVERY year, Disney still welcomes these groups back. At some point, someone there needs to choose class over cash.

If universal was able to lease the hard rock hotel out to them, they would.

 

[flavious27]

Well, it looked more like a scene out of King of the Hill as opposed to chaperoning...but you're probably right that that's what they were doing. And you are right about chaperones. Even when I worked at *gasp* Six Flags, parents were ALWAYS worse than kids. They don't care what the rules are...it applies to others, not them.

It looks like you never watched king of the hill.

 

[captainkidd]

We all know if you complain enough Disney will do something about it.

As well they should.:shrug: