Big tour groups

[DisneyOma]

There is no CM chaperones. They don't even have chaperones. They have Tour Guides. At hotel these guides are either in their room, the bar or DS. NO ONE is doing anything to supervise them at hotels. They are with their large packs at parks and they stay together. You know the saying "power in numbers"? ... that is what they have. Traveling in packs of 50 with only 1 or 2 adults cheering them on gives them the power. Disney needs to require them 1 adult to 10 kids and make them split up in the parks. I have NEVER had an issue with cheerleaders, sports teams etc in the park because they all split up.

One night leaving MK I kudo'd the transportation folks. After days of miserable bus rides and waiting for multiple buses because when 100+ show up they take the next few buses ..... last thing I wanted after long day at MK was deal with it. Well the transportation folks came over, made them get out of line and move to empty queue next to us. He told everyone they would be put on their own bus so we didn't have to listen to it. Everyone in our queue cheered. Why isn't this standard? They build into their cost Disney buses for just them. OR make them pay for coach buses that take them to and from parks.



I imagine they have a list of expectations but if you don't enforce it, does it matter? A perfect example is the POPWarner teams that were thrown out of the hotel for breaking rules. Seems after that situation improved. So cracking down can work if you set rules and enforce them.



Yes. A car with guys sat and watched and two on foot walked by, looked up and walked on. I was the one who then went to the door after they finally let them in to their house party. This apparently was home base party in our building for all the runners, bangers, screamers etc. Furniture was stacked to side, mattresses upright - with room wall to wall kids, music, screaming ....

How can they book all those rooms without adults? I thought you had to have an 18+ person on record, and they could only book a certain number of rooms. That's why we had lots of chaperones - we had to have a certain ratio of staff to kids.

We traveled to the parks in a special bus when we had a YES program scheduled. It was nice!

If they are still around at Pop Century when we are there next month, I'm calling police if hotel security doesn't solve the issues. And I will be requesting to be moved to another resort, at WDW's cost, if the problems return. Banging on doors and windows in the middle of the night? That would probably trigger 3 or 4 nice cases of panic attacks/anxiety in my group.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Summer and Christmas time are officially no go zone. Thank god my pass is blocked out for those time periods.


I'm sad that on top of the crazy heat and all the other summer crowds you guys gotta deal with this too no good...

 

[porschegrl]

I totally get the annoyances with the tour groups, I really do, but as an American of Brazilian heritage some of these comments are bordering on offensive. I feel this mostly has to do with large tour groups (particularly groups of teen kiddos) in general and not just Brazilian groups.

Just bordering? I think you're being kind.

 

[Red Scathach]

Just bordering? I think you're being kind.

I really like to give people the benefit of the doubt that they are not trying to be hateful, and just are angered by the situation.

 

[kbmartin]

Just curious, what months typically do the BTGs visit? I would like to know both the winter and summer months. I've never encountered them in August, but we're starting to choose different times of the year to visit. Thank you!

 

[WEDWDW]

Just curious, what months typically do the BTGs visit? I would like to know both the winter and summer months. I've never encountered them in August, but we're starting to choose different times of the year to visit. Thank you!

July,their Winter Break and January/February,their Summer Break are the main months.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Oh boy staying at POP in January during MLK weekend. I'm not one to notice other people in the parks, but I will have to say something if they keep me up at night.

We were at POP with some cheerleaders in 2015 and the only time we noticed them was in the food court. They weren't being disruptive at all. I would hope it's the same for all groups.

 

[mousehockey37]

We were at WDW in January from the 10th-16th and didn't see any tour groups.

We were there Pro Bowl week... they were there.

 

[mousehockey37]

How can they book all those rooms without adults? I thought you had to have an 18+ person on record, and they could only book a certain number of rooms. That's why we had lots of chaperones - we had to have a certain ratio of staff to kids.

We traveled to the parks in a special bus when we had a YES program scheduled. It was nice!

If they are still around at Pop Century when we are there next month, I'm calling police if hotel security doesn't solve the issues. And I will be requesting to be moved to another resort, at WDW's cost, if the problems return. Banging on doors and windows in the middle of the night? That would probably trigger 3 or 4 nice cases of panic attacks/anxiety in my group.

I'm guessing that's a difference of country. Just like the US is 18 to vote and 21 to drink, other countries around the world have different ages for things. Perhaps with these touring agencies, they don't require chaperones as the kids all have to be of a certain "adult" age and should be able to handle themselves. In the countless other threads of this on any discussion forum, it was said once that the parents were made to sign forms that they knew what the expectations of their kids were when they went. I've not been able to locate the thread (here or other boards) as to find the link to the actual travel company or itinerary that these kids follow on these tours.

Yes the culture of an entire country is defined by the behavior of a group of teenagers with little adult supervision on vacation to disney world.

We hold athletes, musicians, etc accountable in the same manner.

This just isn't an international thing, it's state to state, town to town, school district to school district thing.

As a band person (participant and director), whenever we went anywhere, you were an ambassador for your school, county, state, and country. We were told and I told my students, that when you go out in public as a member of our group, your actions speak louder than anything else you do. Leave things cleaner than you find them, be courteous, use common sense because you only get 1 chance to make a first impression. Now, are there groups that are better than others? Yes. Depends on the tour leader/guide. Depends on the kids. But for the sake of this thread, one or two good groups, is not going to redeem the years of bad ones.

 

[twoplustwins]

Oh boy staying at POP in January during MLK weekend. I'm not one to notice other people in the parks, but I will have to say something if they keep me up at night.

We were at POP with some cheerleaders in 2015 and the only time we noticed them was in the food court. They weren't being disruptive at all. I would hope it's the same for all groups.

That's usually the time of the college cheerleading and dance nationals as well as a large soccer tournament. We were at Disney for the soccer tournament several years ago. It was CRAZY!!! CMs said the cheer and dance brings in 50,000 people.
We stayed at CBR. We traveled with the team and were given the values, CBR, or AK as options. No problems at CBR. The majority of the cheer and dance teams stayed at the values.

 

[asbyrneva]

I totally get the annoyances with the tour groups, I really do, but as an American of Brazilian heritage some of these comments are bordering on offensive. I feel this mostly has to do with large tour groups (particularly groups of teen kiddos) in general and not just Brazilian groups.

As an American of English and Irish decent I know some of the comments ARE offensive not just bordering on offensive. Big groups can be annoying so can small groups of rude families. Not every BtG is going to negatively impact you. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

As an American of English and Irish decent I know some of the comments ARE offensive not just bordering on offensive. Big groups can be annoying so can small groups of rude families. Not every BtG is going to negatively impact you. Enjoy your vacation.

Yes -- all of these things can be annoying as well. These groups are 1) large and 2) numerous and 3) concentrated at certain times a year. Not the same as anything else you list in intensity given those 3 facts. I've personally never heard any other groups chant like this either.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We were at WDW a week ago. We saw masses of young (high school-ish aged) groups (all wearing red "Happy Tour" t-shirts). When I found out later they were a Brazilian group, I was a bit apprehensive (due to reports here about such groups). Really no problem with them, other than huge groups of them. I didn't notice any line cutting or "My group is up there" behavior.

We stayed at All-Star Music. The only issue we had was when we went to check in our bags for our flights at bag check. There was a large group of them departing that morning and they were all there checking in their bags, so we were unable to get our bags checked in a timely manner. They had no issue, as they were 3 hours early for their flight.

 

[WEDWDW]

I totally get the annoyances with the tour groups, I really do, but as an American of Brazilian heritage some of these comments are bordering on offensive. I feel this mostly has to do with large tour groups (particularly groups of teen kiddos) in general and not just Brazilian groups.

It also is "strange" to me why some continue to call ALL the South American Tour Groups "BRAZILIAN Tour Groups" no matter if they are from Argentina,Peru,Venezuela,Uruguay,Paraguay,etc..

It is a pretty good deal for the other Tour Groups-no matter what they do,Brazil gets the blame!lol

 

[yulilin3]

Well alright. I go out for a couple of hours and have this to come to. I usually don't explain what I said and why but I will say this.
This was my original comment in answering the behavior of the big tour groups being loud and getting in your personal space:
-For the most part, the kids coming in the tour groups from South America are acting just as they would do at home, it's the culture, the way of life, to be loud and what people here in the US consider pushy or getting in your personal space. It's how they regularly act back home, I know cause I'm from a South American country myself. Obviously they should try and conform to the culture here but they are on vacation, the last thing on their mind is to change their ways for a week to please other people.

a) I never said line cutting. Line cutting or being up late at night at the resort is NOT acceptable behavior. What I said I stand by it. What I meant to say, and I think it is clear without twisting my words is when a large of South Americans are together, in a happy, fun environment we tend to be loud, no one from any South American country can say that is not true. We like to have a good time and celebrate, this loud behavior can affect people in the parks as a large group of people, especially girls with a higher voice range are chanting or talking at the same time. I NEVER said line cutting.
b) specific talk about Brazilians will NOT be tolerated in a racist or demeaning manner.
c) I am not excusing any bad behavior just explaining why they are loud. Again if any bad behavior is encountered you should bring it up to the attention of guest relations on the spot or your hotel manager

 

[ArwenMarie]

It occurred to me that there is no controlling large groups of people. If a child runs across the bridge, a CM has a chance of slowing him down. When a huge group of over 100 runs, especially when encouraged by their leader, how is anyone going to stop them? Seems that one thing Disney could do is to refuse to allow people to travel in these massive groups. Break them up. These girls are old enough to go in groups of 3-5 on their own. Meet back at a certain time. Mob behavior can be scary and dangerous and difficult (if not impossible) to control. It really is the size of the group that is the problem.

Yes it's all about the size of these groups. Anyone who has ever worked with kids can attest to the fact that smaller groups have benefits. And that puts this all on Disney's shoulders IMO. It would be very easy to write a rule that you can't tour in a group larger than 10 or 20. And apply it to everyone

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It would be very easy to write a rule that you can't tour in a group larger than 10 or 20. And apply it to everyone

I would love this.

 

[yulilin3]

Yes it's all about the size of these groups. Anyone who has ever worked with kids can attest to the fact that smaller groups have benefits. And that puts this all on Disney's shoulders IMO. It would be very easy to write a rule that you can't tour in a group larger than 10 or 20. And apply it to everyone

This would fix the issues at the parks for sure

 

[WEDWDW]

Yes it's all about the size of these groups. Anyone who has ever worked with kids can attest to the fact that smaller groups have benefits. And that puts this all on Disney's shoulders IMO. It would be very easy to write a rule that you can't tour in a group larger than 10 or 20. And apply it to everyone

And maybe write a rule that Brazil and Argentina will stay at different Resorts and tour different Parks on different days!lol

And I'm just half kidding!

The loudest and most "intense" chanting happens when these 2 "rivals" meet anywhere at WDW.

Some of you have probably heard this intense chanting before or after F!,ROE,etc. and didn't realize what was happening.

They are INTENSE Football rivals!

We have had only Argentinians here at All-Star Sports until yesterday when a Brazil group arrived and we immediately had the "Rumble @ Surfboard Bay" and ,of course,there was the "incident" in End Zone after the Germany/Argentina World Cup Final in 2015.

I,personally,find the rivalry interesting as my team here has rivalries with other teams and I think that is intense-this is a rivalry between 2 whole COUNTRIES!

If Brazil v. Argentina/Neymar v. Messi were to somehow happen next Summer in the World Cup,Walt Disney World will spontaneous combust!lol

 

[HopperFan]

How can they book all those rooms without adults? I thought you had to have an 18+ person on record, and they could only book a certain number of rooms. That's why we had lots of chaperones - we had to have a certain ratio of staff to kids.

We traveled to the parks in a special bus when we had a YES program scheduled. It was nice!

If they are still around at Pop Century when we are there next month, I'm calling police if hotel security doesn't solve the issues. And I will be requesting to be moved to another resort, at WDW's cost, if the problems return. Banging on doors and windows in the middle of the night? That would probably trigger 3 or 4 nice cases of panic attacks/anxiety in my group.

Groups can book rooms with no adults in the rooms. That is how they handle all the school groups. We have been involved in teams competing there twice a year for 13 years. About 8 years ago moved the teams offsite. This not only saved money but kept the kids away from other teams. The rule comes with the group. Ours is a coach to athlete ratio determined by the school district. I do think it's time Disney required a smaller ratio and require they break to smaller groups in the parks. Hand them the rules, tell them to follow or expect to be asked to leave. This would go a long way.

As far as hotel there needs to be strict rules and plans. You can't have 800 kid tour groups with 16-20 adults and not expect problems, particularly behavior not acceptable.

Example of POP since that is where I dealt with this:

- Put them ALL in 80's & 90's with no families mixed in.
- Let them run around all night, there will be no other guests there.
- Tell them it's their pool and their pool deck to enjoy, sing, etc and they are not to use any other pools.
- Have their own Disney or Coach buses to transport them and do the pickup/dropoff by their building right where their coach brings them when they arrive.
- Have the section at the food court roped off. They are not permitted to sit anywhere else. Have CMs assigned to the area to bus tables because they leave trash all over the tables and floor.
- ENFORCE the rules.

It's really simple to let the kids have great trips and other Disney guests not have their trips ruined. Put it in place, enforce it.