Brazilian Tour Groups

[Alice Royal]

PP doesn't think some BTG behaviors are 'negative'? Here's a run-down of some of the worst offenses I've seen or heard of happening from my CM friends:

--Shoplifting
--Fighting (whether amongst themselves or with other guests)
--Injuring small children with their 'human chains'
--Line-cutting (often with large groups)
--Dropping to the ground and taking naps right in the middle of pathways
--Blatantly ignoring announcements of rules by CMs and then pretending to not speak English when someone tries to remind them (even though they spoke some to each other two seconds before)

I don't think ANY of those things are 'cultural differences'. Obviously these behaviors are not limited to the BTGs...but they've very concentrated within them. I've always said stereotypes exist for a reason, and from personal experience these are all very, very true. If it's true that Disney is dedicating more CMs to help them out, that's awesome, but the fact of the matter is that the sense of entitlement among these people (remember, they are the upper class who go and spend upwards of thousands of dollars in the outlets on these trips as well) has led to egregious violations of what some would call policy and others common sense...that simply should have been stamped out ages ago.

 

[WEDWDW]

The green shirted CM's with the Brazilian flag were there last summer as well, and were there in early June this year, although I didn't see many tour groups from anywhere.

Yes,they are called Super Greeters and have been used for several years.

 

[DisneyFive]

Oh my God! People from other countries and other cultures "behaving" themselves and not doing anything "upsetting" to the rest of us? Oh happy day!
I'll have to remember that the next time a cruise ship of 4000 ugly Americans gets off a ship and invades ______________________ (fill in the blank with any small foreign port). American tourists are not without sin when it comes to foreign travel. Let's stop throwing stones at South American travelers out to have some fun.

Just not with you on this one. I don't see this as a slam on Brazilians, but it's simply the only way to describe the group(s) that the OP is referring to. I'd be perfectly happy if we described these groups as Large Tour Groups. There have been countless threads, as I know you are aware, with legitimate complaints from those in these groups. It's the behavior that has been the problem, not the fact that these guests are from South America.

...and FWIW, chanting and singing as a large group at WDW is not just different to me, but annoying. I've travelled all around the globe, and understand cultural differences, but when a group is loudly overtaking the normal sounds of the park, which I enjoy, then they are imposing their noise and culture on everyone else whether they like it or not. Are they having fun? Sure, but it's rude to others that don't appreciate it.

Dan

 

[kbelle8995]

I think that any large group of kids without many adults in charge can get out of control regardless where they are from.

Completely but does anyone know what the BTG groups are saying when they are chanting. I have always wondered but never gotten up the nerve to ask.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

totally depends on how an enormous group of teenagers behaves. Some are better behaved than others.

 

[NYDisGuy]

I think that any large group of kids without many adults in charge can get out of control regardless where they are from.

Actually, the BTG usually have a couple of "adults" in charge but they are also participating in the chanting/singing/pushing that the others are doing.

 

[asta]

PP doesn't think some BTG behaviors are 'negative'? Here's a run-down of some of the worst offenses I've seen or heard of happening from my CM friends:

--Shoplifting
--Fighting (whether amongst themselves or with other guests)
--Injuring small children with their 'human chains'
--Line-cutting (often with large groups)
--Dropping to the ground and taking naps right in the middle of pathways
--Blatantly ignoring announcements of rules by CMs and then pretending to not speak English when someone tries to remind them (even though they spoke some to each other two seconds before)

I don't think ANY of those things are 'cultural differences'. Obviously these behaviors are not limited to the BTGs...but they've very concentrated within them. I've always said stereotypes exist for a reason, and from personal experience these are all very, very true. If it's true that Disney is dedicating more CMs to help them out, that's awesome, but the fact of the matter is that the sense of entitlement among these people (remember, they are the upper class who go and spend upwards of thousands of dollars in the outlets on these trips as well) has led to egregious violations of what some would call policy and others common sense...that simply should have been stamped out ages ago.

Not a CM but I have personally witnessed 4 of these offenses being committed by these large groups. Our family trips were always in July so we had many chances to observe these bad behaviors.

And please stop with the "if you say something bad about these tour groups, I am going to tell you how bad Americans are". Two wrongs do not make a right. Never, ever, ever.

 

[minnie mum]

I think that any large group of kids without many adults in charge can get out of control regardless where they are from.

Completely but does anyone know what the BTG groups are saying when they are chanting. I have always wondered but never gotten up the nerve to ask.

Unfortunately the tour group leaders are often the instigators of the negative behavior. Or at the very least do nothing to stop it.

I have no idea what they are chanting. Frankly I don't care if they are chanting "God Bless America". It is annoying and disruptive.

If, as the OP wonders, the Green Shirted Super Greeters are having a positive effect on the tour groups, then I hope they hire more. And I'm glad to see that they now have FP+ kiosks specifically for tour groups to alleviate the problems that we used to see at the legacy FP kiosks when tour group leaders would show up with a huge fist full of tickets.

 

[SRUAlmn]

PP doesn't think some BTG behaviors are 'negative'? Here's a run-down of some of the worst offenses I've seen or heard of happening from my CM friends:

--Shoplifting
--Fighting (whether amongst themselves or with other guests)
--Injuring small children with their 'human chains'
--Line-cutting (often with large groups)
--Dropping to the ground and taking naps right in the middle of pathways
--Blatantly ignoring announcements of rules by CMs and then pretending to not speak English when someone tries to remind them (even though they spoke some to each other two seconds before)

I don't think ANY of those things are 'cultural differences'. Obviously these behaviors are not limited to the BTGs...but they've very concentrated within them. I've always said stereotypes exist for a reason, and from personal experience these are all very, very true. If it's true that Disney is dedicating more CMs to help them out, that's awesome, but the fact of the matter is that the sense of entitlement among these people (remember, they are the upper class who go and spend upwards of thousands of dollars in the outlets on these trips as well) has led to egregious violations of what some would call policy and others common sense...that simply should have been stamped out ages ago.

We've witnessed almost all of the above in addition to:
- jumping into the EPCOT fountain by Spaceship Earth and splashing passerbys and laughing hysterically - when corrected by people they said "No English" and laughed
- pulling chairs away from tables at counter service restaurants and moving them to other tables so 10 of them could all sit together without asking if anyone was using the chair - I witnessed a man get up to go get a straw while his wife and children were still at the table - one of the teenagers watched it happen and swooped in and took his chair


but I think the biggest thing that bothers me is the fact that they impede on the magic that Disney works so hard to create. It's sad to me to walk down Main St 2 hours before the MSEP and instead of seeing the beautiful scenery and hearing the time-period music you see hundreds of teenagers sitting all over the sidewalks, across Main St, etc... so you can barely get by (we've literally had to step over them to get through) and all you can hear are the loud cheers and chants. Having fun and doing that at a sporting event or some other place where that is the atmosphere is one thing, but doing that in a place that has the opposite atmosphere is intrusive.

I was sort of hoping they'd be less inclined to come this year with the World Cup being held in Brazil

 

[kbelle8995]

Unfortunately the tour group leaders are often the instigators of the negative behavior. Or at the very least do nothing to stop it.

I have no idea what they are chanting. Frankly I don't care if they are chanting "God Bless America". It is annoying and disruptive.

If, as the OP wonders, the Green Shirted Super Greeters are having a positive effect on the tour groups, then I hope they hire more. And I'm glad to see that they now have FP+ kiosks specifically for tour groups to alleviate the problems that we used to see at the legacy FP kiosks when tour group leaders would show up with a huge fist full of tickets.

Try being trapped in a monorail car with a chanting group. Not just annoying but painful. And they look at you and try to get you a chant but I was Like "I have no idea what you are saying. I am not chanting"

Just a aside as a CM I was made to attend a seminar about cultural differences. When asked for an response, I wrote "please tell me how to help guests who are having issues with foreign groups." Because I received many complaints about them.

 

[Beer Me]

I think that any large group of kids without many adults in charge can get out of control regardless where they are from.

Completely but does anyone know what the BTG groups are saying when they are chanting. I have always wondered but never gotten up the nerve to ask.

They're chanting "Whitey is uptight!" Lol.

 

[kbelle8995]

They're chanting "Whitey is uptight!" Lol.

Or Americans' are idiots and I have money. Just forget I asked.

 

[JimmyV]

Just not with you on this one.... I'd be perfectly happy if we described these groups as Large Tour Groups.

Then, Dan, your actually are with me on this one, because that is exactly what I was saying. LTGs come in all colors, speak all languages, and effect the parks in the same ways. A PP listed things that the "Brazilians" do in more concentrated numbers thus "earning" them the sterotype. Ahhhhh. Sorry. Everything listed there is also done by the adorable Cheerleader groups from Missouri. And football teams from New Jersey. She says that sterotypes exist for a reason. Really? Where does "sterotype" end and "prejudice" begin? When one sees a large group of South Americans and immediately fears that shoplifting and child ramming will soon ensue, is that a sterotype or a prejudice? Yes, I understand that people find chanting to be annoying. And the stadiums that are filled with fans at the World Cup right now do not have nearly the same atmosphere as a baseball game between the Giants and Padres where people buy Chardonnay and sushi. But which fans are behaving negatively? I'm all in favor of coming down hard on bad behavior exhibited by large group mentality. But let's leave "Brazilian" out of it. Please?

They're chanting "Whitey is uptight!" Lol.

Brilliant!

 

[jsbowl16]

The tour groups are the reason that we will never stay at a value resort again. We were there with my in laws in 2000 and my brother in law and sister in law were both under the age of five. We had been waiting for the bus for over an hour and then when it came and we got on, the tour group behind us packed in so tight that you couldn't move on the bus. My mother in law was claustrophobic and had to get off of the bus. I told my future wife then that whenever we come back I will stay at moderate or above just to avoid these situations.

 

[MarineVet]

I agree with the PP who said the groups from another country should practice the culture of the country they are visiting. I've been in Japan recently, and they don't want noise on the train. You can talk to another passenger quietly but talking on cell phones in the seating area is not allowed. Text, play games, listen to music with headphones but no talking. So, we were in Rome and did as the Romans were doing.

 

[NYDisGuy]

I told my future wife then that whenever we come back I will stay at moderate or above just to avoid these situations.

There are tour groups at every resort ,not just values.

 

[JimmyV]

The tour groups are the reason that we will never stay at a value resort again. We were there with my in laws in 2000 and my brother in law and sister in law were both under the age of five. We had been waiting for the bus for over an hour and then when it came and we got on, the tour group behind us packed in so tight that you couldn't move on the bus. My mother in law was claustrophobic and had to get off of the bus. I told my future wife then that whenever we come back I will stay at moderate or above just to avoid these situations.

Yes. Pop Warner week can indeed be a hassle if you are staying at a Value Resort. Best to try to avoid that week if you can.

 

[jsbowl16]

There are tour groups at every resort ,not just values.

I have been to Disney almost every year since then and stayed at POFQ each time. I have never seen a tour group of teenagers like that at POFQ.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I agree with the PP who said the groups from another country should practice the culture of the country they are visiting. I've been in Japan recently, and they don't want noise on the train. You can talk to another passenger quietly but talking on cell phones in the seating area is not allowed. Text, play games, listen to music with headphones but no talking. So, we were in Rome and did as the Romans were doing.

This is a point I've made in the past as well! People always defend the groups by saying things such as 'they're just having fun' or 'Americans are uptight and expect them to behave when they're just teenagers on vacation.' I think its a respect you need to show someone when you're a visitor in their country. Still be YOU, but you should also try to adhere to social norms when possible.

 

[asta]

Then, Dan, your actually are with me on this one, because that is exactly what I was saying. LTGs come in all colors, speak all languages, and effect the parks in the same ways. A PP listed things that the "Brazilians" do in more concentrated numbers thus "earning" them the sterotype. Ahhhhh. Sorry. Everything listed there is also done by the adorable Cheerleader groups from Missouri. And football teams from New Jersey. She says that sterotypes exist for a reason. Really? Where does "sterotype" end and "prejudice" begin? When one sees a large group of South Americans and immediately fears that shoplifting and child ramming will soon ensue, is that a sterotype or a prejudice? Yes, I understand that people find chanting to be annoying. And the stadiums that are filled with fans at the World Cup right now do not have nearly the same atmosphere as a baseball game between the Giants and Padres where people buy Chardonnay and sushi. But which fans are behaving negatively? I'm all in favor of coming down hard on bad behavior exhibited by large group mentality. But let's leave "Brazilian" out of it. Please?


Brilliant!

Bad behavior by other groups does not make ill mannered behavior OK.