Am I being rude?

[momrek06]

TO the OP: I really do not have a serious opinion on this...my kids are 23 and 20 so it has been a long time since we waited for autographs....

What I wanted to say is maybe base this practice on the people that are
standing BEHIND you as your child gets into line with the waiting parent.

If you feel too many people seem like they are angry or disgusted with you, then maybe curtail that for a bit and see what happens again later on....
If no one has an issue than continue....

I am assuming that people have had NO issues with you doing this OR you would not be doing it anymore!

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Slapster]

You can place me firmly in the "no problem" camp.

However I do see how this might get under some folks' skin. Anytime they see someone jump in line who wasn't there previously after they have been patiently waiting (sometimes in the hot sun) they may bristle. I'm too laid back to get upset. The only things that upset me: low / no tippers, teens who drop the F bomb in front of my kids, and too little salt around my margarita glass.

 

[mdhkitten]

This is the reason that I save the money and do character meals. I can see a majority of characters at them and not wait in line, and get to eat at the same time! You can't beat it!

 

[aterriq]

Now what would say if a family with multiples did this. I have twins so that would be holding a line for two. I'm sure if I had triplets and tried this, I would get nasty comments.

If thats ok, what if I had more kids in my family who are all different ages.

The characters are not out for 8 hours straight. They take breaks. We have been the last ones allowed to see a character and to see the reactions of families as they are told they can't join the line is everything from sad to scary.

I know the OP sees it as a quick way to get an autograph but it could mean another child won't get his autograph or picture because he did wait in line and didn't cut or have someone hold a place in line for him.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't think I feel comfortable saying that it is or isn't rude but think about this -

I guess what I'd call it is working the system really.

I agree. That pretty much nails it.

 

[3princesses4us]

My sister waited in a long line for me, and then I cut into it at the last second.

Okay, now that was funny!

To the OP, I'd be ticked. I wouldn't let it ruin my vacation or anything but it just seems rude to me.

 

[makinorlando]

This is the reason that I save the money and do character meals. I can see a majority of characters at them and not wait in line, and get to eat at the same time! You can't beat it!

We've been to almost all the character meals, and there are just some you don't see there... we love 'em too!

but then I've seen the rude kids (parents) try and cut in at our TABLE when the characters were there too.

I saw just about every version of "cutting" during the week before Easter when we were touring the parks with out of town guests!!!

 

[amesmom]

OK, I've been reading these posts and trying not to get involved because I don't want to get flamed. BUT, while I generally agree that line cutting is rude, I just don't get the post about trooping everyone over to the Fastpass machine. What is that about? If one person stands there and enters in all four tickets, isn't that the same as if four people stand there and each put in their ticket? I'm not being sarcastic or anything here, just genuinely confused. What is the point, other than creating a bottleneck at the Fastpass machine while each member of your party puts in his/her ticket? In fact, you are actually creating a longer wait for those behind you waiting for the Fastpass machine by dragging the whole gang thru there. If you really want to be courteous and think of others, send one trusty Fastpass volunteer into the usually tight space by the Fastpass machines while the rest of your party waits nearby and out of the way.

Flame away.

 

[robinb]

The OP's place saving doesn't bother me as long as it's for one or two kids. HUGE extended families, OTOH, would annoy me. I equate this with one or two family members "catching up" in line with the rest of their group. As long as it's one or two, it's not a big deal. Any more people than that and it may impact my own wait time and make someone (maybe me!) miss a character greeting.

 

[Lizzybee]

This isn't a moral judgment on anyone and I've seen one parent hold a spot for one kid and I wasn't bothered but there is a problem. I think lots of people are fine with ONE child, but I have a step-half-cousin-in-law (yeah don't ask) who has 14 kids and how do you tell a parent of one child that it's ok but the mother who has 14 kids can't do the same for her children? I'll be honest, if there was one person holding a spot for 14 kids, I'd be pretty annoyed. It sounds fine on the surface but a line has to be drawn as far as rules go and where do you draw the line for this, is the cut off 2 or are 3 kids ok? Can you tolerate 4 but 5 is way too many? So some people will be bothered by one kid slipping in, especially if it's a long hot line and they are mildly annoyed anyway and some people will smile and say that's nice, but the longer the line, the more children you slip in, how hot it is (or cold), and the personalities of the others in line.

 

[KimberlyC]

I don't see how it can be deemed as rude. You are one person waiting in line. Then, instead of you getting the autograph, you let one little boy do it instead. That is not "adding" anyone else to the line...he is replacing you.

ITA. Its not cutting for this reason. If both OP and her DN were to get autographs then it would be cutting in line, but as his stand in, that is not the case. Its a problem on rides because the person holding the place in line rides as well, thus taking an additional place on the ride. Sometimes the person holding the place in line is doing so for several people, thus taking several additional places on the ride. This is totally different from what OP is doing. If OP's DN isn't there when its turn to have his autograph signed (and OP doesn't have his book to get it signed for him) then IMO OP should either lose her place in line, or I suppose she could offer to let the person behind her go in front of her until DN meets up with her.

People can call it working the system if they want, but would anyone complain if OP had the book in her hand and was getting the autograph for her DN who was too shy to get it himself? What's the difference?

 

[makinorlando]

This isn't a moral judgment on anyone and I've seen one parent hold a spot for one kid and I wasn't bothered but there is a problem. I think lots of people are fine with ONE child, but I have a step-half-cousin-in-law (yeah don't ask) who has 14 kids and how do you tell a parent of one child that it's ok but the mother who has 14 kids can't do the same for her children? I'll be honest, if there was one person holding a spot for 14 kids, I'd be pretty annoyed. It sounds fine on the surface but a line has to be drawn as far as rules go and where do you draw the line for this, is the cut off 2 or are 3 kids ok? Can you tolerate 4 but 5 is way too many? So some people will be bothered by one kid slipping in, especially if it's a long hot line and they are mildly annoyed anyway and some people will smile and say that's nice, but the longer the line, the more children you slip in, how hot it is (or cold), and the personalities of the others in line.

This is exactly the point... you can't say it is okay for 1, but not okay for 4, 5 or more!


Poohnpglt replied this a few posts back:
Would you like the official line?
From a WDW CM as well as a character attendent?

We ask that no matter what the line is for that you keep your entire party together. This does help us gauge wait times, but also prevents others from getting upset over what MANY guests perceive as line-cutting.

 

[jaycns]

OP...

I guess I would ask you to look at it this way (and this is only my world view, I am not juding anyone)...If you were me you would have three children. No way I can wait in one line and DH can wait in another line and then we can get three kids in without causing trouble. Is it fair to my children that they have to hold their own places in line but only children are "more speical" and don't have to ever do that...they can just flit back and forth to the front of each line that someone else stood in? My whole point, how do other children feel? I know my boys would hate it if they saw any child seeing twice the characters as them in the same area with the child swap thing. It's not that you probably cannot get away with doing something, but it might cause others to feel uncomfortable or upset. And no, I don't think every child is counting how many characters another child is seeing...but if they were to notice it would feel hurtful (fairness is a big thing for kids, they hate to feel as if something is not fair, at least my kids).I guess I figure other adults can handle little things like that but I don't think it's worth making another child's day any less magical.

Before anyone gets upset, NO the world does not revolve only around my children...but I do expect that when they pay the same price as an "only child" they should get the same service...if they have to wait in line, so should every other child. The exception to this rule is for those who have "real" speical needs and then they should procure a pass. When we travel with a family with an autistic child they always get a pass for him, he then takes his pass to a line (attraction or character) and is usually given a "fast pass" type pass for him to come back when they estimate he would have gotten to the front of the line had he stood in it).

If Disney thinks kids waiting in line is not something they want to happen then they better do a total revamp (not sure how on EARTH they could/would be able to do that) and offer it to every child. Until then my personal feeling is that NO child is more deserving than any other of a place at the front of the line. I KNOW THE OP DID NOT MEAN SHE THOUGHT THE CHILD SHE WAS WITH DID...I am just stating my opinion as to all kids.


OP thanks for asking about how others feel. It shows that you do care!! And even though this is how I feel, I still say follow your heart/the rules in all matters and you won't be led astray...even if they are counter to what I think! Above all, have fun, you'll be at Disney and life is too short to waste one minute of it...especially a Disney minute!

 

[pickles]

cutting in is cutting in

can get you beat up on a playground

Kid's are great..no grey areas with them.

 

[makinorlando]

- I'll just add one thing - some only children have an only parent too!!! (that's DD and me!)

I normally don't get this involved in topics like this, and I certainly have beaten the horse DEAD tonight and for that I will apologize, but this is one of the things that really irks me at the parks, and makes my day less magical when it happens (and it does very frequently!)

OP...

I guess I would ask you to look at it this way (and this is only my world view, I am not juding anyone)...If you were me you would have three children. No way I can wait in one line and DH can wait in another line and then we can get three kids in without causing trouble. Is it fair to my children that they have to hold their own places in line but only children are "more speical" and don't have to ever do that...they can just flit back and forth to the front of each line that someone else stood in? My whole point, how do other children feel? I know my boys would hate it if they saw any child seeing twice the characters as them in the same area with the child swap thing. It's not that you probably cannot get away with doing something, but it might cause others to feel uncomfortable or upset. And no, I don't think every child is counting how many characters another child is seeing...but if they were to notice it would feel hurtful (fairness is a big thing for kids, they hate to feel as if something is not fair, at least my kids).I guess I figure other adults can handle little things like that but I don't think it's worth making another child's day any less magical.

Before anyone gets upset, NO the world does not revolve only around my children...but I do expect that when they pay the same price as an "only child" they should get the same service...if they have to wait in line, so should every other child. The exception to this rule is for those who have "real" speical needs and then they should procure a pass. When we travel with a family with an autistic child they always get a pass for him, he then takes his pass to a line (attraction or character) and is usually given a "fast pass" type pass for him to come back when they estimate he would have gotten to the front of the line had he stood in it).

If Disney thinks kids waiting in line is not something they want to happen then they better do a total revamp (not sure how on EARTH they could/would be able to do that) and offer it to every child. Until then my personal feeling is that NO child is more deserving than any other of a place at the front of the line. I KNOW THE OP DID NOT MEAN SHE THOUGHT THE CHILD SHE WAS WITH DID...I am just stating my opinion as to all kids.


OP thanks for asking about how others feel. It shows that you do care!! And even though this is how I feel, I still say follow your heart/the rules in all matters and you won't be led astray...even if they are counter to what I think! Above all, have fun, you'll be at Disney and life is too short to waste one minute of it...especially a Disney minute!

 

[diz_prncez]

I don't see how it can be deemed as rude. You are one person waiting in line. Then, instead of you getting the autograph, you let one little boy do it instead. That is not "adding" anyone else to the line...he is replacing you.

My sentiments exactly. He is not cutting. It is just one person taking the place of another person. Not rude at all IMO. I might see some people's point if it was even 2 people entering the line in your place, but just one? What is the difference who has that spot in line?

 

[GracieA7]

I don't think it's rude...it's just an advantage of having more adults in your group.

 

[cara76]

IMO, it's rude.

 

[Tinker74]

It seems really simple to me.....its not rude because its not cutting in line!!
Its simply one person replacing another person.
The rest of the line will not have to wait one second longer.

Now if more than one child came over...then that would be line cutting...because simply the rest of the line WILL be waiting longer.

I don't understand the argument of where do you draw the line??

Its SIMPLE...one child is not line cutting its replacing...more than one is line cutting.

I wouldn't mind one child in the slighteset...because it is no extra wait AT ALL for me of my family or the rest of the line.

 

[Mariposa]

I don't think it's rude...it's just an advantage of having more adults in your group.

(Not picking on you, this idea's been put forth by a lot of posters, you just happened to be the last, so I quoted you.)

So, on trips where DD goes with her DFather and I, she deserves to see twice the characters as a kid with only one adult with them?

It's just rude, IMHO. My DD's a smart and observant kid- what am I supposed to tell her when she notices that the kid a couple spots in front of her has finished his turn with Buzz and gets to wander over to an adult in the next line and be next to see Woody? Better yet, since we could (theoretically) do that for DD, what should we tell the kid who's only got one parent about the whole thing?

I'd just worry that I'd be asking for angry parental rants and hurt feelings if I did it.