Is it OK to save a spot in line?

[princess_ariel_85]

During my week off from work last week me, DH & some friends went to Alton Towers theme park, UK. In the majority of queues they had these signs displayed....

I know it seems weird that I would take a photo of the sign but as soon as I saw it I was reminded of the DIS.

 

[ses1230]

During my week off from work last week me, DH & some friends went to Alton Towers theme park, UK. In the majority of queues they had these signs displayed....

I know it seems weird that I would take a photo of the sign but as soon as I saw it I was reminded of the DIS.

I like it!

 

[larryz]

Some will say that's fine. Others will say they will physically block the parent/child from rejoining their party.

In my experience, both here on the board and at the parks, 99% are OK with a child leaving the line and returning for a bio break, which is technically (in my opinion, of course) not saving a place in line since the parent and child had already occupied that space.

 

[buffettgirl]

In my experience, both here on the board and at the parks, 99% are OK with a child leaving the line and returning for a bio break.

I've never seen anyone say they'd block a parent and child returning from a potty emergency.

Really? I've seen it said MORE than a few times. I've actually received points for telling someone they were being a jerk for doing so. LOL

 

[larryz]

Really? I've seen it said MORE than a few times. I've actually received points for telling someone they were being a jerk for doing so. LOL

I sit corrected -- so I'll simply relate my own experience in the parks and talking on the boards about the return after a bio emergency. See the edited post #63.

 

[PSMC]

Doesn't bother me a bit If Grandma and Grandpa want to sit while the line snakes around and then jump in with 4 others who are already ahead of me, what difference does it make? Had their entire party of 6 got in line ahead of me to begin with I'd still be 6 people back. If mom and kids need to sit while Dad waits just so mom can keep kids occupied, what difference does it make? If they all got in line together, I'd still be exactly in the same spot that I am when they jump back in line.

I really REALLY have better things to worry about.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Unless it's a bathroom break for a young child, then yes, I think it's rude.

 

[Goin'BacktoDisney]

Doesn't bother me a bit If Grandma and Grandpa want to sit while the line snakes around and then jump in with 4 others who are already ahead of me, what difference does it make? Had their entire party of 6 got in line ahead of me to begin with I'd still be 6 people back. If mom and kids need to sit while Dad waits just so mom can keep kids occupied, what difference does it make? If they all got in line together, I'd still be exactly in the same spot that I am when they jump back in line.

I really REALLY have better things to worry about.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[xipotec]

In order to do this for most lines you won't be able to just duck under a rope and meet up.

Which means a ton of;

PARDON ME , EXCUSE ME, CAN I JUST GET BY TO MEET THEM WAAAAaAY OVER THERE?

Assuming the people cutting the line are even polite.

I am not for it at all.

Is it obvious?


Unless it an emergency potty break on a REAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL Long line

 

[Celine]

I am so damn glad I read this thread.. put me down, call me names, insinuate I'm clueless but I had no idea it was improper to hold a spot. I never want to offend or otherwise piss anyone off and will do everything I can to avoid it, but sometimes, I'm just plain clueless.. and this was one of those times.

When we were in Disney this last time in September, I shamefully admit to doing this and promise never to do it again.

In my defense, if I may have one.. my son is profoundly autistic and developmentally delayed and just cannot conceive of waiting behind an immense line of people. The couple of times we tried, he just doesn't get it and begins to scream because he thinks people are holding us back. If forced to wait, he will lose it and start slapping himself in the face REALLY hard, while crying ans screaming because of how frustrated he is and probably because he can't understand what is going on. He's virtually non-verbal.

To prevent this, I usually have my oldest son entertain him out of the line by walking him around to see things... sit in the shade with a drink, etc., etc. But, yes.. when I see we are getting close to the front of the line and I am also in a good spot for them to join us, I text him and they come.

I am truly sorry that I probably pissed off a world of people doing that. I wish someone would have said something to me.. even politely, to wake me up to what everyone was probably thinking, but just not saying out loud.

Well, thank you once again, Disboard, for opening my eyes! you guys!!!

 

[juliebug1997]

you'll find the general consensus around here is that it is not acceptable. Personally, i don't care, within reason. Mom and child wait on line and dad and other child join them, no big deal to me. Mom waits in line and 8 people join her then i'm a bit annoyed.

ita.

 

[juliebug1997]

I am so damn glad I read this thread.. put me down, call me names, insinuate I'm clueless but I had no idea it was improper to hold a spot. I never want to offend or otherwise piss anyone off and will do everything I can to avoid it, but sometimes, I'm just plain clueless.. and this was one of those times.

When we were in Disney this last time in September, I shamefully admit to doing this and promise never to do it again.

In my defense, if I may have one.. my son is profoundly autistic and developmentally delayed and just cannot conceive of waiting behind an immense line of people. The couple of times we tried, he just doesn't get it and begins to scream because he thinks people are holding us back. If forced to wait, he will lose it and start slapping himself in the face REALLY hard, while crying ans screaming because of how frustrated he is and probably because he can't understand what is going on. He's virtually non-verbal.

To prevent this, I usually have my oldest son entertain him out of the line by walking him around to see things... sit in the shade with a drink, etc., etc. But, yes.. when I see we are getting close to the front of the line and I am also in a good spot for them to join us, I text him and they come.

I am truly sorry that I probably pissed off a world of people doing that. I wish someone would have said something to me.. even politely, to wake me up to what everyone was probably thinking, but just not saying out loud.

Well, thank you once again, Disboard, for opening my eyes! you guys!!!

You would definitely be the exception to the rule. Also, have you looked into one of the front of the line passes (I forget the letters) for your son? Many autistic children (and other learning disabled and handicap able persons) are eligible for these. You may need a letter from your doctor, but this could help ease your son's frustration. I have a severely autistic cousin and my aunt got it for him at DL (they haven't been to WDW yet) and she said it was a God send.

 

[KellyNY]

I do not think there is anything wrong with leaving for nature call break and returning and honestly not only for kids but adults as well. Considering Disney food and long lines there is nothing unusual. I will not block anyone. I also do not mind parent taking kids out of the line for a while, better then listening to him crying for 30 min.

 

[aubriee]

Once you get in line, if you need to get out to take a kid to the restroom, not a problem. Any other time, yeah, it's line cutting and wrong.

We took our 3 y/o GS to WDW this past Feb. We took him to the restroom before any ride where we knew there was going to be a long line. He knew even at three y/o how to wait in lines and had no problems.

 

[Sparkly]

You would definitely be the exception to the rule. Also, have you looked into one of the front of the line passes (I forget the letters) for your son? Many autistic children (and other learning disabled and handicap able persons) are eligible for these. You may need a letter from your doctor, but this could help ease your son's frustration. I have a severely autistic cousin and my aunt got it for him at DL (they haven't been to WDW yet) and she said it was a God send.

That's called the Guest Assistance Card, more information about which can be found at http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=10237514&postcount=6

 

[PaulaSB12]

The general answer is that it is verboten, although that's based upon the general idea that you're doing something to the disadvantage of the people that are stuck waiting in line. With that in mind, I do believe there are a handful of circumstances where it's OK. The one that immediately springs to mind is the character greetings in WS @ EPCOT, where we will occasionally have my wife and DD3 step out of line but hang in the general area to give everyone more room to breathe without a fidgety preschooler underfoot while we're waiting to get close to the character. Important side note, though -- they are close enough that when we're getting close, I just wave them over rather than calling or texting them, and they start in line with me so everyone around knows what we're doing.

Similarly, I don't have a huge problem with people joining their group where isn't a strict queue, like when everyone is jumbled up in a mass waiting for the doors to a show to open (e.g., O Canada), provided it can be done without inconveniencing the people in said crowd and everyone in the area is going to get in anyway.

The big question, for me, is whether by saving a spot in line, you're causing the people behind you to wait longer. If the answer is no and it can be done without great hassle, I'm OK with it. That's very much the exception to the rule, though, and the circumstances where this is applicable are quite limited.

The reason why people don't like it is the entitlement attitude. The my time is important so why should we not have fun while you wait.

 

[deegack]

You would definitely be the exception to the rule. Also, have you looked into one of the front of the line passes (I forget the letters) for your son? Many autistic children (and other learning disabled and handicap able persons) are eligible for these. You may need a letter from your doctor, but this could help ease your son's frustration. I have a severely autistic cousin and my aunt got it for him at DL (they haven't been to WDW yet) and she said it was a God send.

There are no front of the line passes with a few limited exceptions for medically fragile make a wish kids. You can ask about a guest assistance card which may allow you to wait in an alternate area. The wait would be as long as the regular line but it's less crowded (usually). The disabilities forum has a ton of information on the card and what it can and can't do.

 

[HWY20RIDE4MYSON]

I'd say it's rude because for most rides because the line segments are really set up for an even flow with very little room for people to get by.. I mean it's an amusement park ride wait for your whole group to get in line...
The 6p's
Proper
Planning
Prevents
Piss
Poor
Performance

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

Imo, unless a little one needs a potty break, everyone should enter - and stay in - the line.

 

[goofyernmost]

With me it never has been the idea that someone is holding a place for one or two people, it's that when they enter the line you don't know if they are doing that or cutting.

The idea that accommodations could be made for people joining their party that doesn't require pushing up through the entire line, I think is worth looking into. That is the part that concerns people the most. All you are hearing is "excuse me trying to catch up to the family" but what you are thinking is "really? How do I know for sure that you are not just cutting with no one up there at all".

If joiners had to join at a switchback where people can recognize that they are with others, maybe having a CM available to accommodate and verify that, I feel that a lot of the anger would be gone. What was said is correct. If there are a total of 6 people in a group, three are in the line and three others join a little later, the same number would be ahead of you if they had just stayed in the line.

I think I told this story before...I was in the group waiting for the doors to open for Lion King. There is no queue actually just a gathering place by the doors. I watched with amusement as a young girl (I'd say about 10) slowly move her way up to the front, very slowly, looking around, one person at a time. This took a lot of time. She made it to the front and once there jumped up and down and yelled to her Mother, that had been standing just behind me all the time, "Mom, I'm up here". Mom, taking her cue said, I'm coming and went forward.

No one complained but there was a reason. There were no more than 50 people in the entire line. It was the first show of the day. The theater was 70% empty after we were all in. Stuff like that is what makes people less then happy about people joining the line late. It's almost a business to some people.

There is a massive over-reaction to this happening. I mean, If you were meeting someone at a restaurant, wouldn't you get a table and wait for them. I do that all the time. When I know they are no more then 10 minutes away, I tell them that I have X number of people coming in a few minutes and they seat me and when my party gets there they join me. How is that different?

Personally, unless I get the feeling that I am being lied too and someone definitely is trying to get ahead, just because they want too, I don't spend much time worrying about it. Usually whatever affect it has on me is minor. To be honest, that legal and encouraged line cutting known as Fastpass, bothers me a lot more. When dozens are allowed to go in front just because they have a piece of paper in their hands, it is far more frustrating. Please don't bother with the "you can have one too stuff, you know that isn't always possible, so don't start!