Line etiquette

[bosox18]

With the long lines at some attractions, what is the etiquette for holding someone's place in line? Say that I make a run to Buzz Lightyear to get a Fastpass while my wife and two kids are waiting for Space Mountain. Can I rush back and get in line with them, or is that a no-no? What if I have to take my DS to the bathroom, can the other two hold our spots?

 

[bicker]

Parties should enter the queue together, and stay together. The only exception would be if a child needs to use the rest room, it would be appropriate for one adult to take the child and the return to the queue to rejoin the rest of the family.

 

[IMDORY]

I agree with bosox18. On our last trip-this was the worst part of our trip. It is so annoying to me that my family entered the line together while 1/2 of the other people somehow felt that if they sent one family member to "hold their place" it would be okay to cut in front of everyone else! For example: I'm talking a 50 minute wait for Big Thunder Mtn. and a family of 8 shows up just before we go down the final ramp as one person held their spot because the rest of the party was already on the ride using fastpasses and now they want to go on it again! Same thing on Peter Pan. We entered the line during the fireworks, and after the fireworks all these people jump into the line b/c one person "held" their place. I just can't believe how rude people can be! This seems to be getting worse every trip we take. I guess I can understand if there is a child who really has to go to the bathroom and a parent needs to take them...in fact, I believe the CM at the beginning of the line gives you something (card or something) to go ahead and do that.

I just tried not to get too upset and remember that I was in WDW and I wouldn't let rude people ruin my trip!

 

[Tropical_Island]

Line cutting like that is one of my pet peeves. I think it is really rude of people who think that they can go off to enjoy other attractions or collect a fastpass and then just cut infront of those who waited. I see this as being akin to leaving a blanket on a stretch of sidewalk for hours and then popping back infront of those who actually waited in the spot to see a parade, or those who cut to the front to see the fireworks when they were no where in sight. People are doing this at pools too -- back in Sept. on a trip to POR, I was surprised to see families leaving towels on chairs before heading to the bus stops to head off to the parks so when they returned in the afternoon they'd have a spot "reserved" Completely rude, in my opinion.

As someone mentioned, a child needing to use the restroom can be handled by alerting the CM that the parent/child will be right back to avoid any "cutting" issues that may arise.

I couldn't imagine how long the wait for rides would be if everyone sent one member of their party to wait in line and then all just showed up Can you imagine being in line and getting shoved back to the end when a herd of people just show up filing in front of you with their groups?

 

[hogue123]

Having a parent jump out of line to take a child to the restroom is one thing but just having one person in your party wait in line and the others come in line later and get in front of people is rude. It's very frustrating.

 

[Boncho]

Parties should enter the queue together, and stay together. The only exception would be if a child needs to use the rest room, it would be appropriate for one adult to take the child and the return to the queue to rejoin the rest of the family.

 

[Andy B]

Seeing how we all think this how is it that so many seem to think it is ok to use one to save a line space for many.

Do you say anything?

 

[bicker]

Seeing how we all think this how is it that so many seem to think it is ok to use one to save a line space for many.

Perhaps the explanation can be found here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1371748

 

[mama36]

I am new to this board and will be taking my family (DH, DD 16 mo., DD 6, DS 4) for the first time to Disney in a few months. I bought three books about Disney and kids - each book states that it is accepted practice to have one parent wait in a long line while the other parent let the other small kids get a drink, walk around a bit, etc. One book even points out five or six ride lines that are easy for the non-waiting members to re-join the group closer to the entrance. BUT it sounds like from you experienced Disney folks that this is not acceptable. Additional thoughts?

 

[bicker]

Folks writing guide books are as guilty of exhibiting improper behavior as anyone else. While taking a young child to the rest room is universally considered acceptable, other queue avoidance is not.

 

[Disneyolic]

I have literally stopped people from going any further when it became apparent that there were too many "cutters". The worst time we had was during our honeymoon when there were a lot of Brazilian tourist groups of teens. They would constantly do this. My husband and I stopped them dead in their tracks. I'm sure they didn't like it but I didn't care. I didn't like all of them cutting in front of me.

Another time this happened there were about 3 that passed us and then another group of 3 were coming up to be with "their friends". I said no and they started to argue with me. I said their friends were more than welcome to stand behind me. More dirty looks.

You get the picture. I'm not gonna take it...no I'm not gonna take it. I'm not gonna take it any more!!!!

 

[IMDORY]

I bought three books about Disney and kids - each book states that it is accepted practice to have one parent wait in a long line while the other parent let the other small kids get a drink, walk around a bit, etc. One book even points out five or six ride lines that are easy for the non-waiting members to re-join the group closer to the entrance.

Wow. I don't even know what to say. I can't believe that books are recommending this. What a sad, sad, statement about our society. Why is one person's time any more important than anothers? I mean FastPasses aren't good enough???

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I have literally stopped people from going any further when it became apparent that there were too many "cutters". The worst time we had was during our honeymoon when there were a lot of Brazilian tourist groups of teens. They would constantly do this. My husband and I stopped them dead in their tracks. I'm sure they didn't like it but I didn't care. I didn't like all of them cutting in front of me.

Another time this happened there were about 3 that passed us and then another group of 3 were coming up to be with "their friends". I said no and they started to argue with me. I said their friends were more than welcome to stand behind me. More dirty looks.

You get the picture. I'm not gonna take it...no I'm not gonna take it. I'm not gonna take it any more!!!!

I'm with you! I say something b/c it is rude and I hope (maybe I'm dreaming) but I hope that if I do say something that the offending parties will think twice the next time. I figure if you don't stand up for yourself then who will! I don't try to be rude but I do the same thing that if they want to cut I tell them the rest of their party can hold back until they catch up - otherwise you should have joined the line together.

 

[AprilLizbeth]

First off, I totally agree that it is acceptable to take a child to the restroom while the rest of the group waits in line. That being said, I cannot believe a guide book states that it is okay to have one person wait in line while the rest of the party, small children or not do other things. What is this world comming to when children dont have to learn to be patient? When I was little and we went to Disney, we waited, there was no fastpass. Sometimes we waited a loooong time. If my sisters or I threw a tantrum or were being impatient, we got out of line and didnt go on the ride. Just my personal opinion, and I dont mean to offend anyone, but we all need a little more patience...

 

[figgy4me]

I thought that I was the only one that felt this way........ People at Disney are getting worse every time I go. They somehow feel entitled. I was brought up to wait my turn and the friends or family in front need to come back to the ones in the back -- but usually it is no big deal to catch up with each other after the ride/show.

 

[mirthmaiden]

This is also one of my big pet peeves. People are just indescribably rude these days. Not only at the parks either. We cruised on Disney Magic back in 2001 and I was appalled at the constant pushing, shoving, cutting, hogging of chairs, etc. I'd stand back to wait for the elevator (because you can't see the arrows unless you stand back) and as soon as it would arrive and the doors would open, a whole heard of hogs would come rushing forward from out of nowhere and fill up the elevator before I could take two steps. This happened over and over. Ditto the people who would get up at 5:30am and go put towels and stuff on a whole block of deck chairs then go back to bed I always used to overlook it but I've become SO sick of it that I will say something now to the offender, or move their stuff.

I agree that it's OK to take a child to the restroom, and I would even go another step and say that if your whole group enters the line together and one person needs to step out to the restroom, and the other people in front and back know that the person has been there and can see them leaving and returning, I'm OK with that. But to have whole groups of people coming in late: NO!

 

[CampbellScot]

Parties should enter the queue together, and stay together. The only exception would be if a child needs to use the rest room, it would be appropriate for one adult to take the child and the return to the queue to rejoin the rest of the family.

Bicker I absolutely adore you! You are the guru of all Disney knowledge and you impart said knowledge without any sentiment or drama...just the facts. You ROCK!

 

[CampbellScot]

First off, I totally agree that it is acceptable to take a child to the restroom while the rest of the group waits in line. That being said, I cannot believe a guide book states that it is okay to have one person wait in line while the rest of the party, small children or not do other things. What is this world comming to when children dont have to learn to be patient? When I was little and we went to Disney, we waited, there was no fastpass. Sometimes we waited a loooong time. If my sisters or I threw a tantrum or were being impatient, we got out of line and didnt go on the ride. Just my personal opinion, and I dont mean to offend anyone, but we all need a little more patience...

I totally agree with you...it seems that parents want to make their kids happy at all costs...even at the expense of others. My husband and I are doing our best to teach the kids that they are not the center of the universe, their happiness or frustrations are no more or less than anyone elses. Teaching patience in children is all but extinct in today's society. It makes me sad. I always have to laugh a little when my step kids see children misbehaving in public and they'll look at me and whisper "You wouldn't allow that would you?" NOPE. I WOULD NOT. I don't like children like that. I don't think they are cute or adorable little scamps or any other cutesy name for out of control obnoxious children. I don't like their parents either!

Just my humble opinion

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I am not very quiet about things that upset me. I tell me kids all the time " we must be invisible, because those people didn't see us". I get very sick of the people who think that the world revolves around them.
If I had a dollar for everytime I tell my kids "patience is a virtue", I could plan another trip to Disney. They get very sick of hearing it. I tell them that it is not one of my strong suits, but we need to use the line waiting as a way of reaching that virtue. Everyone is in a hurry, what is everyone in a hurry for?
SLOW DOWN!!! Enjoy the moment.

 

[dolcezena]

I have literally stopped people from going any further when it became apparent that there were too many "cutters". The worst time we had was during our honeymoon when there were a lot of Brazilian tourist groups of teens. They would constantly do this. My husband and I stopped them dead in their tracks. I'm sure they didn't like it but I didn't care. I didn't like all of them cutting in front of me.

Another time this happened there were about 3 that passed us and then another group of 3 were coming up to be with "their friends". I said no and they started to argue with me. I said their friends were more than welcome to stand behind me. More dirty looks.

You get the picture. I'm not gonna take it...no I'm not gonna take it. I'm not gonna take it any more!!!!

I'm so glad that there are other people out there willing to set boundaries for people who never learned them from their parents! I was at a coffee shop last week (after getting off work late & having a VERY bad day), waiting for a cheer-me-up latte when this woman came in, stepped in front of me & started asking the girl making my coffee how she could get into the locked parkade next door! I was floored, and irritated - so I said to her "Ma'am, I'm sure your time is much more valuable than mine, but I was here first." She looked completely gobsmacked & just stepped back until the girl finished making my drink.