Line etiquette

[KimKamMom]

The bottle of water was just an example. I was just wondering how people feel about one family member leaving the line while the others remain. Of course we would bring what we needed in line...but things come up and sometimes the waits are longer than expected. Still I feel that this is far more acceptable than one person holding a spot for several others too lazy to wait.

 

[PittypatBR]

I think most of what we are talking about is a matter of degree. It isn't the parents trying to take small children to the bathroom or to get a drink that are the problem, it is two people trying to hold a place for six or eight (or more). It isn't Mom sitting on the curb with the stroller waiting for the parade while Dad takes the kids to get ice cream, it is those who stake off a six foot length and hold it for an hour. (It is also those who try to push in ahead of those who have been patiently waiting.) Some people just don't seem to know or care that they are being rude, and others delight in it. And often it is the teenagers who are the worst line breakers, and I think the post about kids thinking they are "privileged" is correct. By the way, don't blame the guidebooks. As has been explained, the Unofficial Guide NEVER suggests breaking in line, and the Chuck Bubba Relay is just a specific technique to get the kids another ride on only a few slow-loading rides. And the Hail Mary Pass is just for one parent to take a child to the bathroom, etc., while the other family members stay in line. They mention other techniques for keeping the kids happy, like being prepared with games. Walt Disney World with Kids doesn't mention any line breaking techniques either. We just have to behave with courtesy and teach our children to do the same, even when they see others being rude.

 

[gatormark67]

Wow...this thread is just overflowing with Pixie Dust and the Magical spirit of Disney!

I have two kids and I see no problem with grabbing a spot for the parade and then taking a wallk with my daughter. How is that different than going to a movie and getting your seats. Then getting up to go to the concession stand and bathroom?

I also have NO problem with my family getting in line for a ride while I run and get a bottle of water. Then join them in line...this was actually suggested by the CM on the Jungle Cruise. He even called me over when I got back and opened up a spot for me to join my family in line.


***Me...stepping up onto my soap box...

Don't preach at me about my kids being self centered or rude because of the occurances I mentioned above:

They always say yes mam...no mam.
They say please and thank you without prompting.
They serve regularly in our community at the Homeless shelter, the Aids foundation, America's second Harvest Food Pantry...without any complaining!
They give a percentage of their allowance away to charities.

In fact they get in trouble for ever "demanding" their rights...and HUGE trouble if the words..."THAT'S NOT FAIR" ever cross their lips.

I have been blessed with an amazing family...so if my taking a stroll with my daughter to see the Princesses after we grab our parade spot ruins your parade experience as 40 year old adult...my apologies!

Whew...I am done and stepping off my soap box...but really, maybe you should lighten up a bit and not let the actions of others affect you quite so much.

Now I am of to pack for Disney as we leave in 6 hours!

 

[Disneyolic]

Wow...this thread is just overflowing with Pixie Dust and the Magical spirit of Disney!

I have two kids and I see no problem with grabbing a spot for the parade and then taking a wallk with my daughter. How is that different than going to a movie and getting your seats. Then getting up to go to the concession stand and bathroom?

I also have NO problem with my family getting in line for a ride while I run and get a bottle of water. Then join them in line...this was actually suggested by the CM on the Jungle Cruise. He even called me over when I got back and opened up a spot for me to join my family in line.


***Me...stepping up onto my soap box...

Don't preach at me about my kids being self centered or rude because of the occurances I mentioned above:

They always say yes mam...no mam.
They say please and thank you without prompting.
They serve regularly in our community at the Homeless shelter, the Aids foundation, America's second Harvest Food Pantry...without any complaining!
They give a percentage of their allowance away to charities.

In fact they get in trouble for ever "demanding" their rights...and HUGE trouble if the words..."THAT'S NOT FAIR" ever cross their lips.

I have been blessed with an amazing family...so if my taking a stroll with my daughter to see the Princesses after we grab our parade spot ruins your parade experience as 40 year old adult...my apologies!

Whew...I am done and stepping off my soap box...but really, maybe you should lighten up a bit and not let the actions of others affect you quite so much.

Now I am of to pack for Disney as we leave in 6 hours!

Gee...did you really read most of the posts here? The vast majority had no problem with the occasional stepping out of line to grab something or a potty run.

Most of the problems we see are the abuse when many people step out of line and join back in or the "saving places for your 10 close pals" to join you in line.

And the saving of a spot for the parade. That was addressed also as no big deal unless you were taking up a huge curbside for many people who weren't even there.

 

[gatormark67]

I read the first two or three pages and that was about all I could take...my apologies if I misinterpreted the thread.

There were several posts about how we are spoiling our kids because we don't make them wait patiently like everybody else. As well as, posts listing the only acceptable reasons and procedures for leaving a line or a spot (as if there is some law code published somewhere).

Below is one example...
**********
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?
***********

Here is another example:
************
The same ethics apply to parade routes as with attraction queues: Parties should 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.
*************


It all just seemed very negative and "un"-Disney.

It seems like much ado about nothing...

We go to Disney about 4 -5 times per year...I love living in Florida...and this has never been a problem.

 

[Kailani6]

Considerate, yes; Tolerant of queue avoidance, no. It's a consideration that would be too readily abused by miscreants if such abuse could be undertaken with impunity.QUOTE]



Whaaaaaat???

 

[mirthmaiden]

I read the first two or three pages and that was about all I could take...my apologies if I misinterpreted the thread.

There were several posts about how we are spoiling our kids because we don't make them wait patiently like everybody else. As well as, posts listing the only acceptable reasons and procedures for leaving a line or a spot (as if there is some law code published somewhere).

Below is one example...
**********
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?
***********

Here is another example:
************
The same ethics apply to parade routes as with attraction queues: Parties should 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.
*************


It all just seemed very negative and "un"-Disney.

It seems like much ado about nothing...

We go to Disney about 4 -5 times per year...I love living in Florida...and this has never been a problem.

Sorry, I have to disagree with you on this. No matter how wonderful your kids are (and I'm sure they are), where is the line drawn on this? What is the age cut-off? If my equally wonderful kids (ages 19, 17, 12, 11) want to go talk to the princesses while I wait in line, then cut in later on, is that also OK? What if every family in the line does this? I'm sure every group could come up with many good reasons to justify their leaving the line and rejoining later.

Can you imagine yourself in that line, patiently waiting your turn, yet not ever seeming to move ahead because more and more people keep coming back to join their party ahead of you? It is very frustrating for the people who are waiting. Perhaps the reason it isn't a problem for you is that YOU aren't the one standing there waiting while others are joining the line in front of you.

Being "un-Disney-like" and "negative" isn't the same as speaking out against things that are unfair.

 

[Kailani6]

I think that everyone has different opinions and just because what we believe to be the LAW doesn't mean we all have to follow.
I beleive MOST people in general are considerate of others. Yes there are those out there that are trying to do only for themselves but they are the minority. I also think that to say that people with disabilities should find out themselves how to take advantage of Disney's help for them or too bad for them is just horrible. Some people are just not as anal as me and don't know every detail possible about their Disney trip before they go. That doesn't make them a horrible person (just different from you)

THe tour books I have read do NOT advocate cutting or having groups of people saving your place in line, they simply mention certain rides that you can do the "chuck bubba relay" or similar such silly names which if done the way the book advises does not affect a single person behind you in line.
I personally would not feel comfortable doing this and haven't, but would care less if someone else did. I have however had bathroom breaks. And as other people have said you don't know what other peoples situations are.

I would NOT however let a group of people get in front of me in line. That is just me though. I'm sure others don't care either way(I wish I could be that easy going) but I would never say anything to a parent or a single person going ahead because chances are there was a reasonable situation for them to be doing so (I don't beleive there is any reason a whole group should do this)
Give people a little credit and sometimes they may surprise you!

~Farley

 

[gatormark67]

Sorry, I have to disagree with you on this. No matter how wonderful your kids are (and I'm sure they are), where is the line drawn on this? What is the age cut-off? If my equally wonderful kids (ages 19, 17, 12, 11) want to go talk to the princesses while I wait in line, then cut in later on, is that also OK? What if every family in the line does this? I'm sure every group could come up with many good reasons to justify their leaving the line and rejoining later.

Can you imagine yourself in that line, patiently waiting your turn, yet not ever seeming to move ahead because more and more people keep coming back to join their party ahead of you? It is very frustrating for the people who are waiting. Perhaps the reason it isn't a problem for you is that YOU aren't the one standing there waiting while others are joining the line in front of you.

Being "un-Disney-like" and "negative" isn't the same as speaking out against things that are unfair.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Because if your kids no matter their age, politely ask to catch up with you in line, I will gladly let them pass. Really, what difference is their joining you in line going to make in my experience. Will it add 30 seconds, 1 minute...mabe 2 minutes to my wait time? Is it really that big of a deal?
If you are with your kids at Disney and your family grabs a spot to watch the parade an hour early...I think it would be silly for the whole group to wait. Go and enjoy this magical place!

I hope you understand my tone in all of this...I'm not mad or yelling...

Also...I wasn't writing to everybody...just the negative posts.

Only four more hours and we are on our way...

 

[MyManGoofy!]

No one has mentioned this but as a former CM I saw this one A LOT with the characters. I think this one was listed in a tour guide book somewhere as well.

Families with more than one adult that would put Mom in Goofy's line. Dad would be over in Mickey's line and the children would run back and forth depending on who made it to the character first. This is line cutting as well and you cannot believe how many disputes this would cause.

You really want to know about line/line cutting etiquette? Ask a kindergartner. Every single one that I have ever asked has known, that you can't cut, you can't save a spot and if you leave the line - you lose your spot. So, I guess if you are ever feeling unsure at Disney, find a 5 year old!

 

[Andy B]

No one has mentioned this but as a former CM I saw this one A LOT with the characters. I think this one was listed in a tour guide book somewhere as well.

Families with more than one adult that would put Mom in Goofy's line. Dad would be over in Mickey's line and the children would run back and forth depending on who made it to the character first. This is line cutting as well and you cannot believe how many disputes this would cause.

You really want to know about line/line cutting etiquette? Ask a kindergartner. Every single one that I have ever asked has known, that you can't cut, you can't save a spot and if you leave the line - you lose your spot. So, I guess if you are ever feeling unsure at Disney, find a 5 year old!

I think this has got it right.

 

[bicker]

Being "un-Disney-like" and "negative" isn't the same as speaking out against things that are unfair.

No, not really. The issue is that the characterization "un-Disney-like" is sometimes used inappropriately, to refer to anything that the person using the characterization personally doesn't like. I feel that's the the case here.

The reality is that everyone would like to go off and do what they want, and then arrive when they want for the parade or to see an attraction. Unfortunately, that's not the way it works, and indeed the situation is much less flexible than a lot of us would like it to be, because so many people are so quick to abuse such flexibility. It is a shame, but the past abuse of the few means less flexibility for all of us. This underscores the importance of fighting abuse in all its forms, regardless of whether or not that abuse directly affects us, because one way or another, abuse eventually affects us all at WDW.

 

[JiminyGuyMaine]

Wow...this thread is just overflowing with Pixie Dust and the Magical spirit of Disney!

I have two kids and I see no problem with grabbing a spot for the parade and then taking a wallk with my daughter. How is that different than going to a movie and getting your seats. Then getting up to go to the concession stand and bathroom?

I'm not quite sure this comparison works.....

When you go to a movie, the theater sells a finite number of admissions to a particular showing, equal to the number of seats. So, if you've gotten your ticket, you're assured of a seat. It may not be where you want, but you WILL sit down. Therefore, saving seats there is not going to cause anyone to miss the movie.

A parade at Disney is a different animal. There are SO many people that want to experience it, there is no way everyone can have a comfy, unobstructed viewing location. That's why people get there in excess of an hour early. So, when a large portion of a particular viewing party is missing, and one person is "holding place", the other members of the party who are out enjoying the park seem to be enjoying an unfair advantage over the people who have showed up early and are willing to "park it" to secure their preferred location.

As far as lines for rides, I'm with the "moderate" posters here.....no problem if a child needs a potty break, or a drink, or a change of clothes. But large groups catching up to one or two "place holders" seems unfair to me.

Just my opinion....and in my very first post, too! Oy!

 

[radev104]

Ok. Let me first say that I hate people that cut in line at all. I go to an all girls college and I hate it when people get in front of me here. But when it comes to Disney I kind of give in a little. Like if I am in line with a lot of other families with children or if its really hot and we are standing in line with no air or fans or shade then I am fine with a parent taking their child to go to the bathroom or if one person goes to get a bottle of water. But when one person or even two people save a spot in line and then another five or six comes to get in line with them I just get mad. One time my sister and I were getting on Star Tours while our parents waited for us on a bench and there were like five teens from a big tour group (from a different country, I don't know where) and then another five went right up to them with out saying excuse me to me or my sister, they just pushed us aside and I am a small 18 year old (4'11'' and not even 90 pounds). I got mad and my sister said there is a word called excusie. As soon as she said that one of the boys in front of us turned around and gave us the dirtiest look, like you shouldn't even be talking like that to us. I just got really mad at that. As for parades and shows try to keep your family together but it is ok if someone has to go to the bathroom , get food or needs to walk around a little. Just try to make sure that only one person goesor an adult and a child, if the child needs to go to the bathroom.

 

[callmesarajane]

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