Just Back - ***TOUR GROUP RANT!!**

[LuluLovesDisney]

and instead of commiserating about a problem it becomes attacks on innocent people.

Physical violence in a park is going to get you kicked out. Assuming people's occupations from a comment on the Dis about tour groups is just ridiculous. Insulting entire careers is rude- especially careers in education.

I certainly don't condone the rude behavior of the tour groups. As I said before, my friend is Americanized Brazilian and she says that they make her embarrassed to be Brazilian. Many of the groups are rude and Disney needs to deal with them. Disney has enough security and undercover security that if it got to that point, I would hope they would act. Most of the problems are not physical; they are problems like cutting in line, not following rules, and the endless, annoying chanting.

 

[KellyNY]

The example given was splitting up groups into those that had 5 or 6 people. Many families are larger than that! You cannot pick out one ethnic or type of group, and have them divide up, and not have the same rule for all groups. Unless you want to be accused of racisim or discrimination.

And I don't see how going thru a park full of booing and hissing would be any more enjoyable than going thru a park with lots of chanting going on. Sounds like one irritating noise traded for another. And swearing at them? That is worse!

I did not say a thing about swearing. As for dividing, not because of origin, race, or anything like that but because it is a touring group. All over the world in any hotel, groups treated differently because they are group, so why Disney should be any different, has nothing to do with discrimination at all, why would you even bring it up.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

This thread is still open?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I'm posting even though I know this thread will get closed, they all do.

Anyway, we just got back from a week in WDW and ITA with the OP! We actually had a very interesting conversation with a bus driver who told us that Disney knows that Americans are broke, so they are spending BILLIONS of dollars in advertising and incentive packages in South America. He said they know that's where the money is because in this economy, Americans that can still come will, for example, buy maybe 1 souvenir per family member. The Brazilian kids are here as part of their quincenara (sp?) and they are the upper class of their country, so they are being sent with a thousand dollars each (just an estimate) to buy whatever they want. We watched, and they were in every ride photo area buying multiple photos, whereas, most Americans just exit the gift shop and move on. I'm not saying this bus driver is 100% accurate in what he said, and I'm not meaning to over-generalize (just making observations,) but it makes me very sad that Disney has just come down to money and that's it. I know, I know, they're a company just like any other, but what other company would be perfectly willing to sacrifice ALL of their quality control?

We really felt so many times that the 'experience' that the Disney Organization worked so hard to create has been destroyed. The music, the themeing, etc... can't be heard or seen through all the nonsense. Our bus driver really appreciated that comment from me and encouraged me to write a letter. He said that letters written stating that Disney's core values & mission are being sacrificed will be more readily accepted than those just blaming, ranting, and complaining. So, I encourage you ALL to please write a letter. I am definitely going to!

Wow! Disney is luring them in! Thanks for sharing this. I feel for the poor CMs. I dealt more with these tour groups during my semester as a CP CM than as a guest and I know what it is like to be totally ignored by the crowd. Fortunately, I was friends with security

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe this thread would be more productive if some would suggest solutions that don't involve confrontation? The CM's are apparently helpless and it sounds to me like some people have had enough. I personally tend to move the other way if I see a group and I certainly avoid June and January. Any other ideas?

 

[maxiesmom]

I did not say a thing about swearing. As for dividing, not because of origin, race, or anything like that but because it is a touring group. All over the world in any hotel, groups treated differently because they are group, so why Disney should be any different, has nothing to do with discrimination at all, why would you even bring it up.

I didn't mean to imply you were the one who made the swearing comment. Another poster did that.

I'm saying Disney would have a hard time putting numbers or labels on people in tour groups when they themselves advertise Grand Gatherings. And there are constantly posts from people who are going as a family of 20 or so. How do you know that family won't get out of control?

A large group is a large group. Pulling certain ones out to label would cause them to feel discriminated against. You can't have a wishy washy policy like that without causing a lot of trouble.

I need to say too that I have never seen the bad behavior so many of you are stating is rampant at the parks. And my last trip was in April, during Spring Break, when there were a lot of school groups there. I didn't see one group that was out of control. Not one! I think a few people are making a huge mountain out of a mole hill. I certainly never felt I missed out on part of the Disney Experience because they were in the parks.

I will be able to speak to this even better come December. I am staying the first week at the All Star Music. During Pop Warner. And I am not scared at all! I am actually very excited!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Disney will cater to any large group, why do you think they started their "Grand Gatherings", they are out for the $$$$.
What one poster has said about the Brazilian Tour kids coming with a lot of money is true. They are from the upper class of Brazil, they have money & an education. They also understand English as it is taught to them in school. I doubt that they are taught to line jump. Disney does want them to come here and spend their money. Just look at 99.9% of us who come on these boards.. we are looking for ways to save money while there, not spend. Disney is a business & I seriously doubt they will loose much if they loose "us". They will make it up from all the other guests (countries) that go there. Letter's may help, they may not. Either way, it will make one feel better if they write. If Disney was all about families, they wouldn't make their prices so out of reach from many of the average American families. Not everyone can go, and not everyone goes. The site of it being for families was lost many years ago.. Heck, they don't even like to give there CM's off for family situations.. and that I know first hand being a former CM. That was why I left them. I know other CM's that have left too.. for the same reason.. the company is not family oriented period. I know one CM that got a call her Dad was dying. She had to take off to get there, her supervisor was forced to write her up for no showing up to work. I know another who was in the hospital and was written up for not coming to work.. they get points for infractions and not coming to work, no matter what the reason is, will be a point and or write up.. so if they do this to their own employee's do you really think they care what you have to say about a group of teens chanting, holding up the FP lines.... line jumping maybe because it is a safety thing.. but anything else, Disney isn't going to care... Bottom line for them is their profit margin.. no matter what it takes. It has been that way for years. Many can't see past the pixie dust or magic.. they think Disney cares for them..

 

[luckyprincess]

I've never seen a tour group, so I won't be asking for any money back. I'm talking about the situation everyone else is having a problem with and how it can be fixed. The only way Disney is going to do something about this is if the groups are creating a legitimate security concern. If people decide they just aren't going to take it anymore, that's exactly what's going to happen and they'll have to address it eventually. People being annoyed by them and then coming home and writing letters really isn't going to create that sense of urgency. If this "alpha male" starts shoving people back and gets charges pressed, that will create HUGE amounts of attention to the situation in the media, and again, that's the only way it's actually going to be addressed. So really, the best advice to the guy is to start popping them all in the mouth if they're bothering him.


(Please withhold the lectures, those of you who don't get that this is mostly tongue in cheek)

Loved it! We never let anyone cut in front of us, either. Ever. Good luck getting past me. And no, I have no problem telling someone that and a 'whoops' elbow to the gut when someone is positively shoving and pushing me works very well. I'm sure a cop would love to have to show up for me to say 'oh, I didn't even see her there...'. If you think charges would be pressed for that you're crazy.
If I were to be surrounded with chanting I also wouldn't have a problem telling them to shut it. If I'm not given courtesy you won't get any from me. To look at the ground and explain to your kid that it's okay for them to cut lines, scream, chant loudly when people tell you to be quiet, block people from passing physically laying your hands on them well, that's your deal.

 

[Tiger926]

If you read my post, I didn't say anything about it being any different than chanting. I didn't say I was chanting, or signing or acting in a disruptive manner.

Sometimes,after other methods have failed, the only way to get through to people acting like that is to be disrespectful back.


As for the different cultures if they were reading this thread, maybe they would take the hint not to act foolish, disruptive. But then again, I have seen fellow Americans acting just as foolish.

Oh, I did read your post - I'm an English teacher, so no problem with comprehension over here.

Your comment was that you are mouthy and will tell people to shut the xx up. I assume you would do so in a loud voice, so as to get your point across, so again, my question stands, how is this any different from the annoying chanting that you are all discussing? How is yelling and cursing at people any different than chanting? It's disruptive, not to mention rude, especially since I believe you said you did it in a confined space of an airplane.

Clearly, your yelling and cursing at someone to shut up, is probably worse than some teens singing and chanting in wide open spaces. But, I guess your behaviour is justified...why is that?

Rude is rude is rude...Tiger

 

[maxiesmom]

Loved it! We never let anyone cut in front of us, either. Ever. Good luck getting past me. And no, I have no problem telling someone that and a 'whoops' elbow to the gut when someone is positively shoving and pushing me works very well. I'm sure a cop would love to have to show up for me to say 'oh, I didn't even see her there...'. If you think charges would be pressed for that you're crazy.
If I were to be surrounded with chanting I also wouldn't have a problem telling them to shut it. If I'm not given courtesy you won't get any from me. To look at the ground and explain to your kid that it's okay for them to cut lines, scream, chant loudly when people tell you to be quiet, block people from passing physically laying your hands on them well, that's your deal.

You do know you are being watched the whole time you are in the parks, right? Making it pretty darn hard to slip and do a "whoops elbow" to anyone, and get away with it if they wanted to press charges. Not to mention all the other people in line who get to witness it.

It stuns me that so many people seem to think the solution to bad behavior is even worse behavior. Don't like chanting? Cuss them out. Don't want someone to cut you in line? Elbow them. And we complain about people from other countries being rude.

 

[SRUAlmn]

It stuns me that so many people seem to think the solution to bad behavior is even worse behavior. Don't like chanting? Cuss them out. Don't want someone to cut you in line? Elbow them. And we complain about people from other countries being rude.

My DH and I had this same conversation on our trip. Why stoop to their level? It's really not worth it! We had some very rude encounters and being rude back would just be out of character for us, put us in a cranky mood, and make us look just as idiotic! Not worth it!

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

Loved it! We never let anyone cut in front of us, either. Ever. Good luck getting past me. And no, I have no problem telling someone that and a 'whoops' elbow to the gut when someone is positively shoving and pushing me works very well. I'm sure a cop would love to have to show up for me to say 'oh, I didn't even see her there...'. If you think charges would be pressed for that you're crazy.
If I were to be surrounded with chanting I also wouldn't have a problem telling them to shut it. If I'm not given courtesy you won't get any from me. To look at the ground and explain to your kid that it's okay for them to cut lines, scream, chant loudly when people tell you to be quiet, block people from passing physically laying your hands on them well, that's your deal.

Amen!!! I'd back you up - "I didn't see them either, officer!"

 

[KellyNY]

I didn't mean to imply you were the one who made the swearing comment. Another poster did that.

I'm saying Disney would have a hard time putting numbers or labels on people in tour groups when they themselves advertise Grand Gatherings. And there are constantly posts from people who are going as a family of 20 or so. How do you know that family won't get out of control?

A large group is a large group. Pulling certain ones out to label would cause them to feel discriminated against. You can't have a wishy washy policy like that without causing a lot of trouble.

I need to say too that I have never seen the bad behavior so many of you are stating is rampant at the parks. And my last trip was in April, during Spring Break, when there were a lot of school groups there. I didn't see one group that was out of control. Not one! I think a few people are making a huge mountain out of a mole hill. I certainly never felt I missed out on part of the Disney Experience because they were in the parks.

I will be able to speak to this even better come December. I am staying the first week at the All Star Music. During Pop Warner. And I am not scared at all! I am actually very excited!

But they are labeling themselves already. 150 people in same shirts following a flag leader or whatever they called is pretty big lable and attention. I do not see any legal problem making a rule to request such huge armies to be subdivided. Nobody refusing the access but park is not a parade.
As for GG, 20 is not 150.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

........and Americans wonder why so many countries dislike us. What is that saying "the proof is in the pudding". Our society will never change as long as parents continue to pass on their behaviors.. and the attitude of, we can do what ever we want, legal or not.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

My DH and I had this same conversation on our trip. Why stoop to their level? It's really not worth it! We had some very rude encounters and being rude back would just be out of character for us, put us in a cranky mood, and make us look just as idiotic! Not worth it!

So the solution is to just let them do it and get away with it? It seems we're all in agreement that WDW won't do anything to stop. If we take this to the logical conclusion then at some point in the future WDW will ultimately become a place where anyone can do anything they want. I mean because if a regular person tries to stop it on their own they're either a bully or a soon-to-be litigant. WDW is a big, bad company only concerned with making <gasp> a profit so they're not going to risk revenue by offending anyone. Whatever shall we do? I go to Paris every so often and think I'm going to have to make a visit to Disneyland Paris just so I can see how much of an "ugly American" I really am.

 

[KellyNY]

You do know you are being watched the whole time you are in the parks, right? Making it pretty darn hard to slip and do a "whoops elbow" to anyone, and get away with it if they wanted to press charges. Not to mention all the other people in line who get to witness it.

It stuns me that so many people seem to think the solution to bad behavior is even worse behavior. Don't like chanting? Cuss them out. Don't want someone to cut you in line? Elbow them. And we complain about people from other countries being rude.

Elbow somebody, definitely not, cannot even think of that, but "playing a wall" may help. Just do not move. If they want to cut you, they will have to elbow or push or whatever you and since we all watched, they will be at fault.
As for Brazilian groups, first I would say foreign, not all of them Brazilian. Second, I and many here have same feeling toward every large touring group, locals as well.

 

[Luvchefmic]

........and Americans wonder why so many countries dislike us. What is that saying "the proof is in the pudding". Our society will never change as long as parents continue to pass on their behaviors.. and the attitude of, we can do what ever we want, legal or not.

How about the saying "When in Rome...." If I travel to another country what would happen if I plopped down in the middle of the road, started chanting, would not move out of the way etc etc...These young people (and I am speaking of the tour groups) come here spend money and earn the right to treat everyone else like garbage.?..sorry

Is it the fault of these teens no I think its the fault of the parents of all these teens and the tour group chaperones or guides. I've been going for decades I am tired of being pushed, shoved, and having the priviledge of walking around a large rude group because they will not budge. and the chanting yes its rude & its started (in my experience ) by those in charge.

I'm not worrying about what countries don't like us..I don't care. OUR military helps countries all over the world. Is it too much to ask that someone from another country is respectful in places in our country they visit?

Only ONE time did I witness these groups stop the noise. At the end of the EMP with the float with the American Flag & the Eagle the clapping from the crowd was thunderous and I was proud !

 

[KellyNY]

So the solution is to just let them do it and get away with it? It seems we're all in agreement that WDW won't do anything to stop. If we take this to the logical conclusion then at some point in the future WDW will ultimately become a place where anyone can do anything they want. I mean because if a regular person tries to stop it on their own they're either a bully or a soon-to-be litigant. WDW is a big, bad company only concerned with making <gasp> a profit so they're not going to risk revenue by offending anyone. Whatever shall we do? I go to Paris every so often and think I'm going to have to make a visit to Disneyland Paris just so I can see how much of an "ugly American" I really am.

They get away because Disney does not stop them. We do not have autority to stop anyone unless you have to defend yourself. We do not want parks to become soccer fans battles. It is law the one who start will pay. I propose to ask for your money back. Plain and simple. If CMs cannot keep the order and it disturbs your day at the park, you have every right to have your money back. JMO.

 

[fairestoneofall]

on our June trip, all of the groups we ran into were no problem at all. yes, there were a lot of them, and we sometimes found ourselves in the midst of their group. but they were never rude, never chanting, never pushing or cutting in lines. other than having to get around them sometimes, they weren't a problem at all. i guess we were just fortunate to run into all the well-mannered groups.

we were also on a monorail ride early one morning with a group getting a physics lesson. my sister and i were celebrating our birthdays on this trip (i turned 35 right after we got home). they asked if they could sing their [native] version of happy birthday to us. it was awesome!

 

[brunette8706]

Those bad bad Americans! Frankly, how this thread got turned around to bash American's is beyond me. For those that want to take up for the BRAZILIAN crude, rude, crass tour groups so be it! This thread turned 180 degrees to I'll repeat again, to BASH Americans. How dare someone take up for his or her family because of the BRAZILIAN Tour groups contemtuous behavior! Over 180 posts and the large majority are complaining about the crass, crude, rude Brazilian tour groups. Says volumes doesn't it?