Advice on how to handle tour groups

[LindsaySue2]

So I don't want this to be a thread about picking on South American tour groups but....I'm going in July. It's the only time I can go this year and its the first time I'm going during the dreaded South American tour group time. I've read up in it and I have to be honest I'm a little scared. I finally got my husband to go back to DWorld after refusing to go for a decade and I don't want this ruining our trip. So I just want some constructive advice.

We have lived in foreign countries and have traveled. We understand culture differences exist that even us Americans are not immune to being rude and making faux pauxs in other countries. We also realize that kids are kids and that noise and obnoxiousness will happen when large groups of them get together. I myself was once a very obnoxious young person.

However, if there is chanting and yelling going on during the parades, fireworks or shows I will be VERY upset. I don't care if they do it on the bus or in the parks but if I can't hear the shows I might forget MY manners. I don't want to do that and ruin my trip. I heard that a parade had to be cancelled a couple of years ago because of chanting. Can someone confirm that this is true? I also heard that DWorld is cracking down on it this behavior and that some have noticed that there is less chanting and improved behavior. I certainly hope this is true and again just want confirmation.

The other thing I am concerned about is line cutting. We also paid money to go to DWorld and now with the new FastPass system we have to go through an abnormal amount of time pre-planning just to make sure to get to things we want to do. So if I see a bunch of line cutting I will have an issue with it. Please tell me they are cracking down on this behavior too. I heard a rumor that they are getting rid of the double FastPass sensors. I heard that they are only keeping the one Fast Pass sensor at the entrance to the FP line. If this is true they are easily going to have line cutting going on no matter what country they are from. That will make me VERY unhappy as well. Can anyone respond with some facts on this?

 

[Goofyernmost]

You can do like I do and that is to ignore them. They are just having fun and it really shouldn't affect your enjoyment at all. They only place I heard any chanting was walking down the paths, never in an attraction. I've been there when there were a lot of them roaming about both in Disney and Universal. They didn't bother me and I didn't bother them.

 

[LindsaySue2]

You can do like I do and that is to ignore them. They are just having fun and it really shouldn't affect your enjoyment at all. They only place I heard any chanting was walking down the paths, never in an attraction. I've been there when there were a lot of them roaming about both in Disney and Universal. They didn't bother me and I didn't bother them.

Thank you. I hear "it's a nightmare" from some people and "it's not that bad" from others. Good to hear that you are in the "not that bad" group. I hope thats the consensus

 

[Goofyernmost]

Thank you. I hear "it's a nightmare" from some people and "it's not that bad" from others. Good to hear that you are in the "not that bad" group. I hope thats the consensus

It probably won't be, but, life is what we make it. If we want it to bother us, it will, if we don't it won't. The hard part is creating that mindset. I've never seen them do anything that terrible (the cheerleaders were much worse), but, to some chanting in a language that they don't understand is tantamount to sacrilege in the solemn world of Disney.

 

[networkpro]

They really only present a problem as 50 of them wait around the fastpass entry for their time, walk in large crowds forcing you out of their way, and at quick service eating establishments.

 

[Lirael]

If you see a toy or piece of cloth being waved on a stick like a flag...run. Run and don't look back.

Joking aside, I never had much issue with them. I recall a large group chanting a little too much during a queue in a Six Flags but thats it. They tend to break into smaller groups at wdw, mostly. The only actual issue I recall was three boys five people in front of me in the RRC telling the two girls right behind me to cut in line to join them. I understood the language and bodily blocked them while telling them it wouldnt happen in front of me

 

[PrincessFairest]

Just came back from a trip recently and did not see any or may not have been in the area where they were. I have heard stories to beware and try not to visit during the tour group season but so far we have been lucky.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Avoid/Ignore. Pretty easy to handle.

 

[BrianV]

Avoid/Ignore. Pretty easy to handle.

Never seemed to bother me so actually I neither need to avoid or ignore. But if they do bother the OP, what you said!

 

[LindsaySue2]

Never seemed to bother me so actually I neither need to avoid or ignore. But if they do bother the OP, what you said!

Well I certainly hope they don't bother me. I don't want them to. I want them to enjoy the park as much as I do. I just heard really awful stories about BTG time. Its reassuring that most people on this thread have not had an issue and that the complaints have been over exaggerated. I expect to have a good time then and will not be anticipating any problems. Thank you

 

[Miss_Eliza]

It really depends. Some years I don't have any problems with them except a bit of congestion walking into the park but other years...

There's really nothing you can do about it, and you just have to go into it with the right attitude (which it sounds like you've got already!). I've been on rides before with groups chanting (Soarin' was probably the worst offense for me), and that can be really annoying.

But ultimately you just have to just go with the flow and hope for the best

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

This is how to handle tour groups !!!

 

[PaulaT]

My family has been going every year in July, the tour groups have gotten a little more annoying. However, if you are aware that they are going to be there then that's half the battle. Alot of people go, then see the crowds and get mad. I don't particularly like them, but I try to stay away. So if they are in a particular area, we go the opposite way. The chanting on rides and the cutting by some of the groups tends to get on my nerves but getting upset is only going to ruin your day, because I can promise you they don't care.

 

[jrogue]

My family and I made a game out of it. We tried to take a picture with the tour group that had the same color shirt as my sister every day making believe that she was part of the group. She was the same age as most of them so it was really funny how well ahe fit in. By the end of the trip my sister even got a picture with one of their flags!

The groups are there, they can be bad sometimes, but like everyone said either ignore them or my advice is to make a game out of it . We ended up with a whole photo album of my sister and her new "friends"

 

[PrincessRachelT]

During my bachlerette party, we got in line for SDMT with 4 of them being in front of us. By the time we got onto the ride, we had over 60 of them in front (I counted). Make sure to NEVER get in line behind any of them. They hold the line up by just standing there and if there is a queue, they will stay and play as long as possible. I try to stay as far away from them as possible.

 

[Prince-1]

Ignore them if you want....as there is nothing really else you can do about it.

 

[JIMINYCR]

If I see them I'll watch where they are headed and try to go in the opposite direction. That works only if you dont have an attraction planned the same as they do. As far as cutting in line .... I'll stand my ground and not allow them to pass me. I find that if I speak up others will stand up and refuse them a pass as well. Most of the time if theres a CM nearby theyve been great to insist they remove themselves from the line and go back to the end. The worst time I've encountered has been in front of the castle waiting for the shows when theyve sprawled out on the ground and been obnoxious. Not a lot you can do about that so if your husband will be affected by them I'd suggest moving onto something different

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

set up fire teams and have good coms for air support.

 

[flynnibus]

flamethrowers...


Honestly the main gripe I have with them is the blocking of walkways and the congestion a mob creates. Of course the big block while trying to get fireworks seating, etc.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

Hopefully, you can just ignore them and not let them get to you.