Holding a spot in line for a ride? Is it okay?

[mamaCta]

So what if we are in line at say TSMM and while we are windin around one of our group members jumps out to buy waters for everyone and then comes back and reenters the line where you can just step over the chain. He was already in line so no one is waiting any longer than before, he jumps in and out where he can without having to push by anyone and its just one out of the probably 12 in our group. Is this acceptable? I mean that line can be really long and it can get hot...

I'm good with that.

 

[Disney Dreams]

It would be one thing if the way they calculated the wait time was to look at how many people were in the queue and guesstimated based on that. However, that isn't how it is done. They hand someone a red lanyard at the queue entrance. You hand it back at the load area. They now know how long it took and update the boards. This would take into account people being added into the queue. The line wait are only as accurate as the last time check. I believe on rides that are popular, they run a time check every 5-10 mins.

I have had discussions with many CMs who were in the process of changing the wait time sign on many occasions at various attractions (as this aspect of the Park fascinates me). They know how long the wait is based on where people are in the queue. There are certain points in the queue that they use as visual indicators as to how long the wait is at any given moment.

There may also be other attractions that use the method you mentioned, but many attractions base it on how long the queue is.

- Dreams

 

[Malcon10t]

A father and son was in front of us. We went thru about 30 minutes, when when all of a sudden 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.11.12.13,14,15,16,17,18,19 people got in between dd and boyfriend and my and granddaughter to join the father and son. We tried several times to catch up to dd but could not get thru the rude church group.

The few times this has happened to me, we've simply let the other group go so we could be together. How did your daughter end up in front of the father and son?

 

[oumagic]

I dislike the holding places theory. My kids were trained early (legoland) that they wait in line or do not ride. If they need to leave the line, my wife or i take them and then we do something else until the other two are done. I understand "emergencies" happen that take precedent, but if it is a true emergency, the ride doesn't matter and you can skip it. We ask before a long line if anyone needs to use the restroom or if anyone wants to skip the line and do something else. Most of the line problems have nothing to do with emergencies. In my opinion, it has more to do with people thinking their families and their time is more valuable than mine. Why in the world would anyone have their 7 year old wait in line for over an hour if the line is merely a suggestion? Why would not everyone have one person wait in line while the other 3 have fun if you are not supposed yo wait in the line? Plenty of people do it, but luckily, the majority do not. DL would be unbearable to me if the majority pushed through lines. There is a psychological factor involved into fun being lessened when i wait in line for an hour and then people jump in line bragging about just getting off SM and barely making Star Tours. I can visibly see my son happy quotient go down. I do not know why it makes a difference to me, but it does. And if it is no big deal and it should not bother me, then it should be no big deal for groups to wait in line and it should not bother them. I usually only post in a thread like this once a year; this is my 2013 line post

And, yes, we do schedule potty breaks. If there is an unscheduled emergency they know that we just will miss this ride and catch another one or this one when there is no emergency.

 

[bcla]

Having a large group cut in line in front of me to meet up with 1 person who did all the waiting... yes, this would REALLY frustrate me.

Having a parent with a little child come in front of me after a rush to the "potty" to join her family? (as any parent knows, you can NOT schedule potty breaks with little ones). Totally cool . They put in their wait time, they aren't holding up the line with just 2 more people (a large group DOES extend your wait time). It's all good.

I think it all depends on the situation.

In fact, yesterday I went to a free day at a certain museum close to home. The line was long - I'm guessing at least 7,000 by the time of opening. At various times members of our group left the line for various reasons. I went to get the diaper bag that we forget in the car. We had to go on potty breaks and I went to get coffee once (necessitating a later potty break). My kid got a little bit restless and my wife went out once. However, everyone had been in line at one point or another and "shared some of the pain" of waiting in line. Later on my kid and wife rejoined us near the entrance, but the people around us remembered us.

I don't think it's so bad as long as it's not one person waiting in line and then 25 coming back. It also depends on the ride at DL. If it's something like a dark ride which can seat two adults and a child, one person joining a party later isn't really going to affect the line.

However, it would help to have rules. I've been to the Tournament of Roses Parade, and they actually have rules on saving seats. It's legal to set up folding chairs on the sidewalk starting noon the day before the parade. I had grandstand seats, but got curious and wanted to check our my seating area the day before and arrived around the time that it was OK to set up seats. I remember a requirement that there be at least one person physically there at all times per 25 seats saved. Seemed rather generous to me.

 

[gilesmt]

The few times this has happened to me, we've simply let the other group go so we could be together. How did your daughter end up in front of the father and son?

I'm blind, and when at a corner as more and more people showed up, I got stuck behind and she got stuck in front, as they started to all talk she stepped up and they stepped back leaving her in front of the now 21 people and me behind the 21 people. I asked to join her and those church going people said no. So much for treat others as you want to be treated, I hope there is a long long wait to get into heaven and that they are all blinded standing in line, getting pushed around by the mop, serves them right.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

Just to agree with the masses, one person holding a spot for a few people and them rejoining is fine. Twenty people walking past me would not be happening. My wife, DD3, DS1 and I only had two moments where we had to rejoin each other on our last trip. Once was a bathroom break while in line for small world and the other was when I was left behind to collapse strollers before getting on the train. The last one was bad because I had to walk the folded strollers past people. I felt bad but no one said anything. Probably because most of them had been in that situation.

 

[fctiger]

I think the key difference people seem to tolerate more is when they see someone "leave the line and then come back" - clearly you were there, putting in your wait time and something came up with a child and well, such is life. However, yes, when people "join" the line, that is another story altogether.

However, it seems people who would never join a line are very bothered by others who do - but people who think nothing of it herding themselves through a line to catch up to their party, do not care either when they see people doing the same thing. Those who follow the rules are more annoyed by those that break the rules then vice versa.

It can cause you a lot of stress - and when at Disney, stress should be left at the gate, if possible!

Yeah great point! I think the reality is MOST people usually do the catch up to the rest of the family than not so most people are pretty understanding when others do it. And I also think its hard to question WHY it was done in the first place? I mean was it a bathroom break, small emergency, kid had a meltdown, whatever, most people usually just assume people arent really 'cheating', simply that something happened where they needed to be out of line OR was behind their main party so they let them through. This has happened to me on a few occassions so I assume it happens to others. Yes, I get the idea you should wait for your entire party to get in line, but once again, there are probably circumstances why they dont do that.

In other words, I ASSUME Disney has this lax policy in place because the company bends over backwards not trying to question its guest for bending the rules, hence why the FP late rule was in place for so long. They rather air on the side that the guest has a valid excuse and let them slide instead of questioning that excuse. Its part of the reason people love their customer service but yes, its also has been abused in MANY ways and should be curved as much as possible, hence the FP rule being strict again.

But I think the 'line cutting' people are talking about here is very minimum at best. Sure it happens, but I DO think most are valid reasons and usually it is just 1-2 people catching up based on all my time going to the park. And most of the time its a parent and their kid, so I think people simply understand and don't think too much of it because I imagine if they were in that postion that would appreciate the same leeway.

Anyway the OP question been answered a dozen times now lol. Yes, its allowed! If you dont think it should be, take it up with Disney OR simply not go to the park IF it really bothers you to that extent. But it doesnt really sound like it, just a small annoyance and thats understandable too. And yes examples like the church group SHOULDNT happen, but I think thats an extreme case.

But yes, you are at DISNEYLAND (OR DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE lol), little things like this shouldnt stress people out. End of the day as long as we get on the attraction we are in line for is all that matters.

 

[nina11319]

Thanks everyone!! This really helps!

I hope my husband will only have to sneak away once or twice the whole trip. We are using Ridemax and plan to stick together. I just worry that if we fall behind our schedule or itinerary, that he can still get our fastpasses so we don't fall too far behind!

BTW, I'm new here and am wondering what is DD and DS??

 

[starshine514]

BTW, I'm new here and am wondering what is DD and DS??

DD = dear daughter
DS = dear son

 

[forevercruising]

In all fairness it's acceptable behavior because everyone accepted it.

I agree. . . completely, as would Edmund Burke, as he stated, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

This behavior is certainly not evil; however, as society continues to "accept" bad behavior, the behavior in question does, in fact, become "acceptable."

Very good point, dmband.