Line Etiquette

[maxiesmom]

Is it considered rude to hold a place in line for others? And isn't it difficult to catch up to someone who may be holding a place in line for you?

If in "holding a place in line for others" you mean adults, then yes, it is rude. Everyone who wants to experience a ride/attraction needs to be in line to begin with. I understand emergency potty breaks, but that is different. At least if you are in line and leave and come back you are not impacting the wait time for those behind you. But if there are 2 of you in line and all of a sudden 4 other people join you, then that will have a negative impact on those who were waiting in line behind you.

And sorry, but I would frown on those who kept their child out of line only to try and join at the last minute. I do not know any child who likes to wait in line, but it would be total chaos if none of them did. If you child is at a point that waiting in line is impossible, then they are most likely exhausted or hungry and should not be at the park. I understand a child being antsy in line and hopping around. I would not be so understanding if there was 1 adult and 1 child in front of me, only to have them joined by others who felt they were above waiting in line.

 

[ZoZo]

I consider it rude unless something unavoidable comes up---a child discovering he has need of an emergency potty stop while in line, etc. If other people can wait in line, then presumably your family members and friends can do so as well. If you want someone to hold your spot in line while you do something else, well, that's what FASTPASS is for.

That said, I'm pretty tolerant of one parent with a very young child or two, etc. I'm not at all tolerant of older kids, or for that matter adults, who just as easily could have joined the line with the rest of their party.

I also take a rather dim view of the chuck bubba relay, etc. But, I'm sort of a grump.

First, thank you to the OP for asking the question, rather than assuming it's okay to line-jump. That's one of the beauties of this chat board - you can ask questions like this and get people's opinions about what's okay.

I agree with the poster above - maybe I'm a grump, too! I like the definition of FP - I think WDW calls it something like "holding your place in line while you do something else." My time is just as valuable as other people's, and the whole "have one person wait in line while the others in the group do something else, only to swoop in at the last minute" thing is irritating.

This is a fiercely debated topic -- I think it's only polite to wait in line with your group, barring an emergency potty stop.

 

[Twende]

While waiting in line, one hot day, a small child in line near us had a melt down. We had all in been line for about 15 minutes. One parent calmly took the child and left the line. I think we all breathed a sigh of relief not just for those of us near but the poor little one too. This is suppose to be enjoyable for everyone!

She and the child came back in about 10 minutes and joined us all again. She had taken the child to an area that was in view of all of us and yet a place where this little one could chill out and run around without bumping into others in line or crying.

I think it was a perfectly acceptable thing to do. I would have never told her and her family that they had to go the back of the line! She was simply being polite!

 

[Markstudy]

Out of curiosity how do you decline letting someone go in front of you? I have yet to encounter this problem and I just would like to know how you handle the situation.

1st, you have to see them coming. If a line is wide like Soaring..sometimes they will try to use speed to cut past you before you know their coming.

I had 2 teens do this to me... all I could do was warn people in front of me..."LINE CUTTERS ARE COMING!" I yelled very loudly and some guys in front of me stopped them cold.

In a narrow line when someone ask me to pass-by.... I said "no" ( I didn't see a little child
in-need of a potty break....I saw 2 adults that wanted to join 2 other adults that got there 1st and called them on a cell phone). When the people said they were joining their party .... I again said "no" if you want to ride together you can ask them to move back in line, but I"m not letting you move forward of me. When they acted shocked! I told them that if they thought I was in the wrong... they need to go get a Cast Memeber and have him/her explain why I should let you past.

That pretty much shuts anyone down fast.

If more people used these simple tactics, it would help the few of us who do.

 

[Princess April]

Hey, I totally agree with what most people have postd here. We have a DD (3) and she sometimes "says" that she has to go potty when she wants to get out of line.. like at HM or Pirate's, but we tell her no, you'll have to wait. (that being said I would not allow her to stand there and scream for 45 minutes, I would excuse my entire family from the line, no one wants to hear a screaming child) She is very well potty trained and has been for quite a while now, But we take the extra procaution of putting her in "pull ups" while at the parks. I have had to take her sometimes, vary rarely, but I excuse myself w/ DD and go and come right back, if that is feesable, if not I call DH and tell him I'll meet him after the ride or he would just skip the ride and leave it and join us. Other's time is just as valuable as mine and I personally respect that. I can't stand it when a group of people try to, in my opinion, cut the line to "catch up" with their party. I have told people no as well, but having a 6'3" DH by your side tends to shut them up (lol ) Another thing that "get's my goat" is the "Permiso" people, the Brazilian tour groups, that think it's ok for 1 person to hold the line for 15 more.... I don't think so.

 

[Markstudy]

I can't stand it when a group of people try to, in my opinion, cut the line to "catch up" with their party. I have told people no as well, but having a 6'3" DH by your side tends to shut them up (lol ).

Good piont...
You don't have to be big or strong yourself.... if someone does cut you in line, speak-up, let the crowd know, and there is always someone with-in the line that will take care of the problem. A BIG MOUTH WORKS AS GOOD AS A BIG BODY

 

[mbcary]

Good piont...
You don't have to be big or strong yourself.... if someone does cut you in line, speak-up, let the crowd know, and there is always someone with-in the line that will take care of the problem. A BIG MOUTH WORKS AS GOOD AS A BIG BODY

I agree. Most people don't expect you to say anything so if you do they will definitely take it to heart. I certainly understand the emergencies though.

 

[figgy4me]

This is one thing that really gets DH going. We have noticed it happening more and more over the years. For some reason these people feel they deserve it, because one person got there and held their place in line. Parades are getting bad, too - so we don't do those much any more.

You should be aware that there are some guidebooks, internet sites that tell people how to do this, so that other members can go get fastfasses, etc.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I would consider it very rude and point it out to a cast member if at all possible. I understand leaving for a bathroom break with a kid, because regardless of how hard you plan, there are going to be cases where suddenly, they "have to go, NOW!" Other than that, everyone should wait in line together. It is not fair to those who DO wait to suddenly have people popping up in line in front of them when it is time to enter the attraction.
In addition to that, it is against Disney policy and they will ask you and your party to leave the line.

 

[DVCajun]

As the mother of 2 young children, I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. My children wait in line with me 99% of the time, but there are times that they need to go to the bathroom, or they're especially grumpy, and I've taken them out of line to return at a later time closer to "go time." So when I see a parent and a child joining the line I don't give them the hairy eyeball or even think twice about it. I give them a sympathetic wink and realize this may be *their* one time that day to do that. It's more difficult to judge if you've walked a mile in another's shoes.

 

[sandym718]

I'm OK with it for "emergency" type situations - kids (or anyone really) needing to use the bathroom, etc. As many others have said - that's 1 (or 2 if a child with parent) leaving the line then rejoining the group. I can't stand 1 person holding a spot for the entire group.

It's all about consideration - yes, it would be easier for your child to not have to wait in line. But, what's the percentage of people in that line with children?? What if they all waited somewhere else, then tried to get in, mass chaos!! So, barring emergency bathroom need or a total child meltdown (it happens with young ones), everyone should wait in line.

We were there in the spring with our 2 (potty trained) and 4 year olds. We worked in bathroom breaks regularly, brought snacks and little entertaining things (mini-fans, etc) and we ALL waited in line together (or all that were going on that ride) for EVERY ride.

As with most things, consideration of others and not just yourself/your family helps everything run smoothly!!

 

[Doc Goofy]

Wow, tough crowd! I guess I'm a lot more easy-going than I realized.

 

[wen8jr]

I'll start by saying I just love Fastpass.

Just having returned I have noticed that it is not the children who are line cutters, it is adults who try to pull these sorts of stunts. I can also say that the race at rope drop to Soarin was a bit ridiculous, grown mature people pushing and shoving. Somehow I didn't expect that and we didn't wait at rope drop after that day either. I'm 34 years young and in good shape and people were running me down that were older than me, I had no choice but to try to keep up the pace or get mowed down. How ridiculous. Because while they all get in line I go the the fast past machine or wait about 30 minutes for the rush to clear out and whala I'm in like flin anyway.

I also noticed people cutting line (3 or 4 people) to "join their party". I didn't say anything but it does irritate me. It is simply not fair. However if someone needs to use the rest room or something, that isn't really the same thing...they aren't cutting line when they return.

One thing that irritated me the most the whole trip was a time when my DH had more speed than me leaving me about 3 feet behind just walking up to a simple ride (I think it was the backlot tour at MGM) and this guy acted like he wanted to shoulder me back from my DH. I got a little mad and said "let me through that is my husband". I wasn't cutting line, he pushed his way in front of me like it was some big deal to get to the stupid ride. He had no choice I just moved around him before he could say a word.

Another thing that bothers me are the 3-D shows or rides like test track where they make everyone crowd into an area after being in single lines, not only do you lose your place because people are rude and try to get in front of you but you have every one breathing down your neck and pushing once the doors open. I absolutely despise that. They should rope areas off and keep it single line.

 

[darlak]

Out of curiosity how do you decline letting someone go in front of you? I have yet to encounter this problem and I just would like to know how you handle the situation.

As they approached me, saying "excuse me", I just said "I'm sorry, but no." They then said they were joining their group ahead of me. I told them again that although I wasn't willing to let them pass me, I would be happy to let their group pass by me to behind me where they were in line. It's only happened 3 times. Twice that brief exchange was all that was needed. Once someone threatened to get a CM. I told them that I thought that was a fine idea and that I would wait right where I was while they did so. They didn't of course, but instead called their friends and whined throughout the rest of our wait time. Didn't bother me at all. I found the whole thing amusing.

 

[Cowboysfan]

 

[ncmuir]

Line cutting drives me nuts! There are emergencies where kids have to go, and NOW! But for the most part my philosophy has been if they are big enough to ride the ride, they are big enough to wait in the line.

When DH and I took my nephews (5 and 3) to Disneyland we explained any long lines, and decided as a group if we wanted to wait, and be on good behavior, or if we wanted to do something else. By giving part of the decision making to the kids they usually waited better. They knew about how long they would have to wait, and were prepared. We played "I spy" and "Twenty Questions" and planned which ride was next. It was always very hard to explain why other people were able to cut in front. We were waiting for Haunted Mansion and two teens and a parent were cutting. As they said "Excuse Me" to go past, my nephew (5) said very loudly "Don't they know to go potty before they get in line?" Watching the parent turn bright red made my day.

 

[my3disneygirls]

1st, you have to see them coming. If a line is wide like Soaring..sometimes they will try to use speed to cut past you before you know their coming.

I had 2 teens do this to me... all I could do was warn people in front of me..."LINE CUTTERS ARE COMING!" I yelled very loudly and some guys in front of me stopped them cold.

In a narrow line when someone ask me to pass-by.... I said "no" ( I didn't see a little child
in-need of a potty break....I saw 2 adults that wanted to join 2 other adults that got there 1st and called them on a cell phone). When the people said they were joining their party .... I again said "no" if you want to ride together you can ask them to move back in line, but I"m not letting you move forward of me. When they acted shocked! I told them that if they thought I was in the wrong... they need to go get a Cast Memeber and have him/her explain why I should let you past.

That pretty much shuts anyone down fast.

If more people used these simple tactics, it would help the few of us who do.

Thanks for the reply. Seems like a good way to deal with the situation. My youngest daughter started waiting patiently in Disney lines since she was a year old. My husband is always drinking soda, so he is always going to the bathroom, so he goes before a ride with a longer wait time. Emergency diaper changes and potty breaks are one thing. But saving a spot because the others in your party don't want to wait is ridiculous.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...One thing that irritated me the most the whole trip was a time when my DH had more speed than me leaving me about 3 feet behind just walking up to a simple ride (I think it was the backlot tour at MGM) ....

My husband and son also do this to me. So when I finally arrive at the line, I wave them BACK to me instead of me cutting in front of others. They have learned to wait at the line entrance for me because I'm not cutting others because they can't wait.

 

[darlak]

One thing that irritated me the most the whole trip was a time when my DH had more speed than me leaving me about 3 feet behind just walking up to a simple ride (I think it was the backlot tour at MGM) and this guy acted like he wanted to shoulder me back from my DH. I got a little mad and said "let me through that is my husband". I wasn't cutting line, he pushed his way in front of me like it was some big deal to get to the stupid ride. He had no choice I just moved around him before he could say a word.

My DH and DS/DD often arrive at a line entrance before me as well. They've learned to stand and wait on me to get there before getting in line. I'm not cutting in line to catch up with them. My family enters the line together, and if needed, we leave together.

 

[Princess April]

My DH and DS/DD often arrive at a line entrance before me as well. They've learned to stand and wait on me to get there before getting in line. I'm not cutting in line to catch up with them. My family enters the line together, and if needed, we leave together.

That's the spirit!!!! If more people were like you this would be a better world to live in!!!