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

[smidgy]

@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.

well, that wasn't what happened. the groups weren't at the park, they were hanging around the baseball pool all evening. nowhere near the pool bar. and they weren't playing ball on the turf in the football section, but on the grass by our room. at 1 am. sccicentaly hit the window once? I get. how about 3 times?
there is a huge difference between enjoying the amenities (we love a night swim ourselves) and a big groups being VERY loud. they were most definitley doing lots of things wrong. we were at that resort for 2 days. you don't think the "chaperone" yelling at my husband to put his cigarette out IN THE DSA is wrong? you don't think throwing our things off our loungers and dragging them over to their group everytime we dared go for a swim is wrong? I could go on and on.
they were totally rude, including the adults. and loud and disrepectful. etc etc

 

[smidgy]

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.

yes, that is exactly what he was saying. he was lecturing my husband and I for complaining, and telling us that July is "Latin" month at WDW and they are OUR guests.. not just disney, but mine.. like I should play host to them for visiting my country.

and honestly, we could put up with a little late night noise. . I am a night person myself, as a server and a bartender.when my sons were teens my house was the house they all hung around and were loud in the wee hours of the AM. but I would ask them to tone it down and they would. this group just got louder and louder and more obnoxious and wouldn't tone it down.
this was the last straw as I mentioned the numerous other incidents. ok LOUD chanting on the bus, causing headaches and children sitting near us to be afraid. cutting in line in the food court. loud chanting in the food court. leaving total messes everywhere. on arrival, as we were moving our luggage and things from the car to the room they had the sidewalk blocked and would NOT move over. numerous times .
the only reason we went in July was because the restaurant where I work was closed for the entire month of July that year. never again. not during "latin" month

 

[oceanmarina]

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.

I absolutely agree. I don't advocate for excessive litigation either, but this has been an issue for YEARS, Disney knows about it. And if Disney doesn't want to enforce rules that makes the parks safe for each and every person who walks into their parks (for $100. a day, no less) then yes Disney deserves to get sued by that family whose child got their arm broken.

What if (God forbid) a kid got pushed down by these groups and hit his head and it was a more serious medical outcome?? Then would Disney finally do something about this? Sorry, but it should'nt take litigation or a tragedy for Disney to address this issue.

 

[TSR6]

Oh Tour Groups. I love when they do whatever they want... lol

 

[kittyab]

I had something like this on our last trip. I didn't budge, neither did my elbow

 

[smidgy]

I love this kid! (Good things come from chitown!)
he gives advice to other CP kids (college program) on dealing with the BTG. they all KNOW these groups are a problem. and unfortunately Disney ties their hands as to what they can do

 

[bryanb]

They can't be any worse that the good ole made in the USA wrestling kids that were at Pop the first week of June. Security had to throw a group of them out of the pool, kids climbing from one floor to the next over the rails, and my favorite- throwing things over the railings. Here's the thing, anytime you get a group of teen or pre- teen kids together they are going to be giant pains- it's what they do.

Oops, sorry! I was actually at the Pop Century as part of the wrestling group. I wasn't one of the wrestlers (past that age), but a couple of boys in my family were competing. While I didn't witness these specific incidents (it's a very expansive hotel), I'm honestly not surprised. I did some stupid stuff too when I was a teen, and we were probably obnoxious at times too. Not making any excuses.

Interestingly, in worldwide polls of which country's tourists were most annoying, USA almost always ranks at the top. If I went to Europe with 20 friends as a teenager, I don't want to think about how obnoxious we'd be to the locals!

 

[Davey Jones II]

Part of the problem is that a large group is much harder to control than an individual or small group. But given their frequent bad behavior, if Disney can't reign them in, then they need to keep them out. And if they can take steps to reign them in, then let's see some action. Bad enough that the parks are often overcrowded; offensive behavior can really sour your hard-earned vacation.

As for "Latin Month", that is a load of b.s. There's no such thing. If there was, then Disney would advertise July as such. "Latin Month" is an invention by some CMs, to get people to stop complaining.

 

[jediteacher]

 

[jknc]

I'm angry so let me vent on a message board.

 

[yulilin3]

Ok, from personal experience:
Big latin american groups come twice a year, yes July is Latin Group month because that's when they vacation, Disney and Universal offer great group rates for rooms, tickets, meals...they want everyone's business so they make it easier for them to come.
The bad behaviour has gone down considerably in the last couple of years. You don't see as much chanting, arm linking 20 across, they grab a spot for the parade early and don't try and sit in front of you.
I have seen people being hurt by every kind of person, not just the tour groups. People driving electronic wheelchairs going to fast, basically running over a kid, people with strollers, guests just walking around unaware of their surroundings. There will be no litigation on the tour groups because then they would have to do it for everyone. That's not happening.
All the theme parks play host to everyone coming, no matter where you are from and no matter how uncomfortable you feel about a certain group of people. If they don't break the rules they are treated with the same magic as everyone else. And they try to accommodate every culture. Their behaviour is more a cultural thing than them trying to be obnoxious.

 

[Shanti]

Disney makes A LOT of money on tour groups. I know they have rules in place for these groups as it is in their contract, but they are not enforced. I doubt they will remove a yearly cash cow unless it becomes a life threatening situation..

There is no need for Disney to "remove a yearly cash cow". For one thing, most groups have decent behavior and are not a problem. Secondly, those that are causing a problem like a few have described (shoving others out of their way or otherwise acting in a way that blatantly disturbs the peace), as I said, they should be ejected from the park for the day.

These are mostly teens with one adult chaperone. They'll get the message to tone down their behavior if they have one day's plans ruined. They don't have to be sent back to Brazil (or wherever) on the very next plane. A stricter enforcement of the rules will let them know that they don't have impunity to do whatever they want, and the vast majority will then fall into line & exhibit decent behavior, just like most other tour groups already do.

 

[Klayfish]

Ok, from personal experience:
Big latin american groups come twice a year, yes July is Latin Group month because that's when they vacation, Disney and Universal offer great group rates for rooms, tickets, meals...they want everyone's business so they make it easier for them to come.
The bad behaviour has gone down considerably in the last couple of years. You don't see as much chanting, arm linking 20 across, they grab a spot for the parade early and don't try and sit in front of you.
I have seen people being hurt by every kind of person, not just the tour groups. People driving electronic wheelchairs going to fast, basically running over a kid, people with strollers, guests just walking around unaware of their surroundings. There will be no litigation on the tour groups because then they would have to do it for everyone. That's not happening.
All the theme parks play host to everyone coming, no matter where you are from and no matter how uncomfortable you feel about a certain group of people. If they don't break the rules they are treated with the same magic as everyone else. And they try to accommodate every culture. Their behaviour is more a cultural thing than them trying to be obnoxious.

That is all true...there are people in wheelchairs driving poorly, strollers, etc... I agree with that. However, anyone who has been in the parks when the South American tour groups are in the parks and also when they aren't in the parks knows that quite often they are more likely to cause widespread issues than one bad driver in a wheelchair. I have encountered plenty of tour groups who were being polite and generally following park guidelines, but I've encountered plenty who don't. It's a lot worse when it's a group of 75 teenagers than one dad pushing a stroller.

 

[sullyfam]

The first trip we took with our kids was in July 2013 and we stayed at All Star Music in a Family Suite. Although that is our favorite trip to date and we had many magical moments, the tour groups definitely turned us off to traveling in July and to staying at a Value. I recall the chanting, endless clapping, rude/inappropriate behavior (and swimwear) in and around the pool, crowding and being pushy in the cafeteria, swarming the bus lines, being loud on the bus late at night when babies were trying to sleep, invading personal space and just overall being a nuisance.

We were all teenagers at one time so I get it. It's just bad cause there are SO many of them and you feel like they are everywhere you are. Especially if you stay at a Value ... never again. In the parks it's not quite as bad because you can escape them a bit. We actually would watch to see which bus lines they would get in in the morning and purposely go to a different park

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Here now. We saw no groups at all on July 3rd at MK until the Electric Parade where we saw a few quietly waiting.

Saw none at Epcot on July 4th.

All Star Sports, however, was full of them this morning. It was a problem in the food court. The court was full and the members of the groups were running through the place and causing a commotion trying to grab tables. There were several older people who looked rather appalled. Glad we are moving to AKL tomorrow.

 

[Accident]

Here now. We saw no groups at all on July 3rd at MK until the Electric Parade where we saw a few quietly waiting

when did you get into MK? I saw some of the largest tour groups I've ever seen but they were walking out as I was going in about 1pm.

 

[MariMama]

There is no need for Disney to "remove a yearly cash cow". For one thing, most groups have decent behavior and are not a problem. Secondly, those that are causing a problem like a few have described (shoving others out of their way or otherwise acting in a way that blatantly disturbs the peace), as I said, they should be ejected from the park for the day.

These are mostly teens with one adult chaperone. They'll get the message to tone down their behavior if they have one day's plans ruined. They don't have to be sent back to Brazil (or wherever) on the very next plane. A stricter enforcement of the rules will let them know that they don't have impunity to do whatever they want, and the vast majority will then fall into line & exhibit decent behavior, just like most other tour groups already do.

Yes, they should be ejected from the park. But that won't ever happen.

 

[Shanti]

Yes, they should be ejected from the park. But that won't ever happen.

You don't know that- it's just your assumption. Many parks do eject for that behavior. Disney doesn't now, but they should, and one day they might. Things change at Disney all the time and this eventually could be one of those changes.

 

[MariMama]

You don't know that- it's just your assumption. Many parks do eject for that behavior. Disney doesn't now, but they should, and one day they might. Things change at Disney all the time and this eventually could be one of those changes.

You're right, it is an assumption, based on years of past knowledge.

 

[yulilin3]

If we say that tour groups should be ejected just because they are chanting and walking 5 across and maybe bumping into people we would have to say that drunk people should be ejected from Epcot during their "drink around the world" trips, or bachelor/bachelorette trips or Food and Wine
I've seen much worse behaviour coming from people in Epcot (every race/color/country) that are drunk than any of these tour groups. Puking/peeing on the bushes, using foul language, tripping over people, climbing the Mexico pyramid, going into the fountain of nations...