Record numbers of South American tour groups expected this summer

[muteki]

Do what I do, block the line and make them wait behind me! I tell them that thier friends can always wait until the line catches up to them. Done this several times, always work but they then pretend to not understand any English at all but they can say all they like in portuguese as I don't speak that either!

Done this a few times and it generally works. I don't mind the random onesy-twosy passing by if they ask nicely (in English) but I am not standing aside for 50 people to skip me. The one or two people they are trying to catch up with can get behind me if they want. Generally I have my backpack full of the day's supplies with me so it isn't too hard to block them, and if they try to cause a commotion I just give them a confused look on my face and act like I have no idea what they saying

 

[NadieMasK2]

We tried blocking them in the Safari's line, but some of them jumped out of the queue (in the roped off non-guest area) to go around while others actually barreled through us like a linebacker - stepping on our feet and actually hurt my shoulder quite a bit. Completely unacceptable in any culture in my opinion.

 

[John]

OK, What i am told by my mother who is a long time Cm is that Disney actually sends a CM to Brazil to teach school children American culture and what is and what is not acceptable behavior.

Where the problem lies as I am told is that Brazil is basically a very poor country. Those who can afford to go to WDW are mostly from affluent families. In Brazilian culture it is common practice for the well to do to "go to the front of the line" It is a culture is very much a economic classed society.

My mothers job involves all three All Star resorts, when I told her this bit of information the only thing she said is "tommorrow I am going to put in for a transfer" enough said.

 

[captainkidd]

OK, What i am told by my mother who is a long time Cm is that Disney actually sends a CM to Brazil to teach school children American culture and what is and what is not acceptable behavior.

Where the problem lies as I am told is that Brazil is basically a very poor country. Those who can afford to go to WDW are mostly from affluent families. In Brazilian culture it is common practice for the well to do to "go to the front of the line" It is a culture is very much a economic classed society.

My mothers job involves all three All Star resorts, when I told her this bit of information the only thing she said is "tommorrow I am going to put in for a transfer" enough said.

That's really a shame.

In a way, they can't be blamed as that's the way they've been brought up. On the other hand, as I've always said, Disney is really the one at fault here. I have heard that they have these rules in place and try to keep them in line before they arrive. However, every year, it's the same thing. This board is only a tiny percentage of the visitors to WDW, and look how many complaints there are here. Imagine how many complaints Disney gets from other guests. Yet, they still let them back every year.

I understand it's all about business, but there comes a time when you have to put the majority of your guests experience ahead of making money off of a minority of guests. If ANY tour group is not going to follow the guidelines Disney sets for them, then they should not be allowed back, or, removed from property. A few years back, there was a fight between 2 pop warner players at one of the All Star Resorts. Disney did the right thing, and in the middle of the night, asked both of the teams to leave the resort. Tough call, but the right one.

 

[Master Yoda]

That's really a shame.

In a way, they can't be blamed as that's the way they've been brought up. On the other hand, as I've always said, Disney is really the one at fault here. I have heard that they have these rules in place and try to keep them in line before they arrive. However, every year, it's the same thing. This board is only a tiny percentage of the visitors to WDW, and look how many complaints there are here. Imagine how many complaints Disney gets from other guests. Yet, they still let them back every year.

I understand it's all about business, but there comes a time when you have to put the majority of your guests experience ahead of making money off of a minority of guests. If ANY tour group is not going to follow the guidelines Disney sets for them, then they should not be allowed back, or, removed from property. A few years back, there was a fight between 2 pop warner players at one of the All Star Resorts. Disney did the right thing, and in the middle of the night, asked both of the teams to leave the resort. Tough call, but the right one.

Quite true. The only way it is going to change is if compensating other guests begins to cost more then what they make from these groups. Until that happens Disney is a no fly zone from July to mid August for me.

 

[captainkidd]

Quite true. The only way it is going to change is if compensating other guests begins to cost more then what they make from these groups. Until that happens Disney is a no fly zone from July to mid August for me.

Sadly, for us, we have to go in July.

After so many years of dealing with it, we've gotten pretty good at working around the groups. We know the parks better than they do. We just go in the opposite direction.

 

[ryanduggers]

The tour groups need to understand one thing:

"When in Rome....."

 

[Master Yoda]

Sadly, for us, we have to go in July.

After so many years of dealing with it, we've gotten pretty good at working around the groups. We know the parks better than they do. We just go in the opposite direction.

We have been lucky in that we live so close we can still travel in the off season even with kids. At worst they miss a couple of days of school per year.

 

[Crush Dude!]

Just one more reason why the Fl Resident seasonal AP's are the best deal going.

Why?? :wave:

 

[The Empress Lilly]

All's well and good until you go to get a fastpass with only one person ahead of you at the machine and you realize that one person is getting 60 fastpasses. Ugh! Or until 2 people are holding space in line ahead of you for those other 58 people.

People in front of me getting sixty fastpasses is not a problem. They are entitled to that.

People holding up a place in liner for sixty others IS a problem. In efffect, it is a private fastpass system. This is not on, and you shall have to physically fight your way past me while I scream for security. :fork:

 

[Master Yoda]

Why?? :wave:

They are blacked out during the times when these tour groups are at the parks. It removes the temptation to make that trip and end up hating the entire country of Brazil.

 

[RSoxNo1]

People in front of me getting sixty fastpasses is not a problem. They are entitled to that.

People holding up a place in liner for sixty others IS a problem. In efffect, it is a private fastpass system. This is not on, and you shall have to physically fight your way past me while I scream for security. :fork:

I have no problem with them getting 60 fastpasses either, but I think Disney should find a way to better accomodate these large groups. If the group knows it's going to be going through the park in a pack of 60+ there should be a Fastpass card that allows for a 60 person Fastpass to be taken out of the machine. While the actual collection of the Fastpasses isn't a huge issue, having 60+ people hovering around the Fastpass area while one person hands them out individually is very disruptive to the rest of the guests.

 

[disney fan 13]

do they just go to the parks or do they go to the water parks to?

 

[Master Yoda]

do they just go to the parks or do they go to the water parks to?

They are everywhere.

 

[dvitali]

Can someone point me on the universal or sea world forums where how they handle these tour groups? What time of the week, month, and year do they visit these other parks.

 

[captainkidd]

Can someone point me on the universal or sea world forums where how they handle these tour groups? What time of the week, month, and year do they visit these other parks.

Same time they visit Disney parks.

 

[rct247]

Another common problem with these groups is something I learned when I was a custodial CM. In some other countries, waste paper is NOT flushed down the toilet. It is tossed in a trash can beside the toilet. While this something that many areas of the world are a custom to doing, it was very interesting to have to deal with it in so many frequent cases in the restrooms at Walt Disney World where there isn't a trash can, so they leave it on the floor.

So word of the wise, don't think about touching those piles of toilet paper on floor during tour group season...not that most people would anyways.

 

[Crockett]

I read a rumor somewhere that Disney sends videos to the group leaders which on one hand are a welcoming gift, but also are turorials on common courtesy (no shoving, line-jumping, shouting during quiet parts...etc). Does anyone know if this is true? And if so, I wonder how many of the groups actually watch the videos prior to embarking on their trip.

 

[mp2bill]

Why does the content of the OP matter?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I read a rumor somewhere that Disney sends videos to the group leaders which on one hand are a welcoming gift, but also are turorials on common courtesy (no shoving, line-jumping, shouting during quiet parts...etc).

Being in a large, uniformly dressed group creates its own dynamism. Each member for themselves, they may very well be perfectly well behaved. As a group, group dynamics take over. From within a group you don't even see the people outside of your group anymore. They barely register, they become mere background props.


Put sixty to eighty Americans of the same age in a uniform, have them sing and chant group-reinforcing songs all day long, and they will end up pushing and shoving people aside too.