Is the "hail-mary" pass REALLY acceptable?

[molly2004]

Hi, all! I just picked up a copy of the 2007 unofficial guide. I was flipping through it and came across the "hail-mary" pass. (For those who don't know what I mean....essentially, one adult gets in line while the other adult entertains little kids outside the queue. When the first adult is about to get on, the other adult brings the kids and boards.) The books said that people are generally understanding if you have very small children. I was just wondering....Do they really? It seems that you'll end up with more...HEY, NO CUTTING IN LINE!

What do you think?

 

[StacyPop]

I dont do it personally, but I would much rather let a parent and their small kids in front of me, than stand in line with cranky miserable kids for 45 minutes. I am not in that much of a hurry when I am on vacation-a couple people ahead of me is a great trade off for a peaceful wait in line. Then again, my kids (3 and 6) don't have a problem waiting in line-they usually entertain themselves-but not all kids like waiting!

 

[Laurajean1014]

That's cutting in line (no matter how they try to camoflaugue it). I would not recommend cutting in line. It's disrespectful.

 

[kimmikayb]

there was a long thread about this some time ago and boy did it get responses. I see nothing wrong with it and would much rather have that happen then stand in line with cranky kids and yes folks, kids do get cranky and no, sometimes it isn't always possible to go take an afternoon nap. But there are some who are very harsh with their idea of line cutting.

We never did it ourselfs but when we were at WDW in Feb., we let others do it. Especially while in line for Crush. So many interesting things around you while waiting to talk to Crush. Hard for me to stand in line, can't imagine how my 3 yo did it!

 

[Mariposa]

Okay, I'll state right off that I don't like it and DEFINITELY considerate it line cutting.

That being said, try it if you want. I'd just hope that people who plan to use this manuever are respectful if someone in line says they won't let them by. After all, it's not like they were ever in line to begin with, so I don't see why they'd be cranky about not being let up front later. (I've seen this happen- and boy does it get ugly!)

 

[Princess Mindy]

Just think how you would feel if a few adults and maybe 1 or 2 children waltzed by you to the front after you have been waiting a good long time. You would probably be pretty put out, especially if it is hot and you are a little cranky, as we all are at one time of another. The theory of this technique is noble, but we all know in actutality it provides too big of an opportunity to be abused. Small children can be entertained inside the queue pretty well too. Just plan ahead and provide some in line diversions for them to pass the time.

 

[shellybaxter]

That's cutting in line (no matter how they try to camoflaugue it). I would not recommend cutting in line. It's disrespectful.

Some people would find it disrespectful for small children to be antsy in line and think it far more respectful to take them out of the que and let them run around while someone waits in line for them.

If I were a parent of a young child I would feel "darn'd if you do and darn'n if you don't"

 

[Sleeping Becca]

This is pretty touchy, although my daughter seems to have a bathroom emergency after we've been in line for 10 min, so I have let my DH hold our place while we went to the bathroom MANY times.

I don't think most people have a problem with it, as long as it is a child and parent or 2 children and parent and not a big group of people. But, I wouldn't make it a habit.

 

[goofie4goofy]

No, that does not bother me at all.

What does bother me is when one adult is on line and lets the rest of the grown up adult family in front.....that's line cutting. There should be a rule that if you are not in a diaper or need a binkie or a bottle or a stroller you should stand in line like everyone else

 

[TheZeppo]

You can spin it however you want, it's line cutting, pure and simple.

 

[madalex]

Hi, all! I just picked up a copy of the 2007 unofficial guide. I was flipping through it and came across the "hail-mary" pass. (For those who don't know what I mean....essentially, one adult gets in line while the other adult entertains little kids outside the queue. When the first adult is about to get on, the other adult brings the kids and boards.) The books said that people are generally understanding if you have very small children. I was just wondering....Do they really? It seems that you'll end up with more...HEY, NO CUTTING IN LINE!

I think the key words are "very small children." I would suggest this means age 5 (at the oldest) or less. Otherwise, it is just line cutting.

 

[Jennasis]

I really don't like when people do it. We don't do it. I haven't ever STOPPED someone from doing it though. I don't have a problem with leaving the line to take a kid on an emergency potty run and coming right back, but having dad go ahed and wait while mom entertains is just silly. Use a dang fastpass...that's what they are there for!

 

[JulielovesDisney]

It really just depends on the person who you are cutting in front of. Personally, I would be put off at first, but it is vacation, and you're still going to get on the ride. So what if you're on the next car? But I know there are other people out there who would be very angry and give you a nice talk about it. It's a risky plan.

 

[dicdover]

As a 25+ year Youth Development Professional, this topic hits a nerve with me. I am reading more and more on these boards and in books like the one you mentioned, parents stating that their kids cannot wait patiently in line, therefore they resort to tactics similar to this one you are talking about.
Children are by nature fidgety. Waiting in line or waiting your turn is a learned behavior, not one that comes naturally. Parents are not doing their kids a favor by avoiding lines or waits. Kids learn by experiencing. Waiting in line is a learning experience.
But now you have parents going out of their way to ensure their kids are never discomforted in anyway. They feel the necessity to install a DVD player in their car so the kids are not bored during the ten minute drive to the grocery store.
I recently saw that a chain of grocery stores is test marketing carts that parents can rent that have a built in DVD and video game system to entertain the kids while mom is shopping.
If children never experience the discomfort of waiting in line or waiting their turn, they will never learn patience.
I can not think of a better place than Disney for children to experience the discomfort of waiting in a line and the reward for their patience. Parents should explain to their kids "If you want to ride Dumbo you will have to wait patiently in line." The child then knows what is expected and he/she is rewarded if they wait patiently. If the child becomes too fidgety, she/he should be corrected. If they continue the inappropriate behavior, the parent should remove them from the line and explain that the reason they can not ride is because they were not able to wait patiently.
In addition children to need to learn concepts such as "fairness". Is it fair that other people have to wait in line and they don't?
Sorry for the soap box, but like I said, this issue hits a nerve with me.

 

[sistertrip]

I don't really have an opinion on whether it's "line-cutting" or not, but my first thought is that if a bunch of people are in line doing it, then the posted wait time for the ride might end up very skewed. What might look like a 30-minute wait might end up being more like 45 minutes. I would think that a lot of people would have to be using that technique to make much of a difference in wait times, though.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i personally think it's line cutting. There are many ways to entertain your kids in line, just get creative

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, let's see...
First, yes, it IS cutting. Besides, if you've ever been to Walt Disney World, you'd remember that very often it'd be very difficult to join the so-called 'place holder' as he/she approached the loading area. The lines generally snake around, and most likely the people behind the place holder who've been in line for a half hour are NOT going to be happy about his or her family joining up at the last minute. What if it's a show that holds 100 of Guests. The PH is number 96 to get into the holding area, so the family of four behind her/him will be the last group allowed in; everybody behind them will have to wait another fifteen minutes outside until that group enters the theater before they get into the (air-conditioned) pre-show room. Doors open, line starts moving... oops, here comes Dad and three kids under and over the ropes to catch up with that Mom who's number 96, just as she's getting to the door. Slam! Family of four gets to wait AGAIN...

I recently saw that a chain of grocery stores is test marketing carts that parents can rent that have a built in DVD and video game system to entertain the kids while mom is shopping.

Now, that's funny! What about, instead, installing a built-in calculator - or even a clipboard with lined paper and a writing utensil - so the child can help mom or dad figure out which product is the best deal, or how much the order total will be....

 

[domestic goddess]

I have to agree with most of the posters on this thread, if it is a parent and 1 or 2 small children I wouldn't mind and may actually appreciate it. However, on our last trip we found several times that teens and adults were trying to cut to get to others "in their group" that were way up in the line. This I find unacceptable. If it happens rarely, because of a bathroom break(my DD6 sometimes has to use the bathroom at inopportune times), then I wouldn't have a problem with it either. You would probably know that it was that because they would have been in line and then left and come back. But when it is a group of 3-4 adults or teens that are rudely shoving their way through the line, it is annoying and line cutting.

 

[Rudegrle]

As a 25+ year Youth Development Professional, this topic hits a nerve with me. I am reading more and more on these boards and in books like the one you mentioned, parents stating that their kids cannot wait patiently in line, therefore they resort to tactics similar to this one you are talking about.
Children are by nature fidgety. Waiting in line or waiting your turn is a learned behavior, not one that comes naturally. Parents are not doing their kids a favor by avoiding lines or waits. Kids learn by experiencing. Waiting in line is a learning experience.
But now you have parents going out of their way to ensure their kids are never discomforted in anyway. They feel the necessity to install a DVD player in their car so the kids are not bored during the ten minute drive to the grocery store.
I recently saw that a chain of grocery stores is test marketing carts that parents can rent that have a built in DVD and video game system to entertain the kids while mom is shopping.
If children never experience the discomfort of waiting in line or waiting their turn, they will never learn patience.
I can not think of a better place than Disney for children to experience the discomfort of waiting in a line and the reward for their patience. Parents should explain to their kids "If you want to ride Dumbo you will have to wait patiently in line." The child then knows what is expected and he/she is rewarded if they wait patiently. If the child becomes too fidgety, she/he should be corrected. If they continue the inappropriate behavior, the parent should remove them from the line and explain that the reason they can not ride is because they were not able to wait patiently.
In addition children to need to learn concepts such as "fairness". Is it fair that other people have to wait in line and they don't?
Sorry for the soap box, but like I said, this issue hits a nerve with me.

 

[Scraper]

I realy don't mind letting people in front of me to be with there family. If my FIL can't stand the whole time and wait I set with him then catch up with my DH. Standing in one place for along time realy hurts his knees he is 80.I don't see any problem with one person getting out of line to go to the bathroom while the others wait.