Groups skipping through lines...

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I hadn't been on the board too long when I was told even for little ones they had to stand for hours like everyone else because other little kids didn't know why they were joining the line all they know is "he butted he butted". Thank you for your response. I would hope other people see that there are reasons why one had to leave the line or join late but not everyone does.

I completely understand the reasons why it happens from time to time doesn't mean I like it but even I have to take a situation on a case by case basis and let a child pass at times. You'll find many people aren't so black and white when it comes to young children.

However, it's all the rest of them that have formed a mistrust in this. If it was ALWAYS only a EMERGENCY potty break for YOUNG children most would be ok or at least not be so strict on it. However it's the ones where the parent says they took a kid for a potty break but were really getting food or on another ride (you may have come into the queue after the other parent had already left), it's the ones where it's not young children so it's people who go on other rides or get food who then want to join their group, it's where they say it's just one or two people who then turn into 5. Unfortunately those types of people have made people distrust the whole situation.

Also this isn't really just a theme park issue. When the Royals one the 2015 World Series KC had a huge parade for it..an estimated 800,000 people in a very tiny area. My sister-in-law and I were sitting on a rock wall at 7am with the parade getting to our point at 2pm. It became impossible to get to the other side of the wall (where there was grass) other than going over the wall..where her and I and a lot of other people were either sitting or standing up against the wall.

We made room for several parents over that time period where they had gotten separated from their family and they had their young child with them and we understood their situation. Unfortunately as soon as other people saw this they decided they would give us any excuse in the book to climb over the wall (and we knew they were just spinning tales) and by climb I mean step on us and push us out of the way forcibly. Had it not been for the other people around us that were likeminded in that they didn't want the people to just come and take their spots by pushing them out of their viewing area we would have been in real trouble. We all banded together and cut it completely off from anyone..and yes people did get upset but we just couldn't..those bad apples spoiled the whole bunch..we were believers in the beginning and stopped completely after the 50th person was like "but my family...they are on the other side..I swear..I just had to go to the bathroom now I need to get back to them.."

Here's what it looked like (and this doesn't include the people who were still standing on the parade route when this photo was taken) and of course I'm not suggesting WDW is ever this crowded but just giving an experience where I would have liked to have been the nice person the whole time but I just couldn't.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

All I'm saying is you find way more little ones at a Disney park then at a 6 Flags. I think Disney is trying to be nice to those with little kids by not having such a strict stay in line rule, but it does cause problems at times. Most adults can look at a 2 hour line for a roller coaster and have a good idea if they can make it without having to step out. A young child doesn't have that skill and doesn't have the choice to get in line or not, for the most part.

Well it was in their offical rules that they prohibited it..at least a few months ago it was (I think they called it line-jumping or something like that) so they DID care at one point it just wasn't ENFORCED very well many of the times.

In the situation you and I are discussing I don't think many people are saying "hey children can't hold it long" I think people are in a disagreement in whether you should go to back to your party that is still in the queue or if you should go to the back of the line. Hey even adults have issues, medical or not. Give me a cup of coffee and the bathroom is my friend for a while..it goes straight through me.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Last time we were at WDW we were 3 away from meeting Ariel when DGD3 suddenly said she had to go. I asked her if she could wait and DDIL said she'd just run her across the street and be right back and I'm like, "you can't do that"; she's "what?" I said "you can't do that; people will block you". She's like, "you're kidding, right"? I'm saying "no, they will block you. You need to read the boards I read". DGD3 held it. I GET the difference between a tour group and a 3 year old potty break but some don't. What if they thought she was getting an autograph or just didn't want to wait in line? I'd rather get out of line than get the stink eye, angry comments or worse yet, have my 3 year old blocked. DDIL thinks I'm crazy but I'm going to show her this thread tonight and say, "see?"

When you are that close, they will often let you exit and then go back through the fastpass line. We have had to do that at Pooh when my daughter had her own little emergency. I spoke with the CMs as we were leaving and then we met my husband as he arrived at the merge point. He had let about 4 or 5 families in front of him and it caused everyone a lot less stress than if we had tried to go through the whole line again.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When you are that close, they will often let you exit and then go back through the fastpass line. We have had to do that at Pooh when my daughter had her own little emergency. I spoke with the CMs as we were leaving and then we met him as he arrived at the merge point. He had let about 4 or 5 families in front of him and it caused everyone a lot less stress than if we had tried to go through the whole line again.

Unless I was right by you when you left the line in your situation (because I would have known what was going on) I would have just assumed you either had a FP or a special pass/permission from the CM and wouldn't have thought anything of it..if you had gone back up through the normal line..the perception of the situation might have been different.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

It's rude and inconsiderate. Emergency exit/return is fine (we had to do it once on our trip and made sure a CM was aware). I don't remember seeing any actual cutting on our recent trip.

 

[minniemous]

The line cutting I hate the most is at busses heading to and from the parks. I was so upset when my family and I got up early to go to rope drop at MK. The main bus loading area has no demarcation for different parks at Coronado Springs. We got there with just a couple of people waiting...we apparently just missed the bus.

We stood on what we thought would be a line but when Epcot bus pulled up we all backed up so as not to be rude and allow Epcot people on their bus. After that bus left people people started coming from breakfast and pushed ahead of all the people waiting. There was no way to know what bus they were there for.

The bus came and picked up all the rude literally last second arrivals and there was no room for the people waiting for 20 minutes. They absolutely knew they were cutting..there was no question. The bus driver announced the bus was full and there was one husband of one group of line cutters being told he could not get on. The wife screamed at him to get on the bus and ignore the bus driver which he did (stroller and all) she jammed herself backward to get him on. Bus driver said nothing. Bus supervisor said nothing.

It was infuriating. The bus supervisor called another bus to come that took another 25 minutes and needless to say we completely missed rope drop. Disney CM's will avoid confronting guests as much as they can regarding line cutting. I understand they do not want an image of getting into it with rude guests. I made a point of speaking with a Disney Supervisor at the end of our trip regarding the poor loading area at CS as well as to discuss another crazy thing that happened while we were at MK that day. The supervisor said they would take a good look at that system they have..I have no idea if that ever happened. Although I liked CS we will most likely never stay there again simply because of that really bad bus loading area.

 

[soniam]

@DisBuckMan

I am with you and have done the same thing. I shamed a group of teens at Universal last year. I told them that one or two people catching up to the group was fine, but there were too many of them and they were trying to move too far through the line. I said it was rude and disrespectful. I didn't stop them from going, because I wanted them to learn to make the right choice. Most of them stayed behind us, while 2 went ahead. Shame is not used enough. I don't have a problem if it's one or two people, especially if it looks like a parent and child that may have gone to the restroom. I have actually done this, since I drink a ton of water due to allergies and medication.

 

[Shanti]

Yeah, I made two particular groups REALLY mad with me week before last in the line for jungle cruise. One was a family of 5 directly in front of me, where only the mother entered the line...and 10 minutes later the rest of the family comes pushing through others in line. I told them I don't know how the folks behind me felt about it, but the other 4 weren't getting in line in front of me. Apparently, the rest of the folks behind me were ok with it, since the mother simply moved behind me and the rest of the family joined her.

Not 5 minutes later, there was a cheer/youth groups (teenage girls with all the same shirts) that attempted the same thing. There were TWO of them in line several spots ahead of us. Next thing I know, there are about 10 more of them pushing their way through the line, saying they needed to catch up with their "group". It just so happened that the two that thought they were saving a spot to the others had wrapped around the queue, and were standing right beside me in the next row over. When the 10 others got to me, I simply told all of them that they were welcome to get in line together, but it would be at the back of the line...not in front of me. They were pissed, but I stood my ground and they all ended up leaving. I got lots of support from others around me on that one.

I just don't understand the way people think on things like this.

Bravo. I wish you stood next to me in line so you could stop people from cutting me, as well. As a single mom, no way would I ever try that. I do seethe, but naturally that's never stopped anyone...

In answer to your original question, no, it isn't proper or widely accepted. They feel empowered by the fact that they are part of a group to break the rules (you don't like me line jumping- but I'm doing it to be with my family...you don't like me line jumping- my twenty friends right next to you don't mind at all...) There is strength in numbers, but that doesn't make it right.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree. I do not like it. It depends on the mood I am in if I say something or not, but no matter my mood, I am not okay with anyone who thinks that their time, their plans, or their fun is more important that that of my famiy and me. I don't cut in lines, and while I am okay if someone needs to leave to use the restroom, I am not okay when there is a place holder and a flock of late comers join in because they wanted an additional ride while I spotted in line.

I follow the rules, not because they are "rules" but because for me, they simply explain what courteous behavior is when you are entering a queue for an attraction, and I do tey to be courteous.

 

[DisBuckMan]

And yet, cultural competence involves adapting to the culture you are visiting. I wouldn't be justified in being upset with the process of getting off and on an elevator in Korea, because I am in their culture, so why are other cultures not expected to conform to American culture, to include personal space and queue behavior? Shouldn't those visiting from other cultures expected to be aware of the values and mores of US culture and at least try to adapt? Just as I would have to adapt to the pushing and shoving that would accompany getting onto train in China?

Bingo. I'm in Orlando, FL, USA. I'm not in an elevator in Korea, or a subway in Tokyo, or Paris, or any other foreign destination. I subscribe to the "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" theory, and this should apply for all. You succumb to the customs of where you're at, not force your customs on your host. I don't need a lecture on how it's done elsewhere....I wasn't "elsewhere".

And by the way...in the two specific examples I gave, the folks were 100% American. So, all this "foreign culture" bs excuse doesn't apply anyhow. It was an American mom that entered the line without her family, who then attempted to join her 20 minutes or so later. And, it was an American cheer/youth female group from somewhere in Illinois (was on their shirts) who attempted the "2 hold a place in line for 12" 30 minutes into the line trick.

 

[myjourney]

Just got back from a great trip, but I had to use a ECV because of mobility issues. I guess the ECV has invisibility power because I was shocked at how many people just cut around me in line like I wasn't even there. The bag check, food service and shops were the worst, the CM's did a good job on most of the rides.

 

[disneydreamer781]

Good for you! It's one thing if one or two people do it but not a large group. I generally only do FP so I don't see it much but I wouldn't be happy about it waiting in a 30 min line. It's one thing if you were already waiting a line and someone in your party needs to leave for a few but there should be no holding spots for several people.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Just got back from a great trip, but I had to use a ECV because of mobility issues. I guess the EVC has invisibility power because I was shocked at how many people just cut around me in line like I wasn't even there. The bag check, food service and shops were the worst, the CM's did a good job on most of the rides.

And if you say something, "Hello, I was here first."

You will receive a look of genuine shock. They really didn't see you.

 

[disneydreamer781]

The line cutting I hate the most is at busses heading to and from the parks. I was so upset when my family and I got up early to go to rope drop at MK. The main bus loading area has no demarcation for different parks at Coronado Springs. We got there with just a couple of people waiting...we apparently just missed the bus.

We stood on what we thought would be a line but when Epcot bus pulled up we all backed up so as not to be rude and allow Epcot people on their bus. After that bus left people people started coming from breakfast and pushed ahead of all the people waiting. There was no way to know what bus they were there for.

The bus came and picked up all the rude literally last second arrivals and there was no room for the people waiting for 20 minutes. They absolutely knew they were cutting..there was no question. The bus driver announced the bus was full and there was one husband of one group of line cutters being told he could not get on. The wife screamed at him to get on the bus and ignore the bus driver which he did (stroller and all) she jammed herself backward to get him on. Bus driver said nothing. Bus supervisor said nothing.

It was infuriating. The bus supervisor called another bus to come that took another 25 minutes and needless to say we completely missed rope drop. Disney CM's will avoid confronting guests as much as they can regarding line cutting. I understand they do not want an image of getting into it with rude guests. I made a point of speaking with a Disney Supervisor at the end of our trip regarding the poor loading area at CS as well as to discuss another crazy thing that happened while we were at MK that day. The supervisor said they would take a good look at that system they have..I have no idea if that ever happened. Although I liked CS we will most likely never stay there again simply because of that really bad bus loading area.

The bus crowds are brutal! The other place this happens a lot are the trams. You would think EVERY tram was the last one the way that people act. I've seen children being knocked down by adults rushing to get ahead and on these vehicles. Another issue are people trying to get on while the driver is pulling out. Crazy! I always pray that I don't run into these idiots again in the park.

 

[lugnut33]

And yet nobody here cars about VIP groups being allowed to bypass the lines.

 

[Orsino]

At which time, people are not "cutting" they are following the instructions of the CM.

We are talking about people cutting, NOT filling in all available space.

If a CM was directing people to fill all available space, I would agree with you. But no CM was doing anything of the sort. I suppose at OTHER times they might, but the CMs at that particular time and place weren't doing much of anything. So most everyone in the line created a line, but some people did "fill in the spaces" and skipped to the front of the line (at least to the door where the line gets thin again). Anyway, the CM didn't care because they wanted "fill in the spaces" even though they weren't telling anyone that.

If you were at Pirates and everyone was in a line and the CMs weren't saying anything about filling in the extra space, would you walk past everyone queueing? Would you consider someone who did a line cutter?

 

[serenitynow]

And if you say something, "Hello, I was here first."

You will receive a look of genuine shock. They really didn't see you.

I have the same issue with both my powerchair and ECV. Between people jumping out in front of you trying to "beat" the scooter, running into you while playing with their phone, coming to a dead stop right in front of the ECV, climbing over you when a group of people have to form into a line, standing in front of the ECV at parades therein blocking your view, grabbing onto the back of your seat to lean on while waiting in line, and listening people to people grumble and complain when you roll up to the bus stop that is. Being in a wheelchair does seem to bestow the gift of invisibility upon those of us lucky enough to experience the pleasure, doesn't it?

 

[Nancyg56]

And yet nobody here cars about VIP groups being allowed to bypass the lines.

I cannot change that these people purchased access. I cannot change that I did not have a FP for an attraction and others with FP were given priority. I think that the circumstances with someone just barging through a line because Mommy needs her morning coffee (yes, I was told that) more than I needed mine.

 

[Gracie09]

I cannot change that these people purchased access. I cannot change that I did not have a FP for an attraction and others with FP were given priority. I think that the circumstances with someone just barging through a line because Mommy needs her morning coffee (yes, I was told that) more than I needed mine.

wait I can use that as an excuse! Because I am useless without at least 2 cups. My kids know it. They check my cup when they get up to see how much I have left.

 

[TravelandLeisure]

We have had this happen with character meets before and it is so frustrating. There will be one person waiting in line and as soon as they get to the front around 10 members of extended family magically pop up out of nowhere. Of course they all want to do a million different poses along with combinations of family members (ex: one with grandma, one with just the kids, etc.). When this happened to us at Animal Kingdom they ended up taking so long it was time for the character's break afterward. The CM looked bewildered and clearly knew this was wrong but did nothing.