Brasilian tour groups?

[Teacher Princess]

Wait so all they do is sing loud songs in unison? That's it ?? I was thinking they were screaming USA sucks or something vulgar... meh, they provide millions of tourist dollars to the Orlando area. I didn't think it's as bad as portrayed. Heck , we were overwhelmed last time by hoard of screaming/chanting/ freaking out/ mis-behaving/rude tour group...


only they weren't from Brazil, they were pre teen American cheerleaders. I can't see the BTG being anyworse than those spoiled rude brats.

Let em all come, it's what keeps WDW in the red which means more new attractions, etc...

Bingo again!!!!! This! This!!!!

 

[jmoney4080]

It's the attitude and lack of respect that makes these tour groups off putting. On mor than 1 occasion I have seen the mass line cut followed by the no English routine. I don't care, If you peak English or not, I am pretty sure waiting in line has universal rules to it. American culture is so dominant in these countries, these BTGs obviously have some money and education to come here...that being said should I honestly believe they don't understand the language

 

[Wadecool]

Wait so all they do is sing loud songs in unison? That's it ?? I was thinking they were screaming USA sucks or something vulgar... meh, they provide millions of tourist dollars to the Orlando area. I didn't think it's as bad as portrayed. Heck , we were overwhelmed last time by hoard of screaming/chanting/ freaking out/ mis-behaving/rude tour group...


only they weren't from Brazil, they were pre teen American cheerleaders. I can't see the BTG being anyworse than those spoiled rude brats.

Let em all come, it's what keeps WDW in the red which means more new attractions, etc...

Singing loud songs in unison is just one of multiple disruptive things some of the BTG's do, as evidenced by examples provided in this thread and others.

And I think you would want WDW to be "in the black" not "in the red".

 

[Aroth28]

And I think you would want WDW to be "in the black" not "in the red".

D'oh! I meant "in the black" not "in the red". thanks for the correction

 

[iluvwesties]

Um, I don't have an issue with different cultures. But I do have an issue with rudeness. And when you're in a country other than your own, it's a good idea to understand what cultural differences are. I really can't believe that the behaviour I have seen, by South American groups, is behaviour that is santioned at home. Running into people, tossing trash on the ground and leaving it, cutting in lines, yelling and shouting so that others can't enjoy an attraction.
This isn't a question of being held up at the FP line. Well, maybe it is. When you get to a FP machine and have to stand there, watching the return time change in front of you, as the tour guide 3 people down the line is getting FP after FP...about 30+..well, it's bothersome. And I don't much care where they're from. Have more than one person stand in line and divide up the number of FPs each person is getting, rather than hold up just one line...or put in a FP machine soley for the use of large groups, with a CM in attendence.

My dd is full of exuberance when in WDW as are her friends. And there is no way the above behaviour would be okay for them. I will never embrace rudeness..nope, not ever. I can't imagine going to another country and figuring my bad behaviour would be okay and excused because I was a foreigner. I would expect travelers to understand the local customs. Besides, it's not 'American' to patiently wait in a line, or to clear your own table of trash, or to watch where you're running when in a crowd of people. It's not 'American' to keep your voice at a level that doesn't prevent others from enjoying the same things you are. It's called common courtesy. And that is pretty much the norm all over the world.

These kids from Brazil??? These aren't under-priviledged kids from the other side of the tracks. They are usually from upper middle class to upper class families. They have money to spend. Some of these kids have actually been overheard saying..'Do you know what my family paid for me to come here??? I should get to do pretty much anything I want!!' Yep, that was overheard. And I have overheard some very similar comments from these kids.
So, cut them some slack? Not happening. I have been pushed, shoved, cut in front of, yelled at...all by those who profess to not speak English. I had one woman decide that she had to be in front of us at the DHS parade many years ago. Now, understand, a CM had put us in a particular spot because my dh is a big guy and he figured that no one would try to push him around. The CM didn't want anyone else in that spot...just a few people since it was on a corner and room for only a few people. But, man, did it have a good vantage point. We were there for about 45 mins, standing and waiting. Well...about 5 mins prior to the parade start, a woman and her child (about 8ish) walked up, looked at me, and moved in front of me!! Seriously??? My child was already there!! But they shoved her to the side. Now, there was no room at all....and my dh was now sticking out into the area the CM had wanted to be kept clear. I told the woman she couldn't stand there. "No English...I here.'' 'No, you have to move' I tried to tell her. Her response..'No English!!!' Well, thank heaven that CM came along and told her to move...in Spanish after she tried the 'No English' on him !!! OMG!!! Thought I was going to kiss his feet. That woman walked away, muttering about stupid know it all CMs and who did he think he was!!!
So while I think different cultures are a wonderful thing, being from another country does not excuse you from good behaviour in a different country.

Well said

 

[kbelle8995]

Here's the thing regardless of where you are from, or how much you spend and who you are with. Behaving and being considerate of those around you should be the rule and not an exception.

Nothing okays being rude and inconsiderate, I don't care who you are.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Originally Posted by ScotsMinnie View Post
I have traveled to many different countries many of which I did not know the language and found communicating difficult.

However before going you do make an effort to at least start to know some of the language. A basic please, thank you, yes and no is always a good start. Even if you don't know the language body language is always a give away. It doesnt take a genius to figure out someone is not happy with you when you are cutting the line.

When you travel abroad it is also good to check on the customs of that country. For example I have been places where you have to cover your arms and legs, or your hair. You check and then respect the local customs. Before traveling to the US I make sure I fully understand the tip system so as not to offend.

And to be fair queueing is not just an American thing. I have stood in lines all round the world. Its not that alien a concept surely.

I would never travel to a country where I would have to cover up anything.

But, I guess that is for another thread.

I guess that would be your choice whether or not to visit a country which had those customs. If you do travel there then it would be very disrespectful not to. In the same way that people here are saying that BGT should respect the social norms of the USA.


Personally I think it is important to see different countries around the world whether or not you believe in the same things that you do. It expands your mind and opens your thinking. I would hate to have lived my life only having visited the country I live in.

For example it is customary to cover your bare arms before entering many of the Christian churches in places like Malta in Europe. Would that stop you going to Malta?

 

[ebtbmom]

We got caught up in a hoard leaving Epcot one night and their chanting was so loud that DH and I could not even hear each other speak. That is rude and obnoxious behavior. Do they have meetings before they come here to practice these chants? How does everyone know the words?

And I've noticed that there will be 100 teenagers to 1 adult, that's probably the crux of the problem. Where are these kids parents?

 

[Love Tink]

And I've noticed that there will be 100 teenagers to 1 adult, that's probably the crux of the problem. Where are these kids parents?

Um, I'm guessing their parents are in Brazil.

 

[iluvwesties]

Here's the thing regardless of where you are from, or how much you spend and who you are with. Behaving and being considerate of those around you should be the rule and not an exception.

Nothing okays being rude and inconsiderate, I don't care who you are.

ITA

 

[Jing]

Before traveling to the US I make sure I fully understand the tip system so as not to offend.

That is a huge issue I have encountered in other travel forums. I have heard folks from other countries (and even this one) complain endlessly about the tipping system and prattle on about living wages and customer service expectations. I feel very weird when I go to countries where tipping is not expected, but I try to conform as much as possible. I feel it is my responsibility to know something about where I am going, even through the US where cultural norms vary by region.

 

[gojoe]

We will be in the World the first week in July. Peek week for Disney and the BTGs. As I said earlier my complaint is the Fast Pass issue. I know Fast Pass was not invented for these groups. I've been lucky the kids have been nice and polite. Not all of them but neither is the little kid stand behind me bumping into me and stepping on my feet.
Almost forgot what I wanted to post. I plan on making guest services aware of any issues we have. It's nice to vent here but unless we make our feelings known to Disney nothing will get done.

 

[Niebz]

I haven't read this whole thread but I wanted to give my two cents anyway. We've encountered the rudeness of these groups too and it doesn't make us intolerant of cultural differences. We're from Canada, cultural differences are celebrated here and we love meeting people from around the world of all backgrounds. I would never say that everyone from Brazil is like this but the tour groups alluded to in this thread deserve most of the bad rap they get IMO.

To share just one of our experiences - we were standing at the loading gate of Big Thunder Mountain ready to board. When it opened a slew of kids from this group literally stormed the gates, pushing us and others violently out of the way to hop in the cars before us. Not only is that rude but dangerous to us and them. The cast members did their best to call them out but there wasn't much they could do about it. Something similar happened another trip on Splash Mountain. It's one thing to be loud and exuberant (some might say obnoxious but who am I to judge)? When you're putting my family at risk it's a whole other matter. It's about following a code of human decency that many of these tour groups from Brazil (although certainly not all) seem to lack.

 

[LucyBC80]

Oh wow. Being a Brazilian I read this thread with a mix of shame and perplexity. I apologize for the behavior of my peers and beg you to believe that not all Brazilians are like that. Actually most of us are very polite and do know how to behave in a foreign country.

That is the main reason I'll never, EVER use tour groups to go anywhere. I've been to the US few times and I'm always polite and mindful I'm not in my home country.

Not being fluent on the language of the country you are in is no excuse to bad behavior. Please and thank you (in any language) should be the first two words a person interested in travelling to anywhere should learn. Even if they are with a tour guide or another person who is indeed fluent.

 

[ppony]

Oh wow. Being a Brazilian I read this thread with a mix of shame and perplexity. I apologize for the behavior of my peers and beg you to believe that not all Brazilians are like that. Actually most of us are very polite and do know how to behave in a foreign country.

That is the main reason I'll never, EVER use tour groups to go anywhere. I've been to the US few times and I'm always polite and mindful I'm not in my home country.

Not being fluent on the language of the country you are in is no excuse to bad behavior. Please and thank you (in any language) should be the first two words a person interested in travelling to anywhere should learn. Even if they are with a tour guide or another person who is indeed fluent.

Can I hug you?!?!??!?
I agree w/ the others too, you're very dear and you can't control how others act. I know I'm embarrassed by how stupid some Americans can act overseas. It's easy to spot groups and bad behavior, the good stuff is overlooked because it's not making itself known in a big "neon sign" way.
Like I said earlier, We ate in Cosmic Ray's w/ a BTG and for the most part, they were average noise of not a little quieter actually and not obnoxious then and most cleaned up their dishes as the rest of us. So we saw a nice group then and i DID make a note of it.

 

[KimiCoconuts]

Oh wow. Being a Brazilian I read this thread with a mix of shame and perplexity. I apologize for the behavior of my peers and beg you to believe that not all Brazilians are like that. Actually most of us are very polite and do know how to behave in a foreign country.

That is the main reason I'll never, EVER use tour groups to go anywhere. I've been to the US few times and I'm always polite and mindful I'm not in my home country.

Not being fluent on the language of the country you are in is no excuse to bad behavior. Please and thank you (in any language) should be the first two words a person interested in travelling to anywhere should learn. Even if they are with a tour guide or another person who is indeed fluent.

You are so sweet, exactly like the Brazillians I have met in Disney and in my hometown. I love people from your country.

 

[Niebz]

Oh wow. Being a Brazilian I read this thread with a mix of shame and perplexity. I apologize for the behavior of my peers and beg you to believe that not all Brazilians are like that. Actually most of us are very polite and do know how to behave in a foreign country.

That is the main reason I'll never, EVER use tour groups to go anywhere. I've been to the US few times and I'm always polite and mindful I'm not in my home country.

Not being fluent on the language of the country you are in is no excuse to bad behavior. Please and thank you (in any language) should be the first two words a person interested in travelling to anywhere should learn. Even if they are with a tour guide or another person who is indeed fluent.

Don't feel any shame LucyBC80! It's not like you can control the actions of others and I whole heartedly believe that most Brazilians are just like you. There are bad apples in every bunch. In no way do I at least believe the rudeness and bad actions of the members of these groups represent Brazil.

 

[gojoe]

Oh wow. Being a Brazilian I read this thread with a mix of shame and perplexity. I apologize for the behavior of my peers and beg you to believe that not all Brazilians are like that. Actually most of us are very polite and do know how to behave in a foreign country.

That is the main reason I'll never, EVER use tour groups to go anywhere. I've been to the US few times and I'm always polite and mindful I'm not in my home country.

Not being fluent on the language of the country you are in is no excuse to bad behavior. Please and thank you (in any language) should be the first two words a person interested in travelling to anywhere should learn. Even if they are with a tour guide or another person who is indeed fluent.

I don't think you need to apologize for a small group of kids. Cheerleader and Pop Warner kid misbehave too.
I've only traveled out of the US a few time. I feel the phase Ugly Americans is well deserved. We expect everyone to speak English and take the American Dollar. Some of us won't even learn Good Day, Please or Thank You but we expect it of these kids. Again not all of us but enough.

From what I've seen it's only the minority of kids the rest are very friendly and polite.

 

[Kona65]

I think they are adorable.

 

[LucyBC80]

Can I hug you?!?!??!?

Sure, I'm a very huggable person!

I don't even have it in me to try and defend those kind of people. I was raised to always be extra polite and courteous to people so reading these reports leave me with sour taste in my mouth.

I did a search for "Brazil" on the forums and the sheer amount of complains against the BTG was unbelievable. I do wish Disney would do something against bigger groups, maybe enforce the agencies selling these package deals to decrease the size of the groups to around 15 or so.

ETA: thanks to everyone who understand we should not all be put in the same category.