Line Cutting...is this rude???

[Mike]

Geoff_M,
So using your McDonald's example, where do you want everybody to go while the food is being ordered? Do you want every family to wait in line together? So now you have 4 or 5 family members waiting in line instead of one. Now the front of the store is mobbed and the line is out the door. This simple fact - where are these people supposed to go - keeps getting overlooked. I'm sorry but what you are proposing is just not practical.

Send someone to order and the rest go sit down out of the way. Tables will quickly open for people coming out of line. This is how it works everywhere I've ever gone, be it WDW, McDonalds, or elsewhere. I have NEVER witnessed people waiting for their family member to finish ordering before they go look for a table. I am really finding this whole discussion to be quite comical.


Mike

 

[drogerstn]

Mike,
Where do you want everybody to go when they have received their food and no tables are open? Which makes more sense?
A) 3 people occupy a table while waiting for the 4th to order the food while a family of 4 stands around with food and drink in hand waiting for a table to open up (total of 5 standing creating a crowd). OR
B) Family of 4 sits at an open table after getting meal while the later arriving group stand around (1 in line) waiting for the order process to be completed (total of 4 standing creating a crowd).
dr

 

[Mike]

It obviously makes more sense the way I described it. For every one person who leaves the line with food there are probably ten more people behind them waiting. Now do the math - if everyone is a family of four that would be 30 people standing around just for that one line. Your argument only makes sense if there is only one other person in line. You act like these people who come out of line without a table are going to walk around for hours looking for one - all because of these mean people who were smart enough to get one ahead of time.

I really can't believe that I am having this discussion - especially in a thread about line cutting (my apologies to the OP)

You people need to get out in the real world and observe this process. I have yet to visit a restaurant where everybody in a party waits for their food before they all happily skip off to find a table. I have never witnessed this mass of people standing around waiting for their loved one to come out of line. What restaurants do you guys go to where this happens?

 

[pnelson]

I don't know if anyone has ever done Soap weekend at WDW or California Adventure, but everyone zealously guards their place in line. If someone jumped ahead of someone, they would be reported and asked to leave. It is cutting and it means that the people behind the person who has cutted might not get to see their soap star.

 

[dznyntnh]

With the respect the original question, yes, this is cutting. Whether or not you get away with it really depends on the people behind you.

I generally don't mind if I'm just one or two steps into the line and someone joins the people in front of me becasue we've all just got there and are getting settles into the line, but if I've been standing there a while and your family decides to join you, for whatever reason, I get very irritated. And unlike alot of people I have no problem speaking up (or raising my voice to my companions) about how rude it is for some people to break into line while the rest of us have been waiting.

 

[drogerstn]

Mike,
When did I act like people would be standing around for hours? I don't even know how to act that way.

I did the math in my previous post. "Your" way has more people standing around than "my" way; one additional person per group and a majority of the people standing around doing it your way will have food and drinks in their hands.

Back to the OP, I say it's line cutting. It would be interesting to see WDW put in a policy and enforce it the way it is done at Cedar Point.

 

[JVL1018]

Originally posted by baloo722
It is NOT line cutting...for pete's sake people, you are on vacation. lighten up. if 30 seconds is going to ruin your day, then by all means, make the parent & child go back to the line. While your at it, make sure they don't pool hop or use last year's mug. Everyone needs to relax...you take the fun out of the place.

Of course it is line cutting. If people are not waiting on a line, but then go ahead and cut in front of people to catch up with peple they know, that's line cutting. If it's not, then what is?
My husband got on line for the carousel while I was parking the stroller, a bunch of people came behind him, you know what we did? I got on line and my husband and 2 kids let everyone past them until I came upon them. I would NEVER try to walk past people on a line for any reason. It's rude. I don't like it when people do it to me and I would be annoyed.

 

[Mike]

Originally posted by drogerstn
Mike,
When did I act like people would be standing around for hours? I don't even know how to act that way.

Ohhhh Boy, I guess you got me.


Let's sum it up this way, most people understand the concept of turnover rate and realize that tables will constantly free up. They will, with clear conscience, do the smart thing and get a table ahead of time.

The logistically challenged will continue to argue your points while they are standing around in this mythical holding area where all the good little doobies hang out and wait for their food to arrive before thay even contemplate sitting at a table.

 

[JVL1018]

Originally posted by peg2001


As for potty breaks, drink breaks, etc., is mine the only family that does these things BETWEEN rides?

Peggy

I went with my almost 3 year old last year. Before we even left for WDW, I told her there would be lines. At the grocery store I pointed out that we would be waiting on line just like this, except ti may be longer. When we got to WDW she was prepared for lines, if something was WAY long, we didn't go on, got FP, came back later etc. If she can't handle it, we didn't do it.
As for the bathroom, we asked her if she needed to go and told her once we got on line,if she had to go, we had to leave the line and get on the back, period.
Kids don't need to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes. If they haven't gone for a few hours, even if they say they don't have to, have them try, THEN get on line.

 

[Geoff_M]

Geoff_M,
So using your McDonald's example, where do you want everybody to go while the food is being ordered? Do you want every family to wait in line together? So now you have 4 or 5 family members waiting in line instead of one. Now the front of the store is mobbed and the line is out the door. This simple fact - where are these people supposed to go - keeps getting overlooked. I'm sorry but what you are proposing is just not practical.

Well, from my observations, most families DO stay together in line at places like McD's. So we're not talking about a ground swell of additional people standing and waiting for the food to be ordered. There would be no mobs of people. I'd also add that it's a lot easier to stand around waiting for food then it is to stand and eat your food. As for not being practical, its done at our local Fazoli's restaurant and it seems to work well there when it's crowded, so it's not an impractical theory.

This whole issue is a lot like the practice of merging down to one lane on a highway. They start warning you a couple of miles away that, say, the left lane will end it two miles. In theory that's plenty of time for people to merge into the right lane well before you see the orange barrels. The whole thing is a "process". The normal process is 1) You see the warnings, 2) You find a gap in the right lane and move over, and 3) You enter the construction zone in the only open lane. So why do lane merges often turn into such jams? The most common answer is that some people want to do an end run around the process in the name of self-interest and create a bottle-neck at the end. You know the people I'm talking about... You're there in the proper lane moving towards the zone, and then a couple of cars come past you in the lane that's about to end. They wait until they're a few hundred feet from the blinking arrow that blocks the lane ahead of them before they slow down and turn on their turn signals. Finally, a cars slows in the correct lane, and lets the guys in. The result is that every car behind the "polite" car has to get on the brakes too. A brake light "caterpillar" results and the flow of traffic slows, which causes more people to resolve to do an end-run and just make things worse in the bargain. If people would just follow the process, things would move a whole lot quicker for everyone.

The process at McD's is 1) You wait in line, 2) Order your food, 3) Find a table and sit down, 4) Eat, and 5) Leave, and open up the table for the next group. By people jumping to Step 3 while waiting for their food, they create an artificial bottle-neck that backs the system up. Using my estimates from above, when people don't "claim" tables a McD's can turn a table 3 times an hour, but only 2 times an hour when people "squat" while they wait for food. Which is why at peak periods "claiming" tables only makes matters worse.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by Mike
Could you please explain to me what you mean by somebody taking a table out of turn? I don't get this. There is no orderly procedure for dispersing tables. The seating areas are large and spread out. If you see an empty table you grab it. There are no "turns".

There is a similar discussion going on in the "pet peeve" thread. I'll make the same point here that I made there. Where do you propose all of these people who are waiting for the person in their party who is purchasing the food stand? If every person in line has three people waiting for them, where do they stand and wait since they are not supposed to go get a table yet? You would have a crowd three times the size of the que standing around waiting.

Doesn't make much sense ......In fact it's kind of silly.

People are constantly leaving tables - your wait won't be long

Sorry for the tangent - now back to the regularly scheduled topic

I guess it doesn't bother you when you (say you are by yourself) are standing in a long food line and someone with a large group of people comes in after you and take a table first and by the time you get your food you now have to wait until a table clears out?

It does bother me.

Obviously.

Call it silly if you like.

Perhaps there wouldn't have been a table available anyway but my chances are better if a large group didn't take a table before getting their food.

I did add that I thought that it would be ok for people with mobility problems to take a table first. I would also include families with very small children as well.

I don't tend to make a big deal of it but never the less, it does bother me.

And you asked where should those people wait instead of in line?

How about off to the side until the food comes and then go searching for a table.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I think the original post is really considered cutting. They weren't IN the line and having to leave for a minute (like potty break or something)- they were having someone hold the line for them. Although I have to admit if it was just 2 people it wouldn't bother me. It would only bother me if it was a huge group having one person hold the line for them while they did other non-emergency things (like shopping, riding another ride, etc.)
It would especially not bother me if it was an elderly person, disabled person, or those with very young children. But then again- that's back to one or two (or so?) people rather than a huge group. Usually?

As for the comments about children having to go to the bathroom and plan ahead/etc- do you have children? Did they NEVER say they didn't have to go until you'd been in line a few minutes later then all the sudden they had to go RIGHT THEN? Well if not, you must have gloriously perfect children. LOL
On our last trip my son had just turned 5 and I'm so sorry but he still had a small bladder or something. He was constantly needing to go to the bathroom. Yes, we asked before every line we got into but the playhouse disney one we got in line, about 5 minutes passed and all the sudden he had to go RIGHT THEN. I left the line with him (while DH stayed with 2 other children) and took him to the bathroom and returned. It didn't change ANYTHING for the people in line behind us because of the nature of that show (wasn't a ride in other words- everyone in line got in anyway for that show LOL) and I was already in line to begin with.
I suppose it would have been different (in my opinion anyway) if I'd sent DH off to get in line while I took him to the bathroom- since in that case I never would have been in line to begin with. But the way it DID happen (described above)- if that bothers someone and makes them think my child should have been old enough to hold it- so be it. If they want to be so negative as that while on vacation.

Somehow I don't think Walt would care if I left the line for a bit to let my 5yr old go pee.

Oh I forgot! When I returned with my son- my youngest had pooped her diaper! So I took off again with one child (her) and changed her diaper and returned. We still had atleast a 30min wait even when I returned after doing that! Things happen... and she sure couldn't hold that poop. LOL
Anyway, even leaving twice from a line I was already in- for a show that everyone got in at that time anyway- didn't effect ANYONE. Would that have bothered anyone here?

 

[peachgirl]

On our last trip my son had just turned 5 and I'm so sorry but he still had a small bladder or something. He was constantly needing to go to the bathroom. Yes, we asked before every line we got into but the playhouse disney one we got in line, about 5 minutes passed and all the sudden he had to go RIGHT THEN. I left the line with him (while DH stayed with 2 other children) and took him to the bathroom and returned. It didn't change ANYTHING for the people in line behind us because of the nature of that show (wasn't a ride in other words- everyone in line got in anyway for that show LOL) and I was already in line to begin with.

If your cutting back in line didn't change anything for the people you cut in front of, then why didn't you just get in the back of the line when you returned? "Holding" someone's place in line is no different than any other form of line cutting and is just as against the rules as any other method of line cutting.

For our family, if someone wants or needs to leave a line, we either decide to meet up after the ride or we all leave the line. No matter what the reason. To do anything else would be selfish of us and show a lack of consideration for others.

I agree, it must be a pain for Jr to need to run to the potty every 5 minutes...but hey, it's your pain, not mine.

 

[baloo722]

This thread is the one of the funniest things I have ever read. When WDW can't make people relax & happy, I don't know what in the world will.

 

[Whitegloves]

Originally posted by Geoff_M
As for not being practical, its done at our local Fazoli's restaurant and it seems to work well there when it's crowded, so it's not an impractical theory.

Velvetgloves, we need your professional opinion!!!!!!
Where are you?
(She works at Fazoli's, LOL!)

 

[kilee]

As for the table thing: How many people have witnessed many spilled trays at Cosmic Rays due to the congestion in the pick up area as it is. I have a hard enough time weaving my way through that crowd with a tray, much less a crowd 3 times it's size.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by peachgirl
If your cutting back in line didn't change anything for the people you cut in front of, then why didn't you just get in the back of the line when you returned? "Holding" someone's place in line is no different than any other form of line cutting and is just as against the rules as any other method of line cutting.

For our family, if someone wants or needs to leave a line, we either decide to meet up after the ride or we all leave the line. No matter what the reason. To do anything else would be selfish of us and show a lack of consideration for others.

I agree, it must be a pain for Jr to need to run to the potty every 5 minutes...but hey, it's your pain, not mine.

Hey, we're all allowed to have our own opinions on the matter but the fact of the matter is that it's not a RIDE. And we weren't sitting up front either. In fact we didn't even get to see most of the show because of the RUDE people that allowed their children to walk through everyone sitting and stand right in front of us and some of them even tried to get on stage and interrupted the show/etc! To me it's not holding my place if I was in line and left for a valid reason (a young child that needs to go pee or a diaper change- or would you rather next time I stay in line and let you smell the dirty diaper for 30 minutes and then all through the show? I'll keep that in mind for next time. )

It WOULD be holding a place in line if I sent hubby ahead to get in line while I did something else- even if it was necessary like going to the bathroom. I'm sorry but I think it's selfish and just plain ridiculous to get upset if a mother needs to take a young child to the bathroom or change a diaper when they were already in line. It's not changing ANYTHING because I was already in line- what I mean by that is I was in line- so it's not like I cut up to get up there in the first place. I WAS THERE ALREADY. I just had to leave for a minute (and btw- it was outside... you're familiar with this attraction right? I did not have to get in anyone's way or say excuse me while I smooshed through or anything. There were ropes across with no one that far back in line yet and I crossed under those- yes, I'm short so I barely had to crouch to get under them LOL- and did the same when coming back.) NO ONE WAS PUT OUT by me doing that because I was there already. I just stepped out for a minute. It's not like I wasn't there then showed up to cut past them all the sudden.

To me those that this would bother seem to be looking for a way to get up in the line faster. Like hey, you have a child.... too bad if they need to go to the bathroom or they pooped their diaper- back to the end of the line for you so I can get a little closer to the front of the line a little sooner. It's ridiculous. If I was already there- you would have had to wait behind me and my child ANYWAY... so I'm not making you wait any longer by stepping out of line for a minute. For this to bother someone else is just ridiculous to me. Just my opinion.

And I must say again, I don't think Walt would mind either.

But I'll keep in mind that next time it's considered cutting so I'll just make everyone around me endure a child begging to go to the bathroom and a smelly poopy diaper.... or how about I get us all out of line and make everyone else endure my children when we get back in line because after waiting awhile, then having to start all over- they are sure to be a JOY for everyone while waiting even longer in line.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

If your cutting back in line didn't change anything for the people you cut in front of, then why didn't you just get in the back of the line when you returned?

Oh and this question really makes NO sense to me. If me getting back in line where I was didn't change anything for the people that were behind us to begin with- then why should I have to get in the back of the line when I returned? I don't think you understand... nothing changed for them. I was there already. I did not send hubby to save a place while I did other things. Therefore me being there, then leaving, then coming back changed NOTHING for them. Not even bothering them when I came back as I explained in the previous post.

So the fact that you would say that just cements me in my belief that you just want to gain off the fact that a child poops a diaper or needs to go to the potty. It REALLY should not bother you. I'm wondering why it would....

For our family, if someone wants or needs to leave a line, we either decide to meet up after the ride or we all leave the line. No matter what the reason. To do anything else would be selfish of us and show a lack of consideration for others.

Oh and one last thing- I'm SO SURE it would work out well for jr to get to miss the KIDDIE SHOW because he had to go potty. Perhaps I'll just tell him to pee on himself and bring extra clothes- which ofcourse would be in the stroller and since I can't leave the line- you'd get to endure the smell of pee during the show. LOL
Honestly I think it's selfish to worry about someone LEAVING a line they were already in with the one child that needs a restroom break (which was close by)- as long as they aren't smooshing by you and disturbing you while you are in line. There WERE times we left lines because we'd just gotten in them and either he had to go or the baby needed to be changed- but this one was easy to get out of without bothering anyone and the bathroom was close by. Really, what's it to others in THIS situation? Where the person was already there and left for a short time for a child to go to the bathroom and left/came back without disturbing others in line?? No really, answer that for me. Is it just the principle of the thing or are you being selfish and want to gain from the fact someone else has a child that needs to go to the bathroom?

Please also tell me how in this situation it was showing a lack of consideration for others? How did I bother them in any way???

In this case and the situation around it- it didn't bother others at all. It didn't change anything for them since I was already there and they were behind me already. I didn't bother them coming and going either. So the only reason it could POSSIBLY bother them would be if they were just looking for something to be "peeved" about. Something to gripe about (even if it's in their head).

 

[Gary M]

Mike says he never heard of a restaurant where you aren't allowed to hold tables while others pick up the food. A very popular restaurant on Poydras St., in New Orleans, named Mother's is one that has posted, no holding tables and it is enforced. It works very well. When you get in line yor swear a table will not be open, but it is, when you get your food.

 

[kilee]

As for the messy diaper lady-- I would be happy you left and changed your child. ICK-- those things can get rotten!

However, that is different (in my opinion) because she was already originally in line. I don't see how being in line for 10 minutes and then having to leave for a messy diaper and returning to right where you already were is cutting.

Never being in the line, having your spouse hold your place, then going in 10/20/30 minutes later, that seems to be cutting. You were never in line. For whatever reason (bathroom, other ride, drinks, ect). If you know you can't join the line with the rest of your party then to the end you should go.

Also, why does everyone around here take every debate so personal? If you ask a "hot topic" question, or respond to the post you should be open minded enough to know that not everyone is going to agree with you, and accept that.