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

[A Mickeyfan]

Here's my tour group story.

We were at Blizzard Beach. One of son's and I were waiting in line for Summit Plummet. Long line. One at a time. Hot.

There were about 5-6 Brazilians about one flight up the stairs in front of us and they saw some of their friends below and started screaming for them to cut in line to get up with them.

Everyone in line let them go past....until they got to us. Now I'm a pretty big guy and when the 4 young men got to where we were I stepped in front of them and wouldn't let them pass. They said something and pointed at their friends in front of us and I just smiled and shook my head no. They tried pushing past and that just wasn't going to happen. Their friends started kind of yelling, either at me or just in general and I turned around and smiled at them. That was as far as the group went.

I do have to say.....being a red blooded american male, I do enjoy their swim suit choices at the water parks!

and how you handled it is exactly how it should be done... very nice & to the point.

 

[DisneyNDecember]

I just emailed Disney's website contact with this-----------


I see this way too many times on the DisBoards & have commented on this before. This is why I do not go during this time of year. It amazes that these tour groups are allowed to get away with this behavior. You do not have to email be back, but this needs to be addressed.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2516866

If you are going to continue to let this happen, there needs to be a very LARGE & LOUD Disney representative that tours with these groups since they continually ruin the vacation for everone else following the rules. This is unacceptable.

****************

Here is the website if anyone else wants it.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/contact/

 

[DisneyNDecember]

I don't know. Maybe if these groups were escorted out of the park, they'd get the message that bad behavior is not tolerated.

EXACTLY, that is WHAT needs to happen !!! I emailed Disney again (have done many times befoe about this topic) & they should be escorted out of the park!!!!

 

[stitchfan18]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I apologize if this has been answered. DH and I leave next week, and will be there the whole first week of August. Will the tour groups still be there, or do these kids go back to school soon?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I apologize if this has been answered. DH and I leave next week, and will be there the whole first week of August. Will the tour groups still be there, or do these kids go back to school soon?

When I have been to WDW in August I have not seen the amount of tour groups that go there during the month of July.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I apologize if this has been answered. DH and I leave next week, and will be there the whole first week of August. Will the tour groups still be there, or do these kids go back to school soon?

July is usually the heavy month since it is winter break for the schools in Brazil. ...

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Many years ago, I was frustrated and decided to take the high road. At lunch, I took 3 straws, "taped" them together with bandaids from my pack, and decorated a napkin as our family flag..... again using bandaids to secure the flag.

If a group was particularly loud, I would raise my flag and we always got applause from other non-group guests and it was fun. I didn't cut or really do anything with the flag but wave it a few times. It was comic relief.

This has been a very interesting thread and I have learned alot about the culture differences.

OK, now I have a strange question. They always wear matching shirts but I rarely notice body odor. Do they wash them every night? Seriously. My family can't wear the same shirt a second day during the Florida summer without washing it.

Love it! If I'm ever in this situation I may steal your idea and maybe add a few things. I think it might be a good idea to get "everyone else" in line to do our own chant...how does 99 bottles of beer sound?[/QUOTE]

lol, these are all just too funny!
However, I was actually thinking Hulk Hogans Theme song from the 80s, sorry it always cracks me up!

"I am a real American, Fight for the rights of every man,
I am a real American, fight for what's right, fight for your life!

When it comes crashing down, and it hurts inside,
ya' gotta take a stand, it don't help to hide,
Well, you hurt my friends, and you hurt my pride,
I gotta be a man; I can't let it slide,
I am a real American, Fight for the rights of every man,
I am a real American, fight for what's right, fight for your life!"

Now I must make a note to self:
Never go in July or Jan. b/c I know WE would be the ones getting kicked out of the park, DF cannot STAND rude behavior and would let them know so. When we went to Sesame Place a few years back with DD (she was only 2) We had a day camp and the camp leaders were VERY young (maybe 17-19) and each had about 5 5-8 year olds to watch, there was no adults older than 19 anywhere. The LEADERS were worse than the kids! THEY were pushing the kids in their groups so they could get ahead of the line, well one of them made the mistake of pushing DD. The first time Fiance let the CMs (not really sure what you call em at Sesame) know what was going on, the CMs told everyone to take a step back. Did it again....woooo... Fiance got really mad and told him if he had the little kid knock down DD again he better run and hope the bus for the day camp was waiting in the lot. It didn't happen again

 

[Rhonna]

Yes..no debate here, please.

I live in MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. There are large Brazilian comminuties in just about every city (not to be confused with towns) in MA, RI, CT, NY. The jobs I see the majority of Brazilians working are landscaping, office/residential cleaning, assembly lines, fast food chains (especially Dunkin Donuts, which are on every street corner) etc.. With their large communities, they also own and work at many stores selling Brazilian products, hair salons, restaurants etc.. Are these jobs Americans dont want/wont work..well, thats up for debate! I was just using a "line" I hear all the time when immigration reform is being discussed. This "line" is so famous, the Brazilians in Brazil take pride in it. They dont know we Americans laugh at it. They also thought it was a major accomplishemnt for the country that Gisele married Tom Brady!

Thank you for the answer. New info. to me.

 

[tinkrebell]

Love it! If I'm ever in this situation I may steal your idea and maybe add a few things. I think it might be a good idea to get "everyone else" in line to do our own chant...how does 99 bottles of beer sound?[/QUOTE]

lol, these are all just too funny!
However, I was actually thinking Hulk Hogans Theme song from the 80s, sorry it always cracks me up!

"I am a real American, Fight for the rights of every man,
I am a real American, fight for what's right, fight for your life!

When it comes crashing down, and it hurts inside,
ya' gotta take a stand, it don't help to hide,
Well, you hurt my friends, and you hurt my pride,
I gotta be a man; I can't let it slide,
I am a real American, Fight for the rights of every man,
I am a real American, fight for what's right, fight for your life!"

Now I must make a note to self:
Never go in July or Jan. b/c I know WE would be the ones getting kicked out of the park, DF cannot STAND rude behavior and would let them know so. When we went to Sesame Place a few years back with DD (she was only 2) We had a day camp and the camp leaders were VERY young (maybe 17-19) and each had about 5 5-8 year olds to watch, there was no adults older than 19 anywhere. The LEADERS were worse than the kids! THEY were pushing the kids in their groups so they could get ahead of the line, well one of them made the mistake of pushing DD. The first time Fiance let the CMs (not really sure what you call em at Sesame) know what was going on, the CMs told everyone to take a step back. Did it again....woooo... Fiance got really mad and told him if he had the little kid knock down DD again he better run and hope the bus for the day camp was waiting in the lot. It didn't happen again

I laughed so hard when I read this. I live next to Sesame Place, just north of Philly off of I-95, and just like the tour groups in July, all of us locals simply avoid certain routes next to the park because the pedestrians are absolutely terrible--people ignore the fact that it is a traffic light and simply walk across the crosswalk, go light or not, with their precious babies. And most of the people could really use a larger cover-up or too--these people do not have the Brazilian figures that are on display in WDW for all the red-blooded American males' pleasure! And yes, they're just Staff up here, and they're all the local high schoolers. Compared to the CMs at Disney, they're far less likely to have the confidence to do much about rudeness--we're just fortunate that no one seems to want to visit here from overseas!

 

[pixiefairy]

Apparently I didn't have to be in Orlando in July to meet up with tour groups. We went to Navy Pier on Friday night and ended up with a nice size group being loud, blocking the pathway for a picture, cutting around people (we were walking and a group of 4 cut us off, the girl turned around and said something to me with a smile - I wasn't sure if she was being snarky or apologizing, lol). We've seen and been around tour groups in the past...but none as loud, obnoxious and rude as what I've seen mentioned on the DIS. But...like some have said...I know my dh nor I would stand for our kids getting trampled or mistreated. Sorry to those who have had to deal with that.

 

[Lou Holtz]

No offence, but what do you think will happen to you if you really were to become very physical with a bunch of teens who happen to be minors. It isn't worth what would happen to you.

1. you would be asked to leave the park by security
2. that minor you push/shoved/hit what ever it may be can pursue charges against you
3. from that point on you have just ruined your family vacation & may end behind bars

Physical altercations never solve a problem, they only tend to make it worse. It doesn't matter to the law, that they were trying to "cut you", what matters would be that you struck a minor.

Disagree. You're exaggerating what he said. If someone pushes you out of the way and you push them back, you're not going to jail. That's very extreme and over dramatic. I'm also sure they're going to stay in America for however long to press charges over being pushed. That's obviously not going to happen either.

 

[KellyNY]

So would you have Disney discontinue the whole Grand Gathering thing? Or should families be able to travel to Disney together, but only be able to tour the parks in small groups?

I also find the suggesting of tagging somone (anyone!) highly offensive. Not to mention it smacks of prejudice. How would you like for your family to have to wear numbers to make you identifiable? "I want to report Sleeping Beauty family #471, as they tried to cut me off by the Fast Pass machine! I demand you do something!" That just sounds so wrong!

Why offensive? People on conventions wear name tags, kids on trips wear same t-shirts, so why not. It would make it easier for their tour guide to spot his "kids", for them to spot each other and for us not to associate every Brazilian family as a Brazilian Group. As for GG, if your group is large enough, doesn't just make sence to devide, for your own convenience, not as obligation and GG do not have 150 people. JMO.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Oh, dear, chanting? I don't think I would have a problem going up to them to tell them, kindly, to shut up.

 

[sleeping beauty 1]

Why offensive? People on conventions wear name tags, kids on trips wear same t-shirts, so why not. It would make it easier for their tour guide to spot his "kids", for them to spot each other and for us not to associate every Brazilian family as a Brazilian Group. As for GG, if your group is large enough, doesn't just make sence to devide, for your own convenience, not as obligation and GG do not have 150 people. JMO.

They already "tag" themselves -- they are required to wear the shirt color of the group. I am not sure if Disney requires them or the tour group -- or both -- so they are easy to find.

I am not against GG -- usually they do not have 150 people that jam up the FP line, food lines (oh those are fun too), etc . . . I have gone with a group of 15 before, but usually we split into three smaller groups for rides and those things and it isn't an issue.

 

[WDWisOurHappyPlace]

We've been to WDW in July several times, just got back Friday from a 5 night stay. I have to say that there were more groups this trip than previous trips, and very LARGE groups at that. I can't say that we witnessed alot of rude behavior though.

If you go during this time and want to watch the night parade on Main St. at MK, get your spot early. They start marking their spots 2 hours early, and they take up alot of space. Some actually put bags, towels, anything to save their spot, then come back before the parade starts, that annoys me.

My son happened to get a picture that included a group to give you a visual. This is only the front of this group. (And notice, no flag. This group had a few chaperones with inflatables for the group to follow):

 

[A Mickeyfan]

They start marking their spots 2 hours early, and they take up alot of space. Some actually put bags, towels, anything to save their spot, then come back before the parade starts, that annoys me.

If you think 2 hours is bad, in the County I live in they have an Edison Parade every year in honor of Thomas Edison. People stake their spots out, some as early as a month out. This has been going on since before I moved here, nearly 19 years ago. People tape & rope off areas, they put their lawn chairs there, they paint their names.. you name it they do it.. and the City allows it.. so 2 hours isn't anything compared to what these United States citizens. I would not really say Floridians, since not all who are here that time of year are locals, but Snow Birds from other parts of the U.S.

 

[KellyNY]

You are totally right. Disney doesn't know anything but their bottom line profits. Right now, one can complain all they want, but nothing will be done about it. We can't change what is happening. Only Disney can & the only way they will is by seeing their profit shrink. That will not happen either, many here will not ask for a refund. The few that would are out numbered by the amount of tickets Disney sells to the tour groups (any tour group).

And that is exactly what the problem is. We all can talk but it means nothing.
As long as we can be bought with FPs nothing will change. And all Disney needs to do is to make everyone happy is to create a set of rules, nothing else.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

And that is exactly what the problem is. We all can talk but it means nothing.
As long as we can be bought with FPs nothing will change. And all Disney needs to do is to make everyone happy is to create a set of rules, nothing else.

 

[Claudia1]

As Plano girl said, " I always say that where there's smoke there's fire. There's no way these groups would have this reputation unless events occurred that made them stand out. They can be defended as being no worse than any other groups but I personally don't buy it."


ITA!

For years, this topic has come up far more often then any other group. Yes, there are exceptions to every type of group. The large numbers, though, open them up to far more complaints. I don't know of other group that always travels in such large numbers. Much different from a Magical gathering of 20-30 people.

 

[NateLovesNikons]

so when did you go? cause im going next week.. are there alot of them? cause im kinda (im)famous for taming these groups. are they brazilian?