Am I being rude?

[Fionasmommy]

OP...

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.

My sentiments exactly!

To me, it's rude because I try to look at it from my daughter's point of view. The character meets are, after all, about the children so I think it's their feelings we should be concerned about. An adult may see it happen and think, "Oh well, it's just one kid." But to my 4 year old, it's a kid who came out of nowhere and jumped right to the front of the line - while she had to stand in line in the sun for who knows how long, and wait patiently.

Now imagine if she watched the child get one autograph, then he/she jumped in front of her and got another - and then the character left to go on break. An adult might be able to mentally justify it with the "1 person is 1 person" argument, but to a child it's as simple as one kid getting 2 of something really special, while he or she stood there trying to behave and be patient... and got nothing.

 

[Emmo]

If everyone thinks this is rude, at least someone is actually waiting in line and as the first post said, the adults in question (first poster) is not waiting for an autograph so the line doesn't get any bigger! We all save spaces for the parade, if someone goes to get drinks etc, so what is the difference. Many times I have had a small child move infront of me during the parade which I don't mind as long as I can see over them as I am only 5' tall!

What I think is rude in Disney parks is when the characters don't have designated lines like in the Animal Kingdom in the morning and parents push their child into the characters despite the fact that others are waiting or are having their pictures taken.
I am a 26 yr old without children and my Husband and I love to meet the characters yet I am constantly pushed aside and made to feel I should move aside as its all about the kids! No, I have paid to get in as well and I feel everyone is a child in a Disney Park.

If this sort of thing upsets people then maybe its something you should put on a comment card, I know I have with my complaints, but just remember you are on vacation and don't let silly little things ruin it!

 

[Tinker74]

Alls I can say is...If this bothers you then defo stay well away from disneyland paris.
They do not even form a line to meet the characters AT ALL!!!....Its a total scrum around each character with books and pens getting pushed left right and centre under the characters noses.
Elbows the lot...

I even had some people just push past me in the line for dumbo and stand in front of me and dd...when I protested they spoke french and made out they couldn't understand me.

And the smoking.....every second person was puffing away on a cigerrete.

I can't wait for florida this year...Iam just glad there IS a line to meet the characters.

 

[brymolmom]

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.

My only point with the original Fastpass line analogy was simply to say if you aren't going to allow ANY linecutting 'exceptions' as allowable, then you have to stick with that and everyone in your party should wait in every line, every time. It's not my philosophy, I'm more of a 'I'm going to judge it depending on the situation and all the factors involved at that moment' type of person. But some people seem to think it's rude across the board, so I think they should all be waiting in the FP line too.

Also - the people that are commenting about a single adult with kid vs. two or more adults with kid getting 'advantages' over the other kids - MAN - this is so true. As a parent with a 2 and 3 year old I can tell you WITHOUT A DOUBT - the MORE ADULTS HANDS/BODIES you have with you for any outing usually makes that outing easier/more smooth, etc. This is especially the case somewhere like Disney. I'm not saying I don't have fun bringing my kids out alone, but it is just easier when dh or dsister is there with us. We can then have a FASTPASS 'runner', we can have one of us waiting in line for snacks while the other does potty break, and the list goes on... So I'm not sure if everyone saying that it's not fair to a kid with a single parent...do you think that all families (even with more than one adult) should always stay attached at the hip and never separate thus to never gain an advantage over a single adult family?

 

[robinb]

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

Why not? I don't live in a black and white world and I don't always apply the "rules" equally. I happen to think it's OK for one or two kids but not for an entire Brazillian tour group.

 

[makinorlando]

Why not? I don't live in a black and white world and I don't always apply the "rules" equally. I happen to think it's OK for one or two kids but not for an entire Brazillian tour group.

My world is not black and white either, but how do you know that that one person standing in front of you is not holding the place for that entire Brazilian tour group! You have no way of knowing until they show up.

I guess being at the parks on a weekly basis, and especially over the busy Spring break weeks, (I don't normally go during the busy times - we had guests) - I just saw so many people cutting in line, and making "exceptions" to the norm, that this is still an issue with me!

I teach my DD that she needs to wait her turn, and be courteous to those around us, and I would hope other visitors would offer us the same courtesy!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Doesn't bother me. We did it once at MGM by those trailers where JoJo and Golith and Donald/Daisy were. MIL and DH got int he Donald/Daisy line with DD. I got in the Jo Jo line. She almost missed Jo Jo because they were in the Donald line and Jo Jo was who she REALLY wanted to see. If she had not made it I would have stepped aside and gotten back in line. She did make it though, but I don't know if I would do it again. Wasn't really worth it to me.

It wouldn't bother me if someone let their one or two kids in line. I think I prefer to wait with DD so I can see her with the characters.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Ok, a couple of questions, because I find this topic intriguing due to the fact that I had no idea it was such a big deal. I'm gonna play devil's advocate for a second, just to gauge some opinions...

(Before I get to the questions, please note that we have no children in our traveling party, and I understand both sides of what people are saying about the character process and how it's different for little ones. I'm just curious about responses to a couple of things. Not trying to , just trying to clarify what people would deem as rude in the event that we're ever lucky enough to enjoy Disney with kids.)

1 - How about this: Young family is at Disney for the first time with...say....a 4 yo boy and twin 2 yo girls. Mom and Dad have been wrestling the kids all week, and they've discovered it's darn near impossible to keep three under five happy and occupied in a line for more than a couple minutes. Everyone wants to meet Pooh. The line forms....Mom goes, gets in the line with 4 yo, and Dad takes the stroller and the girls to the pin cart for a few minutes until Mom waves over that they're next in line.

Do you deem it acceptable for the family to visit with Pooh together? Or is that the same thing as cutting?

2 - How about counter food service? Am I being rude if my party splits up into three different lines (since, if we're only in one line, it's ALWAYS the slowest one) so that we don't get caught up in a slow line and then orders from whomever reaches the counter first? I know it's not the same as the characters, but that's why I'm asking...I'm sincerely not sure if people behind us are getting annoyed when my sister is giving me her order from another line because there's only one person in front of me.

3 - Not a question but a comment...I'd just like to thank everyone (well, it seems everyone) in this thread for respecting the fact that there IS a line. As someone else said, being an adult with no kids, I like to get in on the photo op too, and more than a few times we've been cut in line by ADULTS with kids who push their kids in front of us, believing that it's more important for their kid to see Mickey than for us to. You can preach to me about magic for the children and all, but if I'm waiting in line, it's for a reason. We're the type of people that, if they announced that Mickey was going on a break, and the family behind us had been waiting just as long as we were with a couple little kids, we'd let them go in front of us...we're NOT the type of people to tolerate the shoving that comes from people who try to dodge into the meet at the last second, however.

Ok, sorry for the long post.

 

[MyTwoGirls9803]

it was stated that the character lines aren't that long normally anyhow.[/B] This goes for many circumstances......I was at WDW on a VERY busy day.....me and my boyfriend were waiting for the fireworks to start and we were very exhausted. There was no where to sit because this family had three people saving places for the rest of their group. They spred out and wouldn't let anyone sit down while people in their group got to enjoy the attractions. Meanwhile, tons of guests had to stand their on their tired feet..........I felt this was very rude and unfair. Just think about how other people might feel when you "hold places in line". A few extra minutes in line won't hurt anyone
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tell that to my 2 year old! LOL!
I did hold a spot for my 2 year old, while her daddy walked around showing her things in the area -- to keep her busy till it was her turn.

AND, I sat and waited (for the fireworks) with my two kids and saved a spot for my husband while he went and got my kids something to eat. They were hungry and the lines were very long, so it took awhile.
Sorry, but if my kids were hungry and my dh was willing to stand in line for their food, while me, my 8 and 2 year old sat...then I guess I am rude.

 

[3princesses4us]

To the OP~ bottom line: if about half the people on this thread would be offended and consider it "cutting", then one could logically assume that roughly half the people in the actual line might be irritated by it. Doesn't mean you can't continue to do it, just know some won't appreciate it.
It seems to boil down to this. Those that also do this, of course think it's totally appropriate. Those of us that don't, think it inconsiderate of others.

 

[Sweedee]

It's rude, and I would say something to you...like..."Do you see the 100 kids that have been waiting in line for the last 30 mins to get the autograph?"

 

[GracieA7]

Since I have never waited in line at the character meets, I guess I should not say that I don't think it's rude (until I experience it). This is my DS4's first trip to Disney.

I have been to Disneyland Paris and have had 'queue' problems with tour groups from Asia. I finally had to speak up and ask them to form a line!

 

[Snowysmom]

I don't have younger children any more so my opinion my be worthless but here goes. I do not necessarily think it is rude but I do think that it teaches the wrong lesson to your child. He sees people waiting in line for him to make it easier for him to get something, an autograph. What about the kids who have waited in line for a long time. They see a child getting ahead of them, not that the parent waited in line for the child. Also, where do you draw the line for the number of children you will allow each adult to stand in line for. The CM on this thread said it best when she said that each group should remain together. After all, it is a family vacation. As far as getting Fastpasses goes, I wish each party would only send in one representative to get the passes. It gets so crowded and crazy there that the lines get blurred. It would be quicker and easier and it is not like waiting for an autograph or picture with a character. Just my 2 cents worth!

 

[robinb]

My world is not black and white either, but how do you know that that one person standing in front of you is not holding the place for that entire Brazilian tour group! You have no way of knowing until they show up.

In my opinion, the place-holding is not inherently rude. It becomes rude when it delays the people behind the place-holder any more than the place-holder herself would delay those same people. A small family doesn't change the dynamics of the line: a photo, a couple of autographs and away they go. The Brazilian Tour group (or the extended family group), OTOH, will take many pictures and get many autographs delaying the folks behind them by many families worth.

I teach my DD that she needs to wait her turn, and be courteous to those around us, and I would hope other visitors would offer us the same courtesy!

The great thing about WDW is that we all have many, many opportunities to practice waiting our turn!

It seems to boil down to this. Those that also do this, of course think it's totally appropriate. Those of us that don't, think it inconsiderate of others.

I have never saved a spot for my family in a character line.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I'm kind of on the fence here...I understand why someone would do that, but I also think it's teaching your child that line cutting is okay. It's one thing if you were on line, you needed to use the bathroom, and you were coming RIGHT back...but holding two lines is like booking tickets for WDW to two different hotels (knowing you can get the down payment refunded) because you weren't sure which one you wanted to go to until the last minute. Another family could have rented that room, but they may have been turned away, because you were holding it. I feel that's incredibly unfair...plus it is teaching your child bad manners as well... I guess I'm not on the fence, I do think it's rude, but I do understand why you would do it.

 

[tiggersthebest]

I have to say that I do think it is rude, although clearly not intentional like people who stand in a line for a tour group then let 40 people cut in(yikes!). Last year I was waiting in line outside the train station where multiple characters were and there was one person in front of me that magically turned into seven, they had all lined up at different places and were switching around. So if one person does it then others do it, that's where the big problem comes in. I too would like to get through quickly but I don't see the difference between cutting in line on rides or this.
Have a nice vacation!

 

[almacdonald]

1 person waiting in line = 1 autograph + 0 rudeness.

Get over it people. Just cause these people are "mulititasking" doesn't mean they're being rude. They're waiting in line just like every other person there. The kid is lucky to have such nice (and intelligent) people looking out for him! Go kid GO!

 

[elastigirl]

I do think it's rude. I think it's rude because in the time it takes a single guest to have 1 character experience by waiting in a normal, another guest has gotten 2 experiences. And it may not even be possible for that first guest to wait twice as long to get the same experience, because the next break has come along and the characters are gone.

I know many people think their time is more precious, and their children deserve as much as they can figure out how to get. But for that 1 child, standing in one line, it isn't fair to watch your peer get twice as much out of it.

 

[grimley1968]

I have to say that I do think it is rude, although clearly not intentional like people who stand in a line for a tour group then let 40 people cut in

ITA, although maybe for slightly different reasons.

In a perfect queue in a perfect world, it should not matter if the adult is holding a spot in line for the child, and then the child perfectly whisks over to get the picture taken and autograph book signed without any delay to the people waiting patiently behind these people.

But it's not a perfect world, and we all know that no queue is perfect. Inevitably, and I've seen this kind of thing often at WDW, there will be some sort of snag/delay in moving the child from one line to the other, resulting in others behind them getting delayed. So it's not intentionally rude, but the effect to the other guests is still there. As another poster mentioned above, they may not see the adult serving as a placeholder for the child. All they see is a child getting in front of them, and causing them to wait a little bit longer. Whether intentional or not, rudeness is definitely perceived by others in such cases.

 

[rejobako]

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.

This is exactly how I feel about it. You are not letting your child cut in ahead of you so you can both get an autograph -- you are merely holding his place in line for him. I see no problem with it.