Where did they come from???

[Luvchefmic]

If my family is in line and we see a group trying to get ahead of us, my mom and I stand on opposite sides of the corral and put one leg on the opposite rail each, thus creating a small barricade. Or, if the line is moving steadily along, we stand shoulder to shoulder with my dad behind and between us.

I have been going solo to WDW for decades, this is my biggest pet peeve too, for your family a brilliant solution. For me I had been bullied for the last time a few years ago, my breaking point came with a visit to SeaWorld and arriving very early for a popular show. I was one of the 1st ten people in line. A few kids with tour shirts were ahead of me. I was a little leery expecting a rush of kids last minute. That's exactly what happened, at the time we were going to be let in about 50 kids came running out of no where it seemed to join the others. I stood my ground said a firm NO (same in ANY language) & they got behind me. I'll be damned if I was going to hold a place for them. I don't go around a large group blocking the path in any park I walk right through them

 

[florep1]

We've never encountered these groups but I've read various negative posts on the boards. I thought I read by the end of July they're pretty much gone. Can anybody confirm? We head down the 2nd week in August.

We were at WDW 2 years ago towards the end of July and they were there in full force. This year, we went from June 20-July 5th and we didn't see them till July1, then they were there everyday but I didn't think the groups were as big as they were before.

 

[CarolA]

Thats the good thing about being a 30 year old DVC owner.....you can tell the groups to get out of your way. I have. I know people will say thats not magical. But if i'm at a park with my family and a group(any group) tries to bully their way in front of me, i do not allow it to happen. PERIOD. It's not a national thing, it's not ANY thing....except a personal respect thing. I will lay down in the mud to help an old women across the street, but I will also tell the ignorant group where they can go. That's me. I would do the same thing at a sporting event, a muesuem, anyware. I'm not saying I make a scene....and making a scene is not a "cool" thing to do to me. But we are all there. We all want our family, kids, friends to have fun.....and it's Disney.....so you have to wait to do it. That wait will not be by jumping past me....no matter what visa you carry.

AND WHAT does having A DVC membership have to do with anything?

Dear readers,

As a DVC member I would like to point out that MOST of us realize that we are not "special" and do not think that this makes us different or "better"

(This type of attitude is why I don't wear ANYTHING that identifies me as either a DVC member or AP holder. Cast Members think you automatically deem you "guilty" due to the actions of others )

 

[Luvscrappin]

I totally agree that if one is visitng another country it is their responsiblility to learn how people behave in that culture. My husband travels worlwide for business and that is expected.I have many times had my children nearly trampled and literally pushed down by these tour groups. Once a grown man knocked my 4 yr old son over to get a horse that went up and down on Cinderella's Carousel. That kind of behavior is never acceptable! Last year while waiting in line at BTM two teenagers were practically giving a free porn show in line and quite frankly it was disgusting. When my daughter gave them a disapproving look it only got worse. I try very hard not to let these things ruin my vacation, but I hate feeling like I am being disrespected and pushed around in my own country. We will be in WDW next week and I hope they will be better behaved this time around or headed back home.

 

[drcandon]

I have had mixed experiences with tour groups - not just at Disney but at various attractions around. In some cases and I am sorry to say those cases are getting fewer and farther between, the tour handler broke up the group and had no "place holders". In other cases the group had two or three in line then 50 or so rushed up - no I am not exaggerating.

I certainly can understand that once in line if a couple have to hit the washroom and there is a 20 min or so wait - well I certaily would like the privaledge to go as well. But when two or three hold the line as they mob the snack shop or the character line then rush back - forget it- stand in line like the rest of us.

I have repeatidly stood my ground and refused them to butt in...Okay so I am a big guy and ( as DW often says) a bit too muscular for my own good and maybe my appearance helps - I have never been mouthed back- but in reality I am a gentle soul...so does that mean we all have to be body builders just to hold your place in line..I sure hope not..

It seems that one of the modern talk show philosphers these days is right common sense just does not exist anymore

 

[Karthur]

I have emailed Christopher Elliott, a travel writer and owner of elliott.org to see if he could contact Disney about these groups and their ill manners that are often ignored.

Also:
An elderly gentleman I spoke with at EPCOT was very distressed that they had sung/chanted throughout the entire performance at the American Adventure. He found it disrespectful, and was very upset that the cast members did not kick the group out for disrupting the performance.

 

[triplejen]

However, the following year, I did notice something with a language barrier. An older couple, who were of Asian descent and seemed to speak no English . . . As soon as this guy saw the boat dock, he ran to the front of the boat, almost pulling his wife's arm out of its socket and babbling all the way up the aisleway. His granddaughter was absolutely mortified. He kept jabbering away and the boat operator begged him to sit down. He just did not understand English.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the man was probably SPEAKING IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE.

 

[Missy_Mouse]

We just returned home last night, and honestly we didn't have a problem with the groups at all. We didn't once see them cutting in line...and we were actually given fastpasses to Sorin' by two boys from a tour group Sunday night. The only problems we saw were a handful of families (American, or Canadian...) that believed they were the only people that "deserved" to be in the park. They were loud, they were pushy and THEY bullied their way into the lines. There were a few times when I honestly had to walk away from a ride

I think its great that the tour groups from Brazil or wherever else they may be from have the opportunity to be there. Those kids probably wouldn't have all had the opportunity to see Disney if not for these groups. I know I didn't get to go until I was an adult and could take myself. I think their guides did a great job. When you have that many teenagers together at one point or another its going to get loud...and it doesn't matter what country you are from.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

DH and I were going to drive down to Epcot this morning so we could spend the day (in spite of the heat/humidity!!) so we could see the ABBA tribute group over at World Showcase -- first show just starting in about 20 minutes or so.
The thought of possibly running into the large groups and having them ruin a musical show, I changed my mind.
We thought Bjorn Again was going to be there earlier this month and were told they rescheduled. I'm not going to endure Mother Nature and her possible thunder storms on top of rude groups. As much as we enjoy Epcot, I'd rather stay home.
If any of us when we were growing up (old enough to be a mother or grandmother to many of you) had behaved in public the way these kids do, we would have been grounded and/or sent home. It would have been our last trip for a long time.
There's nothing wrong with exuberance, nothing wrong with singing your national anthem, but everything has a time and place. It is absolutely not right to try to overpower everyone else at the parks just so you can "enjoy" yourself.
We'll wait now til the touring is over...............

 

[Doc CW]

They came from the same place the groups of Cheerleaders, football players and other school groups do.

The difference, they are there NOW and the other groups weren't there. But they have been.

Seriously, there's no real difference between the groups besides nationality. The kids still "bully" there way onto the rides... The kids still act out etc...

Just the "season" depends on which group you get.

Very true. We were just returned from WDW and we had no problems with anybody from any tour group.

 

[Robo]

An elderly gentleman I spoke with at EPCOT was very distressed that they had sung/chanted throughout the entire performance at the American Adventure. He found it disrespectful, and was very upset that the cast members did not kick the group out for disrupting the performance.

Unbelievably rude.

If this had happened at a AA show in which I was in the audience.

I would have gotten up from my seat, walked out of the theater, gone downstairs and lodged a formal complaint with the CM's there, then gone to Guest Relations with exact time of the show and the situation.

Inexcusable that nothing was done.

 

[jamstew]

These people are guests in our Country and we should be accepting of them and their culture.

WOW--being rude and obnoxious is part of their culture? Who knew? I'll bet huge majority of the population of Brazil would be shocked to hear it

 

[SnowandMittens]

Unbelievably rude.

If this had happened at a AA show in which I was in the audience.

I would have gotten up from my seat, walked out of the theater, gone downstairs and lodged a formal complaint with the CM's there, then gone to Guest Relations with exact time of the show and the situation.

Inexcusable that nothing was done.

Totally agree... I would have done the same thing if someone was talking on their cell phones as well.

 

[luckytobeme88]

Got a picture of one of many tour groups during the week we were there.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

You know who I don't like? Those jerks in the costumes and dresses!

They've everywhere! Disney should do something about them. They're always causing a commotion and they seem to have an unnatural interest in small children...

PARTIALLY right

how about this change?:

These people are guests in our Country and we should be showing them how to act if they are not gracious enough to act like a guest and be respectful of our culture.

 

[luckytobeme88]

I wasn't going to rant about them, but after 3 nights, yes 3 nights of restless sleeps, I did what I had to do. On our first night at Pop Century, at 2:30 in the morning, group of at least 15 teens from South America, were running around chanting and singing all around the whole section of the 60's Building. We called the front desk the next morning to complaint about the incident. The front desk manager ensured us that if it happens again that night, they would alert the security office. Well, well, the same time next morning at 2:30am, the group of teens were at it again. Night #2 without any sleep. There's nothing the security officer can do besides telling them to return to their rooms. Another complaint in the morning with my "helpful" manager. OK, I told myself. If it were to happen again, I will resolve this myself. Night #3, at 2:49am to be exact, they came alive. This time they were right outside our room talking and laughing. I immediately called the front desk and told them that they should call security because I would be getting those kids QUIET myself. We chased them away. We sat outside of our room for like 30 minutes before 3 security heads came toward us. The 2 security managers were so embarrassed that it has been 3 nights of sleeplessness for us and nothing was being done by the front desk manager. They offered to comp us for the 3 nights and moved us to another section. I was so tired at that point. All I wanted was to get out of there.
I wrote a lengthy letter to the Resort VP in regard to this incident. Hoping that one day, they can handle similar situation better than mine.
A word of advice to all. Ask your front desk CM about your room assignment. Be more vocal.