Big tour groups

[Westcoastwild]

I know this would be an extreme case, but wouldn't the constant chanting be in violation of some sort of local or state ordinance regarding noise?

If hotel management won't take care of it, law enforcement might.

I just can't see calling the police over a noise complaint at the hotel. It wastes the police's time. It probably annoys the front desk. And in my experience, the police don't do anything unless it's a potentially dangerous situation- drugs or alcohol.

A group of chanting teen girls? Not a dangerous situation.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Cheerleader/Pop Warner are pretty notorious, too. We changed our trip from late November to October to avoid a cheerleader competition.

Disney really needs to get tough with them. This is ridiculous. They are alienating lots of other paying guests. It's time to start evicting people from resorts and theme parks for being noisy and disruptive. And barring tour group companies that allow this kind of behavior. It's hard enough to find an ideal time to visit, now we have to dodge these obnoxious groups, too. If enough people do that, maybe Disney doesn't mind if the tour groups have the parks to themselves?

 

[FelisLachesis]

I just can't see calling the police over a noise complaint at the hotel. It wastes the police's time. It probably annoys the front desk. And in my experience, the police don't do anything unless it's a potentially dangerous situation- drugs or alcohol.

A group of chanting teen girls? Not a dangerous situation.

Fair enough. I'm not sure how the police react to things around WDW.

Around here, depends on the neighborhood. Strangely enough, the rich areas will see a response time of 30 seconds flat on anything; the cops literally have nothing better to do. I one saw a bunch of kids getting detained for loitering at a Wendy's.

 

[kathy884]

So what months are the worst at WDW related to South American tour groups? From post so far are July, Jan., and February the worst months? // One June trip many years back we ran into one group at DHS (I was plugging my ears and my ears hurt after standing in line with them at the TOT) and one group at SeaWorld (They weren't as bad there as at Disney -- didn't have to plug my ears and have my ears hurt, but were still annoying -- it was in line for the Kracken). They were annoying and loud, but in each case we only encountered a group one time and on one attraction while standing in line. // This was the only trip we saw them, so maybe we mostly come in months that they don't have a lot of tour groups coming.

 

[oktxregulators]

I had to call two times this morning to security about the loud tour girls at Pop. It was 2 in the morning and close to seventy kids were sitting outside the Hippy Dippy Pool at the pool tables listening to music and talking to non stop as several boys kept walking back and forth the hallways. I went outside and stood outside watched and counted. The first time I called security it took a few minutes before a security officer came by and did nothing nor said anything as I watched from the 3rd floor of building 5. I called again and was very upset as I am trying to go to sleep as I hear another person come out of their room and tell them to turn that crap off. This time I see another security guard come out and tell them to turn the radio off and stood around until two other security guards came out and talked to them (don't know what was said) and then they left. I walked back into my room and didn't hear anything else.

If you are staying at Pop stay away from the 50's and 60's preferred rooms. That is their hangout after the parks close since we have been here.

 

[anniemae]

OMG that is awful. From what I understand, the CM's are kind of powerless to do anything, and it is obvious from the reports here (cm's not doing anything about them in the parks, the hotel staff not really doing anything about them etc.) I think they bring in lots of money so they have to "look the other way." Not fair at all to other guests and every year when I read these reports, I am stunned Disney puts up with this. I wish they would make them stay off site. I don't think any other hotel would put up with that nonsense and they would probably find themselves with nowhere to stay, or they would have to behave.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I was hoping to see one of these infamous groups on our trip last month. No suck "luck" but there were a ton of huge family reunion type groups. They were pretty annoying.

 

[MainMom]

Early August-The 15s head back to school then.

We arrive July 26th. I really want to change my hotel....

 

[yulilin3]

Friendly reminder to keep this conversation as civil as possible. I knew this thread was coming, it does every summer. A couple of points:
-please email Disney about your experiences with the groups if they have affected negatively your trip. wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
-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.
- Most of the time when you hear them chanting outside it is the tour operator grabbing a video for their website, so the chanting will stop eventually. Chanting inside a queue is a no no, but sometimes they still do it. If it is affecting you to the point of not being tolerable please contact a CM on the spot or go to Guest Relations and put in a complain, the BTG have gotten way better if you can believe it, because people have been more outspoken about them
-CM can do something when it comes to safety, but for the most part they don't interfere just how they don't interfere when there are parents putting kids on their shoulders or stopping flash photography in dark rides, or some overlooking obvious rules, like rolling coolers and luggage coming into the parks...

Again I am not condoning uncivil behavior in the parks or at the resorts, especially at late hours, I am just trying to give you the point of view of the tour groups and what you can do.

 

[cindyfan]

in one visit a few years ago we got stuck in line and on the "elevator" of Tower of Terror twice !!!!! Then trying to get a seat and watch Illuminations at Epcot!!! The chanting and loudness...... OMG!!! it was HORRIBLE!!!!
This is one reason we will never go back at this time of year ... EVER AGAIN!!!

 

[vinotinto]

They key is to photograph their backpacks, flags or shirts that have their tour company name. Make notes or make clear in photo where you are & when.

Write to Disney Guest Services about your experiences and report all the groups tour companies. Details. Make it very clear their behavior and how they ruined your trip.

What I have been told is if they get complaints about particular tour companies (and they likely are the ones using younger people for their guides) they will ban them from coming to Disney. Now the kids will just move to other companies BUT companies will be more likely to maintain control if they know they face banning. A few years ago behavior started to improve as this happened but I have seen it get worse.

We had two years of horrible experiences at hotels in Jan/Feb so for a few years we moved offsite so we at least could sleep. The only way Disney will react is with reports, photos, letters and expressing extreme dissatisfaction. Hotels management will do nothing, they only care the rooms are filled. I was also told these groups get no hotel discounts but pay premium prices.

I think this is the best approach, especially for groups cutting in line. Photographing them with the name of the Tour Operator, and sending the behaviors to Disney.

 

[vinotinto]

I'm curious, what do they chant?

 

[yulilin3]

I'm curious, what do they chant?

 

[yulilin3]

I just asked a friend of mine that works at Hulk over at IOA about Universal policy on BTG, he said, just like everyone else, if they are not endangering themselves or others they pretty much leave them be.

 

[vinotinto]

I just asked a friend of mine that works at Hulk over at IOA about Universal policy on BTG, he said, just like everyone else, if they are not endangering themselves or others they pretty much leave them be.

Thanks for the video. I did see BTGs when we went in January 2014, but they were not at our hotel (Wilderness Lodge). The singing doesn't bother me at all, as long as it's not done during a show or ride. It's just like what we used to do when we were teens (but I can understand that it may bother others).

But, it *would* bother me if they were screaming outside my door while I was trying to sleep, or cutting in line. Those behaviors should not be allowed by the chaperones and if they are happening, it does merit a pic and a description to Disney. If it's not properly reported, it won't be addressed by those who can do something about it.

 

[Hisgirl]

I, too, stood aside for a line cutter then they just kept coming. I think it's time folks stood their ground and stopped stepping aside for forty people to catch up with one person at the front. Just stand in your place, arms on hips and don't move. It's ridiculous and they do it, because people let them and move aside.

Write to customer service and let them know how this has affected your trip. They will most likely call you. And try to make it right. (this was my experience last year when we had a discussable issue)

The squeakiest wheel gets the oil. Disney needs to hear from folks repeatedly to know this has to be better managed.

 

[lovethattink]

We just stayed at All Star Movies and there were several groups of BTG there celebrating their big 1-5.

They were well behaved, polite and friendly. We were in a preferred room near the main pool and never heard them at night.

The food court posed a potential problem as they came in in droves. Though they also staggered their eating times. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been enough seats for them.

My only complaint were their tour busses. We had a difficult time at night getting around the resort in our car. Buses parked in the "streets". And the drivers were most likely local because the buses had Orlando plates.

 

[bookbabe626]

Maybe they could open a new "Disney's All Tour Group Resort" especially made to house large parties of teenagers and their chaperones.

THIS! Best idea ever. Disney, are you reading this?

Put it over by WWOS, make the rooms summer camp bunkhouse or dormitory-style so you can cram more kids in per room, single rooms by the entrance to each dorm for the chaperones. Minimal theming. Add a food court with a scaled-down menu and a basic pool. Security staff, food court staff, some minimal housekeeping (save major cleaning until after each group leaves) and a couple of front desk staff. You wouldn't need the same staffing levels as the regular resorts since there aren't people constantly checking in and out, etc. And if there's no groups booked, close it up and redeploy the staff elsewhere for the week. Bingo, a huge portion of the problem is solved.

The biggest complaints about the large groups (BTGs, cheerleaders, etc) generally stem from their behaviour at the hotels. They're easier to avoid at the parks, since you can see (and hear) them coming and head in a different direction. But at the hotel you're stuck. If they had a separate hotel just for the large groups, the situation would be much easier to deal with for the rest of the guests.

I really, really wish Disney would do this.

 

[AngiTN]

They key is to photograph their backpacks, flags or shirts that have their tour company name. Make notes or make clear in photo where you are & when.

Write to Disney Guest Services about your experiences and report all the groups tour companies. Details. Make it very clear their behavior and how they ruined your trip.

What I have been told is if they get complaints about particular tour companies (and they likely are the ones using younger people for their guides) they will ban them from coming to Disney. Now the kids will just move to other companies BUT companies will be more likely to maintain control if they know they face banning. A few years ago behavior started to improve as this happened but I have seen it get worse.

We had two years of horrible experiences at hotels in Jan/Feb so for a few years we moved offsite so we at least could sleep. The only way Disney will react is with reports, photos, letters and expressing extreme dissatisfaction. Hotels management will do nothing, they only care the rooms are filled. I was also told these groups get no hotel discounts but pay premium prices.

It really did. Something must have changed this year. We were there last July and saw lots of the groups. Disney was quick to stop any chanting and the only time we ever heard any was outside the park as they were walking to the bus stop.

We've never stayed at a resort with a group, that I know of. At least I never heard one so I assume we haven't. That may make a difference. We have seen them in the parks a lot, not just in July though, all the time. And they'd been well behaved. There must be a particular tour there now that is just bad behaved. I hope they get reported and stopped

 

[Anthony12345]

Someone mentioned the contact details for disney execs, I'd be interested to see those as I'm sorely tempted to email them