For those going soon...they're baaaack...tour groups

[BookGirl305]

Let me ask this-
are they appropriately dressed or is underwear hanging out (or none at all)?
does everyone appear to be having a good time or is there a majority that looks to be strung out or hung over?
Anyone trying to sneak a smoke while they're walking?
Anyone begging for change or does everyone have their own meal money?
Are they loaded down with luggage carrying every conceivable thing on the planet that one might possibly need in an apocalypse and it's better to bring with than to spend and buy at Disney in case it is actually needed (aka the stroller mommies)?
Loud noise and having fun at a value resort in the hour after the parks close or drunken spousal fight on the walkway?
Soccer ball hitting window or American kid's wet pool noodle smacking you in the face?
4-6 across with arms linked or 20 people from a family reunion huddled around grandma's scooter while 6 grandkids hang off the side and ride so "everyone stays together"?

Kids are loud, smiling, having a good time, and not causing harm. Sober, appropriately dressed, and laughing and singing at an amusement park. On vacation. Enjoying themselves at their hotel at an appropriate time for having finished the park hours.
All good from where I sit.

 

[smidgy]

so you just totally disregarded the post I posted just before yours?

 

[mister morrow]

Let me ask this-
are they appropriately dressed or is underwear hanging out (or none at all)?
does everyone appear to be having a good time or is there a majority that looks to be strung out or hung over?
Anyone trying to sneak a smoke while they're walking?
Anyone begging for change or does everyone have their own meal money?
Are they loaded down with luggage carrying every conceivable thing on the planet that one might possibly need in an apocalypse and it's better to bring with than to spend and buy at Disney in case it is actually needed (aka the stroller mommies)?
Loud noise and having fun at a value resort in the hour after the parks close or drunken spousal fight on the walkway?
Soccer ball hitting window or American kid's wet pool noodle smacking you in the face?
4-6 across with arms linked or 20 people from a family reunion huddled around grandma's scooter while 6 grandkids hang off the side and ride so "everyone stays together"?

Kids are loud, smiling, having a good time, and not causing harm. Sober, appropriately dressed, and laughing and singing at an amusement park. On vacation. Enjoying themselves at their hotel at an appropriate time for having finished the park hours.
All good from where I sit.

there's a difference between a wet noodle hitting your face and a soccer ball intentionally (probably) hitting your hotel window at 1 a.m.

 

[smidgy]

kicking the soccer ball against our window, numerous times. chaperones yelling at my husband to put his cigaretter out when we were in a DSA at the resort. chaperones encouraging kids to scream and chant on the bus, even though many of us asked them to keep it down. kids AND chaperonhes taking our loung chairs if we got up to go to the DSA or to swim.. taking away ourbooks and towels off on them adn dragging the chairs over to t\"their area'.
when we went over to try to take our loungers back they were abrasive and very scary... telling us "there is no saving chairs.
sorry book girl you are wrong these groups are bullies. ruin other people's trips. and disney puts up with it cause they are big money.

 

[smidgy]

the reason there are so many threads about this at this time of year is because so many families have to deal with this. if it were not so, the threads would not appear. it is my opinion that they are rude entitled groups of young people who are told (by their parents and tour group)to do whatever they can and want to to make their trip fun and enjoyable for them
and disney lets them because of the money.

 

[lugnut33]

Loud teens that stay up late. Imagine that.

 

[BookGirl305]

@smidgy, with all due respect, I think you are skewing things to your perspective. Disney's hours in June went until 11 pm every night. One night last week the park was open was midnight with the extra hours. The park stays open an hour after closing to let people shop and get on the buses, so it is completely reasonable that your group left the park at closing and got back to their hotel on property at midnight-1am. The food court in the value hotels stays open until midnight. There is a reasonable expectation that guests are welcome to enjoy the hotel amenities until midnight or later, including the hotel pool bar. If the kids were staying at Sports (you didn't specify) then it is certainly understandable that they would play soccer on the athletic turf at their hotel while the hotel was open for food, drink, and enjoyment. Yes, their ball might have hit your window. At a value hotel, it is all external walkways. I understand you chose to be up at 6am for whatever you wanted to do, but it is unreasonable to expect other guests at the hotel to not enjoy the amenities they paid for because the hours aren't conducive to you. They were doing nothing wrong.

 

[snchpnz]

My rule is that whenever I see people in matching shirts I go in the opposite direction. Honestly my only real problem with these groups is the chanting. Disney should not allow group chanting inside the parks. At the very least they can enforce a rule that chanting is not allowed while waiting in line for a ride. Outside in the open I have the option of walking away but there is no escape from them while we are all trapped waiting in line.

 

[mds88]

Seriously! Ever been to Times Square and try to walk somewhere after work? UGH!!!

I was about to post this. I was there in December, and people took the whole sidewalk to look at the window displays. I get it, the displays are awesome but you have to leave room for people to pass! People are really just oblivious sometimes.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I have not experienced these groups people describe it like they are walkers from the Walking Dead lol. Top tip if you don't like this behaviour don't vacation in Europe lol we are use to this ... I have been shoved out of a lounger , pushed out of my wheelchair at hotel buffets, forced into open roads by tour guides marching through London holding up umbrellas followed by groups of people looking around ... Taxis beeping their horns at them as they wonder in the road.. We get use to it. Get up early to get a lounger in Europe hotel and just don't move!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I have not experienced these groups people describe it like they are walkers from the Walking Dead lol. Top tip if you don't like this behaviour don't vacation in Europe lol we are use to this ... I have been shoved out of a lounger , pushed out of my wheelchair at hotel buffets, forced into open roads by tour guides marching through London holding up umbrellas followed by groups of people looking around ... Taxis beeping their horns at them as they wonder in the road.. We get use to it. Get up early to get a lounger in Europe hotel and just don't move!

 

[mds88]

I have had many bad experiences with these tour groups over the years. As others have mentioned, the locked arms, loud chanting, cutting in line, etc. Most of the time they are not respectful of anyone else. One specific incident is when my Wife and I were lined up about an hour before the parade at MK. It was a busy day and we usually like to hang out early so we have a nice spot. We were sitting next to a family of five. Kids were excited. With less than ten minutes before the parade started, a tour group of about fifty came and pushed and shoved their way past the family and tried to get in front of us. These people (including one chaparone) picked up a stroller which belonged to the family we sat next to and moved it so it was behind them..the little boy inside almost fell out. I couldnt believe what I was seeing, it was unreal!!! I flagged down a CM who tried to help but the tour group pretended not to speak english. I was pissed and stood my ground but it really ruined the mood. I ended up having the kids from the family next to us stand in front of me so they could see. I cannot stand rude people. People who act like animals and cannot respect others and their property should be thrown out or not go at all.

Or... if you are in a big group and want good seats for a parade... get there early and line up like everyone else does.

We were in the fastpass area for the Christmas parade and were sitting with our feet at the edge of the curb. A CM came by and told us to put our feet over the edge until it started because Brazilians like to push right in front of you if there is any space at all. Completely rude. I get its a different culture, but how can ANYONE think that it is morally right to step right in front of someone who was waiting there first??

 

[MariMama]

usually january and july. we were at all star sports in july one year with a very unruly group. the kids AND the chaperones were unruly. loud at the pool till 1a, kicking the soccer ball against our window.
of course we complaoned . while they were eventually made to leave the pool area since they wouldn't' be quiet, a smug Cm informed us that "July is Latin month in Disney. they are our guests."

This makes me so angry. So that CM is saying no one else there is a Disney guest and we must put up with obnoxious, sometimes dangerous behavior? Nope.

 

[heidijanesmith]

When we toured in July, the tour groups were everywhere and you could not get a way from them. There would be 5-8 large groups at every theme park and no way to avoid them.

What bothered me the most is that the tour guide would send all 50-75 of them through the single rider queue at TT and RnRC instead of waiting like everyone else in line. This would clog up the single rider line and shut it down.

The line pushing and lack of personal space was another issue. I was stepped on, pushed and had a backpack in my side on many ride queues.

The chanting during HM, Pirates and ToT was so distracting we could not enjoy the rides.

 

[Kristine316]

I've never experienced the BTG but, that is because we have gone in times of the year where they really aren't an issue.


Let me see if I have this straight from reading the thread...
If you complain about them or tell others about your bad experiences with them, you need to lighten up and get a life. Is that about right??



I've also gotten from this thread that Disney will allow them to do whatever they please because of how much money they generate.

If I was a family thinking about spending big bucks on a July WDW vacation I think I may think twice. Because you just aren't as important as these entitled groups of kids.. Your money isn't worth as much to WDW I guess. And if you do have a bad experience or experiences plural you better not complain about it or else the super cool, hip and zen folks will tell you how you are the problem and you need to lighten up and stop being a drag.

As far as there being a child who had their arm broken by these groups pushing through crowds, I just have to say.. Wow I sincerely hope there is some kind of recourse for this family. I'm not a big believer in litigation but I think in a case like that I would have a lawyer pretty quick. You can't just shove children down and break their arms.. Yikes.

 

[Davey Jones II]

@smidgy, with all due respect, I think you are skewing things to your perspective. Disney's hours in June went until 11 pm every night. One night last week the park was open was midnight with the extra hours. The park stays open an hour after closing to let people shop and get on the buses, so it is completely reasonable that your group left the park at closing and got back to their hotel on property at midnight-1am. The food court in the value hotels stays open until midnight. There is a reasonable expectation that guests are welcome to enjoy the hotel amenities until midnight or later, including the hotel pool bar. If the kids were staying at Sports (you didn't specify) then it is certainly understandable that they would play soccer on the athletic turf at their hotel while the hotel was open for food, drink, and enjoyment. Yes, their ball might have hit your window. At a value hotel, it is all external walkways. I understand you chose to be up at 6am for whatever you wanted to do, but it is unreasonable to expect other guests at the hotel to not enjoy the amenities they paid for because the hours aren't conducive to you. They were doing nothing wrong.

I can't wait to hear your bend-over-backwards justifications for the umpteen other examples of obnoxious and inconsiderate behavior cited in this and other threads...
Disney needs to ban these groups, or at least take serious steps to reign in their behavior. If an individual acted like this, he/she would get ejected from the park. But a group behaves like this, and it's okay, or just too much trouble to intervene?
The parks are booming, and never been more popular. Disney don't need mobs of unruly teens treating the rest of us like crap. The fact that Disney continues to welcome them with open arms shows what they think of the guest experience. Basically, money is all that matters, and let the bullies have their way.
Disney makes money from tour groups, but they are clearly more trouble than they are worth. If people from South America want to come visit, why does it have to always be in a "tour group"? The tour groups alienate other guests, generate bad word of mouth, and make people think twice about visiting during months when the groups are typically invading.
I'll add this: it's good to complain on social media, but I would also complain to Disney directly. They need to hear that this is unacceptable, and paying customers won't put up with it anymore.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I've never experienced the BTG but, that is because we have gone in times of the year where they really aren't an issue.


Let me see if I have this straight from reading the thread...
If you complain about them or tell others about your bad experiences with them, you need to lighten up and get a life. Is that about right??



I've also gotten from this thread that Disney will allow them to do whatever they please because of how much money they generate.

If I was a family thinking about spending big bucks on a July WDW vacation I think I may think twice. Because you just aren't as important as these entitled groups of kids.. Your money isn't worth as much to WDW I guess. And if you do have a bad experience or experiences plural you better not complain about it or else the super cool, hip and zen folks will tell you how you are the problem and you need to lighten up and stop being a drag.

As far as there being a child who had their arm broken by these groups pushing through crowds, I just have to say.. Wow I sincerely hope there is some kind of recourse for this family. I'm not a big believer in litigation but I think in a case like that I would have a lawyer pretty quick. You can't just shove children down and break their arms.. Yikes.

The apologists for the tour groups are members of the PC (politically correct) Police. Heaven help you if you dare to criticize the behavior of people who happen to be in one of the Protected Ethnic Groups. The tour groups are from South America. Therefore, if you have the gall to complain about how they victimized you or your children, then that makes you a racist. Better to just turn the other cheek, keep enduring the obnoxious behavior, and not have such labels slapped on you by the PC crowd.

 

[si-am]

@smidgy, with all due respect, I think you are skewing things to your perspective. Disney's hours in June went until 11 pm every night. One night last week the park was open was midnight with the extra hours. The park stays open an hour after closing to let people shop and get on the buses, so it is completely reasonable that your group left the park at closing and got back to their hotel on property at midnight-1am. The food court in the value hotels stays open until midnight. There is a reasonable expectation that guests are welcome to enjoy the hotel amenities until midnight or later, including the hotel pool bar. If the kids were staying at Sports (you didn't specify) then it is certainly understandable that they would play soccer on the athletic turf at their hotel while the hotel was open for food, drink, and enjoyment. Yes, their ball might have hit your window. At a value hotel, it is all external walkways. I understand you chose to be up at 6am for whatever you wanted to do, but it is unreasonable to expect other guests at the hotel to not enjoy the amenities they paid for because the hours aren't conducive to you. They were doing nothing wrong.

It is absolutely not reasonable for soccer balls to be hitting windows at ANY time, much less late at night. I don't care what country they are from; I'm sure any person from anywhere in the world would know that is rude. The problem is some people just don't care about anyone but themselves.

 

[Otter49]

Just my 2¢ on this. Not doubting that many of you have had terrible experiences with the groups.

My interactions have been about 70% positive and that includes my very frequent visits as a local APer and my experience from working in a hotel that housed tens of thousands of these kids dating back to the 80s. But there've been more than a couple of times I've had to square my shoulders and bust through a conga line - and the kids were the ones that gave way, not me.

I want to add one thing though that I experienced at Epcot in June that I've never run into before. Just to add a little perspective that bad behavior is pretty universal.

There was a large tour group (40 or 50 I guess) of 20 something American males all dressed in matching tshirts with their fraternity ID on the front with a "Drinking round the World" logo on the back.

Over the course of 3 hours, I heard the f bomb (and so did plenty of families) more times than I've heard over the course of several years.

Example: A group of six approaching the UK asks the group of eight that are leaving - "What kind of ****ing beer did you get?" Group of eight answers back - "It's ****ing Guiness, man. Tastes ****ing great bro!"

And these were supposedly adults - not kids acting up.

 

[Accident]

I was in MK yesterday for july 3rd and biggest crowds I've seen this year.. lots of tour groups and all nicely behaved.. some large families.. there was some hand holding and things in lines but it was in appropriate keep the family from getting cut in half places like getting from teh stretch room to the single file line at haunted mansion.. biggest group had to be about 100 people in matching shirts and it was all young teen women and still nicely behaved..

I'm sure there are exceptions but it's not rampant every group doing it..