Line Etiquette

[GetToDumbo]

What's proper Disney line etiquette? I can categorize what I've seen in 5 categories:

1. All your part must be in line
2. A majority of your party must be in line
3. Everyone must be in line intially, but can then leave the line
4. A single member of your party must be in line
5. Jump in where you want (those passive Americans won't say a word)

1 is the most strict: if you're not in line, you're not in line. It seems rather harsh, in that if you're in line, do really need to idle away all your time? Surely you can be in line, and still go to the restroom and buy a teeshirt while you wait?

I kinda favor 2. The only problem I see with it is that family of 3, where one of parents needs to step out with the child for a diper change. That seems OK, which slides into 3 & 4.

With 4, you have the person in front of you let in 20 or so of his/her closest friends in line. Very annoying when you think you're almost to the front, and then suddenly a whole line of people got inserted in front of you! At least with 3, you knew who was in front of you, and you can set you expectations.

5 I hate, but besides letting my jaw drop and being pissed along with everyone else in line, I don't speak up. (Should I seek counselling?)

Also, on one trip we had a person in a wheel chair traveling with his 20 closest friends. For the whole trip we had this group being moved to the front of the line! I can see some allowance being made for someone with a disability, but I thought that was excessive.

Anyway, just wondering what the DisBoard concensus was on Line Etiquette.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Typically I don't have to worry much about this, as I try to spend very little time at WDW in line--15 min. tops. Thus, I don't sweat the line stuff. But otherwise, I'd have to go with either 2 or 4, depending on my mood. We were just there for 2 weeks, and I noticed very little line abuse--Brazillians and all.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I say if your not in line your not in line. I think the whole party should be there and wait just like everyone else... Now that is not to say that I would not look the other way for a young child that is "dancing" in the line and mom wants to run him/her to the restroom, by all means, you can not predict children. But that would really be my only exception. If you don't want to wait in line get a fast pass (if it is available), nothing burns me more than waiting in line for an hour only to have that infamous "excuse me, sorry, my family is up there" come pushing through.

As for your wheelchair comment. Disney policy is the person in the wheelchair and 5 guests (I believe it is 6 total, could be 6 and the guest in the wheelchair). If they were brining more than that, it is the fault of the CM not the guest. If they have a larger party, they are supposed to either have the group wait in line and the guest in the wheelchair wait until they are at the front and then be put on with them (if the attraction allows that) or they can get fastpass and return together, or they can meet up at the exit.

 

[GetToDumbo]

Disney policy is the person in the wheelchair and 5 guests (I believe it is 6 total, could be 6 and the guest in the wheelchair). If they were brining more than that, it is the fault of the CM not the guest.

Do you know if this was the policy back in 2002?

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Yup. I started working there in 1995 and that was in our training guides (minus the fastpass option which obviously came into play with the addition of fastpass), although unfortunatley it is not always enforced.

 

[CindyAnn]

I remember reading somewhere that Disney policy is that at least half the people should be in the line. So, if Dad and child #1 wait in line while Mom and child#2 duck out to the bathroom, that would be fine, in theory. I wish I could remember where I read this, though. To me, it's too much of a hassle (and too open to various interpretations) to "excuse me, excuse me, excuse me" back into place. At that point it just seems easier for everyone to leave, and re-start after the bathroom break.

 

[kaysmommie]

You should all be on line unless you have a diaper to change or have a kid that must use the restroom. Almost always we all wait on line together unless DD needed to go potty. ( she was newly potty trained last trip). It's not fair for 1 person to wait and then 10 of there closest friends come to join them later.

 

[hulagirl87]

good lord, not this thread again!!! don't get in line until you are all ready to get in line. that's my theory.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, on one trip we had a person in a wheel chair traveling with his 20 closest friends. For the whole trip we had this group being moved to the front of the line! I can see some allowance being made for someone with a disability, but I thought that was excessive.

Anyway, just wondering what the DisBoard concensus was on Line Etiquette.

This is what it says in the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities.
Auxiliary Entrance Limitations

Some attractions have auxiliary entrances for Guests with disabilities. These are intended to offer Guests in wheelchairs or with service animals a more convenient entrance to the attraction. Auxiliary entrances are not intended to bypass waiting lines. Guests with disabilities and up to five members of their party may enter through these entrances. The rest of the party should use the main entrance.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDSTapisRouge
Disney policy is the person in the wheelchair and 5 guests (I believe it is 6 total, could be 6 and the guest in the wheelchair). If they were brining more than that, it is the fault of the CM not the guest.


Do you know if this was the policy back in 2002?

Yes. We have been coming to WDW with someone in a wheelchair since 1988. It has been the policy as long as I can remember.
The big difference now compared to when we first started coming to WDW is that in 1988 m any attractions had auxiliary entrances. Wheelchair users had to use those entrances because the other entrances were not accessible.
Now, most attractions have 'Mainstream Access' lines, which means they are wheelchair accessible and people with wheelchairs/ECVs wait in line with everyone else.
AK and the Studio were built with Mainstream Access. It was added to many attractions at MK and Epcot as they renovated or attractions were renovated.
Here's a list attractions with Mainstream Access at MK and Epcot, as listed on the official WDW site (I'm not listing the attractions at the other parks since they are Mainstream):
MK
Ariel's Grotto
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Donald's Boat
Judge's Tent
Mickey's Country House
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Mike Fink Keelboats (seasonal)
Minnie's Country House
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain®
Splash Mountain®
Stitch's Great Escape!™
The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacres Farm
"The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management"
The Hall of Presidents
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Timekeeper (seasonal)
Tomorrowland® Indy Speedway
Toontown Hall of Fame
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (seasonal)

Epcot
Imagination!: All Attractions
Innoventions East
Innoventions West
Mission: SPACE
Test Track
The Living Seas: All Attractions
The Land: All Attractions
Universe of Energy: "Ellen's Energy Adventure"
Wonders of Life: All Attractions (seasonal)


WORLD SHOWCASE
China: "Reflections of China"
France: "Impressions de France"
FriendShip Boats
Norway: Maelstrom
The American Adventure: "The American Adventure"

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

My theory is that it isn't that hard to stand in line. There was no time when I was ever at WDW that anyone in my group needed to leave the line. Unless you have a baby and it needs to be changed or a SMALL child that needs to use the bathroom, stay still. Even in this case, if you need to push through people in line to get back, don't leave. If you can get back w/o bothering people, fine, but if you're going to make me squish myself against a pole, don't go, it's not that hard.