brazilian tour group

[smidgy]

we just returned. stayed 2 night at sports. always LOVED the3 all star resorts, but never been to WDW in JULY. we frequent WDW often. Always stay on property and encourage all our friends to do the same.

boy, were we disappointed.!!

we requested home run section. we received the room we wanted.. so happY!!! never once was it told to us (either when we made the reservations, OR when they assigned us the room, that that whole section was basically taken up by a very rude brazillian tour group.

now, had we been told that at booking, we would have had the choice to choose another resort. at check in, they should have told us that basically the whole area was taken up by this whole group!
we should have known from the start. as we tried to get to our room with our luggage, the whole walkway was taken up by soccer groups that , not only refused to stand aside so we could use the walkway, but gave us dirty looks and swore at us ( I know a bit of dif. languages to know portuguese/spanish swear words)
we were basically shoved out of lounge chairs at the pool, were not only sworn at for using the DSAs, but hubby was physically shoved by.. NOT a kid, but an adult, who didnt want us smoknig there. we had a soccer ball banged against our window at around 11 pm(the sign says 10 pm is quiet time).
our bus ride home was a nightmare (from MK) LOUD chanting, yelling, the bus driver did nothing. when we approached a Cm on a segway, we were condescendingly told that "july is Latin time in WDW and THEY are our guests". what are we? chopped liver? aren't we ALSO their guests? this is our 17th trip down, always staying on property?
I would have felt better about it if we had been forewarned... either when we made the reservations, or at check in., ie, "I know you requested the home run area, but you should know those 2 bldgs, are basically taken up with a huge scoccer tour group... would you rather be in the tennis or basketball section? or, since we failed to mention this when you made the ressies, in the surf;s up section?
We got absolutely NO sleep those 2 nights.. and to say that ther ewas no "disney MAGIC" would be an understatement.
when my boys were young we attended MANY a soccer tournament with them in various cities. we NEVER allowed our boys to act this way. and the so-called chaperones were just as bad.
NO consideration at all for other guests.

we are ALL disney guests. the Cm basically was telling us that, as US citizens, this group was My guests.
no, I paid to be there, I am as much a guest as they are.

If I was at All stars in February, and yelled and caused a raucous and kept folks up at 1 am, I'm sure I would be reprimanded. but, it's ok if you are part of a big group?

there needs to be a curfew. the security was "present", but did nothing. said they couldn't do anything.

at the LEAST, let OTHER GUESTS know what they might encounter. the signs specifically said "quiet time after 10 pm." now, I don't begrudge some teens having fun late at night, I raised a few teens myself. this was ridiculous, and Disney knows it.
\
large groups are big money for disney... so are repeat customers. make rules for large groups, and enforce the rules. and forewarn unsuspecting families.

 

[goopysolelady]

What a nightmare for you ! ....and I know exactly what you're talking about! While we never had the misfortune of being at the same resort, in the past, we've experienced these groups in the parks and THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOO RUDE ! We could avoid them as much as possible in the parks but to have them staying in the same building as you did ... OMG! We'd been taking our Disney trips in Sept. but will be moving them back to June/July/August since DGD's are getting older and will now need to stay in school. Pulling them out in the lower grades was not a problem. You've reminded me to NEVER book a July vacation! So sorry your vacation was miserable but take heart in knowing you've reminded at least one Disney "nut" to stay away in July !

 

[smidgy]

this was our first, and last, july trip. when the boys were young, we took them in early june.
since posting this I discovered a "closed" thread about the same thing.
I guess a lot of people think we should just "excuse" the behaviour, given it is a dif. culture.
we have been once before during pop warner. thought that was bad enough.
I don't care what culture it is, brazil, america, whatever. bad behaviour is bad behaviour and disney should not tolerate it.

 

[annieL]

I agree completely! Quiet at night is important to me and so are general good manners.

 

[fla4fun]

I didn't have any resort issues staying at CR from the tour groups, but I guess from what the OP was told, it's basically up to us as guests to ask if there are any large groups in house and to be assigned a room as far from them as possible. Dealing with a big group of drunk conventioneers isn't all that much different than dealing with a group of overactive teens when it's all said and done. I guess I'll just have to add that to my check in "spiel". Or maybe we should all be putting "quiet area" as our first request when making room requests.

I agree though that there should be certain standards of guest behavior, and those standards should be enforced. There is absolutely no reason for guests to be disruptive after hours at the resort, and no reason security couldn't come and take care of it. I guess if it gets bad enough that guests start calling 911 instead of the front desk, maybe something will happen. I know the news media here would be all over it if 911 calls started being made from Disney resorts - and Disney wouldn't want that kind of publicity. I guess I have been extremely fortunate that I haven't had the really bad issues with groups that some people here on the DIS have had.

 

[The_Aviator]

From what I have heard, these tour groups do seem to be something of a problem around this time of year. Hopefully they will stay at home while we are there!

I don't think it is exactly fair to blame Disney for these groups arriving, after all, they are a company and times are still pretty tough. However, I do agree that there should be some changes made to accomodation for these groups. What these changes could be, I'm not sure, but something has to be done.

 

[n2mm]

I've experienced a "July" WDW visit too. I rarely go in July now, but when I do I never stay in a value because of this. I have to deal with the groups in the parks, but at least not 24 hours. OP, did you try to get moved to a different resort? Unfortunately, that's what I would've attempted to do. OP you should write a letter about your trip. While it won't change anything, it might make you feel better to vent.

 

[RMulieri]

I have had similar experiences with them going in July, which is why I skip July if Ican or stay Deluxe and hope for the best.This solution doesn't work for everyone and I realize that.I am so sorry this happened to you. Disney doesn't so all that much.They know its an issue, but they also realize the huge amounts of money these tour groups bring, so they won't rock the boat.If you have to go in july I foundthat it helped when I also learned a few phrases in portuguese ..Things like " NO you can not cut in line " etc ..It seemed to work ,especially when some of them play the " I don't understand english" game.

 

[jagafen]

I understand that you're frustrated, understandably so. Not everyone vacations in the same manner. (I"m trying to be diplomatic). Did you ask to be moved when you realized where your room was? You understand that the CMs can't "forewarn" guests checking in about the presence of a particular group of people....that's prejudical and racist. How would you feel if upon checking in, you were told there were a bunch of "Swiss" in your section and did you REALLY want to stay there, and you yourself were Swiss? OR you were related to people who are Swiss? (again, choosing them, because they're neutral) As soon as there was a potential issue, I would have checked to see if I could switch buildings/rooms if at all possible. But I do truly empathize with you. I can't stand rudeness, regardless of the nationality of it ill-mannered. It can really ruin a vacation.

 

[palmtreelover08]

I understand that you're frustrated, understandably so. Not everyone vacations in the same manner. (I"m trying to be diplomatic). Did you ask to be moved when you realized where your room was? You understand that the CMs can't "forewarn" guests checking in about the presence of a particular group of people....that's prejudical and racist. How would you feel if upon checking in, you were told there were a bunch of "Swiss" in your section and did you.

While it may not be appropriate for the CM to give out the details of the group, it would not be racist or prejudical to mention that there is a very large group staying in that building and to ask if they would like to be moved to a potentially less active area, or if they would like to stay where the action is. There are ways to handle the situation with kit gloves to avoid hurting anyones sensitivities.

I was there the first week of July this year. I will say that I did not have any problems with the tour groups, but I also rented a car (So I did not have any bus issues). In addition, I also stocked up early in the day on fast-passes so that if I saw the tour guide flags heading towards the same attraction I was, I just headed the other way. I did notice a tour guide that had a TON of cards in the hands at a fast pass machine, waiting to get fast passes. I was glad I wasn't behind her, and relieved that I didn't have to use my fast passes exactly at the time stated on the card. All that being said, I have read enough on this board to realize that the tour group numbers increase through July. I will not be going to Disney from the 2nd thru 4th week of July.

 

[scottmel]

Aw I am so sorry that happened to you. We saw a few Brazilian tour groups in June a the parks and DD11 was fascintated with them. Took many pictures and I even dedicated a 2 page spread to them in my PhotoPass Scrapbook!!! They were an ODD lot of people...So sorry they stayed where you were. But I agree with PP, eventhough I stay Deluxe I always ask abount conventions - is this a high week for them? should I move elsewhere, etc.....We love YC and BWI and knock on wood have never had loud conventioneers but I do ask bc I doubt disney would volunteer the information.....

 

[Mel6197]

We stayed at Sports last Year Aug. First week of our trip was great, nice time, No worries.
2nd week. We were INVADED! Softball Teams, Baseball Teams, Stomping Teams, ( is that considered Dance?)

Holy Swiss Cheese. Talk about LOUD!!

We were in the Main pool and the Stomping Team decided to come and join us. Now they stayed in the one section of the pool and werent nasty Just LOUD! yelling their cheers and clapping,
So we decided we just wanted a quiet afternoon, over to the Goofy Pool we went, and OMGoodness!!!
Boom Boxes playing Spanish Dance Music and a Zillion teens over there.
I looked at my sister and the kids and said, you know Music pool is just right over the parking lot.
So we decided to keep walking to see if maybe it would be nicer there..

Well We got there and just froze for a moment, Looking at each other and then back to the pool, then at each other again.

Um. No teens, No stomping, clapping, yelling, jumping. All we saw was a bunch of families. hannah Montana music in the background.

So for this year we are staying for part of our trip at Music.

 

[bicker]

While it may not be appropriate for the CM to give out the details of the group, it would not be racist or prejudical to mention that there is a very large group staying in that building and to ask if they would like to be moved to a potentially less active area, or if they would like to stay where the action is.

That doesn't really make sense, though, since even a guest who would like to stay "where the action is" would generally prefer not to stay where the action is that of some group of which they're not a part. So basically, you're suggesting that the CM prompt the guest as to whether they'd like to be place in the midst of some group of which they're not a part, or somewhere else. The number of times that a guest will choose the former is so low as to be practically insignificant. Therefore, you're really saying that the CM should be moving guests away from areas where there are members of a group staying.

However, unless the resort is mostly empty, some guests will need to be placed next to and even amidst (due to room configuration considerations) where large groups are placed, regardless. No guest is better than another, so why should some guests be prompted to move, thereby devoting other guests to the lesser experience? In the general case, your idea just pushes the problem around, rather than relieves it, and ruins the efficiency gained from the standard room allocation process Disney employs. And, (again) unless the resorts are mostly empty, there is no up-side for anyone, on average, since guests will be harmed by this practice that you suggested as often as they'd benefit from it.

There isn't any way to address this problem that is fair and optimal for everyone. I think trying to present any solution contending that would be the result is off-kilter. Due to the discrete nature of the problem, someone is going to get the short-end of the stick, either the general guest, the large groups, or Disney.

 

[Coconuts]

So sorry to hear about your vacation. Note to self, don't go to WDW in July!

 

[misseulalie]

Thank you for this thread!

I was about to book one of the value resorts for a quick weekend getaway with the kids.
Now I will spend an extra $45 and move up to Port Orleans.
I completely forgot about the tour groups staying at the value resorts.

 

[MissionMouse]

I hope the OP complained to Disney Executive Management. Over the years the bottom line has taken precedence and unruly groups that become mobs are encouraged to return. Rules and policies appear to be more for those who abide by them, with a few exceptions where safety and security are involved. Planning a trip to Disney is becoming more of a minefield...and I would encourage Disney to build a resort or two entirely designed and designated to lodge large groups, so their behaviors and gathering do not impact or intimidate other guest who are there to experience Disney Magic and not a non-Disney event.

 

[creativeamanda]

This concerns me about going next year in July. I'm hoping that by staying in a deluxe resort, I woun't deal with it at the resort. There were a lot of them (the tour groups) in June, as well. I found that they were more likely to be in the park with EMH that evening and weren't at the parks at opening. I guess staying up late at night kept them in the room. So if I avoid them touring like I normally do and at the resort, it won't be an issue.

 

[lovesdumbo]

This concerns me about going next year in July. I'm hoping that by staying in a deluxe resort, I woun't deal with it at the resort. There were a lot of them (the tour groups) in June, as well. I found that they were more likely to be in the park with EMH that evening and weren't at the parks at opening. I guess staying up late at night kept them in the room. So if I avoid them touring like I normally do and at the resort, it won't be an issue.

I think a lot of them stay offsite so I wouldn't think they would be doing EMH. I didn't do any PM EMH on our trip last week so I can't say for sure but I did see tons of them at park opening.

I won't say that I would never go in July again but it certainly won't be my first choice.

 

[kymom99]

I'm wondering if there tends to be damage to the rooms these groups are assigned to. If they are as disrespectful as they seem, I would imagine they wouldn't care much about how they leave their rooms when they leave. That could be costly for Disney.

Also, if someone physically assaulted me (like the pushing that the OP mentioned) I would demand that the management do something or I would call the police and file a report. I am not a confrontational person, but I would draw the line at someone getting physical.

The average guest truly has no idea to avoid July. It would seem that if Disney got enough bad press, they would change some of their policies.

 

[skater]

I was a little upset last Feb. when my DH and I were placed in the middle of a cheerleading group at CBR. I felt like the resort should have made an effort to warn me or give me a choice. We ended up being pleasantly surprised at the good behavior of the girls. We never heard a peep out of them, and their leaders were very much in control.

I would be very upset if I had experienced something like the OP. I don't have enough money to re-do a trip right away if its messed up. I understand that anything can go wrong, and we've had some rough trips, but I think this is just wrong.

IMO, there are universal rights and wrongs. I love different cultures, but its rude to push people, curse at them, etc. I think that's universally wrong. I hope that if I have an experience like that, that Disney would move me at my request. I'm not sure what their policy is, but my hope is that they would help me to get on with my precious vacation as quickly as possible. I'm not a complainer (its usually not worth it and much happier to overlook as much as possible), but there is a minimum standard and expectation.