Brazilian tour groups...aaargh!

[sherry7]

I'm at Disney right now...we got here last Friday night, so we've been here a week now, and will be leaving in a couple of days. I'd previously read about the Brazilian tour groups, but didn't pay much attention to it.

These are some of the rudest people I have ever encountered in my life. I have been pushed and shoved several times this week by Brazilian teenagers. Yesterday at Disney Studios, an older man was knocked down and was taken away by stretcher. My DH saw this shortly after it happened, and he said the guests who witnessed it said the older man was knocked down by one of the tour groups. Line jumping is rampant. One kid will be up in the line and motion to his/her friends....which leads to 10, 15, 20 other kids jumping line. Yesterday, we stood in line for Rockin Roller Coaster for 20 minutes, and were still near the end of the line due to the rampant line jumping. (We gave up, did a fast pass, and came back later in the day.)

Most of the groups are primarily teenagers. I don't know if this is school break time or what, but there are THOUSANDS of Brazilian teenagers in the parks. Last night at Fantasmic, a group of kids started singing the Brazilian national anthem (at least that's what I think it was). Over half of the Fantasmic stadium was on their feet and singing along, so that gives you an idea of how many there are. (I'm not complaining in any way of them singing their anthem...I only mention this to demonstrate that over 1/2 of the guests at Fantasmic were a part of a tour group.)

Today at Islands of Adventure there were a couple of tour groups that were primarily families....those weren't bad at all, and the behavior was pretty normal. IMO, it is the large groups of teenagers who are unruly and cause problems.

I realize that Disney is making tons of money from these tour groups, but the resulting behavior is negatively affecting the vacations of other guests in the parks. I've heard dozens of other guests complaining about the rowdy behavior and line jumping from these teenage tour groups. My DH has said he will NEVER come back to Disney again, because of these unruly tour groups. I hate to say it, but I think I feel the same way. Disney was always a magical place for me, but this week has been anything but magical due to these large, rowdy groups. As of this moment, I have absolutely no desire to ever return to Disney....unless I could find a time period when there are none (or very few) of these tour groups here.

Please note, I'm not being ethnically insensitive. I don't think it would matter much what nationality these groups are...it's the fact that they are large groups of teenagers. My DS (age 19) agrees that large groups of American teenagers would behave just as badly.

I'm not posting this to start a flame war....just typing out my thoughts in order to vent a little.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

We encountered a huge group of them in Busch Gardens, Tampa last year and it was awful. Very rude and pushing shoving like you said. I have no problem with anyone in the park, group or not but you don't shove and push and line jump!

 

[mommytocalliesue]

We just returned today...and I will say...there were TONS of Brazilian groups there this past week! And when I say tons...I mean TONS!!! We stayed at All Star Movies...and there alone we saw 8 different tour groups.

Overall...we didn't really have a problem with them. But I have seen some who push, shove, and jump in lines. I'm sorry to those who have negative experiences with them!

 

[Hibino]

I've got a few friends living in Japan at the moment. They told me something about brazillians getting dual citizenship in Japan fairly easily for some reason or other. And it's the same over there, a lot of brazillians there start trouble etc.

It's a shame...

 

[cjb71870]

Being a regular... you got it exactly right. It's been this way for years!!!!!! Sorry to say.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

We were there over Christmas and couldn't escape one group! I was sitting down on the curb for a place for Block Party at DHS and was PUSHED out of the way by this woman (who I later noticed in the tour group). A very kind family made room for us begind them so my kids could still see. The nice woman must have seen this (being that it was directly across the street) because she made a comment about the woman's nationality and being with a tour group. I don't like to stereotype, but the teens that were in the parks and staying at ASSp to preform in the Capital Bowl were 100 times more behaved than those in the tour groups. I also, don't know that is has to do with nationality...more the tour group mentality.

 

[goofy4prez]

Being a regular... you got it exactly right. It's been this way for years!!!!!! Sorry to say.

This may be true but it is not something that should be tolerated or looked the other way by WDW. Unruleness, and line jumping should be handled severely in order for this to stop. Guests who choose to be respectful, don't line jump, or inflict bodily harm on another guest deserve the opportunity to enjoy their vacation. They should not feel intimidated by any thugs. WDW in no way should allow their safety and enjoyment to be infringed on.

When I was in college I worked at Cedar Point(Ohio) for two summers during my break. They did not tolerate unruliness or line hopping at all. If caught you were removed from the park, were not permitted to return for the day, and did not receive a single penny back as a refund. In fact there were signs posted reminding them this would not be tolerated. Perhaps this is the same approach that WDW should do.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I'm still here, and I have to agree, the Brazilian tour groups are irritating. Biggest issue is their group guide going to the Fastpass machines with a stack of park tickets about 2-3inches thick and jamming up the the lines. The CMs actually asked a group of them to move into one line at Toy Story Mania , and they said no.

This is the first year we haven't used a stroller for the kids - they're 6 and 7, and I've been a bit stressed about losing them when we encounter the groups.

 

[Love That Mouse]

I'm still here, and I have to agree, the Brazilian tour groups are irritating. Biggest issue is their group guide going to the Fastpass machines with a stack of park tickets about 2-3inches thick and jamming up the the lines. The CMs actually asked a group of them to move into one line at Toy Story Mania , and they said no.

This is the first year we haven't used a stroller for the kids - they're 6 and 7, and I've been a bit stressed about losing them when we encounter the groups.

I saw the exact same thing and wondered if this is fair? Why can't Disney limit your tickets to ten at a time? These groups were amazingly coordinated! One person would hold the flags, another would go to a ride. They would have a stack of tickets at least 3 inches thick and just sit there and feed them one at a time. I literally saw a man spend 10 minutes at the Toy Story ride! He succesfully took away one hour of Fastpass time in the time he started and when he ended!

Come on Disney! Figure out a solution so EVERYBODY can enjoy their trips, no matter where they are from!

 

[JPG]

This seems to be a year round problem these days at WDW. All I ever read was watch out for them in the summer, but here we are in the dead of winter and they are giving people fits in the parks

 

[CanadianGuy]

Ok folks.

Frustrations can run high.. but the DIS has a word filter.

Typing letters and blanking out the vowels isn't how it's done here.

Just either type the word and let he filter do it's job or don't use the word at all.

www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

Several posts in this thread that violated the word filter policy have been deleted.

I recognize the tour groups - regardless of country of origin - can be frustrating but perhaps your best course of action is to write Disney with your concerns - they are the only people in any position to effect any change.

 

[subtchr]

Last night at Fantasmic, a group of kids started singing the Brazilian national anthem (at least that's what I think it was).

Not to highjack or anything, but we will be there next week and plan to do Fantasmic Thursday night. Did it fill to capacity? What time did you get there to get a seat?

Thanks

Sue

 

[blessedby3]

We were in Disney last Jan. over Marathon and MLK for 10 days. The Brazilians were everywhere and just as rude. I was shocked at how many there were. Flags flying with people behind them all over the place. Hoping we dont encounter any HUGE groups of anyone on our March 7-14 trip

We encountered the same thing at Fantasmic too. I forgot about that until you posted...they were singing and doing the wave....it was loud!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Write all you want, but do not expect Disney to do ANYTHING to curb or control the obnoxious behavior of these groups.They make too much $$$ of of them to even think of doing that.
This sort of thing has been going on for YEARS.

 

[smylie1]

I wonder if it would do any good to write directly to the WDW tour coordinators in Brazil and to politely make them aware of the situation as well as the powers that be at WDW.

Also, I'm just wondering how many people would back me up if , during an attempt at line jumping, I were to step in the groups way and simply, forcefully say "No!" I am seriously considering doing that at our next visit which will be this week next year. Maybe instead of letting it happen and complaining, we need to take control of the situation.

 

[goofy4prez]

I recognize the tour groups - regardless of country of origin - can be frustrating but perhaps your best course of action is to write Disney with your concerns - they are the only people in any position to effect any change.

While this may be true and I'm sure they have received many letters they must already be aware of this as well. There is no way the higher ups in WDW have pixie dust in their eyes that they can't believe that some groups of people can be unruly and that line jumping and intimidation of other guests happen. This is something that just about every park in this country handles with appropriate action when witnessed with the exception of WDW.

Case in point, my dd(11) in Aug. 08 was knocked down by another person then started cursing a slew of choice words at my dd and myself for her being in the way. ALL THIS HAPPENDED WITHIN A FEW FEET OF A CM. Did this matter at all. NOPE. Did they do anything, NOPE. Did they try to intervene? NOPE. They stood by and watched this person try and intimidate me and bring a child to tears. After a few minutes a cm from inside one of the stores came out and offering to get a band aid and some Neosporine after we sat down to clean her cuts from this person who was allowed to continue on his way to do what the heck he wanted to do.

I'm not trying to pick a fight here or question you. Your advise is a correct one. And I also don't have much to gripe about at WDW but this is one huge problem and needs to be addressed by those making the big bucks.

 

[goofy4tink]

I ran unto the dread 'tour groups' last Jan....and they were exactly as reported..nasty, rude, and pushy!! It was really eye-opening to me. I really had read all the posts, over the years, about the Brazilian tour groups and figured that people were just exaggerating. That was not the case. Every single thing I had read was spot on. We finally started to look for those flags and go in the opposite direction.
On my trip last month, there were a few groups there...and again, they were 'in your face' most of the time. And again, we saw them coming and altered our plans.

I have to say that it is pretty much an entitlement mentality with these groups. These are usually pretty well-off kids with no money issues. They think the world revolves around them, and they try to get away with as much as they possibly can. I know it's a gross generalization but it is what it is.

It's just too bad that Disney continues to allow this type of behaviour in the parks. It's time for security to be there, to back up CMs who move line cutting offenders to the back of the line. Or to remove those who push and shove others..they shouldn't be allowed to remaiin in the park. I wonder what Disney would do if it were just one person doing this....pushing his way to the front of attraction lines, or shoving people down as he ran to the next thing. I'm sure that a CM would see it and call for the offender's removal from that park. But a tour group? Nope, it doesn't happen. Sure do wish the exchange rate was different..perhaps then there would be fewer non-Americans, in huge groups, in the parks, causing mayhem.

 

[stacym]

We encountered tons of them this time at both Disney and Universal. My son and daughter were in line for Rock n Rollercoaster, the wait was 70 minutes and fast passes were gone. About 30 minutes into waiting in line, the brazilian tour group who were behind them jump into the fast pass line and they never saw them come back down the exit.

We were buying groceries at Super Wal-mart and they were sitting all over the floor so you could barely walk by. A lady asked the manager why they are allowing it, he said there is nothing he can do and she said maybe that is why they behave so horribly at Disney.

We basically just ran the other way when we saw the flags coming.

 

[MakinMagicforBunky]

Aacck!! When are they leaving?? We're on our way down Monday and I really want it to be magical and happy, not me having to get up in the face of some ignorant kids!

 

[Shelton123]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.