Is this acceptable or considered cutting in line?

[monkeybug]

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Okay, a lot of people seem to think that "1 or 2 is okay, but more than that Well, folks, let's think about this for a minute - what is the difference between a group of 20 and 20 groups of 1? Nothing. 20 people is 20 people, and if the line grows by 20 people AFTER I get into it, that can add significant time to the waiting period on some rides.

Let's use Soarin' as an example, since it always has a long stand-by line, year-round. I typically get into the Soarin' stand-by line when it's about 60-70 minutes long. On an average day, while I'm waiting for 60-70 minutes, 10-15 people walk past me in the queue. Most of them are singles - not Mom with a toddler on a potty break, but individual people pushing their way past me. Some are teens, some are adults, some are kids, but out of that 10-15, I typically see only one or two Mom-and-kid pairs who may be returning from a potty break. The record, which I counted in Dec 2007, was 21 people in a 75 minute stand-by line.

Soarin's ride vehicles A and C have a capacity of 27 each, while vehicle B has a capacity of 33. This means that if 15 people cut in line ahead of me, they fill half a ride vehicle; the record number of 21 I counted in 2007 would have filled almost an entire ride vehicle.

Ride duration is about 4 1/2 minutes, with loading taking about 5-6 minutes, so basically, if those 15 people don't push me back in the queue by an entire ride cycle, the stand-by line would be 65 minutes instead of 75. On other rides with lower capacities, 15 people can push you back multiple ride cycles, and really add up the time in line.

Maybe if all of these people were not allowed to cut in line, the stand-by lines wouldn't be as long as they are, and toddlers wouldn't have to leave the line and rejoin for potty breaks.

Really the two scenarios (1 party of 20, 20 parties of 1) are very different in my mind. I can't speak for anyone else, but the reason that I would have a problem with a group of 15 people cutting the line, has little to do with it adding to my wait time, and more to do with the level of respect that group is showing to the rest of the line. I don't think there is anything disrespectful about a mom taking a child to the restroom, or a Dad running to meet up with his family. I would give these people the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are not trying to cheat or manipulate the rules. I do think it is disrespectful for one person to hold a spot for 15 just so that they can get out of waiting in line, and would consider that "cheating". Maybe that's not fair, but that's my perspective. I guess for me it would have a lot more to do with what I felt the persons intentions were.

 

[uncleleo]

Chill. If the "Dad" gets back in line and the family is still only using one car for the ride how in the world is it cutting in line. No one behind had to wait a second longer based on the actions.

Chill. I never said anything about waiting. I said that, in either case, the actions described constitute line-cutting, regardless of the reasons or the impacts. It's up to the people in line whether to allow someone to move ahead of them.

 

[tomu570]

On the same line of reasoning -

Do you think that if Walt Disney himself were at WDW with his family, he would have them get in line for the Winnie the Pooh ride so he could sprint over to Peter Pan and get fastpasses, then move past others standing in line to rejoin his family when he got over to the Pooh ride, or would he want his family to wait until he got back before joining the Pooh line?.

Walt doesn't need a FP. He owns the place.

Lighten up.

 

[ChuckGA]

good you can take his spot on the same car as his family with crying kids because a stranger is sharing their car and daddy's not.

You know you wouldn't take the same car you'd wait for the next one anyway.

Totally false argument. If they had waited for their entire party then they would be the ones in the second car.

If your family was walking toward the Pooh ride entrance and dropped your sunglasses and while you picked them up another family got in line, would you wait until they were about to get in the next car and then jump in front saying "Welll we were really in line first but I had to pick up my glasses on the way here so we get this first car." That is what you are doing when you get in line before your entire party is ready.

Now personally I don't stop anyone and just let it go but I refuse to do it to everyone else.

 

[BayouMickey]

Totally false argument. If they had waited for their entire party then they would be the ones in the second car.

If your family was walking toward the Pooh ride entrance and dropped your sunglasses and while you picked them up another family got in line, would you wait until they were about to get in the next car and then jump in front saying "Welll we were really in line first but I had to pick up my glasses on the way here so we get this first car." That is what you are doing when you get in line before your entire party is ready.

Now personally I don't stop anyone and just let it go but I refuse to do it to everyone else.

What? sorry I think you missed the whole point. The two examples are totally different. In my example the family is in line and awaiting dad, but Mr. or Ms. "I'm not letting you by because I consider it cutting" decides to throw down justice's holy hammer. will they take dad's seat with an unknown family or will they wait till next vehicle? they'd wait. So Why not let dad catch up and take his seat that no one else is going to take?

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Now personally I don't stop anyone and just let it go but I refuse to do it to everyone else.

This is my approach to it. I'm not going to say anything to anyone who chooses to do it, but I won't do it myself as I don't feel comfortable doing it myself.

Generally, in the OP's situation, I run to Peter Pan and get the Fastpasses and wait for the family to exit Winnie the Pooh to catch up with them again. While they're enjoying the attraction, I enjoy the overall atmosphere of being in the MK. And if I don't want to miss the attraction, we wait and go as a family.

 

[monkeybug]

I wonder if the same people who have an issue with one person joining the line late, apply the same "line etiquette" in real life?
If I am at the register with a cart full of grocery's already unloaded and I realize I forgot coffee and send my husband to get it, does he then have to go to the end of the line even if the clerk is still ringing up my grocery's? You are going to have to wait behind me anyways, and adding that one item is unlikely to add much time to your wait.
Now if the clerk is done ringing my order up, then obviously he has to go to the end of the line.
I see this same logic applicable to lines for rides. If a family is all going to be in the same ride vehicle and you have to wait for the next one anyways, why do you care if the husband joins them late? It has no impact on your wait time.

 

[TheDWord]

I'd personally have no issue with someone in front of me doing that. The problem becomes when people do it en masse. It especially does affect people just entering the line, thinking the wait time is what is posted. If there are people in the line holding the place of people not in the line, the wait time will be understated, and thus people will be mislead into thinking the ride has a X minute wait when in actuality it's X+.

Again, if it's one or two people, it's no big deal, but not enforcing this will create the potential for many people to do it. How great would it be if one person in a party of 7 could wait while the other six grab a bite, sit down, go on another ride, then join the line with 3 minutes to go, then alternate each party member for other long-wait rides?

If I were a CM, I'd strictly enforce this, and noone should be allowed back in line (unless there are special circumstances where it would be acceptable, assuming permission was secured in advance, i.e. your child's bladder decided it was either go to the bathroom or deal with wet pavement). The principle here is that if it's ok for one, then it should be ok for all. If allowing one means you can allow all, what then for the party of 7 scenario described above?

 

[BayouMickey]

I wonder if the same people who have an issue with one person joining the line late, apply the same "line etiquette" in real life?
If I am at the register with a cart full of grocery's already unloaded and I realize I forgot coffee and send my husband to get it, does he then have to go to the end of the line even if the clerk is still ringing up my grocery's? You are going to have to wait behind me anyways, and adding that one item is unlikely to add much time to your wait.
Now if the clerk is done ringing my order up, then obviously he has to go to the end of the line.
I see this same logic applicable to lines for rides. If a family is all going to be in the same ride vehicle and you have to wait for the next one anyways, why do you care if the husband joins them late? It has no impact on your wait time.

I'm glad you get it Monkey..

 

[monkeybug]

I'm glad you get it Monkey..

Totally get it!

 

[BayouMickey]

Totally get it!

Just noticed 1 more day huh? Have fun! I still have a month to go...

 

[ChuckGA]

What? sorry I think you missed the whole point. The two examples are totally different. In my example the family is in line and awaiting dad, but Mr. or Ms. "I'm not letting you by because I consider it cutting" decides to throw down justice's holy hammer. will they take dad's seat with an unknown family or will they wait till next vehicle? they'd wait. So Why not let dad catch up and take his seat that no one else is going to take?

It is you who has missed the point. A part of the family getting in line before their FP runner has returned is no different than claiming that you should be able to enter the line before someone else because you were delayed and they were not. The entire party delayed or just one person delayed is the same thing. There is no sending someone or partial group ahead to reserve the remaining group's place in line.

Potty breaks while already in line is a completely different issue and nobody would care one iota about people "catching up" if they knew people were really getting back to their place in line after an emergency. It is clear from these posts that the majority of people trying to "catch up" to their party are people who were never in line in the first place and are really trying to send a "line place holder" ahead of the rest.

 

[monkeybug]

Just noticed 1 more day huh? Have fun! I still have a month to go...

Thanks! We are really excited!!! Now I'm just hoping the next 12 hours goes by quickly!!!

Just think in a month you will be there, and all of us going now will be the ones with a long wait until our next trip!!

 

[BayouMickey]

It is you who has missed the point. A part of the family getting in line before their FP runner has returned is no different than claiming that you should be able to enter the line before someone else because you were delayed and they were not. The entire party delayed or just one person delayed is the same thing. There is no sending someone or partial group ahead to reserve the remaining group's place in line.

Potty breaks while already in line is a completely different issue and nobody would care one iota about people "catching up" if they knew people were really getting back to their place in line after an emergency. It is clear from these posts that the majority of people trying to "catch up" to their party are people who were never in line in the first place and are really trying to send a "line place holder" ahead of the rest.

He doesn't get it monkey....

 

[jwp321]

Don't see it as line cutting. For the people who call it line cutting, do you also frown on people who save spots along parade routes or at shows like Fantasmic or Illuminations while one member of the family goes to get food or drinks? You know, those things that are very much proposed and suggested by the guide books and Disney Mom's Panel. I don't believe Disney frowns on it or is going to kick anyone out of the park for one member of their party getting some drinks or going to use the restroom while waiting in a line. Everyone at some point will be in this type of situation and we should all be understanding. Most people are smart enough to know the difference between intentional, rude line cutting and the need on a long hot day to use time in line to get drinks, food or go to the bathroom.

 

[monkeybug]

It is you who has missed the point. A part of the family getting in line before their FP runner has returned is no different than claiming that you should be able to enter the line before someone else because you were delayed and they were not. The entire party delayed or just one person delayed is the same thing. There is no sending someone or partial group ahead to reserve the remaining group's place in line.

Potty breaks while already in line is a completely different issue and nobody would care one iota about people "catching up" if they knew people were really getting back to their place in line after an emergency. It is clear from these posts that the majority of people trying to "catch up" to their party are people who were never in line in the first place and are really trying to send a "line place holder" ahead of the rest.

I think the difference is one is bad luck, and the other is good strategy! (not saying I would do that) I would explain more, but it's time to pick up the kid from school!

 

[HappyPeach]

I think it's fine for just one person to join up with the rest of the family. I think it's more polite that way than one person holding the place in line while 4 family members are off doing something else before joining the line.

 

[monkeybug]

He doesn't get it monkey....

nope...doesn't!

 

[cymbaldiva]

I can't honestly be the only one who always returns between the times and ditches the fastpass if the time has passed.

I am sorry ~ but things like that are what make a line estimated to be 30 minutes actually be 60 minutes.

FP are given out for specific times for a reason ~ so that there is still a reasonable wait for the standby line.

WHY is it so hard for people to follow rules? I don't get it...

Thank goodness ... I really was starting to think I was the only one. I always return between the times stated on the Fastpass and I have no idea why folks can't follow the rules.

 

[ChuckGA]

He doesn't get it monkey....

I get it just fine. You think it is perfectly acceptable for people send someone else ahead to hold their place in line and for the rest of the group to catch up when they can. If your whole argument supporting the practice is no one behind is affected anyway, why not make it really easy on dad and just have him meet you when you are about to get on the ride as he comes up the exit? No sense having him stand in line the whole time since he isn't taking up a second car anyway and no one behind is affected in the least.

The grocery line example is another red herring. If you had finished checking out and then realized you forgot something, would you think you could stay at the cash register while dad goes back for 2 minutes to pick something up and make everyone behind you wait? No. You would finish up and let the person behind you check out and then go back for the item you forgot and use the express lane. The difference in forgetting one thing is a good faith effort on your part when getting in line versus really working the system where the rest of the party shops the last 3 aisles and then expects to jump up to you with half a cart worth of groceries so they didn't have to wait in the checkout line. Clearly it is far more efficient in time if you send one of your party to get in the checkout line about 10 minutes before you are ready to checkout to hold a spot in line. Self-made fast pass!