A Word About Line Jumpers

[brutus]

This just happened to us on Tuesday...we are having a great trip. But...my ds and I are in line at a kiosk to get some water. There were 2 teens in matching yellow shirts - they were from a spanish speaking country, Brazil I think. (I am not being prejudiced, just pointing out a fact). When they got to the front of a very long line, at least 15-20 other teens in yellow shirts joined them, paying seperatly, to get coke, water or ice cream. If they all payed together I would have been ok, but it added 15 minutes onto the wait. People behind us were po'ed. I just waited, I didn't want to fight in front of my son. Very rude. Other than that, we are having a great time!

 

[nu2dis]

My husband uses a wheelchair and we were at MK last night with our 4 kids (2 teens and 2 toddlers). We were waiting for a train and didnt get on the first one so we were waiting for the second, hoping to get on that. They really can only fit 2 wheelchairs on the train at a time. Well up comes a woman, mother and her son who was using a w/c (he was about 11 years old I would guess). If it was just me and hubby, I would totally let them go first. But we had two toddlers with their hearts set on a train ride. Well they got ahead of us (they make you wait in one area then move to another to load and this woman knew that so she jumped ahead of us). And there was only one spot left and they raced on, knowing this and knowing there wouldnt be room for us. So we had to walk away with no train ride. My 3 year old cried for 20 minutes...but we couldn't just wait never knowing if we would ever get on. I was so mad, I couldnt believe they could be so rude. We had waited for 20 minutes by that time, they had waited maybe 3. What jerks. It really made me struggle to get people to have fun after that. 3 year olds dont recover from that let down quickly and our teenagers were just so mad someone could do that and that the train people wouldnt have us go on first since we were waiting so long.

But all night we had that happening. My poor husband, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS CUTTING HIM OFF. We were always getting separated cause people have no issue with just stepping in front of him, in line and just walking around.

Overall we had fun at MK, but for sure, rude people (not the crowds, but the attitude of some people) made me very happy today is a no-parks day

 

[glasslipper]

Not that this is a debate, but..suppose you were at work, and had scheduled breaks..what if you worked in a factory where you were not allowed to leave your position until breaktime. how would you handle that special rumbling then?
I think that for the poster who was encouraged to move ahead, i think that that is much more acceptable than other scenarios..however..just because they let you ahead of them, doesnt mean that it was okay for the parties not involved. Like i said in the original post, ive read all the circumstances/excuses..we took 6 to wdw for a week, ranging from ages 3 to 15 and never 'had' to line jump once. we must be unique..
i would wonder how anyone could teach someone potty training WITHOUT a potty schedule..never had any luck (with any of my 4 kids) doing the 'wait till you have to go then RUN to the potty..i honestly cannot believe that we're saying that if an adult doesnt go potty right NOW theyre gonna crap themselves. how many times as an adult have you not made it to a potty..what if you got that special rumbling while the plane was leaving the gate..in the security line?..or if you were standing in line to enter a park..hmm..

OK, well, some people have bowel issues, seriously. Others have bladder issues, seriously, how can you miss all the "gotta go" commercials? As for potty training, not all diaper wearing tykes are of potty training age, so schedules wouldn't do any good anyway.
I'm not saying I promote line jumping, because I don't. I find it just as annoying and frustrating as you do; however, if a person who has been in front of me in line needs a quick trip to the restroom, I wouldn't have a problem "holding" their spot, I don't consider that line jumping.

I find it ridiculous to expect that someone should schedule their bathroom breaks, because myself, I can pee and then 20 mins. later have to go again, depends on how much I drank. And no, you can't always control when you have to go, if you've ever had a colitis attack, maybe you'd understand. I find the disparaging attitude concerning the bathroom issues sad.

 

[MHSweb79]

I like the New Yorker with the big mouth. I would be right beside you, mumbling, "Somebody really ought to say something." (That's me, supportive. )

I like the "text your mom and have her wave to me, then I'll let you pass."

A variation on the cell phone line-jump scam could be, "Well, why not call your party and have them meet you back here? Then you could all ride together." Maybe I'll try it. Or get that New Yorker to try it for me.

In general, I don't mind line jumpers who have one person needing to wait in the shade (I get sick in the sun, so I can understand) or any parent returning with a very young child from the bathroom. Been there, done that. There are varying degrees of line jumping and we all draw the line at different places.

 

[fan1080]

I've taken my kids to the bathroom after a ride and heard them "go." 30 minutes on line with another half-hour wait, "Mom, I gotta go. Again." rings out.

That's precisely it.

Those that are preaching otherwise must not have kids, or they just happen to have kids with a blatter the size of an SUV's gas tank.

This really is a silly debate.

Let's be reasonable, if someone is in line, leaves and comes back, no one has been affected. 1 person, heck even 10 people, doing that will not have a significant impact on anyone's wait time.

And, of course, true line jumping should not be tolerated.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Well sorry, but I don't see how you can "plan" potty breaks, especially diaper changes? That's kinda funny, ok kids it's 2:00, time to take a dump, . Really that just cracks me up.

I'm not saying to "plan" your potty breaks. However, I don't think that needing to use the restroom while in line entitles you to return to your former place. What is 100 people in that line left to go to the bathroom and then all pushed past you. If you make the expection for 1, why not for everyone?

I had a situation when we went in March. We had just finished eating at Sci-Fi, and had FP for TSM (there were 7 of us - myself, DW, DMIL, DS12, DD10, DD3 and DD1). We were right up to the FP entrance, when all of a sudden, I felt that "special" rumbling in my stomach - you know, the kind that occurs right after a meal doesn't "sit" real well with you! So the other 6 get in line, while I head to the bathroom right around the corner.

After I was finished with the business at hand, I returned and got in line with my FP. I didn't cut the line, just got in it at the back. I called my wife on my cell to let her know I was in line, and in fact, they hadn't progressed real far, so I could still see them in the twisting line. I told them I was probably 30 people behind them, or so. Some other folks overheard the conversation, and could see that I was talking to my family who was just ahead, and encouraged me to go up to them. I told them that people have been killed for doing such things in a Disney line. Their response - "you can see your family, it's only a few people. Just do it." I agreed, and went right up. To my knowledge, nobody cared, or at least said anything about it.

Now, what would you have done, had you seen me do that? Would it have upset you? Would you have said something? What if it had been you - would you have went up to your family? They weren't saving me a spot - we were just so close in line, that it made sense for me to just join them.

On a side note, I'm not really concerned if people like what I did or not - just more curious as to whether they WOULD have cared.

Why couldn't your party have let the 30 people go in FRONT of them? I'm sorry, but I dont agree with ANY line cutting. I have my fair share of intestinal issues and have experienced them at Disney, in line, many times. When I return I often find my family waiting for me at the ride ENTRANCE and we all get in line together at the START.

Um...let's see. The wait is over 50 minutes, let's go try to go potty before we get in line 9 times out of 10, they do go. As far as diaper changes go, I can't imagine you are going to be waiting for most of these rides with an infant or child who can't possibly be big enough to ride anyway.

I agree. And if they are in line for Splash, Thunder etc with an infant they are most likely using "baby swap" and therefore are going to ride seperately anyways. So why would the party that left with the infant even NEED to cut back through the line to meet with the other person?

Um..hmm..lets see, I don't know too many people who can crap on demand, but hey if your family can, way to go AS far as the diaper issue, many toddlers are big enough to ride lots of rides in Fantasyland, and they are are in diapers.

Yes, many toddlers are tall enough to ride the Fantasyland rides, but if you need to change your son or daughter's diaper I feel that your entire party should exit the ride, wait for you to return and then enter again at the back of the line.

Don't you know you are suppose to "plan" for that "special" rumbling!
How dare you cut in line!

You can't. But that "special rumbling" does not make that person "special" in that they get to cut back into line.

I can not think of any reason that line jumping is ok. If you have to get out of line for any reason, and you want to meet up with your group then they have to step aside and wait for you to catch up to them. This has happened plenty of times to my family and we never move forward to meet back up, only backwards. Also we spread ourselves out in the line a little bit, so if someone wants to pass us they really have to effort to do it. I wont start a fight over it, but they will have to cause some commotion to get past, and that can be pretty embarrassing for them, its a little bit of revenge for me I guess.

I fully agree. The party that is still in line should step aside, or leave the line as well, or agree to ride it without the party that left and try again later in the day...OR wait at the loading dock for the other person. Regardless there is no excuse for line jumping.

Not that this is a debate, but..suppose you were at work, and had scheduled breaks..what if you worked in a factory where you were not allowed to leave your position until breaktime. how would you handle that special rumbling then?
I think that for the poster who was encouraged to move ahead, i think that that is much more acceptable than other scenarios..however..just because they let you ahead of them, doesnt mean that it was okay for the parties not involved. Like i said in the original post, ive read all the circumstances/excuses..we took 6 to wdw for a week, ranging from ages 3 to 15 and never 'had' to line jump once. we must be unique..
i would wonder how anyone could teach someone potty training WITHOUT a potty schedule..never had any luck (with any of my 4 kids) doing the 'wait till you have to go then RUN to the potty..i honestly cannot believe that we're saying that if an adult doesnt go potty right NOW theyre gonna crap themselves. how many times as an adult have you not made it to a potty..what if you got that special rumbling while the plane was leaving the gate..in the security line?..or if you were standing in line to enter a park..hmm..

I guess we are "special" too because in 35 trips to WDW, going as a 2 year old up to a 24 year old, we have never had a reason to jump a line.

Other lines such as those for concert tickets, autographs, book releases etc don't allow for line jumping. You leave and you forfeit your spot.

 

[BeccaBellePA]

I haven't seen a ridiculous number of line jumpers at WDW in the 25 years I've been going, and I've only ever said something once (when 3 adults just came and casually starting chatting with me and then starting walking beside me in line, eventually merging in, I said something and was so nervous I was shaking...and of course they just scooted back a few people and cut again).

But...the worst I've seen is when adults use their kids as the spot holders. It happened to us on Buzz. The mom told her kids to run ahead (of us) and get in line. 15 minutes later her and 4 other adults come up saying "we just need to catch up to our kids..." Oh that was low....

 

[MidgeD79]

I have no problem with letting 2 people catch up to their party.

 

[fan1080]

Some questions for all those that say they don't agree with allowing someone to exit a line and come back:

1. How does it affect you to let the person who was already ahead of you back in line?

2. Do you honestly think that being one person further ahead in line is going to make a difference?

3. Is it your position that you now "own" that one special spot the person in front of you left?

Enlighten me.

 

[Anonomom]

Interesting thread. I've only been to WDW once as an adult, and I don't recall seeing line jumping. Then again, if one or two people passed me and it was clear they were meeting up with the rest of their party, I'm not sure I'd even note it or consider it line jumping.

But I do have two questions:

For those who think that a toddler's dirty diaper means the entire family forfeits it's place in line, would you be ok with the adult hunkering down and changing the diaper right there? I mean, that way, nobody leaves the line and nobody tries to jump back in.

Second, the UG has a little section where they give a hint on getting a small child a second ride on a ride without waiting in line -- one parent gets in line with the kid, the second parent lets a specified number of people go ahead of him, then gets on line, too. The goal is that parent #2 will reach the front of the line right as parent #1 comes off the ride with the kid. Kid joins parent #2 in line and goes again.

It sounds like a lot of people on this thread would have a problem with this, correct?

 

[disneyjunkie]

Brazil is not a Spanish speaking country.

 

[BrightScouter]

This trip we had a line jump situation occur that did bother me. I can handle the "normal" ones that most people are talking about. Young children, potty breaks, emergencies, etc. But, if we split up, the people in front always wait for the last person to catch up, not the last person move through the line to get to the first person. Just the way we are.

Situation last week. Waiting in line for the chair lifts at BB. We see a LARGE group of people obviously together in the single rider line. No big deal. We get in our two chairs, (4 in our family) and get to the top. Get in line for the family raft ride. So, one by one, when the large family gets off the lift, riding as single riders, they go through the line to the first person that rode the single rider line. Since there are more than a dozen of them, they take 3 rafts in front of us. And the vast majority of them were behind us coming up the chair lift. Frustrating? Absolutely!!!!

 

[SnowandMittens]

If there is more than one person trying to get ahead in the line, we tell them that they wait. Period.

Cedar Point, the huge thrill park back in Ohio, has a no line jumping policy. Your kid has to pee? Well both of you forfeit your place in line if you leave. I agree with this policy... I'm not saying that I'm going to be a jerk to a Parent/Child combo that wants through, I'll normally let them through, but if it's two adults, or a parent that left their kid in line so they can "catch up to their kid", I tell them that their child will just have to wait for them at the exit or the front of the line.

I don't have children, but I do have a very young sister, and my mom and her were in line with me, and they left to go to the bathroom. I just waited at the beginning of the line until I saw them and went back to join them. Because it was polite and it was the right thing to do.

 

[glasslipper]

Interesting thread. I've only been to WDW once as an adult, and I don't recall seeing line jumping. Then again, if one or two people passed me and it was clear they were meeting up with the rest of their party, I'm not sure I'd even note it or consider it line jumping.

But I do have two questions:

For those who think that a toddler's dirty diaper means the entire family forfeits it's place in line, would you be ok with the adult hunkering down and changing the diaper right there? I mean, that way, nobody leaves the line and nobody tries to jump back in.

Oooh, I'd like to know their answer to their also! One can ALMOST understand why some people let their kids pee in line If I had someone behind me who was so uptight about 1 extra spot in line, I'd be tempted

 

[Finally08]

I get tired of the parent swap off style of line cutting. This is so common at Dumbo...parent 1 lines up with child while parent 2 waits back in line so the child ends up riding twice. Things like that are why the line is crazy long. A mom proclaimed to me so proudly in line at Dumbo how they were doing this (her husband was on the ride at the time with their kid, she was right in front of me waiting for round 2). I just said...darn wish my kid could ride twice but we're here alone.

Anyway, the most annoying experience I had last trip was at POTC. We were lined up one night...about a 10 minute wait. This girl of about 10-12 and her parents were behind me. Clearly behind me - they joined the line a few minutes after I was already there. Well this girl spent the entire length of the line basically in front of or beside me...she just refused to be behind me with her parents. And as the line got ready to snake around a curve she would step in front of me and poke her head around to see where we were going then report back to her parents "Ok after the wall the walkway goes left so we need to get over to the left side to get ahead." The WHOLE line she did this...like she thought it was Nascar and by cornering tight she could cut people off and get ahead of them in line. Now her parents never did what she said they basically ignored her, but what pissed me off was they never corrected her or told her that was wrong and that wasn't how a LINE worked. They just let her spend 10 minutes staring me down, stepping over my 5 year old and annoying me the whole time. It wasn't until right before we loaded the boat that they finally called her back to stand with them because she was now ahead of me and almost ahead of the group in front of me.

Had that been my kid that never would have happened.

 

[d-r]

It isn't "line jumping" if someone is catching up with their family. That really isn't a big deal. Line jumping is someone cutting in line.

For the most part line jumpers don't bother me. But when I am in line and looking at the que area, TSM, and there is a gap between the person infront of us and because we are takeing some quick pics and others behind us find its ok to just pass by us and get in line infront of us I have a huge problem with that. Just because there is a gap does not give you the right to butt infront of us. That happened to us at TSM last year.

This really can be a cultural thing. I spent a few weeks in Japan, and went to places like Tokyo disneyland. There it is perfectly acceptable that if there is an empty space ahead someone can fill it. Everybody has to get where they are going. Not a big deal. As an American it would bug the daylights out of me, because here there is an "invisible personal space line" you shouldn't cross in front of someone. In Japan if there was a spot in line next to you somebody would stand there, and they'd walk right on if space ahead opened, and it wasn't something rude, it was just a different cultural rule for how lines work. We don't talk about these things a lit or make them explicit, but we have those expectations.

 

[glasslipper]

I'm not saying to "plan" your potty breaks. However, I don't think that needing to use the restroom while in line entitles you to return to your former place. What is 100 people in that line left to go to the bathroom and then all pushed past you. If you make the expection for 1, why not for everyone?



I quoted someone else who said people should "plan" their potty breaks. It is highly unlikely 100 people in front of me in line will all need to go at the same time. I think it is just basic courtesy and compassion to allow that 1 person, be it parent/child or Dad with the upset stomach to have their spot back. Most rides load more than 1 person anyway, so my letting them back in line didn't extend my wait anyway. It is just the nice thing to do.

 

[4Robins]

Not very magical I like to spread out in the queue myself.So if someone tries to snake past, and is obviously line jumping, they have to forcibly move me.

Whoa there RMulieri, you need to think about your statement, there are some on this board that would consider that to be violence and if you had to be forceably moved, you should be arrested for causing such actions!!!! Between you and me, i think you are RIGHT on and thats a great way to handle it

 

[dawgsgirl]

My fav line cutting story: Aladdin ride at MK--3 very small children snaking up the line, stopping to look down at their father or whoever, who was motioning for them to keep going. I asked the kids where their parents were 3 times. Guess they didn't speak English or were afraid to answer. They were probably ages 2-4. Anyway, the whole situation just peeved me, so I called over the CM and reported children with no adults. The CM handled the situation as you would a "lost" kid. Their dad was not happy! I have always wondered if he was going to show up at the last minute to ride with them or if he was going to let them ride alone.

 

[WaDiWo]

Maybe we should take it to the extreme to solve the problem:

1. ALL line cutters WILL be removed from the park, no questions asked.

2. anyone who leaves the line for ANY reason must get in the back of the line and CAN NOT rejoin their group already in line.

I'm a proud parent of a 3 year old, and yes that means that if I have to take him to go potty, I will gladly return to the END of the line.

Maybe there cannot be any gray areas if we are to solve this problem, gray areas including "1 or 2 people cutting are ok" ... well what if there are 3? or, like I mentioned above, taking a toddler for potty break. If you leave, you have to get in the end of the line.

Sound extreme? Well, those of you from New Jersey know that those two rules I outlined above are the exact rules enforced at Six Flags Great Adventure (I assume other six flags as well??? ). And yes, if you leave for ANY reason, (getting a drink, go potty, etc.) you have to go to the END of the line.

Oh, of course six flags has tons and tons of line cutters who violate the rules, and lately they haven't been strictly enforced ...

WDW CMs apparently aren't enforcing line cutting rules, but maybe at WDW we -- the other guests in line -- would speak out with our "New York mouths" the line cutters would actually stop. I admit I'd been shy for a long time, but it seems that many agree that all this line cutting has to stop.

So lately (past few trips) I have been opening my mouth... two kids clearly cut in front of us on the ToT queue, around one of the "bends" in line, so I simply said outloud, "did you just cut?" Then looked around and asked others outloud, "did they just cut in line?? I can't believe it." When the other guests agreed outloud, the cutters just got embarrassed and actually left!)

maybe we can take pictures of them and post them on a line cutters website or something.

glad to get that off my chest.
Now, back to good thoughts and good vibes!!