Tour Groups from Brazil Watch....

[Disney8704]

Ugh I HATE the Brazilian groups. I would rather smash my head through a brick wall then have to put up with them. As you tell by my signature I have been to Disney in July TO many times! I refuse to go in July now. Which is a huge shame because I will NEVER be able to celebrate my birthday ever again since my b-day is in July. They cut in line, they push and shove, they pretend to not speak english, and the worst part of it all, the chanting! OMG, the chanting!! I swear if I EVER run into a group again and they start chanting I know I wont be able to contain myself. I used to in the past and it was EXTREMELY hard but I just know if I hear that chanting weither it be on a ride, before or during a show or even just walking through a park I will prob go up to them and YELL at them on top of my lungs to shut up and then go and complain to Guest Service and tell them they are being disrepectful to everyone who is trying to have a peaceful vacation. Not hearing a bunch of people chanting on top of their lungs.

Yeah me, my sister and her husband all went in July 2002 and stayed at All Star Movies - BIG MISTAKE!! Had to put up with them at the parks AND at the resort. I remember one time we were on the bus after the park closed and we were on there with some of the brazilians and they started chanting on top of their lungs. As it was I was tired and had a headache. By the time I got off the bus my headache turned into a migrane. So when we got off the bus, we were sitting at the front and they were sitting in the back. So I slowly got up and took my sweet time getting off the bus. And they were trying to push me to make me move faster but I wouldnt have it. A couple other people saw what I was trying to do and they joined in with me. Some guy even turned around and spit in one of the girls faces which I thought was pretty funny. Serves them right! Yea what should have taken a minute to get off the bus, it took us like 2 mins.

I also remember the night we got to Disney during that same trip I just wrote about. We checked into the resort and then headed to the gift store that evening to buy some candy. Well I was standing right behind a couple people from the brazilian groups and they were teenagers. Prob around 15 or 16. And this little boy in front of them standing in line getting ready to buy something and some money fell out of his wallet and he didnt realize it. Well one of the brazilian boys in front of me and behind him bent down and picked it up and put it in his pocket! I couldnt believe it! So I tapped him on the shoulder and said Excuese me, but I believe that money belongs to that little boy. So hand it over or I'll get security. Well I must have sounded really serious or something because he instantly gave me the money and then ran off to the other side of the store. I gave the money back to the little boy and told him what happened and he seemed really grateful. So grateful he ran and told his parents and his parents came up to me and told me thank you and offered to pay for my candy. I told them no need, but they insisted so I said OK.

Why dont we all do this. Next time you see a brazilian tour group and they start chanting, you and the people your with go up to them and start singing really loud so they can hear you over their chanting, Its a Small World over and over and over again. Try to get others involved to, like CMs Who knows, maybe they will stop their chanting!

 

[Markstudy]

If you are going to Disney during Jan/July... don't get too worried! its not that bad

I think knowing about these groups is the most important thing.

They are very easy to avoid if you know ahead of time to keep an eye-out for them.

I wish I learned before I went... unfortunately I had to learn the hard way.
I just get a little steamed about this... and as a protest to Disney, will continue to speak-up and avoid going during these times anymore.

 

[j109]

Why dont we all do this. Next time you see a brazilian tour group and they start chanting, you and the people your with go up to them and start singing really loud so they can hear you over their chanting, Its a Small World over and over and over again. Try to get others involved to, like CMs Who knows, maybe they will stop their chanting!

Yes, but how does one pronounce "It's a Small World" in Brazilian Portugese? I think that would be much more effective.

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

I am Brazilian, and I'm here on my computer lauging so hard b/c I know exactly what it is that you all are talking about!! lol

 

[slduck]

is to grab the flag from the leader and take off running with the entire group following me all around the park chanting all the way!

I DARE you!!!!! Just make sure to post the video on You Tube. I am laughing so hard that I am crying. I saw a flag while I we were there and my first thought was RUN!!!!!!

On the other hand, the BRITS are so super. We never met a rude British family on vacation.

 

[esdras]

I've been going in early July for years, and that's a prime time for them.


As a side note, they don't just go to WDW with their tour groups. I live in NYC, and I've seen them in large department stores, same behavior, but with less tolerance.

If you are going to Disney during Jan/July... don't get too worried! its not that bad

I think knowing about these groups is the most important thing.

They are very easy to avoid if you know ahead of time to keep an eye-out for them.

I wish I learned before I went... unfortunately I had to learn the hard way.
I just get a little steamed about this... and as a protest to Disney, will continue to speak-up and avoid going during these times anymore.

These two posts make me wonder (mind you... I don't think I've encountered one of these groups) should you really be avoiding them?

By moving aside, going in whichever way they aren't - their horrible behaviour is getting them exactly what they want... front of the line and the ability to act in any way without repercussions.

On the other hand, the first poster mentions seeing the same thing in NYC, but with far less tolerance. Well, not to stereotype, but I think the reactions in NYC towards people acting like idiots is considerably less accomodating than reactions at Disney.

Now, I've been brought up as a good Catholic and told to turn the other cheek. I've also studied theology, and read the words of St. Augustine who said (in some circumstances), better a person should die than be allowed to continue on in sin. Okay, so that had to do with war... but some of these situations are sounding like warfare! I'm also not suggesting that we start killing anyone either! Just to be clear on that.

Basically, I think that for those who can possibly do so (if you have small children - for example - , and don't particularly feel safe, or don't want to appear rude in front of your kids - I totally understand), stand up to them. If they try to push ahead of you in line - push back. If one stands in front of you, make them sit down. Call security - take pictures to show security of the offensive act and demand that they be removed from the parks. Do whatever it takes to let them know that there are others who won't take their crap.

And, okay, to sum up (stereotypically - sorry), treat them like they're in NYC acting like jerks.

I realize some will disagree with this - and I understand. We each have our opinions. But while the descriptions of what they do makes me mad, knowing that they all to often get away with it truly infuriates me.

 

[Disney8704]

I have met some really cool, amazing and sweet people from England while im in Disney.

I DARE you!!!!! Just make sure to post the video on You Tube. I am laughing so hard that I am crying. I saw a flag while I we were there and my first thought was RUN!!!!!!

On the other hand, the BRITS are so super. We never met a rude British family on vacation.

 

[asta]

I have met some really cool, amazing and sweet people from England while im in Disney.

This is why I felt so incredibly dumb when I realized that the offensive tour group with the English at Disney shirts (see my earlier post) were actually from Brazil and not England. I kept thinking that I had never encountered British people that were that rude.

 

[neilsalop]

On the other hand, the BRITS are so super. We never met a rude British family on vacation.

If I bump into any of these groups in December, I can assure you you will see just how rude us Brits can be.

 

[goofy4tink]

We hear this discussion on a regular basis.
It is the "tour groups that must not be named", "the football groups", etc.

Disney could very easily to put an end to this terrible behavior and up to now has chosen to turn a blind eye. Most teens are good kids that will behave appropriately but to put them, with far too little supervision, into this type of environment, sugar them up and go into sensory overload, and to think there will not be problems is naive at best and frankly, horrible customer service.

I am a high school teacher. I have never had trouble with students on any type of trip and that is mainly because the expectations are known from the beginning. Kids, no matter what group they are associated with, will often rise or fall to the expectations. WDW needs to crack down and hold tour providers / parents responsible.

For what it is worth, here is my take on what WDW should do with all large tour groups, especially those involving kids:

1. Contract - this should be handled through the tour company. Parents and kids need to sign an agreement (in their native tongue) stating that they are responsible for the full cost of the trip and getting their child home, should WDW revoke their right to stay on property.

2. Group Meeting - when the groups arrive, they should be taken to a meeting with several forceful CMs who will explain (in the language of the group - do not count on the "leaders" to translate) the rules. These include - not pushing, that they will be removed from a park if they chant during shows, the entire group will be removed if there is an incident of line cutting.

3. Crowd Control / CM Authority - no fastpasses for groups traveling together, no flag poles, one adult per ten kids and no more than twenty traveling together. To limit the size of the groups together, problems will be limited. There is less need to push to the front of lines to get with the groups, and the leaders cannot say that do not see what the group is doing. Even if they join up for parades, there will be more adults present. As for authority, CMs need to be empowered to toss misbehaving groups. They do not like to deal with it either.

Now, I have no hope of WDW ever doing any of this as these "group problems" have been going on as long as I can remember, but if they were to crack down and toss out (ban) even one group, I guarantee the others would learn quickly. I would also suggest that they can ban certain tour providers if their groups cause problems.
Just my two cents...

My dd just did the requisite DC trip with 8th grade a month ago. The tour group they worked with was incredible. In fact, a lot of the things you mentioned in your post are things they actually do!! When the kids were taken to specific museums or memorial sites, they were told they had certain things they had to do..out of respect for where they were, plain and simple.
I wish that there were similar rules for tour groups in WDW. Sure, I understand that what is looked upon as rude here, in the US, may be acceptable in another country. But, here's the thing.....you are in the US, figure out what behaviour is acceptable and go with it.
It's time to hold people accountable rather than worrying about hurting their feelings. Pretty soon, WDW will have only tour groups at certain times of the year because the rest of us will be staying home. I know that I will never go in mid-Jan again....those kids were just out of control and I never saw one person try to rein them in..not a tour group person or a WDW person. And to me, that's insulting to everyone around them.

 

[garada3]

Okay - besides going another direction after a flag spotting, are there other strategies for dealing with these groups for those of us who are going in July?

Do these groups take advantage of moring EMH? Do they make rope-drop at the parks? Do they mostly eat CS? What hotels do they stay at?

Thanks!

 

[Disney8704]

They always stay at the values, generally the all stars resorts. Also if you see them at the MK, try a different park. They all tend to go to the same park. You might run into a couple tour groups like at AK or something but it wouldnt be that bad. As for other tips I dont know of any other then dont go in July

Okay - besides going another direction after a flag spotting, are there other strategies for dealing with these groups for those of us who are going in July?

Do these groups take advantage of moring EMH? Do they make rope-drop at the parks? Do they mostly eat CS? What hotels do they stay at?

Thanks!

 

[ameraumi]

They were there the week of June 9th, with that blasted whistle and the dangerous flag pole.

We saw them too that week. Don't forget the obnoxious chanting!

 

[asta]

Okay - besides going another direction after a flag spotting, are there other strategies for dealing with these groups for those of us who are going in July?

Do these groups take advantage of moring EMH? Do they make rope-drop at the parks? Do they mostly eat CS? What hotels do they stay at?

Thanks!

My experience is that they definitely do morning EMH. We arrived about 45 minutes prior to a before park opening breakfast at the castle. To our surprise there were already about 200 people there waiting in line to get in. Over half of the crowd was tour group kids that were just lying about on the concrete. My thought is that their leaders must get them up very early to get in line and, once in line, they just lay back down and go to sleep (on concrete!). What I still do not understand is that we went up to a CM to see if there was another line to enter the MK since we were supposed to be at the castle before opening but he just directed us back to the line behind these sleeping teens. By the time the gate was opened and all of these teens woke up and made it thru the turnstyles, we were late for our breakfast. I still see people comment about entering before the park opens for early dining but this was not the case for us.

 

[ameraumi]

My experience is that they definitely do morning EMH. We arrived about 45 minutes prior to a before park opening breakfast at the castle. To our surprise there were already about 200 people there waiting in line to get in. Over half of the crowd was tour group kids that were just lying about on the concrete. My thought is that their leaders must get them up very early to get in line and, once in line, they just lay back down and go to sleep (on concrete!). What I still do not understand is that we went up to a CM to see if there was another line to enter the MK since we were supposed to be at the castle before opening but he just directed us back to the line behind these sleeping teens. By the time the gate was opened and all of these teens woke up and made it thru the turnstyles, we were late for our breakfast. I still see people comment about entering before the park opens for early dining but this was not the case for us.

It sounds like you got a CM that did not have the right answer. That bites it happened! There is a turnstyle for CM's and early reservations at each park. It is normally to the far right as you walk up to the gates.

 

[TriciaSDMom]

Saw a group of them last week at Epcot. So they are out there.....somewhere. Luckily they seemed somewhat well behaved and no line cutting was happening. Only annoying in that teenager being loud and kind of rowdy sort of way.

 

[Ms. WDW]

Surprisingly enough it was only towards the end of our trip (June 20-28) that we even began to see the groups. I'm sorry; but they are rude, obnoxious and extreemly arrogant. I never minded them before, but after an incident last year at Chef Mickey's I'm totally convienced that the less we see of them the better we all are.

 

[Withacy]

We saw quite a few large tour groups there in January. I've always gone to the value resorts, prefering to spend my money in the parks and on a longer visit. But I've had enough of these large groups of teenagers. The next one will be a shorter visit at a moderate hotel.

I honestly don't understand the mentality that allows people to bipass an existing line and think they can just push their way in front of everyone waiting. I was in line at Everest for 20 minutes, and just about to enter the door to the museum/outfitters, I turned around to say something to the person behind me, turned back around and there were two kids from one of the tours just standing there (in the middle of our group!). This was right in front of the CM who measures the kids going in. The CM had to physically block them from entering, because they refused to get out of line.

On Star Tours, about 10 of these teenage boys entered, went to different rows than they'd been in the queue for, and went only half way down. Then when people motioned them to move (didn't just say "Move", but motioned) they said "No English" and laughed. Of course, when the operator said he wouldn't start the ride until they moved, they suddenly did speak English.

I'm sorry, when I see large groups of teenagers, no matter where they're from, I tend to go the other way.

 

[PoohIs#1]

We will be there July 24. Will the tour groups still be around in late July? I know it's silly but this kind of behavior can ruin my day because I'm not the kind of person who can tolerate any kind of rude behavior.

 

[mickaholic4077]

It may just be my impression,but I think the groups start to taper off by the end of the month.