Brazilian Tour Groups

[rgf207]

wow. This thread has certainly taken a turn for the worst. But hey, this is the DIS. I would not expect anything less.

 

[JWimberley]

We are at the end of a one month vacation at Walt Disney World currently. We arrived in late June and will be leaving in late July. We have seen literally thousands of Brazilian teenagers traveling with the tour groups and they're behavior for the most part has been typical of their age. There have been isolated incidents of people trying to cut in line and the chanting is beyond annoying but for the number of people in the groups the problems have been minor.

That being said, I have found myself referring to them as, "The Swarm" and my lovely bride calls it the, "Million Brazilian March". The logistical problems that these groups create is mind-boggling. They move from park to park and never break the groups down to less than 20 teenagers, often moving without an adult at all. Even worse is when 2 or 3 of these groups form up and create a battalion and hit an attraction. They can overwhelm a Fastpass line and make it move even more slowly than the Stand-By.

The only direct confrontation I had with one group involved line-jumping. They tried to use the, "No English" excuse and I informed them that I knew they had been trained in English as well as Spanish at school. I also instructed them as to exactly where the line started and where the girls that weren't planning on participating in the Epcot Kid Spot could wait for their friends. Imagine her surprise when the old white guy verbally reprimanded her in Spanish, a language she couldn't deny understanding. She and her friends followed my instructions to the letter and went to wait in the designated area with their tail tucked between their legs. The cast member thanked me as did numerous people in the line with us...

I have learned that this is a time period to try to avoid at Disney World just as I try to avoid the Gay Pride activities during June.

 

[kaligal]

We are at the end of a one month vacation at Walt Disney World currently. We arrived in late June and will be leaving in late July. We have seen literally thousands of Brazilian teenagers traveling with the tour groups and they're behavior for the most part has been typical of their age. There have been isolated incidents of people trying to cut in line and the chanting is beyond annoying but for the number of people in the groups the problems have been minor.

That being said, I have found myself referring to them as, "The Swarm" and my lovely bride calls it the, "Million Brazilian March". The logistical problems that these groups create is mind-boggling. They move from park to park and never break the groups down to less than 20 teenagers, often moving without an adult at all. Even worse is when 2 or 3 of these groups form up and create a battalion and hit an attraction. They can overwhelm a Fastpass line and make it move even more slowly than the Stand-By.

The only direct confrontation I had with one group involved line-jumping. They tried to use the, "No English" excuse and I informed them that I knew they had been trained in English as well as Spanish at school. I also instructed them as to exactly where the line started and where the girls that weren't planning on participating in the Epcot Kid Spot could wait for their friends. Imagine her surprise when the old white guy verbally reprimanded her in Spanish, a language she couldn't deny understanding. She and her friends followed my instructions to the letter and went to wait in the designated area with their tail tucked between their legs. The cast member thanked me as did numerous people in the line with us...

I have learned that this is a time period to try to avoid at Disney World just as I try to avoid the Gay Pride activities during June.

Call me crazy, but since they speak Portuguese, isn't it possible they wouldn't know Spanish?

I took Spanish, too, but in no way do I have a serious command of the language.

Do they really make all their people multi-lingual?

 

[mimmi]

We are at the end of a one month vacation at Walt Disney World currently. We arrived in late June and will be leaving in late July. We have seen literally thousands of Brazilian teenagers traveling with the tour groups and they're behavior for the most part has been typical of their age. There have been isolated incidents of people trying to cut in line and the chanting is beyond annoying but for the number of people in the groups the problems have been minor.

That being said, I have found myself referring to them as, "The Swarm" and my lovely bride calls it the, "Million Brazilian March". The logistical problems that these groups create is mind-boggling. They move from park to park and never break the groups down to less than 20 teenagers, often moving without an adult at all. Even worse is when 2 or 3 of these groups form up and create a battalion and hit an attraction. They can overwhelm a Fastpass line and make it move even more slowly than the Stand-By.

The only direct confrontation I had with one group involved line-jumping. They tried to use the, "No English" excuse and I informed them that I knew they had been trained in English as well as Spanish at school. I also instructed them as to exactly where the line started and where the girls that weren't planning on participating in the Epcot Kid Spot could wait for their friends. Imagine her surprise when the old white guy verbally reprimanded her in Spanish, a language she couldn't deny understanding. She and her friends followed my instructions to the letter and went to wait in the designated area with their tail tucked between their legs. The cast member thanked me as did numerous people in the line with us...

I have learned that this is a time period to try to avoid at Disney World just as I try to avoid the Gay Pride activities during June.

Why on earth can't somebody who is a Portuguese native speaker deny that they speak Spanish??
There's quite a difference between those two languages and while most people in the world learn at least one foreign language you can't be sure that all Brazilians learn Spanish .

 

[aubriee]

Call me crazy, but since they speak Portuguese, isn't it possible they wouldn't know Spanish?

I took Spanish, too, but in no way do I have a serious command of the language.

Do they really make all their people multi-lingual?

As a matter of fact most do speak several languages pretty fluently. I have some neighbors who are Brazillian. The husband came from a fairly poor background, but he speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish both fluently and has since he was a small child. His wife came from a more affluent background and was actually part of a Brazillian tour group to WDW once. She says she has always been fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and German. She comes from the southern part of Brazil (forgot exactly where). I've spoken to them about the groups in WDW and she laughs and says she hates to admit to once being part of such a group. She says her group was one of the ones that acted really bad at WDW and admits to pulling the "No English" routine more than once when someone got onto them for something. She says they knew they were acting bad, but just didn't care. For alot of them it was the first time they'd been away from momma and papa and they knew the chaperone wouldn't tell on them, because if he did he'd lose customers for his next tour. His only job was to keep them happy, not to tell them what to do. He did not want to do anything to make a kid complain to the parents, so let them do exactly what they wanted, while they treated him like a slave.

 

[kbelle8995]

The only direct confrontation I had with one group involved line-jumping. They tried to use the, "No English" excuse and I informed them that I knew they had been trained in English as well as Spanish at school. I also instructed them as to exactly where the line started and where the girls that weren't planning on participating in the Epcot Kid Spot could wait for their friends. Imagine her surprise when the old white guy verbally reprimanded her in Spanish, a language she couldn't deny understanding. She and her friends followed my instructions to the letter and went to wait in the designated area with their tail tucked between their legs. The cast member thanked me as did numerous people in the line with us...

You get a round of applause and this.

 

[miami305]

wow. This thread has certainly taken a turn for the worst. But hey, this is the DIS. I would not expect anything less.

Yep. And in the land of DIS, Brazil is predominately a country of White Spanish speakers.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Putting on my flame retardant suit...

Although we did witness three girls get RIPPED by their chaperone very loudly in Portuguese for what we think was falling behind and getting lost. I mean, that chaperone was UPSET!!! I would NOT have wanted to cross that lady!!!

And here lies the problem with the pushing and shoving among the BTG members trying to catch up with their groups. If they fall ever so slightly behind (just stop a moment to take in the Disney atmosphere we're all used to), they risk being cut off by a family with a stroller or an elderly couple, one or both riding ECVs. So the BTG members will do anything to get back to their tour group, so they would not be subjected to the RIPPING.

And I'm sure the RIPPING including something along the lines of "If you fall behind again, we'll put you on the next plane to Rio or Sao Paulo.

Of course I'm not condoning the behavior. The BTGs are way too large to have only one or two in charge. They should be broken up into many smaller groups.

 

[jalpert]

Crazy thread, has me worried for January.

Lots of comparisons to Brazilians and Americans, but I'm not sure that's the issue. From what I gather, American tour groups (like cheerleaders) can come together at times, but also don't hold 50+ tight the entire time.

As far as most of the complaints, sitting in the isles, chanting, holding up fastpass lines, over-running fast pass returns lines etc are not due to the kids being brats but the groups just being too big.

10 kids sitting down, not too big a deal. 10 kids together, probably get board of chanting quickly. 10 kids together, not that big a deal in the fastpass lines or return lines.

Maybe Disney can just help these guys structure their groups so they aren't so big.

Line cutting, pushing etc sounds horrible. Someone assaults me, pushes me, or worse my wife, I'm not sure I have the control and maturity of some of the people on this board. The line cutting sounds fairly isolated though.

At the end of the day they're kids. They can be obnoxious but they really have a bark much louder than their bite.

 

[KellyNY]

What I do not understand why they keep them together all the time. There are park maps in many languages right at the entrance. Group of 5 kids cannot possibly get lost there. Check points is the answer. I'm sure small groups would be less comfortable to cut in lines, and since they would not wait for anyone they would not start those chants. Disney is not Olimpics, you do not have to walk together with a flag of your country infront of you.

 

[JWimberley]

Why on earth can't somebody who is a Portuguese native speaker deny that they speak Spanish??
There's quite a difference between those two languages and while most people in the world learn at least one foreign language you can't be sure that all Brazilians learn Spanish .

Because Spanish and Portuguese are both taught concurrently starting in their early education centers. English is added usually during their 3rd or 4th year... Anyone who completed the minimum education in Brazil has a rudimentary understanding of English and is fluent in Spanish at the very least. Any of these students that are planning on continuing on for technical or college prep would have to be fluent in all three to pass their entrance exams.

Most families that can afford to send their daughters on an extended vacation to Disney World for their 15th birthday likely expect them to continue their education beyond the minimum...

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

FWIW I just returned from several days in the parks. The BTG's were out in full force. The all teen ones, the all girls ones, and some smaller 20 person or so ones that were families traveling at BTG's. They even had some family tour shirts that were pretty neat. I probably saw 20 different groups. At DHS on Sat within 5 minutes not exaggerating I saw 5 from walking in down to RnR to get a FP. Did they stay in a big gaggle most of the day? yep. Did they chant and have fun? yep. I even went on a few rides with them *gasp* and they were fun. Coming down off EE and having your whole train clapping and cheering b/c it was fun was great. Did I have to wait for 15 minutes for my food at Cosmic Rays b/c the language barrier was so great that most of the tourees were not claiming thier food as their numbers were called? yes. Did they ruin my trip? no. It really wasn't a big deal. If I were a teenager I would have loved an opportunity like that to not only visit a foreign country but to visit WDW. They are just having a good time and don't set out with thier #1 trip objective to ruin all other WDW visitors vacations.

BTG's in the Disney fan community are completely blown out of proportion, this is my 2nd July trip with BTG's and I'm adding them to my list of things the DIS really over exaggerates: Pop Warner, Love Bugs, Bed Bugs, The Evils of WDW transportation, and BTG's.

 

[atp]

Because Spanish and Portuguese are both taught concurrently starting in their early education centers. English is added usually during their 3rd or 4th year... Anyone who completed the minimum education in Brazil has a rudimentary understanding of English and is fluent in Spanish at the very least. Any of these students that are planning on continuing on for technical or college prep would have to be fluent in all three to pass their entrance exams.

That's not true at all. I've lived in Brazil my whole life and I'm not fluent in Spanish, neither is anyone I know. It is not regularly taught in schools, not all schools teach it, and it's definitely not mandatory. You can opt out, if it's even offered. Some schools teach it, but you can usually opt to take that or english. Some schools do not teach spanish at all. You are right though that they start those classes at around 3rd grade. Some schools start earlier, but a lot start at 3rd grade or even later.

Also, it's a very basic class. VERY. As in you can get passing grades and not know much at all. You also do not need to know Spanish to go to college. Knowing very basic English is plenty.

That said, most Brazilians know please and thank you and shut up and a few other words and expressions in English. Any teenager who claims to not understand please, excuse me, shut up, a few curse words, is lying. I don't know anyone who does not know what those mean.

 

[ton80]

Disney does not care as long as the groups money is green. We just go in the opposite direction which the groups are going to.

 

[KellyNY]

FWIW I just returned from several days in the parks. The BTG's were out in full force. The all teen ones, the all girls ones, and some smaller 20 person or so ones that were families traveling at BTG's. They even had some family tour shirts that were pretty neat. I probably saw 20 different groups. At DHS on Sat within 5 minutes not exaggerating I saw 5 from walking in down to RnR to get a FP. Did they stay in a big gaggle most of the day? yep. Did they chant and have fun? yep. I even went on a few rides with them *gasp* and they were fun. Coming down off EE and having your whole train clapping and cheering b/c it was fun was great. Did I have to wait for 15 minutes for my food at Cosmic Rays b/c the language barrier was so great that most of the tourees were not claiming thier food as their numbers were called? yes. Did they ruin my trip? no. It really wasn't a big deal. If I were a teenager I would have loved an opportunity like that to not only visit a foreign country but to visit WDW. They are just having a good time and don't set out with thier #1 trip objective to ruin all other WDW visitors vacations.

BTG's in the Disney fan community are completely blown out of proportion, this is my 2nd July trip with BTG's and I'm adding them to my list of things the DIS really over exaggerates: Pop Warner, Love Bugs, Bed Bugs, The Evils of WDW transportation, and BTG's.

Try to live with them for 10 days in resort.

Yes it is possible to walk another direction in parks and you expect noise at the parks, but I did not enjoy chanting at 1AM at resort and I did not enjoy their costume parties with music and so when it could be heard to food court area and I definitely did not enjoy when a group of them ran(they prefered to run over walking in resort) to food court area where we were all watching a pool side movie and started screaming, yes screaming, they were standing together and for some reason felt the need to be louder then movie.

I have more examples, 10 days is a long time, so no, it is not blown out of proprtions, just not everyone interacted with them other then seeing them walking and occasionally chanting. They do have fun, no doubt, so am I singing in a shower but when your fun affects others having fun, tune it down.

 

[atp]

Try to live with them for 10 days in resort.

Yes it is possible to walk another direction in parks and you expect noise at the parks, but I did not enjoy chanting at 1AM at resort and I did not enjoy their costume parties with music and so when it could be heard to food court area and I definitely did not enjoy when a group of them ran(they prefered to run over walking in resort) to food court area where we were all watching a pool side movie and started screaming, yes screaming, they were standing together and for some reason felt the need to be louder then movie.

I have more examples, 10 days is a long time, so no, it is not blown out of proprtions, just not everyone interacted with them other then seeing them walking and occasionally chanting. They do have fun, no doubt, so am I singing in a shower but when your fun affects others having fun, tune it down.

I would have asked to be moved to a different resort or somewhere in the resort where they could not bother me.

Not all tour groups are that annoying and it's not exclusive to Brazillians.

However, there are some tour groups from Brazil that I hope I never EVER encounter. And I'm from Brazil.

I found one on youtube once where the tour "Guides" had microphones and cameras and were interviewing the teenagers they were responsible for as if they were celebrities, and screaming every time they found on and generally encouraging them to be loud and obnoxious. It made me so angry. Sadly, sometimes the tour guides are the ones to blame, and not for not controlling, but for actively trying to get the teenagers to act in a way that disturbs others. That's when it pisses me off the most. I can understand teenagers not knowing how to behave, but for chaperones and tour guides to convince them to misbehave? That just makes my blood boil.

 

[brerbear]

I have been down here with my family since July 1 and the South American tour groups are everywhere. It is true that they travel in one large mass and can mess with both stand-by and fast pass lines alike. However, to me, they seem well behaved and having a ton of fun. My two year-old son "flirts" with the girls in line and they have a great time with him. Like all other groups of people, i am sure there are some bad eggs but they have every right to enjoy the World as much as my family does.

 

[KellyNY]

I would have asked to be moved to a different resort or somewhere in the resort where they could not bother me.

Not all tour groups are that annoying and it's not exclusive to Brazillians.

However, there are some tour groups from Brazil that I hope I never EVER encounter. And I'm from Brazil.

I found one on youtube once where the tour "Guides" had microphones and cameras and were interviewing the teenagers they were responsible for as if they were celebrities, and screaming every time they found on and generally encouraging them to be loud and obnoxious. It made me so angry. Sadly, sometimes the tour guides are the ones to blame, and not for not controlling, but for actively trying to get the teenagers to act in a way that disturbs others. That's when it pisses me off the most. I can understand teenagers not knowing how to behave, but for chaperones and tour guides to convince them to misbehave? That just makes my blood boil.

I agree that not all of them are bad and I agree that many times tour guides or lack of them are to blame. However I will not agree that teens donot know how to act, they are not little kids. I highly doubt that there is any country on the map where parents teach kids bad manners or no respect to others.
At CBR they were placed at central locations, so basically no matter where you move, you will hear it from main area and why should I move, why could not they place them to farest village where noise would not be heard to main area and would not disturb others guests, we also pay money and a lot, but I guess they pay more and Disney closes eyes on problems they create.

 

[davmill]

A lot of these post make being around these groups sounds like Mardi Gra on Bourbon Street. Haven't had the experience of a really big group but usually they are easy to identify, they all have the same colored t-shirts. Just look for a big patch of color and avoid it.

 

[atp]

I agree that not all of them are bad and I agree that many times tour guides or lack of them are to blame. However I will not agree that teens donot know how to act, they are not little kids. I highly doubt that there is any country on the map where parents teach kids bad manners or no respect to others.
At CBR they were placed at central locations, so basically no matter where you move, you will hear it from main area and why should I move, why could not they place them to farest village where noise would not be heard to main area and would not disturb others guests, we also pay money and a lot, but I guess they pay more and Disney closes eyes on problems they create.

Some teenagers do know how to behave, but a lot of them don't realize how they should behave in a theme park and don't realize that their behavior is disruptive.

Come to think of it, many adults don't either, no matter the nationality.

It sucks that you were stuck in that situation. I'm sorry Disney did nothing to help you. I'd be calling the cops on those kids if Disney was unwilling to help. Aren't there laws about noise after a certain time in the US? Because here, after 10pm you cannot be loud like you describe. It's crazy that they would think it's okay in the US, in a hotel no less. It's even crazier that no one stopped them. No wonder they keep acting like that, Disney pretty much encourages them do do so.