When to go in December?

[FlamingoLady]

I'm planning trip # 6 to WDW in December. Wanted to go Dec 5 - 10. Just learned that the National POP WARNER SUPERBOWL will be at Wide World of Sports that week. How does this event affect the parks and resorts? Would it be worth going the next week instead?

 

[Teenchy]

Nothing against the Pop Warner Football Superbowl but I doubt that would have much of an effect on the parks (attendance) I cant see that it would draw that many extra people.

If you look at the statistics the closer you get to Christmas the busier the parks will be. The peak being Dec. 25th to Jan.1.

I think you would be fine and probably better off that first week. If you want to look up some details about the holiday happenings throughout WDW you can also check out the site www.allearsnet.com and look in the planning section and December.

If you haven't been before....

I would highly suggest the Candlelight Processional, Osbourn Lights, a tour of the resorts and their fabulous decorations and MVMCP. (IMHO in that order).

Enjoy your trip, WDW is extra magical during Christmas.:xmas:

P.S. Welcome to the boards

 

[IneedaWDWfix]

I STRONGLY suggest that you find out if the teams and/or cheerleaders are staying at your resort. In December 2003, we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and so did some of the football teams and cheerleaders. (And, yes, I do have children and I did take children on our trip.) Our trip wasn't ruined, but there were times in the foodcourt, or at the pool, or on the buses, well, let's just say that either the chaperones didn't care or just couldn't control the kids OR the kids were just so ME ME ME and downright ignorant or maybe a combination of the forementioned. My children aren't angels, but they don't go cutting in front of people, don't go around asking for money. Just don't let them interfere with what should be a great vacation not just for you, but for them, too (hopefully, the kids will have better escorts or better manners).

 

[cajunCinderella]

From what ive read on several boards they can get pretty rowdy at the hotels and in the parks. Im not saying all of them are bad but id rather not have to deal with it while on my vacation. Pop warner week will be from the 3 - 9 this year thats why we pushed our ressies back to the 13-20. Hopefully they will be gone by then.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

I would say that there is minimal impact on the parks. I have often gone down around those dates and always find croud size very reasonable. The only concern would be if you were staying at All Star Sports...there may be some increase in noise but it will probably be concentrated, and you can always be moved to another area.

It is likely that during that weekend, MK might be a bit congested due to filming of the Christmas parade. Once you get past Main Street, the rest of the park is quiet for much of the morning.

 

[MickeyTigg]

I'm planning trip # 6 to WDW in December. Wanted to go Dec 5 - 10. Just learned that the National POP WARNER SUPERBOWL will be at Wide World of Sports that week. How does this event affect the parks and resorts? Would it be worth going the next week instead?

Unless you're staying at the All Star or Pop Century resorts, it probably won't affect you much at all.

 

[BeachClubVillas]

I was there last year when Pop Warner was there and I didn't even know they were there until I got home and read it on this board. I never noticed them at the parks, and we stayed at POFQ and never saw them.

 

[SpongeScott]

I was there last year when Pop Warner was there and I didn't even know they were there until I got home and read it on this board. I never noticed them at the parks, and we stayed at POFQ and never saw them.

We were also there during Pop Warner last December. We stayed at CBR because we couldn't get a value room. We saw a few cheerleading groups in the parks, but they were few and far between. 12 days later I took my daughter back and the parks were packed (December 19).

 

[Jodi's Dad]

Went last year dec :xmas: 7-14 love it.

 

[Nicole]

They do the Pop Warner stuff on purpose during slower seasons at WDW. My friend went with her son's baseball team to a tournament at WWoS and they didn't make it to the parks once in the whole time they were there, they were too busy with the tournament.

I think the only impact you'll see (as has been stated) will be at the specific resorts with blocks of rooms reserved for the participants.

 

[dxwwf3]

Anytime in December before the week of Christmas is magic. The 5th - 10th should be a fantastic time for you to go.

 

[eroyee]

December?

:wave: That week in Dec. is usually a really great time to go to the parks. we have been there then. Only thing is, like others said, better avoid all the value resorts. we have had cheerleaders at POR and at CBR as an overflow from the values and yes, they are rowdy and noisy. we didnt notice them in the parks, though, till afternoons. also, hard to get on the busses with all those people if you are staying at the same resort. Up to you. Enjoy all the christmas stuff. Its surely magical. we are back to POP in Jan. 2007 and cant wait!! Yaaaay!!:sohappy:

 

[PintoColvig]

I was there in Dec. as the Pop Warner groups started rolling in. I barely noticed them at the parks. At my resort, on the otherhand, it was a nuisance. The food court was overrun during most meal times. And the pool was near capacity and loud well into the evening. And I had a group of teens who congregated outside my room (we had a corner room) and made noise until well after 1 a.m. each morning. :fork: Better do something other than a value resort.

Oh, I forgot and went to MK when they filmed the Christmas parade and it was very busy compared to the other parks. Skip MK on those days. But, by the time you go, they will probably be done filming.

 

[tommyboy12099]

We are going Dec 2-9 but havent made a decision about where we are staying yet. All I know is every time I try to get a price for POR on Disney's site it says it is not available. Belle(Marie) who rules from KK also tried and got the same result. Maybe Pop Warner groups are already taking over:lookaroun

 

[swimmom]

As long as you're not staying at a resort that they typically stay, you should be o.k. We were there last year over the weekend that Pop Warner was finishing and we only ran into one group that was obnoxious during Illuminations. They had to stay together and I think that some of them didn't want to be there, so they didn't stop talking or more accurately screaming the entire time.

 

[TimonRulz]

Hi everyone. I was reading all the great responses and I thought of an addition to the presented question. We are looking into going in Dec as well, and I've never been in the winter. Would it be better (in everyone's opinion) to go the week before Christmas (approx) to avoid the lines and all, or would it be fun to go Dec 25th through New Year's for the added events? Are the Christmas Day and New Years "events" that awesome as to fight all the crowds?
Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[sliberatore]

We always go the first full week of December, this year the 3rd to the 9th, and that usually, if not always, coincides with Pop Warner football. We stay either at the Beach Club, the BoardWalk, or at a non-Disney condo (Westgate) where we have a timeshare. We have never regarded the Pop Warner kids as a presence, much less a problem.

And that's a great time to go--generally light crowds, cooperative weather (though we have had to dodge our share of showers and to be prepared for chilly temps), and the parks decked out for Christmas.

Have a great time!

 

[ErickainPA]

Timon: I would suggest going the week before Christmas. You can see all the same things as you would during Christmas, just not the NYE party. If you go the week before Christmas, you can probably still make it to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party as long as your trip will be before it ends. The crowds are a lot better before Christmas too.

We went the week before and the week of Christmas already and would do the week before in a min. The lines are not as long either, we were debating going to MK Christmas Day, but the lines at the hotel for buses was just crazy, at least 5 buses came through first thing in the AM to get to MK, lots of people were saying later in the day, wish we didn't go to MK this morning.

 

[TimonRulz]

Awesome info. Thanks!

 

[MinnieMommy]

We originally had our trip planned for December 2-9, but changed to Dec. 9 - 16 because of Pop Warner. Nothing against the kids, but we are staying at All Star Movies. Read on other boards that check in could take hours, busy food courts, and crowded bus lines. So, we changed dates! This is our first December trip and we cannot wait for MVMCP! We went to MNSSHP in 2003 and had a blast, so we can only imagine how incredible the Chrstmas Party will be! Thanks to everyone for all the information!!! :xmas: