Tour Groups and what to do to handle them...

[captainkidd]

Neither chanting, clapping, nor singing is illegal. It's people having fun in a theme park. Is it a little annoying? Yes, but it's very easy to avoid. When I see a large group like that approaching, I simply turn around and go in the opposite direction. Never once has my vacation been "ruined."

Another person using the "vacation is ruined" phrase. Where did I say that?

I also never said any of their behavior was illegal. That doesn't make it right. And no, it's not people having fun in a theme park. It's Brazilians behaving in a manner that is accepted and common in Brazil. What if I decided to take a trip to Disney with the Bon Jovi fan club, and you had a group of 50 people singing Bon Jovi tunes at the top of their lungs throughout the park? Would you say "Eh, just some people having fun at a theme park?" My guess is, you'd probably say "Go do that crap at a Bon Jovi concert." I feel those tour groups should save their crap for a soccer game.

It has nothing to do with ethnocentrism. Like I said, if I were in Brazil, I would behave in a manner respectful of their country. And as I also said, Americans can be just as rude and stupid. The difference is, we're fortunate enough for most of them to not be traveling in a group of 50-100.

 

[bethymouse]

No one EVER ruins my Disney vacation, because I won't let them! But, I do hear everyone's POVs. As to what to do about them? Again, not much we can do except deal w/ it or avoid the summer months, crowded months, and holidays. Yes- I know- it's very difficult to avoid it all, especially since there are more special events happening all of the time!

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Sixty people dressed uniformly make other people uncomfortable. It feels like an invasion, a too large group. By sheer instinct another group this size feels like a threat. There's nothing you can do about it, it's in your genes.

The uniforms, the constant chanting, the agressive takeover of territory at parades, shows and even walkways only serve to heighten the group feel and make everybody else feel subject to an act of agression.

Like huge groups of football hooligans or Hell's Angels, it is not appropriate for a Disney park.

 

[bubbles1812]

Another person using the "vacation is ruined" phrase. Where did I say that?

I also never said any of their behavior was illegal. That doesn't make it right. And no, it's not people having fun in a theme park. It's Brazilians behaving in a manner that is accepted and common in Brazil. What if I decided to take a trip to Disney with the Bon Jovi fan club, and you had a group of 50 people singing Bon Jovi tunes at the top of their lungs throughout the park? Would you say "Eh, just some people having fun at a theme park?" My guess is, you'd probably say "Go do that crap at a Bon Jovi concert." I feel those tour groups should save their crap for a soccer game.

It has nothing to do with ethnocentrism. Like I said, if I were in Brazil, I would behave in a manner respectful of their country. And as I also said, Americans can be just as rude and stupid. The difference is, we're fortunate enough for most of them to not be traveling in a group of 50-100.

Agreed. You respect the customs of the country you are in. It doesn't have to do with being racist or not being accepting of other countries. There is a time and place for the Brazilian groups to do their thing, and there is not. I don't think the Disney Parks are one of those places, especially when it is disruptive to so many other guests. You respect the country your visiting. The Brazilian groups don't ruin my vacation but they sure as heck are annoying.

This honestly reminds me a lot of the issue with tipping and especially Europeans. The tip is built in over there and servers make a living that can usually support them (ie not minimum wage). I know some Europeans are ignorant to how tipping is very important to a server over here as they usually make under minimum wage but many just feign ignorance. I've seen it happen at Disney where the waitress/waiter gets pennies for a tip because the tourists just wanted to round to the next dollar. The looks on their faces Though my favorite was when my family was in Las Vegas and a group of Europeans spent 698 dollars dollars on a meal (was a high end restaurant there) and then they tried to give a two dollar tip to make it an even 700. And it was clear they knew that was not what was expected. The waiter actually went to get the manager in that situation. But for a lot of servers, they don't get that lucky and just have to take their pittance for a tip. Again, you respect the customs of the country you are in.

**Just a note: I know not all Europeans are like this but I've seen it happen far too often to think it is an uncommon thing.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

What did the manager do?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

What did the manager do?

He insisted that 15% should be added, and suggested $800 in total would be appropriate. But Martin, Real Mad Hatter and I stubbornly refused and spend the money on booze and strippers instead.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

So money spent wisely

 

[bubbles1812]

What did the manager do?

It was actually pretty funny to watch. The manager was a rather large man...not fat, but like very built. So he looked rather intimidating. First he asked if their service had been good, if they had any complaints in sort of a really friendly way so they didn't know what was coming. And they said no, that the service had been excellent. (The majority of waiters in the high end restaurants almost pretty much have to be as dinners can last up to several hours so you basically only get a few tables a night but obviously you get big tips). So he headed off any excuse that could have come from them that service had been poor and that's why they didn't tip. Then he politely explained the customs about tipping in America and why it done how it is. That he knew tipping in Europe was different but again not how it's done here. The group kind of looked absolutely shocked and were just spluttering about how they didn't know and it wasn't their custom, blah blah blah. And he just kind drew himself to his full height and stared them down...that was the part we found hilarious. Eventually they muttered that they "maybe" had messed up on the tip and would like to give an appropriate amount. They definitely weren't happy though. But I gave that manager a lot of credit for what he did. Even a 15% tip (though really at those type places the quality of the service usually warrants at least around the 20% range, at least in my experience...our server for that restaurant was really really excellent) was $105...not insignificant when you only get a few tables a night.

 

[eddiemcgarrigle]

For anyone that has an issue with Brazilian tour groups, I have two solutions.

1. Book your trip for a time when these groups are not usually an issue.

2. Buy Max Payne 3 and as you gun down countless waves of Brazilians, just imagine that each and every one of them was a former flag waver at WDW.

 

[bubbles1812]

He insisted that 15% should be added, and suggested $800 in total would be appropriate. But Martin, Real Mad Hatter and I stubbornly refused and spend the money on booze and strippers instead.

Ahh, so that was you?!!! For shame...

 

[mouse_luv]

Where has anyone said that? You continue to make sweepeing generalizations without any support at all, in some vain effort to rile people up.



I'm going to continue to call your bluff on this. Disney has never, ever, stranded guests at a theme park. I still have no idea why you went to the TTC in the first place as the SoG buses depart from the front of Epcot just like every other resort bus. Had you gone to the dispatcher they would have arranged transportation for you, regardless of when you finally exited the park.




Neither chanting, clapping, nor singing is illegal. It's people having fun in a theme park. Is it a little annoying? Yes, but it's very easy to avoid. When I see a large group like that approaching, I simply turn around and go in the opposite direction. Never once has my vacation been "ruined."

I still find the behavior of the cheerleaders and Pop Warner exponentially worse and more "offensive" than anything the Brazilians have ever done, but of course it's more fun for people in this thread to display their ethnocentrism, isn't it?

Ok Nick, were you with me when this occurred back in 2009? No you weren't so who are you to sit behind your screen and judge something that legit happened to me almost 2 hours after park closing. First of all, at that time, they didnt NOT have an EPCOT bus we were told by multiple drivers the only way you get to epcot is monorail. Secondly, The buses at the TTC that night stopped running for SOG 45mins prior to me getting out of the park. So now what? Either way I would have been stranded. I DID go to the TTC bus dispatch station and they told me nothing could be done. The resort when I called them said they couldnt send anyone after us, and I talked to the hotel manager on duty that night. So now what? Let me tell you, at least I was at the TTC and couldve walked had I needed to. At EPCOT I wouldve had one heck of a walk. Luckily, a nice Disney Electronics man came by in a utility van and stopped at the ttc and was able to take us out of his way back to SOG. I have better things to do than sit on a Disney board and make up stories about what happened to me 3 years ago.

Lastly, it feels good using big words like ethnocentrism doesn't it? Guess what I hold a degree anthropology and speak 5 different languages, so don't start your ethnocentrism bull with me, I'm the last from that.
Please, move along and find something more constructive to do.

 

[DisDadEddie]

I agree with the controlling the actions of underage tour groups, and everyone knows the country of origin. My wife is Portugues and understands everything they are saying, if you don't understand it you would be glad you didn't. We have had these kids push on the buses while holding my daughter in our arms. Cutting infront of photo lines without cm's stopping them. Had 15 kids making out at tables next to us while our family is eating. Their guides have no control of these kids and seem to be outnumbered 100 to 1. Some of the groups are under control, but too many are chanting and screaming throughout the parks.I worry about my kids being knocked over when these kids are wrestling eachother. There should be a restriction to how many kids there are per guide. Back at the hotels they are outside screaming and yelling to all hours of the morning.Nothing against tour groups in Disney, but they need to be regulated and monitored.

 

[flynnibus]

Disney should have the balls to stand up to the individuals involved.. that is the problem.

You can't mandate courtesy - but you can react when it is not present and abused.

 

[Bob Saget]

Disney should have the balls to stand up to the individuals involved.. that is the problem.

But just giving a dirty look or stare is so much easier, and reduces the chances of confrontation.

 

[todd23]

But they're not doing anything illegal at the FP machines! Anyone with an admission ticket can access FP. Every time this comes up I become completely perplexed because I'm unsure what exactly people want Disney to do.

I think the issue is not them getting and using the FP, it is the fact another guest gets into line at a FP machine seeing only one person ahead of them. However, that one person is a tour group leader who will spend the next 15 minutes getting 60 FP for his group. This is where it impacts the guest that travels in only a small family group. This is mostly an issue at park opening when people are scrambling around trying to get as much done as possible.

I don't know what the solution to this problem is, but it does seem like Disney could think of something. Unless they don't see that as a large problem.

 

[Tigger1988]

I think the issue is not them getting and using the FP, it is the fact another guest gets into line at a FP machine seeing only one person ahead of them. However, that one person is a tour group leader who will spend the next 15 minutes getting 60 FP for his group. This is where it impacts the guest that travels in only a small family group. This is mostly an issue at park opening when people are scrambling around trying to get as much done as possible.

I don't know what the solution to this problem is, but it does seem like Disney could think of something. Unless they don't see that as a large problem.

But it's not a problem at all, it's people utilizing the system as it's meant to be utilized. Either 60 people are going to be in front of you at the machine or 1 person with 60 passes is in front of you. 60 fast passes are gone regardless. Disney doesn't WANT 60 people from the same party in line for fastpasses, all that does is cause unnecessary congestion. If there's a cast member at each machine (as there often is at TSMM at opening) they will even take your group's passes and insert them into the machine for you, to keep things moving.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

Another point which I believe someone may have made earlier is that you don't have to stand behind that person with the handful of KTTW cards - move to the next FP machine instead, you'll probably have your FP's and be long gone before he finishes feeding 60 of them through.

 

[xdan0920]

But it's not a problem at all, it's people utilizing the system as it's meant to be utilized. Either 60 people are going to be in front of you at the machine or 1 person with 60 passes is in front of you. 60 fast passes are gone regardless. Disney doesn't WANT 60 people from the same party in line for fastpasses, all that does is cause unnecessary congestion. If there's a cast member at each machine (as there often is at TSMM at opening) they will even take your group's passes and insert them into the machine for you, to keep things moving.

The Fastpass returns are not designed to absorb a group of 75 people all arriving simultaneously, that is the real issue.

 

[todd23]

But it's not a problem at all, it's people utilizing the system as it's meant to be utilized. Either 60 people are going to be in front of you at the machine or 1 person with 60 passes is in front of you. 60 fast passes are gone regardless. Disney doesn't WANT 60 people from the same party in line for fastpasses, all that does is cause unnecessary congestion. If there's a cast member at each machine (as there often is at TSMM at opening) they will even take your group's passes and insert them into the machine for you, to keep things moving.

That is a problem, though. I choose which FP machine I am going to go to based on the number of people in line. If I see 60 people in line, I am going to choose another machine. If I see one person in line I am going to choose that machine.

At park opening it is especially frustrating since moving to another machine is not that easy as people are continuing to stream in.

 

[flynnibus]

At park opening it is especially frustrating since moving to another machine is not that easy as people are continuing to stream in.

But lets not make a mountain out of a mole hill. They have like 4 or more FP machines... plenty of opportunities to move to another line. And except TSMM, none of the FP machines in WDW get a line that is unmanageable. And if it's the start of the day as you describe, you have no fear of FPs 'running out' anyways.

I mean.. we all have moved from one line to another when we see the family up front struggling with their tickets and getting FPs.