Line cutting

[buzz2400]

Ok my turn. I have visited every year with my son. When either of us had to go to the bathroom, we had to go to the end of the line. If we needed a drink we got it before we got in line. If we needed a fast pass, we both went and got fast passes before we got into the line. Everyone feels that they should get special treatment because they 1) have kids or 2) because they paid to go there. Wrong. Just because you have kids does not make you special. I hate when you go to any shopping center now and they have "special" parking for parents with small children. I will tell you now that I park there because at one time I did have a small child. I think it is riduculous. The other point, everyone at the park paid to get in so why does some people think they are more privileged that they could come and go in the line. The one thing about disney is that they make it so it is very difficult to join a party who has been in line. We just got back and almost had a fistfight. It was after the fireworks at MK. Everyone waiting to get on the tram. We get in a line. While waiting we found out that a family had decided to get into two lines and then decided to get into one. Well, my feet are killing me, I could just about stand anymore and I finally said something that maybe we should just stand back and let everyone in that line come into ours. Well the "family" (and it was big) did not like the remark but it stopped the remainder from getting into our line.

There is no excuse for line cutting whether you have to go to bathroom, get something to drink, need to sit down, etc. If one party is not ready to enter the line then the remainder of the family should find a place to sit until they could all get into the line together. And to let everyone know, my son who is very tall takes big strides when he walks, me being more short and pooh build can't keep up with him. When he gets to a line, he has to wait for me to catch up then we get into line.

 

[Tiffer]

I love your response and I would have done the same thing. I can't believe people get so bent out of shape about letting a small child go to the bathroom. If you didn't then we would be reading about you on the "Most Shocking..." thread. I mean really. Letting a parent and a small child back through after a legitimate trip out of line is not going to get you onto a ride or attraction that much faster. I guess those that would object never bothered to bring a child to an amusement park or their children were the perfect ones with a bladder the size of a watermelon.

I agree. Not only that, but you never know if someone has issues such as H-Pylori, Colitis, IBS, Bladder control, problems..etc. Some may say, well then get a wheelchair. However, most ethical people do not rent a wheelchair unless they have too, my mom is usually one who has to. Futher, frew attractiona llow special wheelchair access anymore anyway.

People with these problems have to ue the bathroom often and immediately.

Yo never know what other people are going through just b/c when YOU go this is what YOU do. not everyone is you, so saying it's ok for my child so it's ok for every child.

Not everyone is the same. Not everyone is capable of holding it.

And as far as those who decifer between getting in line and having to leave for the bathroom is ok and having one adult stand in line while the other adult takes the child to the bathroom before getting in line is not ok..I think that's a bit too picky and has the same ultimate effect on the line anyway. Further, most people behind where you where originally standing wouldn't know if you had already been in line or not, are you supposed to stop and explain to each person that you wre already in line, but your child has intestonal problems so you had to leave, go to the bathroom and come back? Or should you just carry a Dr.'s note?
That whole differentiation sound crazy to me.

And as far as the saving $ to be able to go to WDW comment, I just meant that everyone, inclduing those with medical issues, should be able to have the full Disney experience, and not have to miss rides or attractions...please don't take that out of context.

Again, one person (and their child) meeting their party is no big deal..LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE!!!

It's a happy place!

 

[carl59]

My worst line cutting expererience last year was before I even got on the flight. The woman in front of me on the SW line sat there with 15 pieces of carry-on luggage as her husband, kids, and mother wandered around the terminal. When the group was called to board guess who all magically appeared.

Last time I was on SW a family of 5 dropped their carry-on luggage in line than took off to the 4 corners of the airport. By the time they got back the luggage was gone, the family the got in line after them called the airport police. Told them at the luggage was left there unattendant. There pick them all up and told us if someone shows up for them tell them to go to the police station. As far as I know they did not make the fight.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I agree with the general premise that line-cutting is highly annoying.

But what if it's young children doing the cutting? What if, say, one parent stands in line, only to be joined later by the other parent and two little kids? Any problem with that? The UG refers to this manuever as the "Hail-Mary Pass," and seems to advocate it, at least when small children are involved. Doesn't say how small.

I'm not sure what I think about it, and thought I'd see what others think.

It's not right. If EVERYONE did that, then think of the mess. Besides, most queues don't allow for that anyway unless you really just push people out of the way.

The "Hail Mary" pass is just that, a PASS, of the small child back to a parent in line. This works on rides like "Dumbo" where you can throw the kid over to the waiting parent; it doesn't imply that the first parent jump the line too. Basically, mom gets off the ride with kid, hands kid to dad already in line, kid rides with dad.

However, even that is in poor taste, IMHO. Just wait in lines like normal people, get a FP when you can, and deal with it, is my opinion. If crowds bother people, then they need to come at different times of years (and I know someone always says, "I CAN'T!" to which I reply "Life isn't always 'fair'...").

NED

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Last time I was on SW a family of 5 dropped their carry-on luggage in line than took off to the 4 corners of the airport. By the time they got back the luggage was gone, the family the got in line after them called the airport police. Told them at the luggage was left there unattendant. There pick them all up and told us if someone shows up for them tell them to go to the police station. As far as I know they did not make the fight.

HAHAHA...I love it when "I'm special" people get the short end of the stick.

NED

 

[twinspluscade]

"The "Hail Mary" pass is just that, a PASS, of the small child back to a parent in line. This works on rides like "Dumbo" where you can throw the kid over to the waiting parent; it doesn't imply that the first parent jump the line too. Basically, mom gets off the ride with kid, hands kid to dad already in line, kid rides with dad.

Actually--the above is the "Bubba Chuck" relay.

The "Hail Mary" is when one parent waits in the line, while the other parent takes the kid(s) and takes them for drinks, potty,rest, etc. Then the kid(s) and parent join the first parent when he/she gets closer to the front of the line.

 

[mamapajama]

I don't mind when it is 1 parent & a kid, I do get upset when 1 parent stands in line and his entire extended family of 30 then joins him....this also applies to the pre-board line on Southwest Airlines. Immediate family only folks, you best friend and her family don't count. If you want to ensure seats together, fly JetBlue!

 

[mamapajama]

Ok my turn. Everyone feels that they should get special treatment because they 1) have kids or 2) because they paid to go there. Wrong. Just because you have kids does not make you special. I hate when you go to any shopping center now and they have "special" parking for parents with small children. I will tell you now that I park there because at one time I did have a small child. I think it is riduculous. The other point, everyone at the park paid to get in so why does some people think they are more privileged that they could come and go in the line. The one thing about

Man, to think I had to rough it when my kids were babies and park in whatever spot was free. Oh and the "pre-board" line on Southwest is a joke. If you have a hangnail you can get a pre-board card and apparently having oncewatched a TV show about people who have kids is enough to get you in that line too. Please make sure you make friends with everyone you pass and ask them all to join you in the pre-board line!

 

[Mariposa]

In order to get past me in line I must have seen you leave the line (unless I just got in line) and you must be no more or less than 1 adult with 1 small child. And even then I'm only letting people by because they'll throw the "but JR. had to go potty" fit if I don't. In my opinion, if you get out of line or you couldn't be bothered to get in line with whoever it is you're trying to catch up to, then it's your problem. I'm a nice lady, really, I am.. I hold myself and my family to these exact same standards. I just don't get what would make me, my family or anyone else more special than everybody else who has to stand in line the whole time. Oh well, call me the Line Nazi, I guess.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Mariposa, i agree with you!

 

[Tiffer]

In order to get past me in line I must have seen you leave the line (unless I just got in line) and you must be no more or less than 1 adult with 1 small child. And even then I'm only letting people by because they'll throw the "but JR. had to go potty" fit if I don't. In my opinion, if you get out of line or you couldn't be bothered to get in line with whoever it is you're trying to catch up to, then it's your problem. I'm a nice lady, really, I am.. I hold myself and my family to these exact same standards. I just don't get what would make me, my family or anyone else more special than everybody else who has to stand in line the whole time. Oh well, call me the Line Nazi, I guess.

Once again...some people have medical issues..and CAN'T..what about them?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Once again...some people have medical issues..and CAN'T..what about them?

Go to guest relations, get the accomodation pass, and do it right.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree to! We stopped a crew trying to catch up with a teenager on BTMR last time. The teen evidently ran fast and got in line and expected everyone to let the rest of the family thru to meet her, I think not. a lot of people did let them thru but not us, the teen was about 5 groups up and kept saying come on and we said no. now on BTMR a group of 6 additional riders can be the difference of getting on this train or not. She ended up waiting for them at the stairs where you go down. We send a runner for FP's BUT the rest of the group waits for them at the line entrance. If you want past me you had better have come past me on the way out.

 

[deekaypee]

Wow, I guess I'm in the minority here. Line-cutting really isn't much of a pet peeve of mine, not anymore. I don't do it but, then again, I generally travel by myself or with DH,and we're both healthy and have the bladders of camels. These factors pretty much takes care of the many scenarios where there seems to be a gray line for appropriate queue behavior (at least for most posters.)

I generally don't care if someone takes their kid or kids out of line, for whatever reason (I don't ask), and then returns. If your partner wants to get FP before joining you and your party, bully for you for having a system down. If children are bored and duck out of line, particularly if they are starting to whine, all the better for me. I'll trade off a few places in line for a more relaxed, pleasant time in the queue, even a thank you and good conversation with other guests.

Sure, in some of the more egregious examples--multiple people entering the queue, all of whom appeared to have indulged in some serious shopping while one person saves their non-existant spaces--I'll admit to being a bit peeved. Of course I unconsciously make subtle distinctions between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. But for the most part, I work really hard at my serenity prayer when I'm at Disney. I can't change others' behavior so I attempt to change my own. So I choose to rely on and believe in people's inherent good nature, assuming most folks who leave and get back in line do so for a good reason or those who appear to cut do so because of cultural differences. I could be wrong, but it saves my sanity and lowers my blood pressure. (Ah, the younger me was different, though. The stories I could tell.... )

But now, with this thread and its previous manifestations, I'm getting the impression that I'm wrong, horribly, horribly wrong. If I sanction others' behavior, then does that make me guilty by association? Should I be acting as an enforcer?

 

[kaytieeldr]

-I would hold your place for you if you needed to use the bathroom....

Thank you, Tiffer - that's VERY kind of you, but fair's fair.

I agree. Not only that, but you never know if someone has issues such as H-Pylori, Colitis, IBS, Bladder control, problems..etc. Some may say, well then get a wheelchair. However, most ethical people do not rent a wheelchair unless they have too,

Doesn't matter. Whenever possible, Disney queues have been designed/redesigned to handle wheelchairs.

Actually--the above is the "Bubba Chuck" relay.

Well, if ya wanna be really accurate, it's the "Chuck Bubba Relay"... although I still can't figure out if that means Chuck Bubba 'invented' it, or if you're chucking Bubba...

Wow, I guess I'm in the minority here. Line-cutting really isn't much of a pet peeve of mine, not anymore. I don't do it but, then again, I generally travel by myself or with DH,and we're both healthy and have the bladders of camels.

Braggart!

 

[kittythepoohbear]

I never considered a parent and a small child joining other members of their party already in line cutting. I also don't mind one adult, one adult w/child or an elderly/infirm person having to duck out of the line for a minute then rejoining their party. Sometimes people have a sudden bathroom emergency to attend to or perhaps a child or elderly person needs to sit for a minute. It is not like that will affect my wait time. Now obnoxious people who bully themselves in front of others already waiting in line just to save themselves a few minutes deserve a special place in hell. Those that use their children to cut in front of others deserve an audience with the devil. But if you are a parent whose child (using my own definition of child here - 13 & under - not Disney's) needs a potty break, please feel free.

 

[Mariposa]

Once again...some people have medical issues..and CAN'T..what about them?

And can't what? Not being sarcastic, I mean that as a real question, promise.

If they can't wait in line at all, then they need a guest assistance pass (I mean this kindly, honest). I really feel for people who have any issue that would prevent them from being able to do little things like stand in line- I know that sounds funny, but I grew up with a mother who spent the last couple of years of her life (and she died at 44, so she wasn't elderly) confined to a wheelchair- and had been progressively less able to get around since I was about 8. And I know that the loss of being able to do ethe PITA little things and be seen as "normal" bothered her more than most anything else---- Anyway, the only thing I hated more than watching her lose that fight was the fact that she put herself through horrendous pain trying to be "normal".. I finally told her I wouldn't take her anywhere unless she'd use the wheelchair she'd be given and I could push her. To be exact, I said, "Mom, I can kick the a$$ of anyone who looks at you funny, if that's what you want, but what I can't do is stand next to you and watch you hurt. If that's what you want, you're doing it alone from now on." (She'd been told a million times by her doc to use the wheelchair, and for years, at that.)

As for people who often have to leave to use the restroom or what have you (even due to medical reasons), they are free to join the back of the line. I know that may sound mean- but I've been there (previous medical issues with my bladder) and I never once skipped anyone else.. and who's to say there aren't ten more people in line who have similar or worse issues that are suffering the best they can through that line because they know it would be rude to leave and expect to skip back to the front? They should be disregarded? What about people with medical conditions there by themselves? They don't get to hold their place because they don't have anyone else with them? Just doesn't fly with me. Leave the line, lose your spot. The ride will still be there when you get back.

See, I sound like the Line Nazi, which sucks, man. I'm nice, I mean it. I buy other people's kids ice cream, I give out stickers and bubbles, I'll guard your stuff for you while you run into a store, neighbors trust me with their kids and pets.. Nice lady. I just won't let people past me in line. I mean, how am I going to tell my DD8 who has never skipped a soul in her life that that's just not how it should work for other people?

 

[Tiffer]

Go to guest relations, get the accomodation pass, and do it right.

They are not very easy to get and it may be embarassing to ask a stranger for a pass for your IBS!!!

 

[Tiffer]

As for people who often have to leave to use the restroom or what have you (even due to medical reasons), they are free to join the back of the line. I know that may sound mean- but I've been there (previous medical issues with my bladder) and I never once skipped anyone else.. ?

I appreciate your post. It is well mannered and intelligent. However, theoretically, they may never get to the blasted ride if the line is that long and they keep havin gto get out and then back to the end again. Or even more realistically, turn a 45 minute wait into a 3 hr wait. and EVERYONE should enjoy Disney. No one should miss out on account of something like that.

You also mentioned that 10 other people may be suffering..my answer to that is WHY? Why should anyone suffer. If one person meets their family in line ahead f me..am I suffering? No. I will get the next row or the next seat.

So why should someone else stand there and suffer, just so I don't get huffy over something that will delay me for, oh maybe...1 minute???

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Genrally, I don't let line cutting bother me too much. It's mildly annoying when say, a high school group is at WDW (all wearing obvious matching shirts) and one group of friends gets in line and twenty minutes later their friends get in line. The first group sees the second group and they say something like, "Hi! Why don't you come up with us!" That's blatent rudeness, but otherwise, I understand how difficult it can be keeping a group together at all times at WDW, like little kids. Sometimes, if you stop to tie your shoe, your group gets split up.

There have been times when one person in our group goes to park a stroller, in the designated area, and the rest of us get in line. In the meantime - about twenty seconds later - a group of twenty people comes up behind us - and look at us rudely when the stroller parker tries to join our group. I'm not talking about a ten minute lag, but a VERY short span of time. I don't consider it rude when others do the same thing. As long as there is a short lag between when they got in line and when the person joins them.

It all depends though, often in that sort of case, we'll let the people between us go ahead.

What is funny though is that one time, I was in line for a ride. DH called and said he was on the way. The ride was Primeval Whirl, I can never remember the name of it so I wasn't positive DH understood where we were. You can see most of the line from outside the attraction, but not all of it. I was just past the point where I couldn't see outside of the ride clearly. - so I let several groups of people go ahead of me, and then tried to rejoin the line, back about fifteen feet so I could watch for him. (not so he could cut, just so he'd know where to wait for us) I didn't break any group up, but where I tried to get back into the line, the people gave us a really nasty look - like we had done something really wrong. But in truth we had just let some other people cut in front of us!
My point is that often the courteous thing to do when part of your group is ahead in line, and part at the back of the line is to let people go ahead of you, but it doesn't always work out that people are nice about it.