Adults in Line to meet Characters

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I have had this problem several times as well. I always say something. The worst thing is last year we were waiting to see Belle & Beast in Epcot and 3 kids jumped right infront of me and ran up to Belle, along with mom and her stroller. I said something to her and she just said oh, well they are just being kids. Belle and Beast went in after seeing them, so I didn't even get a picture. Over to Morrocco, Jasmine and Alladin were making an appearance and low and behold here comes the same mom, 3 kids and stroller, and she had the nerve to try to cut in line in front of me again. I again said something and she shrugged. The CM was paying attention to us and she announced it was time for a break, and winked at me. As jasmine and alladin retreated to thier palace, and the CM came over and quitley told me when they would be back out and where. She also was nice enough to alert me that Genie was getting ready to make an appearance and where to hang out to catch him before he walked out onto the main walkway.

 

[graygables]

My mom was getting ready to have thyroid surgery earlier this year and they thought it was cancer, but she wanted to get in one more trip to see Mickey. She waited in line at Epcot and the people behind her were told that she would be the last. Well, when Mickey (and handlers) found our about her situation, they made a big fuss over her and we were all standing around teary-eyed, got lots of photos and it was a great moment. I am so glad that she didn't hear the oh-so-obnoxious people telling their kids about "that stupid lady who wouldn't let you see Mickey". They had fair warning and my mom waited her turn, for Pete's sake. Get over yourself, people. I *SO* wanted to say something (OK, really I wanted to kneecap them ), but I didn't want to take away from my Mom's Mickey Moment. BTW, her surgery went fine and there was no cancer!

 

[Hanover]

I had a child jump a winding line in front of us to see Stitch in August when we were supposed to be next. We had been waiting for quite some time, including a break for Stitch, but I just let it go. The grandmother she was with told her she needed to wait in line, while heading to the front herself with her camera to take a picture. She couldn't get the camera to work, so I guess they were going to have to wait in line again if they wanted a picture!
I did think the CM's were much better about stopping cutters at MK than at MGM. Several times I heard them tell families that they all had to wait for the characters and not split up and hold spaces. We had one family at MGM cut in front of us at the Power Rangers with about 6 kids. The same family went from the top of one line meeting Jessie, straight to the green army man. He pointed at us, but she simply said "Hurry up kids and get your picture taken." I loudly told my child that I was proud of him for being so patient and that sometimes people could be rude. She half turned and said "sorry I didn't realize there was a line." Whatever. She then proceeded to take their picture.

 

[GoN2WDW]

Our dd 13 has had the same issue in the past, so I always get in line with her and make sure no one tries to bypass her just because she's not "little" anymore. For some reason, some people think that their kid is more entitled to do certain things at WDW than your kid and will go out of their way to bully in front of them. Fortunately, most of the people I've run into believe like I do - I don't mind waiting my turn at all, but don't try to cut me off just because you're in a hurry. I embarrassed my dd our last trip because I wanted my picture with Goliath! DH waited in line with me and a bunch of 4year olds and took my picture! DD walked away and hid from us , but everyone in line could have cared less. I agree CHARACTERS ARE FOR EVERYONE!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

This happened to me on my trip in September..it was my friend and i (were 20 and 21)and i heard "well they are kids, they want to see mickey"...well mickey came up and took our hands and we went in front of the people that just cut in front of us--its nice when other people notice it too....i LOVE getting pictures with the characters when i go and i dont care how old i get I have a friend who may come with me to disney for his first trip and hes 24, i already warned him were meeting th emouse!

 

[dandee00]

I can't wait to see the faces we get when the 6 of us "kids" (ages 23 - 30)get in line in January.

I'll be looking forward to that moment as well...DH and I will be in the line right behind you and we're in our 40's. OOOPs didn't mean to give his age away.

 

[#1_Donald_Duck_Fan]

We've ran in to this problem a few times. Most of the time we're just like "sorry we're in line" I mean people need to remember that the characters are there for everyone just be nice to each other we're all kids at heart I mean I always get a pic with Donald when I see him and Cinderella both are pics my mom requires me to get when me and my girlfriend go down or its no more Disney trips she says

 

[webray]

You did the right thing. This has happened many time to hubby and I. We are patiently waiting in line to see our favorite characters and parents with kids just go right in front of us.

Nice parenting job...ugh!

 

[RubyPatches]

Last year was our first trip to WDW and there for our DD's 6th birthday. The first day as MK she wanted to get right to the princesses so she wouldn't stop at the meet and greet when we first walked in the park. She decided upon Mary Poppins, FINALLY, and were told that we were the last in line. She CM politely told people that we were last and that Mary Poppins would be back in a few mins. So, this couple pushes their little girl maybe 4 or 5 y/o in front of mine and then walks really far away and watches from a distance. The CM notices very quickly that there is a little girl that wasn't there before. It wasn't the little girl's fault and as long as my DD didn't kicked out of the line, I didn't mind if she stayed. The CM didn't make her leave the line, but did walk the little girl back over to her parents and talk to them about it. They walked away laughing. Low and behold, later, we saw them again and they did had done this again. But this CM caught it when it happened and sent the little girl back confused. They swore that she'd been standing there the entire time, made a scene and huffed off. I have a feeling they did this every time the opportunity was there.

 

[plutolovr]

As you can see from my name I love Pluto. I have my photo taken with him every time I visit the World. One time I was waiting on line to see him when a little boy (maybe 4) ran in front of me, I just let his mother know that I was waiting too, and she apologized, not problem. I haven't had any problems since then. My whole family, especially my kids who are 18 and 20, love to have their pictures taken with the characters.

We saw a funny thing at MNSSHP on Oct. 11 this year. There was a family of 7 who each had a t-shirt with a dwarf on it. They were waiting to have their picture taken with Snow and the Dwarfs. Even before they got up to the Dwarfs, you could see that the Dwarfs couldn't wait for them to get there, well when it was their turn it was the funniest scene I have ever seen. Even the PhotoPass Photographer couldn't stop from laughing. The reaction from the Dwarfs to each of their counterparts was priceless. In fact it's a shame that no one was video taping it because the scene before the photo was taken was hilarious.

 

[Livie's Mommy]

It is very appropriate and necessary to politely tell the person or people that you are in line. We unknowingly almost cut a woman in line last week. It is not they we are completely unaware of what is going on around us, we assumed she was with the family in front her. She was very nice and just said very kindly to DD, "Can I have a turn with Pooh?" DD just smiled shyly and nodded . We wouldn't have thought twice about walking right up in front of her if she hadn't said anything. As long as you don't look at someone with a look of despise and say, "Hey, I was here first!" (which I have seen happen before), then definitely inform others that you were waiting for a turn.

 

[Tiffann4k]

We went a few years ago and my brother ( then 19 or 20) and his girlfriend were in line to get their picture taken with pluto and out of nowhere this lady and her young daughter come up and cut right in front of them...we had been standing waiting probably 10 minutes she must of spotted pluto and decided to jump in line...I knew my brother wasnt going to say anything so I said "exscuse me, we have been waiting here in line for 10 minutes and we are next" she had the nerve to turn around and say " no you have not, I was next" ???!!!!! Talk about an outright lie and being downright rude, it was unbelievable.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

You absolutely did the right thing... When my kids were smaller, there were no lines for characters and I always made sure they waited their turn (which was really hard, because you never really knew when it WAS your turn!). It drove me nuts when we would all be posed for a picture and a parent would push their child in and say "Give Pluto (or whoever) a hug!" My husband would always turn and say "excuse me, we're taking a picture. I'm sure your turn will come if you wait". We mostly got dirty looks from the parents, but surprisingly, the child would go back with a smile to their parents!

Now with lines, and my kids are 12 and 15, it's much easier to say "excuse me, but it's my turn now." Last time we were there though, both of my kids were really tuned in to the little ones waiting behind them, and they offered several times to let the little ones "cut" in front of them (as long as we weren't the last ones in the line!). I got more thanks and compliments on my kids from the parents of little ones.

But my kids let NO ONE in front of them for their pictures with Stitch and Daisy Duck!

It should be interesting when my mom, DS and I go back in January. Mom has never been to WDW and can't wait to get her picture with some of her favorite characters. Those of you waiting in line for a picture with the Queen of Hearts, I don't think Mom will let you cut in front of her!

 

[jann1033]

graygables, glad your mom is ok

i think the polite oh the line is back there is the best solution as if they are just ditzy( like moi) and don't realize it they will go back, if not you can be more forceful al la kneecapping, light saber, what ever it takes...

unfortunatly this is probably just one more example of the "WDW is for kids" line of thought...wrong wrong wrong! wish people would get over that as it sure causes lots of problems.

 

[bettyann29]

This was one of my complaints when me and my bf went in 2002-- we didnt bring our children with us, it was just 2 adults .. Many times it was the parents who who pushing their kids around us.. like we werent even there! I politely said something.. but this happened the whole trip.. not just once or twice.. I dont know why adults dont think that other adults go with no children..

 

[Simba's Mom]

I feel so fortunate this has never happened to me. I don't want solos to read this thread and then be reluctant to get in line to see a character. I've stood in many lines for many characters as a solo adult, and not once has anyone cut in front of me (Thank goodness!). Also, I've had some really nice conversations with the character "assistants" (or whatever they're called).

 

[PJesse25]

This happened to me several times when I was at WDW earlier this month. I would wait in line for the characters and the family (or, more often, the anxious kid of the family) in line behind me assumed I was with the previous group and charged forward ahead of me. They usually realized the faux pas right away, but I would always let them have their turn by saying "Well, they're there now". I never had the impression they were intentionally trying to get away with something, because if I had, things would have been handled completely differently.

 

[John's Mom]

Thanks! I really enjoyed reading everyone's adventures. I hope we have better luck with the characters this December.

Kathy

 

[funcinderella]

These things really bum me out. Sometimes I just let it go if I'm not in the mood for angst. But other times, watch out!!

But I have to say most people are great. I remember waiting in line at MGM for the Toy Story characters , and basically getting to know everyone in the line, talking and joking. It was very enjoyable and no one tried cutting. It's a shame there's a few bad apples every now and then, but they are the exception, not the rule.

 

[dtaylor98]

It would be nice if everyone, both adults and children, would politely wait their turn in line. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case. When our daughter was young we would make sure she waited in line to see the characters only to have other parents shove their kids in front of her. After awhile we pretty much gave up and saw the characters only at character meals.