Where do the "notorious" tour groups usually stay?

[Mousemates]

Just got home yesterday from a WONDERful trip--with NOOOO problems from any tour groups! Arrived on the 25th, stayed at CBR, and had a peaceful, terrific experience! Saw a few medium-sized groups of mostly girls in the parks Saturday, but no chanting, no problems with lines, nothing!!!! Crowds in general were amazingly low!! Was not expecting that in July!!!

happy you had a great, problem free trip!

[buzznwoodysmom]

We just got to Yacht Club today. We had three wonderful nights at CBR with no noise whatsoever. We had a wonderful time and the resort was as peaceful as always. Now at YC and so far it's very quiet here too.

As for the parks....So far we've run into a few groups. The groups we've seen have either been small 15-30 people, or all girl groups of about 100. We only heard one chant, from an all girl group in line at EE at AK yesterday. The did a quick little cheer/chant and that was it. They were having fun and all happy and polite,and their little chant did't bother us at all. So far all groups we've run into have been like any other park guest. No issues at all as far as we've experienced.

Headed to the pool now!

[eandrsmom]

We saw them in the parks but not at our resort. I have to say, for the most part, they were really well behaved. I don't know if we just lucked out, but they were nothing like expected.

[sportsguy2315]

We saw them in the parks but not at our resort. I have to say, for the most part, they were really well behaved. I don't know if we just lucked out, but they were nothing like expected.

Working at a Quick Service at Epcot, I did bear the brunt of BTG's. My biggest issue came when I was filling orders. If I had a question about an order, I'd try asking the person about it. They would say "No speak English." I'd turn around and they somehow got the Disney Magic to speak fluent English.

As fate would have it, when I was on my CP I had a Brazilian roommate (Disney does a CP equivalent program for Brazilian students during their summer vacation to help deal with the influx of Portuguese speakers) for a month and a half and one night I asked him about the reputation his country gets because of the BTG's. He said two things that have stuck with me about these groups:
1) They are not a true representation of Brazilian people. Most Brazilians are actually really nice, helpful, and courteous as he would turn out to be.

2) Remember that you're dealing with teenagers mainly, and that its essentially their college spring break in that this is their first vacation without their parents.

That said, that doesn't give them the license for them to do whatever they want.

[DonaldsBFF]

Are they there forr all of January, or does it start to settle down towards the end of the month say after MLK day?

[Melanie]

I'd pretty much count on the whole month. It's their summer season.

[TinkerbellT421]

Are they there forr all of January, or does it start to settle down towards the end of the month say after MLK day?

Like Mel said, pretty much count on the entire month. We have been there pretty late in the month and sometimes it even felt like they got worse closer to the end than before. But I couldn't tell if it was just because their touring has grown over the past few years or if they really do just get busier the closer to the end of the month.

[texas211]

All of these are reasons to shell out big money to say at better resorts and/or stay during the fall or spring time. I can't take them, and won't go into it (as it violates 100 intercot rules).

SO, if you can, escape and evade.

[sorarail]

We stayed at ASM in January 2011 and all of the the All-Stars were filled with Brazilians, lots of teenagers. The only time I really noticed them, however, was in the mornings in the food court. Portuguese was the dominant language being spoken.

[CosmicRay]

I went with my family once in July back in 1995 and that's the big thing I remember the BTG's from Brazil. Back then they would have two kids stand in line and when they were up to the front, they'd wave to their friends and 50 would come jump in. I was so mad!

When friends ask me when is a good time to go, I let them know. But I also tell them when is NOT a good time to be there because of BTG.

[Tigerinvestigator]

I read this post before going on our 10 night trip the last week of July. While I have been going to WDW every year since 1973 and have had many trips where the big tour groups were present, I had NEVER had any bad experiences with them. After reading this post I made it a point to check them out during our trip. My observations were as follows:

1) Never saw any of the groups at the Dolphin.
2) They were at all four parks but never caused us any problems in line.
3) The only time we saw multiple groups together was at DHS waiting for entry to Fantasmic, and at MK sitting on Mainstreet USA waiting for the parade.
4) Heard two or three chants but they were not bad or too obnoxious....looked like they were having fun.
5) They seemed to be focused on their touring plans not misbehaving.
6) Saw one issue in ten days with the groups and it was a couple of the girls at DHS who had created a sign that said "FREE HUGS" and they were giving them away. Disney Security put a stop to that pretty quick and saw no more problems.
7) Can honestly say there is NO way I would alter my vacation plans to avoid these groups....there was no need at all.
8) I am sure there are isolated incidents as big as the groups are, but seems like the castmembers that deal with those groups would have more reason to complain.

And that pretty much sums up my experience in July 2012 with the Brazilian Tour Groups!

[honeybear]

My sister tried to get me to remember the Groups when they were there. I guess that means they weren't all so bad. If they keep trying to pull that stunt where they have 1 or 2 people hold a spot in line then a crowd of them comes later, I would put a stop to it. I would call over a cast member and explain that it is not fair that they can jump the line like that. I don't mind letting one or two people try and catch up to their party in line but 10 -20 is not happening.

[Bethanymouse]

I always assumed that they stayed off property because they seem to arrive in private buses.... i guess i was wrong

[Puppy Mom]

OK, I know this makes me a bad person, but I have been known to let an arrant elbow fly or perhaps a small body check on occasion.

[WDWCrazyKaren]

We changed up our usual plans and went the first week in February this year instead of January, and the groups were STILL horrible. We decided to go on the cheap for that trip and stayed at ASMu. Huge mistake. They didn't wait in line at the food courts or in the gift shop-they literally-and I do mean LITERALLY-moved people out of the way and walked in front of them. They were in groups of about 20 and would simply "mob" their way to the front while pushing others out of the way. They had a big party by one of the pools one night, apparantly a costume party, and if I had brought my children with me, I would have had to cover their eyes (and I'm no prude!) to get them out of there. On the very overcrowded bus one day, one of the girls yelled "MOUSE" and jumped on someone's lap (there actually wasn't one-she just wanted to see what kind of screaming reaction she could get on the bus). DH and I were very frustrated by the groups this year.

[GoBlueLacheta]

Just don't get stuck behind a tour group leader getting FP. You may wait 3-4 hours as they attempt to jam 350 tickets into the machine.

Like mentioned, anytime you have a poor ratio of chaperone to kids in any large group there can be trouble, but there is surprisingly a bit of a free-for-all get out of my way attitude you can selectively come across. The worst place I've ever witnessed this is the water-parks.

It can be disheartening to the fact that the last thing you want after you spend a large amount of time, money, and effort on planning a vacation is that some people assume their time and space is worth more than yours. Even if I face issues I try to remember no matter what that we are all sharing a wonderful place that is suppose to be about sharing family experiences and quality entertainment.

The magic isn't lost in these instances, but over the top behavior just needs to be simply corrected by some form authority and we can move on.

Now if 80 unruly individuals ruin my evening at Ohana on the other hand

[Arielfan98]

I've never run into them but they tend to go to the value resorts like the All Stars or Pop Century. I heard there were special CMs hired to accommodate the Brazilian tour groups. And for the obvious All Star Sports mainly hosts sport teams and some do branch out to the other All Stars. I always visit Disney in late August (trip is in 3 days ) and I have never seen any tour groups.

[miltimo5]

i have run into them several times during summer trips. last trip (july 2012) i was having an issue after several run in's with them at the resort and the park. so i spoke to a CM and asked lots of questions and here is some of the information i got...

1. they are responsible for their own transportation. they are not allowed to use disney buses, from the airport or to and from the parks. (mentioned i saw some of the kids -yellow shirts that day- on my bus coming back for break and was told they were told about it..happens again they cant come back )
2. they get NO DISCOUNTS AT ALL.. no group discounts, no free dining nothing..add to their bus rentals they are paying lots more
3. the cm at maestro mickeys said, believe it or not, the spend tons of money...constantly buying shirts etc..
4. and they are only supposed to be allowed to come when disney is at its lowest season.
5. there is only 2 groups (but can be up to 70 kids per group) permitted per resort...so thats 140 kids at each All Star Music, Sports and Movies..at one time. and i have never noticed more than 2 adults per group. t
the CM also mentioned they have to take a class on how to deal with these groups..

i was so annoyed when i got to the MK one day. saw 2 large groups in front of me going thru the turnstiles and an adult collecting all their passes....so i walked around them..thru adventureland to splash mtn for a fast pass. when i got to splash mtn, there were the adults handing out fast passes to all the kids. so i skipped SM and went over to BTM and again, there was another adult handing out fast passes to the kids. that must be their plan...so the kids dont have to stand in lines... if it wasnt so much easier for me to get time off during july and august...and usually summer has longer park hours...enough for an afternoon break and still have enough time to go back in the evening... grrrrrrrr i really cant decide if it is a culture thing...or so many teenagers being away from home with so little supervision they just go wild...either way...disney needs more control

[N2DisneyWorld]

We had our first experience with the Brazilian groups in February at Pop Century. They were very loud & rude. You couldn't move when they were in line at the food court. I kept getting hit with their overstuffed backpacks. It was aggravating.

[merciantinkerbell]

Reading this thread has made me nervous! We're going October 19-31st 2014. They're not in WDW then are they? I work in a shopping centre and have to deal with unruly teens/kids every day. I DO NOT want to have to deal with it on holiday as well. I go away to relax and re=charge from all the usual everyday stuff.