I don't know what to do?

[midwest mouse]

We are arriving the last week in Jan for a split stay as we are going to Cancun for part of our stay. We were thinking of keeping this reasonable with the split and staying at the AllSports. Now I have read that Tour groups will be around at that time and they stay at the values. I really don't want to hear chanting etc. in the food courts, busses etc. Is this true-the tour group time of year?? I was wondering if Disney will offer 40% off room rates in Jan. Is this the norm? Then I would maybe do a deluxe or moderate. Help what should I do?

[tappenfeat]

You may want to try looking into the Pop Century. It is a Value Resort also. Correct me if I am mistaken...but I think these "crowds" tend to stay at the All Stars Resorts.

There are also quiet buildings at the Pop Century. This will be our first visit at the PC. And it has received excellent reviews. Others here can elaborate which buildings are quiet. I believe they are towards the back and farther away from the main building and food court. If you don't mind walking. Will you be renting a car or using the Disney Buses?

It won't be a problem for us since we are renting a car and will not be using the buses.

Hope this helps a little.

[ericles]

We usually travel mid Jan thru early Feb. down to WDW. we've found that roughly that 3-4 week span is very popular with tour groups, a lot from Brazil (you'll recognize them cause they often wear the same color shirt, travel in groups lead by a group leader with a flag they carry and often carry matching travel tour backpacks. ) and the absolute WORST group they could ever allow in WDW....cheerleaders. Okay, I'm biased, have had to many trips in conjunction with the cheerleaders! ha ha!!! Think the local mall on a Friday evening, think roving bands of girls...then imagine that at your resort. the *usually* aren't to bad in the parks during the day cause they are off cheerleading somewhere. We've stayed at moderates (POR & Caribbean Bch.) with these groups but we've not stayed at one of the All Stars or Pop Century. When we've stayed at the Wilderness or Bch. Club we've not really seen these groups.


*DISCLAIMER to all the parents of cheerleaders. I am sure your daughter was not one of the obnoxious girls roving in feral packs around the resorts. I recognize this and am not painting every cheerleader-type group with the same brush.

Now - it's not all bad, and like I said you don't see them much in the parks. It's not so bad that it will ruin your trip or anything. Admittedly we're a bit jaded, as we have had a run-in with extremely rude teenage girls, and they're shockingly rude parents. Amazing what happens when you nicely ask a teenage girl not to use the "F" word around your 5 yr. old at the resort pool. We still prefer this time of year (jan thru early Feb) because of the great weather and low crowds.

[momof three]

I would avoid All Star Sports completely. This seems to be the first go to resort for most groups especially the sports and teen groups. It use to be that these groups were mostly at the value resorts but in recent years they have started staying at the moderate resorts as well. I have encountered them on several trips and they can be rather annoying, loud and downright rude. Disney does require that there be an adult chaperone in every room but it has been my personal experience that this doesnt help much. I have done my fair share of complaining to managers and written in complaints. I honesty think this is a no win situation. These groups generate a ton of cash and regardless of the complaints by other guest Disney continues to book them.

One thing I have noticed is the with the addition of the family suites at The All Star Music there seems to be less groups booked here when we have stayed here. I would go as far to say that the cliental at this resort lately seems just a bit more upscale then the other All Star Resorts and Pop. To me this is a much calmer mellower family friendly resort then the other values. I am a FL resident who has spent countless nights at the WDW resorts. We have stayed at all of the values and moderates. My personal experience has been that I have never encountered teen groups at The All Star Music or Coronado Springs. CS does have adult conventions but we have not had any issues with this. I have encountered the teen groups at all of the other values and moderates.

One suggestion I would make is if you find yourself stuck traveling with these groups ask to be as far from the pool and food courts as possible. These kids rarely seem to need sleep. If youre stuck in a room by the pool you can forget sleeping at 2am. Trust me, been there done that, it wasnt pretty.

Ive really wish someone at Disney would realize that when a large group of young adults or teens are traveling together that they are not going to just hang out quietly in their rooms or at the pool. Why not build a hang out spot somewhere at one or two of the value resorts where they could hang out. Nothing fancy just a large space separated from other guest where the groups could go be kids without disturbing the rest of the resort. I really think that the majority of the teen are just trying to have fun and arent bad kids. They just need an outlet away from everyone else after park hours.

Good luck.

Mily

[midwest mouse]

Thanks for your input. We may have to look at the Cont. instead. I was hoping to save some money for food, etc. but I would just as soon eat cs and have a peaceful nights sleep. Will " THE Groups" be there at EMH too? Or do they sleep in and tour later and return to the hotel. We were thinking of doing EMH and I have heard that is not such a good idea. We were really hoping to hit Epcot on an EMH night. What do you think? TIA

[wishiwasthere]

Touring the parks isn't too bad especially because a lot of these groups tend to stay together. So one time we ran into them in MK we did a quick turn around and headed the other way.

I never really saw them at EMH because when I would go during the time of year the Brazilian tour groups would be there EMH was until real late. I don't know if they had a curfew but we never ran into them. During that time of year that is a different story because the parks aren't open that late.

[coronado_g]

Wow! This sounds scary so I hope I don't encounter any problems during my stay the last week of January and first week of February.

[midwest mouse]

Thanks for all of your input. We bit the bullet and booked the Contemperary. I am not a huge fan of the decor but the monorail and price out of the three monorail hotels made it our choice. When I called and reserved they said I have a pin attached to my name coming out on the 15th. Keeping my fingers crossed for 40% off!!!!!

[wishiwasthere]

When I called and reserved they said I have a pin attached to my name coming out on the 15th. Keeping my fingers crossed for 40% off!!!!!

Wow they told you that! Let us know what you get!

[mzloolue]

What tour groups are scheduled in January?

The only one that I know of is the UCA/UDA college championships one weekend in January.

We have been there when the college cheer groups were there and although we saw some folks stunting on the Allstar Sports "football field", which was actually kind of cool, they really were not noticeable or noisy or anything.

The college folks show up, do their thing and get back to school.
Most of them have been cheering and competing for so long that they are like professionals.

I would not hesitate to book Sports during that weekend.

If it's high school or allstar competitions, in Feb and March, I would think twice. Lots more folks and sillier ages...

[wishiwasthere]

What tour groups are scheduled in January?

I know a lot of Brazilian tour groups schedule their trips for July (their winter break) and I've heard somewhere around January for their summer break.

If you see them at your hotel and in the same building as you switch immediately! The adults are just as bad as the kids and they do not care who is around.

July of '08 they completely blocked the entrance to Haunted Mansion as well as the walkway between Fantasyland and Liberty Square (about 50 of them) so they can video tape. They would not budge. The CMs tried moving them and getting the counselors to move, but they did not care.

I sweat those groups find me!

If it's high school or allstar competitions, in Feb and March, I would think twice. Lots more folks and sillier ages...

I second that. As well as the Senior trips in late May early June.