Petition to Disney - Re: Large Tour Groups

[Bluegrrl]

One thing I did notice on my last visit (June) at the Caribbean hotel were Brazilian interpreters. They were Brazilian CMs wearing bright green shirts and they had clipboards and headphones with them. Apparently Disney has come to their senses and dispatched these folks all throughout the parks to help with FP+ kiosks, Quick Service places and hotel check-ins.
It's a pretty good idea, and WAY overdo in my opinion. Especially at the QS places where getting stuck behind a BTG that has NO IDEA how to order food, much less stand in line is horrible. Now Disney has a way to handle the BTG season.

I will agree with the PP about our "lovely" mayor who thinks the BTG and other large groups bring money into Orlando. Usually, these groups bring money into their own tour company, and over tax our infrastructure. UGH.

BTW: the worst groups I saw were not at Disney but at Universal and it was with school groups. They were bunches of school kids (middle school and high school) there, and my stroller got ran into several times by them. They were simply unruly, with absolutely no chaperones or control. I was so very mad, and couldn't believe that they were not supervised by anyone, especially the middle school ones.

 

[maarowak]

I've never been to WDW with groups (which is v common for 14/15 yo in Brazil since they have vacation packages for that and they are reasonably priced), but I did go to Disneyland with one. We were around 60-70 people, staying one week in LA.

I didn't have many friends and ended up wandering the park by myself, so I don't really know how they behaved, however, they were SO annoying at the hotel. Some of them got on trouble for having booze in their rooms, we were almost kicked out of the hotel ):

My cousin went to WDW this year, and from what she explained to me, they were let in the park in groups of 4-5, and only would get back together at the end of the day. So I don't really get the fuss, at least with the Brazilian groups, afaik they never walk all together. If they do, well, that's pretty troublesome ):

 

[ibela]

Did all of this really happen?!!

The tour groups are not any kind of a safety threat...if they were, they'd be dealt with. They're a nuisance sometimes (but so are tantruming children LOL).

Many of the comments say they are concerned for the safety of the children etc. What are the safety issues? As far as I can tell they are an annoyance to some degree, but not sure about safety being an issue.

Not OP but I did see the original thread on facebook which led to this petition. There were people and strollers literally knocked down because the groups were running by, a couple (or maybe 1 person?) got surrounded by a group who then yelled something in their face and then ran away laughing, and the grossest - the resort pool got shut down because a couple was caught having s** in it so it needed to be cleaned.

I can understand the concern but I doubt an internet petition will change anything. It would be far more effective to learn a few curse words in Portuguese.

You never know, but learning the curse words is certainly faster.

 

[SydneyFalco]

Have there been any news articles on this phenomenon? The "hire a disabled person" thing got a lot of press -- has this?

 

[EpicBilynn]

I think I just pick the right times of year to go when I go on my trips. I've never experienced any tour groups. But I have heard the horror stories from people who have experienced them and I hope that Disney is starting to really enforce some rules with them. I did work at Six Flags for years and we had a lot of big tour groups come there, but they were never a problem. Our biggest problem was always teenagers with their friends who had no courtesy or common decency.

And speaking from the viewpoint of a DVC member, I don't understand the whole DVC "elitist" attitude. It's just a different way to enjoy Disney. Not better, not worse, just different.

 

[oliviaik]

My cousin went to WDW this year, and from what she explained to me, they were let in the park in groups of 4-5, and only would get back together at the end of the day. So I don't really get the fuss, at least with the Brazilian groups, afaik they never walk all together. If they do, well, that's pretty troublesome ):

When I went last week, the groups all walked together. There were groups with as many as 100 people in them. They chanted all day long as well. The chanting was annoying, but the worst part was when a group would enter the fast pass line all together right in front of you. I know they had separate fast pass kiosks for the tour groups. I don't think that is fair. I get that they want to stay together, but 100 people entering a fastpass line at one time ahead of you kind of takes away the appeal of the fastpass.

That being said, I didn't think they were a safety issue at all and should be allowed there. They were a nuisance but they weren't doing anything wrong.

 

[bumbershoot]

But I am highly offended by the previous post....'elitist'...really????

IMO, unless you are elitist AND DVC AND don't know how to vacation anywhere else, that poster wasn't talking about you.

elitist DVC members who apparently can't go on vacation anywhere else

I go on vacation elsewhere and am not elitist, so I didn't take that description of someone who is not me personally.

 

[L&Lfan]

I think Obama made a speech at the MK last year promoting Brazilian tourism to the USA.

 

[Btc0078]

I was at Disney for a conference July 17-20th, on Saturday late afternoon at the Magic Kingdom, a large Argentinian group, probably 75-100 teens, were camped out all over main street laying and sitting on stairs, streets and curbs near entrance to the railroad. I don't mind some chanting/cheering as this is a place of fun, but I believe they thought they were at a world cup game. Very loud, rude and offensive. I saw several cast members politely asked them to calm down but no response and continued on.

This is the first time I had ever seen a large touring group out of hand, and I go to Disney 4-5 x per year.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I think Obama made a speech at the MK last year promoting Brazilian tourism to the USA.

It was 2012 the first time promoting tourism I was on I-4 and stuck in the traffic long after he departed.
I really don't believe there is a slow season at WDW at any time of year anymore..just my opinion of course.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/19/president-obama-promotes-tourism-disney-world

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Hey guys, I just came across this on Facebook. It appears that someone (a DVC member) has created a petition to Disney regarding large tour groups, and the safety of other guests. What do you guys think?

http://chn.ge/1rItAGz

Why not just post friendly rules reminders in target languages in key areas? That info I'm sure already appears on non-English official guidemaps. A gentle but firm reminder in an appropriate language or languages might work.

Or else, just go to Disneyland Resort for a break. No giant tour groups there

 

[SRUAlmn]

I was at Disney for a conference July 17-20th, on Saturday late afternoon at the Magic Kingdom, a large Argentinian group, probably 75-100 teens, were camped out all over main street laying and sitting on stairs, streets and curbs near entrance to the railroad. I don't mind some chanting/cheering as this is a place of fun, but I believe they thought they were at a world cup game. Very loud, rude and offensive. I saw several cast members politely asked them to calm down but no response and continued on.

This is the first time I had ever seen a large touring group out of hand, and I go to Disney 4-5 x per year.

Yep! I was there that same day! I did not feel like I was in the Magic Kingdom. That's what shocks me..one of Disney's keys is SHOW and they are inhibiting the show.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

yeah, large groups of young adults are often times annoying in any setting where they are having fun...but I find this to be like an old man shouting at kids to get off his lawn...but believes WDW is his lawn.

Sorry that the most annoying thing about WDW is the fact that there are going to be people that sometimes act obnoxiously...human nature, you put thousands of people together, there will be jerks in the mix.

But you just deal with it and try not to dwell on it. You don't go start petitions to limit who goes to the parks. Elitist snobs.

 

[tsme]

I read the link. From what I read, it didn't seem like she wants Disney to stop these groups from going, rather she's asking Disney to put some rules down for them. Also, again from what I read, it seems she's also asking Disney to inforce those rules. That doesn't seem unreasonable. IMO.

 

[denneg]

To me, it seems very simple. Disney needs to say: "Here are out rules. If you break them we will kick you out of the park and revoke your admission tickets." Then they need to follow through. Do it a few times, and the problem is solved.

 

[MIDisFan]

I read the link. From what I read, it didn't seem like she wants Disney to stop these groups from going, rather she's asking Disney to put some rules down for them. Also, again from what I read, it seems she's also asking Disney to inforce those rules. That doesn't seem unreasonable. IMO.

That was your first mistake. You're supposed to read the thread title, skim over the first post and then offer your opinion 50 posts later. Clearly, you are being unreasonable by being a reasonable person.

IMO, Disney has done a better job with managing the large tour groups but I'm for anything that encourages them to continue doing better.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I can understand the concern but I doubt an internet petition will change anything. It would be far more effective to learn a few curse words in Portuguese.

Ha! Some of my Portuguese coworkers taught me some choice words and phrases and I've used them with BTG. the look on their face when you use them is hilarious.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Was there really an entire parade at MK cancelled because a bunch of kids were chanting so loudly they couldn't have the darn parade??? Not buying it. Those parades are LOUD

 

[Micca]

I doubt that Disney is very interested in petitions. OTOH, if something truly disastrous ever did occur prompted by a large tour group, it would sound really bad in the media coverage when they get to the part about "...The Disney company was petitioned to affect safety measures for large groups in August of 2014 but no policy is currently in place. Services for the victims will be announced Wednesday."

I don't actually believe anything like this would/could happen, but just imagine the PR nightmare.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

I'm not for limiting anyones access to the parks. I just want the rules to apply equally to everybody. The line jumping at Soarin' last year was unbelievable. We were riding standby and had been in line for about 45 minutes, when in the span of about 15 minutes, several groups of 7-15 people rudely pushed past us to join their party. They were all from the same group. I know that it added a significant length of time to our wait and the people around us were fed up with it. I complained to a Cast Member when we got to the place where the line splits and was told that there was nothing they could do. There is something that can be done but it will take Disney to do it. We did not encounter any large groups this year. I have seen bad behavior in groups of all size and from anywhere. Let's just all get along.