Dance Teams/Cheerleaders

[MNNHFLTX]

Wow, Mel, it must have been bad for it to get to you. In moments like that I just thank God that those aren't my kids. Can you imagine being their parents??

I will never understand bringing large groups of young teens on a trip to Disney World and then cutting them loose without supervision.

[CanadaLovesDisney]

Last February I could not BELIEVE how poorly the cheerleaders at CBR were behaving! Cutting us to get on the bus. Glaring at us and actually making comments about us out loud. On a bus a group in full cheer gear were talking about a wallet they found at another park and how they stole all the money and contents. We were disgusted! Gang mentality basically makes them feel invincible. We couldnt believe disney allowed it. They practiced outside our room at 11:30 pm screaming chants. Never again would we put up with that.
First two weeks of February - never ever again.

[FenwayGirl]

I had a similar experience..but with College Cheer teams! Pretty bad, because it involved alcohol!! I refused to put my family on the same bus with that team. They were drunk, and out of control as we waited for the bus back to our resort. The college was notified and the team repremanded. It was the only time in all of my visits that I actually felt unsafe@

[Kairi_7378]

We flew out of MCO on the 7th and were stuck at the Southwest counter and security behind a dance team. Based on that experience, I would avoid dance competition weeks at WDW.

[missouridisney]

We were there last week with these groups, bascially the ones we saw were all ok, we just tried not to ride the rides the same time we did, Hollywood Studios was the worst as far as amount of teams. We rode the bus back to our resort with a group one night, but they were so tired most of them slept, we also flew back to St. Louis with a group and they were all quiet, (also tired) they did win 7th place by the way, congratulations to them.
My only complaint was the Brazilian groups, why don't they split up and not have to have 50+ people going on a ride or walking together, way too many and I don't like it when they are walking around singing at the top of their lungs, chanting something. I really can't see us going to their country doing that, but maybe some would. But right now I would take any of that compared to being back in Mo. with 3 inches of snow, this time last week 80 degress, today below 30

[garymacd]

I am bringing my dance studio to the World in November to perform. They know that it is a priveledge to do so. If any of them are disrespectful, they will not be welcome back to Disney or the studio. Their manners were taught beforehand at home. Obviously, these girls never learned this valuable lesson. I'm guessing they didn't enjoy their trip as much as they could have if they took the time enjoy all that Disney has to offer without being so disruptive.

Just being devil's advocate on this because I don't really understand the whole cheerleader/dance team thing. It just isn't a big deal where we live.

Aren't the cheeleading teams and dance teams the elite of their schools? And do the rules we mere mortals have to follow really apply to the elite?

(Tongue planted firmly in cheek)

[BrerGnat]

Disney should build a small hotel at the WWOS complex to house all these cheer/pop warner/dance competition groups.

Sorry, but I would be BEYOND upset if my hotel stay was impacted by any of these kinds of obnoxious groups of people.

It's bad enough to run into them on the parks, but I can't even imagine staying in the same hotel as them.

[HackLaSalle]

Painting with a broad brush no matter the group can be hurtful. As a male cheerleader I was subjected to alot of stereotypes... let's not knock ALL cheerleaders/dance teams because of some groups that are not well behaved. I've met some awesome kids and groups while down there during Pop Warner week. And yeah there is some trouble but then again there's trouble with everyone: bikers, religious people, south american tour groups, amish, deaf people, blind people, Autistic people, people with tattoos, fat people, people with strollers... etc... etc...

Sometimes people stink no matter what group they belong to.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

What a shame that some sponsors and parents are allowing this kind of behavior! I brought my junior high Dance Teams to Disney for the competitions, and it was such a treat for them! We washed cars, did all sorts of fundraisers to make this possible, and for many from our little town it was a once-in-a-lifetime magical experience. My girls were thrilled to be there, and had been hand-picked as a team based not just on dance ability but overall character. They were well-chaperoned, and acted like young ladies while we had tons of fun. I do know not all the groups are like this.

We stayed at the same resorts as other dance teams and cheer squads, and we all did need to practice a little before the competition. For us, it was a few runs with a little CD player outside, and we were done. I know by the nature of cheering that their groups were a little more heard.

I am sure many people at the resort may have wished they had picked another time of year to visit, but I hope we were not part of the problem. Being newbies to the whole deal (I started the Dance Team at my school), we were a little blown away by the levels of the competitive nature of some of the groups. We did make make many great memories that we still treasure!

One of my 'girls' is now 24 and fighting for her life as we speak after a lung transplant. She has been one of the most vivacious, spirited people I've ever known all her life, really an inspiration. Her mom used to quietly slip into practice and take her in a back room to administer treatments for her CF, and then my girl would jump right back in with a wide smile. A few days after the transplant I sent her our huge trophy from our first Disney competition. I felt she deserved to hold onto it as she recovered. She has earned it many times.

I know I digressed a little here, but it has been an emotional past week as she battles pneumonia after a seemingly terrific comeback. She went back to WDW for her honeymoon, and is planning to celebrate her "lungaversary", as she calls it, right there in the Magic in April, in 55 days. Still has the most amazing spirit of any girl I've known. This morning I just want to hear she is awake and speaking.

There are so many reasons to have these events and for young people to make these memories.

And there is absolutely no excuse for them to ruin the memories for anyone else.

[Melanie]

Painting with a broad brush no matter the group can be hurtful. As a male cheerleader I was subjected to alot of stereotypes... let's not knock ALL cheerleaders/dance teams because of some groups that are not well behaved.

I'm very sorry if you feel I personally painted a broad stroke here. I did clarify a few posts down that it's definitely not all the groups, and in the past few weeks, I saw many well-behaved groups. Unfortunately, these misbehaving groups leave such a bad impression that it's what gets talked about. I even told the girls that it's groups like them that have given the cheerleaders such a bad name throughout the Disney community. Yes, I told them that, and yes, I was at Disney without kids and I'm 40!

So again, I'm sorry. You are absolutely right that members of ANY group can be rude at any time, but it's also fact that the only group I've ever had issue with at WDW were cheerleaders. I steer clear of the South American groups and will now do the same with cheerleaders.

[mickeys_princess_mom]

Yes, I told them that, and yes, I was at Disney without kids and I'm 40!

I have no problem with that, either! As ready as I am to take my grandprincess, my grown DD and I have a ball every time!

[ransam]

we just got back, stayed at the Sports Resort where 90% of it was dance teams. I can honestly say we had no problems. they were all well behaved, and very polite. sure there were loud, but they're kids, and having a great time. I have no issue w/ that. . As a matter of fact, i thought they added a lot to the resort and park w/ thier youth, enthuiasm.

the only problem i had was they all met at the swimming pool and i felt uncomfortably old going down there at night to read or chill like i like to do. ha

[ransam]

i'd like to add a couple things as i reread through the thread.

It does really stink when someone/ anyone is rude to you. I can tell you that it happens to me all the time. As someone who is over weight and handicapped, i will say that i get more comments from adults than i do the teens. For the most part they are very helpful to me. but it is a shame that some feel the need to show off and be rude just because they are w/ friends. Unfortuantely I am sure i did the same thing years ago. Not proud, but i'm sure i did.

Add me to the over 40, closer to 50 than 40, year olds that go to disney w/ no kids in site and will continue to do so.

and finally i know Kids, rudeness, evc riders, cheerleaders, long Lines, humidity, bus lines, crowds, groups chanting and singing at the top of their lines, and rude people of all ages-races-sexes-groups can be annoying, but i have learned to never ever let that ruin my vacation. never. I am always happy at WDW. My friend and i have a saying we say al lthe time "there are no problems at Disney" . and that's honestly how we feel and how we approach Disney.

[Mendelson]

To add a positive note to all this (and not completely related).... my wife and 12-month-old (at the time) and I were on a flight that had a two-hour delay on the tarmac back in October. There was a high school boys tennis team on the plane with us, pretty much all around us, and they were so extremely polite and friendly and well-behaved throughout the entire ordeal, right up until landing, even trying to engage with my son to keep him happy.

Because we would be quick to email a school about their misbehaving cheer-monsters, my wife was equally quick to send an email to the principal of the school when we got to our destination, telling him how impressed we were with the students. Restored my faith in this cohort of whippersnappers!

[mickeys_princess_mom]

To add a positive note to all this (and not completely related).... my wife and 12-month-old (at the time) and I were on a flight that had a two-hour delay on the tarmac back in October. There was a high school boys tennis team on the plane with us, pretty much all around us, and they were so extremely polite and friendly and well-behaved throughout the entire ordeal, right up until landing, even trying to engage with my son to keep him happy.

Because we would be quick to email a school about their misbehaving cheer-monsters, my wife was equally quick to send an email to the principal of the school when we got to our destination, telling him how impressed we were with the students. Restored my faith in this cohort of whippersnappers!

Like!
And to add another positive note, my Lizzie (mentioned above) is coming back strong! So relieved and thankful! Big change in a day!

[TinkerbellFan16]

I was there 12/10-12/12 and the National High School Cheerleading Championships were going on and I had the same problem. I also had a HUGE problem with them on Pirates and some other rides. I was appalled. And don't even get me started on apparel. Sunday that I was there it was 35 degrees in the morning and they were still wearing short shorts, and complaining LOUDLY about how cold they were. -___-

[mom2morgan]

*sigh* I didn't want to whine and sound unkind, but I must say that "cheer competitions" at the food court at 8:00 in the morning is a bit much. And the pushing and shoving along the pathways and at the pool at POR. I teach high school and I've taken kids on field trips, and I just DON'T UNDERSTAND why the adults don't make these kids behave. Shouting and cartwheeling in the food court isn't cute - it's just rude.

[Quadstriker]

Seeing as how food courts at PoP etc. are like WW1 battles between the trenches in the mornings on a "normal" day, I can't even imagine the level of exasperation cheer/dance teams would add to the fire.

[DisneyMelissa]

I was at MK with my best friend on 2/11. There were a lot of groups of cheerleaders, and some tour groups as well. One group in particular (To be honest, I am not sure if they were a cheerleading or a tour group) was in front of us on IASM. It was absolutely appalling. They were loudly cheering throughout the whole ride. In the last scene (the snowy scene with the ferris wheel) our ride got stopped for about 15 minutes due to technical difficulties. It was our boat, with the tour group boat in front of us, an empty boat (that can hold wheelchairs) and then another boat of the tour group girls in front of that. They started standing up and jumping from boat to boat, dancing around inside of the previously empty boat. After getting restless for awhile, they started to jump out of the boats onto the scenes and started running around inside of the ride!!

The thing that really irked me was that a worker came out of the emergency exit in the very last farewell scene and saw them standing in the boats, running around, etc...yet they did nothing! All they did was go back to the security tower at the beginning of the ride. The worker who let the girls off of the boat was very irritated (I think he was able to see them running in the farewell scene), but did not say anything to the girls at all. I couldn't believe it. Is that protocol?!

[disneynarula]

I just had a similar run in at the food court on the military base where we live. They are having some sort of European cheer and basketball competition. They were cheering in the restroom and my son really needed to use it. They acted really put out by us!

The "chaperones" probably acted the same way as teens.

Ummm.... cheerleaders have never been the "elite" of the school due to character or academics. I want to be at Disney with the Mathaletes!