Disneyland Railroad Station Etiquette

[LisaT91403]

When you are waiting at the station, let's say New Orleans Square...do you form a single-file line, with the people on the benches make up the single-file line? In other words, would the people on the benches be the only people in the queue area, and then everyone else would wait down the stairs? Or do you think it's appropriate to move forward and fill the queue?

 

[Jairy]

When you are waiting at the station, let's say New Orleans Square...do you form a single-file line, with the people on the benches make up the single-file line? In other words, would the people on the benches be the only people in the queue area, and then everyone else would wait down the stairs? Or do you think it's appropriate to move forward and fill the queue?

Is there a proper answer to this? Lol
I would say single file. Guests on the bench were in line first.

 

[disneychrista]

This is a tough one, I think it is best to keep the line in the queue & not needless down the stairs. But I also believe first come first served.

If the benches are filled I would not stop and the stairs but would move up into the queue. I am also mindful when the train comes that those on the benches can move in from of me.

 

[lucysmom]

Wouldn't a nice line be great?!! Frankly, it is a free-for-all! So, you have to grab a spot and then a seat. I have been run over by people just pushing. I have waited and let a train opportunity pass just so I could be at the gate for the next train and not worry about getting caught up in the crowd.

 

[tarheelalum]

People should line up but common courtesy is not very common anymore. Some people are polite about it but a lot of people just walk to the front near the gate.

 

[MillauFr]

I always sit down if there are seats near the front. It really doesn't matter most of the time if you board first or 30th. Not like you get better seats.

If there are no seats I make sure I get near the front and no one passes me.

 

[Astylla]

Thankfully the trains come so frequently - give or take five minutes unless it has to wait for a parade float or something unforeseen that it is rarely an issue.

I personally try to respect those sitting down and consider them in line. While I may fill in the space , I wait for them to go ahead of me first. It always amazes me when I see people get so bent out of shape when the CM's cut off people getting on. There is a rhyme and reason for it all and a balance I am sure has to be met and they always try to get as many people as they can safely do at once.

Though there will always be the rude guest , all you can do is follow what you feel to be right and not sweat the rest of it.

 

[Jafar1]

Every choice has a consequence, so do you want to be the first in line waiting for the train? or the first ones to be sitting on the bench?and have people waiting for you down the stairs?? whats next people waiting for Mickey Mouse to hold their hands and take them on the train.

 

[DizMe]

In my experience, if it's crowded, people will begin to fill in the big gap between the bench and the fence. If you choose to sit down on the bench, you will not be at the front of the line. I don't usually care but when there are streams of people, I will generally not sit on the bench. I don't know what it should be like, but it doesn't really matter because what I mention above is what happens. It does make more sense to me to get as many people into the line area as will comfortably fit before making them line up outside.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

For us, we know that if we choose to sit on the benches, people who are willing to stand in line, are going to pass us by.

That's OK with us---sometimes we just want to sit while waiting, and don't care if we're first on.

When we do want to try to get as close as we can to the front of the line, we don't sit--we go up to whomever is standing, and stand in line behind them.

Don't know if that is proper, but no one has ever gotten irritated with us, or said anything at all.

Of course, if we bypassed someone who was sitting, and they said something, we would indeed move back---we're not there to cause trouble--just ride the train.

 

[logansmama1]

On our first trip to DL with my mother and young son, we were waiting for the train at NOS. The three of us had found a spot on one of the first benches that wasn't occupied to wait for the train. My son is a high functioning autistic and is very particular about rules and such. About halfway through our wait a middle aged couple can to stand near us and as the train arrived they proceeded to try pushing their way through to get a better seat. This began to cause some irritation with my son as he viewed it as breaking the rules. I politely pointed out to the couple that many of us had waited in a sort of line for the train, some since before the last train departed and there actions were quite rude. Their response cons roster of many snide remarks about both myself and my child and nasty looks for the entire train ride. I came to realize almost immediately after they started making their comments that both the man and woman appeared intoxicated. It happened to be the only not amazing part of our stay at DL. I would say as long as you are courteous and let those that were at the station ahead of you board first, if they would like, then there's no reason the standing space around the benches can't be filled as well. Unfortunately, as we learned in this case, not everyone remembers their manners.

 

[drew64]

General rule of thumb at disney is to fill in the entire queue and leave no gaps, not an orderly single file lines, especially one inlcuding seats.

People seem to insitnctively love lines. Last month at DHS, we arrived beofre opening. There were 2 long lines at 2 of the "gates" waiting for them to open, but several other gates obviously manned and ready to open also - which we know from experience would happen.

A woman in one of the lines was quite irate and kept telling us we could not stand there but had to join the end of the line she was in. Went on and on for 10 min until the gates opened, including the one we were in.

 

[Nonsuch]

...waiting for the train at NOS.
...I came to realize almost immediately after they started making their comments that both the man and woman appeared intoxicated.

They must have just stumbled out of Club 33

 

[BryANDJessMom]

Last time I was at the NOS there was a totally full line...at the last minute a party of about 15 adults climbed over the seats and got in front of all of us waiting...causing us to miss the train. I was surprised none of the CM said anything to them.

 

[MillauFr]

People seem to insitnctively love lines. Last month at DHS, we arrived beofre opening. There were 2 long lines at 2 of the "gates" waiting for them to open, but several other gates obviously manned and ready to open also -

The same thing happens at the Haunted Mansion. When the line splits it seems like many people instinctively take the left line even though the right line is open with no chain across it. I was there last month and we went to the right and must have passed 50 - 100 people who were queued up in the left line. Some people realized what was going on and then switched.

Again like the train it probably didn't matter all that much as even if they didn't make it on out elevator they would be on the next one.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

General rule of thumb at disney is to fill in the entire queue and leave no gaps, not an orderly single file lines, especially one inlcuding seats.

I agree. The scenario the OP describes at the train station is repeated with more acrimony at DCA in the Aladdin queue, except that my family didn't have a seat and we were sent forward through the glares of the bench-seaters. I cut off a look of fury from the patriarch of a large (seated) family by firmly explaining that the cast members asked us to move forward and fill in all the gaps. I took my daughter and turned away before he said anything I might regret her hearing. I felt his pain, but I also do what cast members ask. I guess I hurt his feelings and now I have to live with it.

A woman in one of the lines was quite irate and kept telling us we could not stand there but had to join the end of the line she was in. Went on and on for 10 min until the gates opened, including the one we were in.

I've seen that before at a few different attractions, including the Disneyland Railway, King Arthur Carrousel, King Triton's Carousel, and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. The people who diligently lined up behind a handful of others had to take the remnants of the seating options, compared to those of us who followed directions (CM's tellling people to move in and fill in all the spaces) and paid attention, lining up first at one of the other gates. It's a little bit of Darwinism in action...

 

[MillauFr]

A bit like a lane closure on the freeway due to construction. You are supposed to use all of the available lanes and then merge in at the point where the lane closure taper starts and then take turns. This minimizes the length of the backup. People feel some need to merge a mile ahead of time and then get upset when people pass them in the open lane.

 

[got2travel]

It seems that many of you consider it rude for someone to pass you as you are sitting down and actually fill up the queue as it was intended. However I consider it rude of you to expect the line to stop short because you choose to sit down. If there is space in a line, I will take it. How is this any different than the RSR wide right or the entrance gate 14 strategy?

 

[Jairy]

As I read more responses, I can see both sides. We were in line at the main station, and no one filled up the space. But the line wasn't long enough to go down any stairs.
It depends on the first person to stand after the bench sitters! Because once one person lines up behind them, it would seem impolite to fill up the space.

 

[Jairy]

It seems that many of you consider it rude for someone to pass you as you are sitting down and actually fill up the queue as it was intended. However I consider it rude of you to expect the line to stop short because you choose to sit down. If there is space in a line, I will take it. How is this any different than the RSR wide right or the entrance gate 14 strategy?

I totally understand your point, but the difference seems to be that it is not a line for a single attraction.
And the rule follower in me, would love to be admitted in single file, according to the time you arrived. Lol
I was a bit put off one morning. My ds and I arrived by 7:15 for EE at 8 at DCA. We were quite far up in the line. We went to one side by GRR and a lot of the crowd went the other way, by SOC. The lady at the line assured us that both lines arrived at the merge point at the exact same time. No way! The crowd was streaming by us by the time we got there. Single line would have been much better.