Is it o.k. to hold a place in line for someone?

[eileenfk]

Reading through another post (on this board) has me wondering.

Is it against the rules (or against the norm of a civilized population) to have one family member hold a place in line for another family member?
I hate it in the grocery store, when someone with very few groceries, is joined by family members, each adding many more groceries, as they get close to the front of the line.
I remember being very irritated, in DisneyLand, when one person claimed to be holding maybe a hundred seats (a large front row area) for her girl scouts, to see Fantasimic.
It doesn't bother me, if one or two people join a person or group in line.
So I am wondering, how many spaces, is it o.k. to hold for someone.
If I leave the line to use the bathroom, is it o.k. to re-join my group in line.
What is considered civilized, and what is within the rules?

- Eileen

 

[dcmbshafe]

Not supposed to - if someone in the family has to get out of line to take a kid to the bathroom, I would cut them some slack. But generally speaking it is a no-no.

 

[i like stitch]

It doesn't bother me if someone is holding a place for a few people. I'd say going to the bathroom while someone holds your place is very "ok".

 

[sjms71]

I'm sorry I don't want to sound mean. However, there is nothing worse than standing in line and then you hear from behind "excuse me, excuse me my party is up there." We always wait until everyone in our party is ready to get in line, no matter if there is one or four of us. I understand if you have a kid that has to go to the bathroom or some other unusual situation. However, that seems to never be the case. We are always in line and 4 adults are pushing past us to get to the one person waiting in line in front of us.

 

[Ted and Holly]

You guys should have attended the cooking demonstrations at Epcot during F&W, on the weekends. Each session there was someone at the front of the line holding the line for 8 or more people, who were in the previous demo!

Got to be quite annoying.

Ted

 

[married@wdw]

I generally have never thought anything of a person or group holding a space and one or two people coming in line with them. I usually assume it was a need for a bathroom, drink or even a smoke break (which, while I despise the habit, I'd much rather have them do in the smoking areas, rather than trying to get in a cigarette while in line).

That said, when one person holds a place in line for their family of ten, well, that's really obnoxious!

 

[flyingenie]

I get annoyed by that too. Holding the line for a couple of people (especially children) I can deal with. Any more than that (or line cutting!!!) annoys me a bunch.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I have health problems and if we are waiting in a non moving line, such as for one of the shows, there will be times that DH & DS will stand in line and I will join them when the line starts moving. For me, it's either that or spend the day in a wheelchair, which I try to avoid. I hope people would be understanding of that. I think it depends on the situation, but mostly the amount of people.

 

[DanaHesson]

For the rides, in the case of a person with health problems, I certainly understand, but many others do not. Perhaps seek out a cast member for a place to sit. In all other circumstances, line holding is a no no in my opinion. Take your children to the bathroom Before getting in that 45 minute line for Pooh or Peter Pan. It is unfair to others and just plain rude in my opinion.

If it is the line for a quick service restaurant, I am a little more forgiving, but it is best if the person paying just get everyone's order and place it.

 

[LoriMistress]

There is nothing wrong if there is a group of people holding a line for one or two people while they go to the bathroom, or something like that. But I get very annoyed when one person is holding the line with more then two people.

 

[Leota]

I agree - Holding a spot in line for one or two people who had to use the bathroom or something is one thing. Whe a large group tries to jump in, that irks me.

You know, thinking about it - I don't think we've ever split up & had to hold a space in line.... even when my son was little.

 

[alloyd1170]

In most cases, holding spots for 1-2 people (ie parent and child) isnt really going to have an impact on the wait time for others since that family will most likely be sharing one car on the ride. My mother wasnt able to stand in lines for rides, and I have a toddler who was difficult to keep in line, so I can understand. As the others have said, its when more than 2 show up, rudely push their way through the line that really gets to me!

alison

 

[jay-nee]

I don't mind people holding spaces in line. What I hate is when one person runs in front of you while heading into a queue line and then the rest play catch up. I consider that down right rude...

As far as the other circumstances listed above, I have no problems with that at all.

 

[JFrey4240]

It doesn't bother me. I try not to get upset over things like that when I'm supposed to be there to relax. Also knowing how long lines can get if a child needs to use the bathroom and one parent gets in line while the other one takes the little one to the bathroom--how can anyone get upset over that?

 

[Pats Dragon]

I also get annoyed at line breakers but one or two joining their family is ok with me. Once we were in the very first spot at the mk at the turnstiles with a long line behind us and when the gate opened OURS DIDN'T!!!The Cm said to merge with the line next to us but those people actually elbowed us aside with dirty looks like we were cutting in line. It was so unpleasant it was hard to enjoy the morning. Sometimes "cutters" have a reason.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Anything over two people is quite rude. If my kids need to use the bathroom while on line, they have two options: hold it or get off the line to go (& get on the end of the line if we return). However, I will gladly hold someone's place to take their child to the bathroom.

 

[christophfam]

I agreee with the wait in line bit, but what about for a show like Fantasmic! ? Is it rude to bring the children in closer to the starting time so they don't have to wait for over an hour? Can the grandparents and dad hold the seats for the Mom and two kids?

 

[plutolovr]

One time while waiting in line at RnRC a group in front of us noticed some friends of theirs that were much further back in line. They told them to come up and join them. I voiced my displeasure, but just got dirty looks. When we got up to the CM who sends you up the ramp into the building, I told her what they did. She made them all get out of line. I laughed all the way into the ride. I just thought that was totally rude, but I guess they learned their lesson.

Plutolovr

 

[goofyernmost]

Life's too short to worry about every little thing. I don't usually give it a second thought if it is one or two people but a crowd will get me to frown.

I do not, however, let it ruin my time. A few extra people really only means a minute or so difference unless it is a capacity show and you get left out. (another story)

Fastpass, legalized, line cutting bothers me more because when you have taken the option of stand by it is completely out of your control how many people go ahead of you. That can get really frustrating. Fastpass is evil, it must be destroyed at all costs.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Originally posted by plutolovr
One time while waiting in line at RnRC a group in front of us noticed some friends of theirs that were much further back in line. They told them to come up and join them. I voiced my displeasure, but just got dirty looks. When we got up to the CM who sends you up the ramp into the building, I told her what they did. She made them all get out of line. I laughed all the way into the ride. I just thought that was totally rude, but I guess they learned their lesson.

Plutolovr