Dueling Banjos, er...Brazilians

[Troy08]

One of my objectives on this trip was to see Fantasmic. Our second day was hot but little or no rain was predicted so we park hopped over to MGM for the show. We arrived a good hour and 10 minutes early to assure a good seat. It was a hoot just to sit there and people watch. Slowly but oh so surely, the Brazilian tour groups started to arrive. the Orange group over there, the black/white over here, the royal blue group in the middle and so on. There must have been 8-10 groups in all. They all started shouting, singing, clapping etc. One group, then the next group would try to out do them, it was like listening to that old song from Deliverence, Dueling Banjos.

Finally a group of kids from Michigan got up and started chanting USA-USA in a vain attempt to drown out the Brazilians. It didn't work! That was about the only time those groups did irritate me. We saw them mostly at MGM, did not really notice a whole lot of tour groups the day we did MK.

Someone earlier mentioned that the tour director has all their passes and hogs the FP machines? Can they do that, stand their forever getting FPs? I didn;t notice that but would be really irritated if I were the person behind them!

 

[HollisterSweetie]

0h wow i feel for you! While at Epcot on July 4, i along with several other people, arrived a good 3 hours early in order to obtain views from along the rails. Well, about an hour prior to the start of the show, several of these Brazilian tour groups decided to show up. One group decided to push through all of us to be next to the railing. Then the groups proceeded to shout at each other like you mentioned right up until the show started. Once the special 4th of July presentation started, they were chanting "brazil brazil" it made me sick. So obnoxious they were.....

 

[Uncleromulus]

"Obnoxious" dosen't even seem to fit these groups anymore...

 

[TZMOM]

Are they mostly teenagers or of mixed ages? Do you think they're behaving like that because they're in another country w/o their parents? I hope my son would behave "normally" when he's not w/me, but you never know. . . Not saying it's OK to act like these people did, just wondering the age range.

 

[Leota]

The ones I've encountered were young people - teens thru maybe early 20's.

 

[Schmeck]

How can one tour director hog multiple fastpass machines? Aren't there 3-4 machines at least at each location?

 

[Martha7]

Brazilians have a lot of spirit and enthusiasm in general. My experience is that they often don't expect you to find their spirited behavior obnoxious. You're supposed to admire them and wish you were in that cool group of kids having such a fun time! When I lived in Brazil, it was very interesting. Let's say that you go into a store to complain about a product that you bought that doesn't work. It won't help you to get irritated; they don't respond to anger. It's a very happy society in general, which is amazing, given all of the problems that the people suffer with, in terms of a poorly run country, administratively; corruption, inefficiency, etc. Think "Carnivale!" People who have nothing in terms of material wealth, dancing and singing. They have a joie de vivre that's hard to find anywhere else. That's why people generally love Brazil, but I could see how the chanting would get to you!

 

[mom2rb]

When we went to see Fantasmic last Dec. there was a large group of Brazilian girls. I think they were a soccer group. They were chanting and doing the wave. My boys loved it. They are 6. The girls would point at them and get them to stand up and chant with them. Yes, it got annoying after a few minutes, but it kept my boys from saying "how much longer?"

 

[eclectics]

Brazilians have a lot of spirit and enthusiasm in general. My experience is that they often don't expect you to find their spirited behavior obnoxious. You're supposed to admire them and wish you were in that cool group of kids having such a fun time! When I lived in Brazil, it was very interesting. Let's say that you go into a store to complain about a product that you bought that doesn't work. It won't help you to get irritated; they don't respond to anger. It's a very happy society in general, which is amazing, given all of the problems that the people suffer with, in terms of a poorly run country, administratively; corruption, inefficiency, etc. Think "Carnivale!" People who have nothing in terms of material wealth, dancing and singing. They have a joie de vivre that's hard to find anywhere else. That's why people generally love Brazil, but I could see how the chanting would get to you!

They must have some wealth to afford to come to the US for a holiday. I can't afford to go to Brazil on mine! I read these teenagers come from well to do families and it is some sort of rite of passage to raise holy hell. If I were to vist another country, I would certainly have the courtesy to find out what is taboo and offensive to the country I am visting! I suspect these "tour groups" know exactly what they are doing and don't give a darn. What annoys me is that I'm sure they were taught manners and probably wouldn't dream of acting that way at home (chanting a song and pushing old ladies and kids to the ground to cut in line are two different things). They get away with their behavior because Disney lets them!!!!!!

 

[battricia]

Oh my god!! People having FUN at disneyworld?! What a disaster!!! What on earth were those brazillians THINKING having so much fun, chanting and singing at the (un)happiest place on earth!!!!!!!

 

[goofyernmost]

You know, we didn't get the nickname "ugly americans" by chance. When we have gone to different countries our behavior has been unbelievable. I have seen people get mad because the people in the country they are in, don't speak english. Laugh at the culture and habits, right in front of them. Point and ridicule. Make a scene in hotels because they didn't get the color television in their room. Or because they can't find a place to buy a cheeseburger.

I have been embarrassed sometimes to be with American groups because they tend to treat other people and other cultures like lower life forms. Look down on them and expect them to practically grovel. We never take a moment to understand the culture and social habits of other people's and yet we expect them to "fall in line" when visiting us. It's like we are doing them a gigantic favor by letting them in our glorious country and consider how graciously we are taking their money.

I have either never experienced brazilian tour groups or have never noticed them. I can tell you one group I have noticed, however, and that would be the all American cheerleaders that I would have gladly gotten into a choke hold if I could have.

I guess all those words are to point out that we need to show a little more tolerance for others that happen to be different than us. I don't say allow them to cut in front of you but I see no reason to be upset because they are having a good time.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I've never experienced these Brazilian "tour groups" either. Nor do I ever want to..

 

[Leota]

My experiences with them have not been the negative experiences I see posted here. I noticed them primarily because they were all wearing the same color, the leader had a flag & they were rambunctiously having a good time. I have heard of them cutting in lines & such, but never experienced it myself.

I'm sure when my DS & his best friend go for their Graduation present next year, they will be rambunctious also. I hope they never cross into rude, but I sure as heck hope they are laughing & singing & joking around. That's the whole point in my sending them! I fully expect them to have a rousing good time!

 

[Cinerama]

The behavior that's being described sounds no different than the behavior that ANY large group of young people will show when they are having a good time. Maybe it got annoying but still....sometimes it's possible to watch other people having a good time and have that add to your good time. Or maybe not...

 

[eclectics]

The behavior that's being described sounds no different than the behavior that ANY large group of young people will show when they are having a good time. Maybe it got annoying but still....sometimes it's possible to watch other people having a good time and have that add to your good time. Or maybe not...

Hey, I'm all for having fun. I was a kid too (about 300 years ago!), and I have no problem at all with chanting, laughing, and having a great time at WDW. I do have a problem with being elbowed, pushed, knocked over, spit at, flipped the bird, laughed at, pretending they don't understand English when reprimanded by a CM, etc. etc. That goes way beyond annoying. Some of this I have witnessed first hand (and not just in WDW either) and some of this I have not, but enough of you have written about such incidents that it can't be made up. These kids are not street urchins. They are well educated and know right from wrong. One wonders how they behave at amusement parks in their own country. Do they politely let Grandma keep her place in line or do they push her wheelchair into the nearest canal (I know I'm exagerating ). I suspect they would never dream of behaving so badly in their own country. Being in a different country (Ugly Americans included) is no excuse for rude behavior!

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

Other than the one incident of them all wanting to cut in line at the ASmu food court during our stay in June, I just thought the tour groups were no different than any other large group having fun. Even with the chanting and clapping , they are stillless obnoxious than some of the cheerleader groups. As far as the FP issues go, I would rather have the tour leader take all the passes and use 1 or 2 machines than have the throng of teenagers standing around all of the FP machines. I think its a great idea. Now if we can just get everyone else not to stand right in the way of the FP entrance waiting for their time to arrive we would be in good shape

 

[Leota]

Other than the one incident of them all wanting to cut in line at the ASmu food court during our stay in June, I just thought the tour groups were no different than any other large group having fun. Even with the chanting and clapping , they are stillless obnoxious than some of the cheerleader groups. As far as the FP issues go, I would rather have the tour leader take all the passes and use 1 or 2 machines than have the throng of teenagers standing around all of the FP machines. I think its a great idea. Now if we can just get everyone else not to stand right in the way of the FP entrance waiting for their time to arrive we would be in good shape

ITA!