Is Brazil closed?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It's because of the Brazilian tour groups that my family and I now go to WDW in August and not July when going there during the summer, since there were so many of them being rude we could not take it anymore. My Dad also remembers them being very rude at Universal, so this does not just happen in WDW.

 

[Shorty82]

heh.. i dunno which tags you saw, but the first batch when they switched the language tags (for the YOMD, so starting Oct 1), they had this genius idea.. light gold lettering on white. which sounds like what you saw.

they changed them again earlier this year, now they're like a dark blue or something, but still, not the most visible, i agree.

The language tags I saw were small gold letters on a white background. I assume those are the current ones as that was all I noticed and I just got back yesterday from the World but I'll admit I didn't really look all that closely at the tags other than the sign language one I saw at Port Orleans. The name tags themselves were easy to read being dark blue bold letters on a white background.

 

[bradk]

they were changed. the languages are no longer gold, but that happened months ago. you might have seen older tags. still not as good as the flags. there's still plenty of CM's wearing HCOE and older tags too.

 

[dddisrunner]

Wow - I didn't mean it that way. It was in a Disney newsletter so it can't be that offensive. I know when Jersey week is - I have a good friend (from Jersey!) going that week and we've been planning the trip online. She found that quote hilarious.

I really think it was meant as a "get the kids out of the house so it's easier to clean" type comparison, rather than insulting Jersey at all. I was just comparing it and saying maybe it was cleaning week in Brazil this week!

Sorry if it offended you!

I wasn't trying to flame you, sorry if you took it that way.

 

[Vemnox]

While I don't think Disney should "do" anything about them, I think they need to set some groundrules that this whole group chanting thing is just not going to be acceptable. They are really ruining the show and trying to create so much attention on themselves and I wish they'd simply realize not 1 person except for them cares about what they are singing about.

 

[Manda513]

Disney Shuts Brazil Office As Brazilians' Visits Slow
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

ORLANDO, Florida (AP)--Walt Disney World has closed its travel office in Brazil, an indication that fewer Brazilians are visiting central Florida.

The office in Sao Paolo closed this month after being open since 1996, Disney spokeswoman Rena Callahan said Friday.

The theme park resort will rely on travel wholesalers in Brazil and tour operators in the U.S. to pick up business from the closure of the Brazil office, which booked trips to Walt Disney World for Brazilians.

"We're going to continue to work with that market from the Orlando office," Callahan said.

Brazil makes up the third-biggest market of international travelers to Orlando. Last year, 59,000 Brazilians visited Orlando, a decrease of more than 50% from 2001. Overall, international visits to Orlando decreased 22% to 2.3 million people compared to 2001, according to the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Half of the Brazilians who visited the U.S. in 2000 came to Florida, and a quarter of them visited Orlando, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

About 43 million total visitors came to Orlando last year.

Updated September 19, 2003 6:41 p.m.

 

[resol37]

I saw them, but they didn't bother me at all.

Agreed. I spent four months non-stop at WDW and no one single group of people bothered me. In fact, I don't remember ever having any problems with Brazilian tour groups as either a CM or a guest.

 

[smjj]

I complained several years ago and actually got a call from Disney. She basically spouted a company rehearsed reply and that was about it. Disney will not do anything because bottom line is it's all about money and they spend a lot so they let them get away with almost anything..smjj

 

[Uncleromulus]

And that's about the end of the story. Disney WELL knows the trouble these groups cause--they've known it for a long time. I recall once some time ago they mounted some sort of official "educational" effort in an attempt to "encourage" more appropriate behavior. Of course, it didn't work.
The only defense the regular visitor has is to be aware when they are there--and don't go to WDW then.
After seeing how they behave at the parks, I shudder to think what it must be like in the resorts where they stay----

 

[W2BNeverland]

While I don't think Disney should "do" anything about them, I think they need to set some groundrules that this whole group chanting thing is just not going to be acceptable. They are really ruining the show and trying to create so much attention on themselves and I wish they'd simply realize not 1 person except for them cares about what they are singing about.

That would require them coming back to planet EARTH from planet ME. Given their described behavior, not likely to happen.

 

[T+C]

The chanting and stomping is annoying enough, but in my experience, at least one of these folks adds a whistle to the mix.

 

[odd1]

What are they chanting? And why?

 

[Kteacher]

A lot of the all girl Brazilian groups are girls here celebrating their quincenearas. This is kind of like a sweet 16 celebration for latinas. The girls get to choose a huge party in their country, or a trip to WDW combined with a cruise. There are TAs that just do quinceneara trips. The typical trip runs about 10 grand per girl. Many of the girls come from very priveledged families, and their attitude shows. I've encountered quite a few groups on the cruises I've been on, and the girls can be less than pleasant, to put it nicely. Recently I witnessed one of the chaperones yelling at the girls in her group for acting like spoiled brats on the cruise ship. I've been to some traditional quinceneara celebrations, and they can be quite sweet. These groups are like my super sweet sixteen-or in this case my super sweet FIFTEEN -gone bad

 

[mom2mykids]

OK, I was so scared reading this thread, LOL. As having 3 young kids with me the line cutting thing really makes me mad and I can say DH would probably get thrown out of the park cuz he won't let them, if you know what I mean. This is his baby pirincess's birthday trip to the World! And I just can't believe that anyone from anywhere would think that is proper behavior. I really try hard not to talk bad about anyone's culture but when traveling I certianly try to make sure I know about where I am traveling to and not make a jack@## of myself. I guess if its groups of teens its hard to control them regardless of culture Teens are teens but still....
Thats sad they are giving their country such a bad rep.

 

[mom2mykids]

I think they live there now. My sister and her kids and grandkids went last January, and they complained about them.

When in January? We are thinking of going in Jan sometime within in the next 2 to 3 years, towards the end. I would like to avoid the groups if possible!

 

[MissMet]

A lot of the all girl Brazilian groups are girls here celebrating their quincenearas. This is kind of like a sweet 16 celebration for latinas. The girls get to choose a huge party in their country, or a trip to WDW combined with a cruise. There are TAs that just do quinceneara trips. The typical trip runs about 10 grand per girl. Many of the girls come from very priveledged families, and their attitude shows. I've encountered quite a few groups on the cruises I've been on, and the girls can be less than pleasant, to put it nicely. Recently I witnessed one of the chaperones yelling at the girls in her group for acting like spoiled brats on the cruise ship. I've been to some traditional quinceneara celebrations, and they can be quite sweet. These groups are like my super sweet sixteen-or in this case my super sweet FIFTEEN -gone bad

In Feb '06 we kept running into the same group just like mentioned above everywhere we went. They were SO annoying. They all wore the same t-shirts, backpacks & followed the chaperon with the flag that just happened to match the t-shirts. Everywhere they went they felt the need to chant, clap & stomp their feet. You could hear them coming for miles. Whenever we heard the Brazilian Rumble we went running! We sat on Main Street an hour before Spectro to get a good seat for both Spectro & Wishes, then there it was, the rumble headed our way. They came along chanting & carrying on & sat about 30 feet from us, so we got up & moved. There was no way we were sitting within 100 feet of them for 5 minutes let alone for the rest of the night!

They literally walk around like they rule the world.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

This comment isn't about Brazilian groups, just groups in general...


Why does ANYONE need to be guided through Disney? It isn't NYC. I know it is nice to have an interpreter at the ready, but doesn't Disney offer language services?

Imagine the time wasted while the entire group experiences an attraction. Half their time must be waiting. No wonder they have an attitude.

 

[lilyv]

It's been years since my last visit to Disney World, and I STILL remember the Brazil tour groups.

Fast forward to day....I know they visit in July, do they also come in early Aug or late Aug? (or both?)

And, even more important...Where do they stay??? Onsite, offsite, and if it's onsite, what resort is particularly favored?

I really dislike seeing large groups basically bullying families. It's group think gone wild. They think it's funny. The lines part, folks stand back, and good manners are out the window.

 

[timmac]

It's been nearly 10 years since I last visited WDW, but they were there, even back then. And to think I had almost forgotten about it.

Just seeing the tour guide with the flag, and all the people with matching shirts wasn't so bad (even if they did stand out quite easily), but the line cutting, I agree, was HORRIBLE. Though I never saw any major altercations from it, some other guests more vocal (and less polite) than my family had no problem speaking their mind.

 

[JESW]

We were there around January 22nd (dd's 8th bd) this year and there were BTG's out in full force so there is not just ONE time during the year when they are there.

All week we played the game of "Beat the Flag" - where if we saw the flag approaching we would go the other way! And never, EVER get behind one of their chaperones at a fast pass terminal! They stand there with a stack of cards and put in about 100 at a time! And never EVER get behind one on a line for a ride as others have said, if one goes then a whole large group of them will follow behind!

Jill