Is Brazil closed?

[G8RFAN]

I was in an english speaking tour group touring the Vatican. After the Sistine chapel, we were going through a hallway with artifacts and was transitioning into a open area with some sales counters for souveniers (we were towards the back) and suddenly I hear a security guard and the tour guide get into a verbal shouting match (in Italian). After it is over, the dozen or so employees all start clapping. Turns out one of the guests was talking too loud for their taste and one of the sales people told her to be quiet. When the tour guide stepped in to mediate, the security guard stepped in to put him and his "english" customers in his place. The world is full of different cultures and I think we don't corner the market in manners. I know many Brazilians personaly and professionally and they are very courteous and "smart" people. These tour groups are mostly 14-16 year old girls. Can you imagine how poorly behaved any group of teenagers can be from any country? Think of them as a LARGE family. Of course they are going to go into a ride and want to stay together. I think we need to be more understanding of the situation. I know all of you are also on vacation, but if you are observant, you can navigate "around" them at the parks. ie, look who is at the FP machines... if they are holding a flag move to another machine and consider that they will have the same window as you. It's hard not to miss them as they walk thru the parks.

 

[klj27]

A castmember told us two weeks ago that they have reopened the Braizillian tour offices. He said that it all came down to money and that is why we are seeing even more tour groups this summer.

 

[my3disneygirls]

I knew it was only a matter of time when reading this thread that people would comment that it's prejudiced. Someone can't even state facts anymore in this country. I am from Jersey, I have never even heard of Jersey week. Should I be offended that my fellow Jersey brethren are being discussed here? I am a cheer mom who has been to nationals 5 years in a row in Disney. Should I cry foul that there are threads complaining about Pop Warner? Give me a break.

 

[edcarmo]

We'll be there Tuesday and now I'm starting to dread dealing with these people. We've encountered them in early July. I thought they would be gone by late July. here's hoping so!!!

Anyway, we're staying at the Beach Club so hopefully they won't be able to afford to stay there and we can at least escape them when we are back at our resort. Has anyone seen these groups at the deluxe resorts ever???? I would think they would absolutely flock to the Value or maybe moderates given the fact that they are young. What do ya'll think?

PamNC

You're right, typically the Brazilian groups stay at value resorts (or off-site). That's the main reason we usually stay at moderate or BCV (note: I'm Brazilian...).

 

[CaptainH00k]

I think the most important question is, is it just July that the Brazilian tour groups are at WDW, or does it overflow into August? *gulp*



16 days to go, I'm a strong guy - if someone, regardless of nationality, race, creed, or religion pushes me or my girlfriend to get in front of us be it in a queue or viewing area - they will have a big problem to deal with.

That is just simply rude.

 

[MissMet]

I think the most important question is, is it just July that the Brazilian tour groups are at WDW, or does it overflow into August? *gulp*



16 days to go, I'm a strong guy - if someone, regardless of nationality, race, creed, or religion pushes me or my girlfriend to get in front of us be it in a queue or viewing area - they will have a big problem to deal with.

That is just simply rude.

I don't know about Aug but I've seen them in Feb '06 & Dec '06 so I don't think any time is safe, but I think July there is a lot more of them than other times of the year. If that helps.

 

[edcarmo]

I think the most important question is, is it just July that the Brazilian tour groups are at WDW, or does it overflow into August? *gulp*



16 days to go, I'm a strong guy - if someone, regardless of nationality, race, creed, or religion pushes me or my girlfriend to get in front of us be it in a queue or viewing area - they will have a big problem to deal with.

That is just simply rude.

Based on what I'm aware of... July, early December and January. These are the peak season for Brazilians tour groups.

 

[wild4dis]

A couple of interesting things strike me about these groups......I went to London 2 years ago with DW who is a HS english teacher, she took 25 HS seniors for a vacation week trip, we had 6 adult chapperones for these 25 kids and they were older than the kids in the groups discussed here, plus there was no language barrier in London...its amazing someone would let there kid go to another country with such a bad kid to chapperone ratio.

Also, when we go to WDW, we always go with lots of relatives, usually 10-15 people (adults, teens, kids, preschoolers..) and one common thing is we always seem to split up and plan to meet later at a specific place for dinner, rides, shows, etc....its very difficult to keep everyone happy, some want to ride big rides, others want to rest, some want to meet characters.....how do you keep so many people together..and not kill each other !!

 

[CaptainH00k]

I don't know about Aug but I've seen them in Feb '06 & Dec '06 so I don't think any time is safe, but I think July there is a lot more of them than other times of the year. If that helps.

Based on what I'm aware of... July, early December and January. These are the peak season for Brazilians tour groups.

Thanks for the responses guys! The first part of my post was mainly tongue-in-cheek. I've never experienced the Brazilian groups, but if they or any other very large group happened to be there while we were, I'd be okay with it - Disney World is there to be enjoyed by all.

It's just the reports of extremely pushy behavior that's unacceptable for anyone trying to enjoy WDW like everyone else. I was just reminded of that choking in line story a day or two ago - you should never go that far - but the rudeness of some people these days.

 

[Atchley]

My experience last year was aggravating. A brazilian tour group was blocking the road. They were pushing and shoving each other and you could tell that all the other guests were getting aggravated. As we were walking by a couple of girls were shoving each other playfully but rather hard. They knocked in to my DS 6 and about knocked him down which ticked me off but then one of the girls spit at the other and she ducked. It almost hit my DD8. Then MOMMYMODE kicked it. I jumped up and screamed "HEY!" and then took my open hand and struck and girl right in the middle of the chest and shoved her back. Great. I just struck an underaged, foriegn girl in front of all these people. I looked around and none of the other guests seemed to be phased at all. We just walked on like nothing happened.
Just wish the groups, all groups, were a little more controlled. (That is also why I really don't want to go on a large family vacation too.)

 

[tamimouse]

It's too bad Disney can't require large groups to book a CM to be with the group. Maybe they could keep some of the line cutting and bad behavior under control. Or they could have enough chaperones with who would enforce some rules?

 

[Praying Colonel]

I think the most important question is, is it just July that the Brazilian tour groups are at WDW, or does it overflow into August? *gulp*

2 previous early-August trips to WDW, and I've not seen any Brazilian tour groups. My understanding is most clear out by the end of July.

 

[YEKCIM]

Here is Commando Mom, in full WDW combat gear, in a strategy session with her deputy commander, preparing for a full out assault on Animal Kingdom:

~YEKCIM

 

[PopArtGal]

I hope I'm not repeating anyone here since I did not finish reading the posts....

We encountered the groups at ASMu last year....

And we are hoping to go in july next year and now you rememinded me of this... and grrrr Anywayz...

They did make a mess of the hotel pools... We were in Jazz Inn... so we only had a few in our building...

We woke up to clothes that had been thrown of the balcony... The clothes were there on the ground... Dirty.. and nasty

There were pizza boxes in the pools and other nasty stuff...

Apparently they were staying in the Broadway buildings and a couple told us they kept them up and they had a little child.. so it was not pleasant...

They also took up entire buses to parks...

Chanted at Fantasmik... and blocked our paths...

Do they stay in the moderates??

We plan on staying at POR again

 

[BamaFan121s]

It's too bad Disney can't require large groups to book a CM to be with the group. Maybe they could keep some of the line cutting and bad behavior under control. Or they could have enough chaperones with who would enforce some rules?

That would have to be the highest paying position in Disney!

 

[calgarygary]

Painting any large group with either positive or negative attributes is prejudice - "any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable." So the very nature of this thread is of course prejudicial. That said, I just got back from 17 days in the parks in Orlando and there were large tour groups everywhere. I would embarass my children by chanting Viva Argentina when passing some boisterous groups.

For those that are complaining about the one individual at FP distribution getting 100 FP's - is that not faster then 100 people lined up each having to spend time walking up to the machine and exiting? I just don't understand that complaint.

The only issue that I experienced was when exiting Lion King, our row was exiting and 2 of my children moved out of the row when a family on the steps then stepped down between me and my children, followed by a tour group. After a few had gone I then put my arm out as I wasn't going to wait until then end of the tour group to find my children.

Go to the parks to have fun, if you go with the intention to find fault in the behaviour of others, I guarantee you will find it.

 

[lyzziesmom]

Stupid question: Every time I read about the Brazilian tour groups, I wonder ... how do you know with such certainty that they are Brazilian? Do they wear something that says "BRAZIL!" all over it? Is it possible there are other South American tour groups as well?

I don't think I've seen the tour groups, but then again I tend to ignore other people in the parks and just focus on making sure my family and I have the best possible time in WDW.

 

[CaptainH00k]

Stupid question: Every time I read about the Brazilian tour groups, I wonder ... how do you know with such certainty that they are Brazilian? Do they wear something that says "BRAZIL!" all over it? Is it possible there are other South American tour groups as well?

I don't think I've seen the tour groups, but then again I tend to ignore other people in the parks and just focus on making sure my family and I have the best possible time in WDW.

Because there are a Brazillian of them?

Sorry, I had to re-hash that lame joke

That's actually the best post on this thread. Focus on your friends and family and have the best time you can! Great perspective lyzziesmom!

 

[JennyMominRI]

Stupid question: Every time I read about the Brazilian tour groups, I wonder ... how do you know with such certainty that they are Brazilian? Do they wear something that says "BRAZIL!" all over it? Is it possible there are other South American tour groups as well?

I don't think I've seen the tour groups, but then again I tend to ignore other people in the parks and just focus on making sure my family and I have the best possible time in WDW.

Their shirts say Brasil on them.. I've gone probably 15 times now and this was the first time I ever saw them..You can't miss them.. We are talking groups of 100 people at a time moving in one direction or all standing in one spot..
I never saw any straightforward rudeness, just a lot of blocking of paths and line cutting. I was actually kind of fascinated watching them and we were waving at them on the TTC.
To the poster who just mentioned the fastpasses, I believe I brought this up first.. I didn't bring it up as a problem per say, but to let people know that if they get in a line behind one person in the Brazilian group, they may not realize it will take the BTG 10 minutes to get 100 fastpasses.. You are much better off getting in a different line.. Would you get in a line that had 100 people in it rather than the one next to it with 5?

ETA... Some of the shirts don't say Brasil but have a BRTours.com logo on them.

 

[Tink3Belle]

Note to self: Do not visit during the Brazilian Invasion!