Line Etiquette?

[carrierael77]

Forgive me for my silly question, it has been over 20 years since my last Disney trip.

What is the etiquette for standing I line with kids? My 8 year old will be so impatient waiting. I am wondering if it is acceptable when the lines are excessive to leave one person while the other takes the kiddo for a walk, or if he needs a bathroom trip?

As you know, kids can have unpredictable bladders etc. If he has to go, he has to go. I hate to think of waiting for 45 minutes only to have to lose our spot for a potty run.

Thanks guys!

 

[nana50]

Some people will tell you no, but I think it is fine. As long as only one of you and 1 child step out of line. I would think by 8 though, they could stand in line for quite awhile. Toddlers I totally get. Even if you take them to the bathroom right before you get in line you just never know. My big complaint is groups of teens pretending their parents are up at the front of the line and shoving their way forward. Or even big families who have one person stay in line then at the end 5 or 6 people show up. That is rude and not acceptable.

 

[4Mickeys]

As a general rule yes I would say they need to be in line with you. We are all in the same boat there - all kids have different tolerance levels but we chatted between ourselves and other people around us sometimes, looked around at the theming along the ride and around us, hugged, some people use games on technology (we didn't), 'eye spy' could be a good game - so much to spy!.

But I will say in relation to an emergency toilet trip - that did happen to me. The Radiator Springs Racers line was 60 minutes - we really wanted to ride at night so joined the queue - about 35 minutes in my belly really didn't feel good I persevered moving along in line but soon realised I had to go and had to go now! I left my 13 and 10 year old boys in line and my 10 yr old daughter came with me. We literally ran to the toilet and I just avoided what could have been a very embarrassing accident (result of food I had consumed in the park). Now when I initially left the line I just thought I would meet the boys when they were done. But my daughter said Mum why can't we just go back to the boys? So I said well we can try, some people might look at us angry thinking we are jumping the queue but we will give it a go. So we did we made our apologies and made it to a cast member, told her what had happened she directed us to a gate off the side to another cast member, we could see the boys almost at the front of the line, the CM asked me to describe the boys and their names - she then went and checked with the boys that we had been with them and that they knew us - she let us in the gate and we were able to ride all together

That was the only time we did that. We were there for 10 days and at no other time did we need to do it, we found that we just used a restroom on our way around (mostly all going at the same time) and it wasn't and issue.

 

[Diszona]

I personally don't have a problem with it as long as the returning people/kids aren't going to take up more space/cars than the single person would (of course it depends on the ride). If there are 3 people and 1 is in line and the other 2 join them, they aren't really delaying anything since they would all be together in the ride vehicle (again, depending on the ride). I know it bothers others but as long as it doesn't cost me anything I don't have a problem with people making the best use of their time. Now if one person is in line and 8 people come to join them, to me that is a little different.

 

[tarheelalum]

Most people do not care if a person takes a child to the bathroom or whatever the kid needs.

People get angry, vocal and aggressive when one person stands in line and saves spots for 10 lazy adults.

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

We had a couple times on our trip that an adult and child would walk through the queue to another adult and/or child. It didn't bother me. I have 3 kids and know that sometimes you do what ya gotta do.

We did have some teenagers push their way through for a ride and a cm escorted them from the ride.

 

[3Gsandme]

Exiting the line for a bathroom emergency should be okay.

Not standing in line because your kid "doesn't want to" isn't okay. She has to wait like everyone else.

If she's disabled and her disability prevents her from being able to wait in line, you can apply for a DAS which will allow her to wait outside the line.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Emergency bathroom trips happen, be nice upon return & hope you don't run into someone having a really bad day as you try to get back to your party. As for "go for a walk", no. All kids at DL are antsy waiting & they are still expected to wait in line unless there are unique circumstances (ie special needs). (You can always try to bring something with you to entertain your child in line, maybe try playing the hidden Mickey game.)

 

[D1sneyfam1ly]

Most people do not care if a person takes a child to the bathroom or whatever the kid needs.

People get angry, vocal and aggressive when one person stands in line and saves spots for 10 lazy adults.

I agree, going to the bathroom for an emergency is fine. But going ahead to get in line while others do something not bathroom related and then letting the rest of the party come join bothers me. Not that anyone is thinking this, but we all pay the same amount to get in. No one's time is worth more than anyone else's in the happiest place on earth.

Really I think the bigger issue is helping our kids to understand personal space in line. There is nothing like seeing your kids touch someone else's behind because you forgot to (for the 15th time) review the topic of respecting another person's "personal bubble" before getting in line.

 

[RobertaMomof2]

I agree with what everyone else said, bathroom is fine. It happens to us all.

I have a very active 7 year old and understand your worry. What I find helps with us is to make longer lines snack time. Have a variety of snacks with you he can eat while waiting and of course water. We talk about what ride to ride next and or shows to watch. I also made a "busy book" for him (and my daughter) while in line that has crosswords, Would you Rather(s), Mad Libs that sorta stuff for the REALLY long lines (more than 30 minutes). All this put together and we didn't have one issue while we waited. Hope this helps you , feel free to ask questions if you have them.

 

[sharona]

Try playing "Heads Up" on your phones to pass the time. It's easy enough for an 8 year old, fun and not too annoying to others.

 

[corinne76]

We had a couple times on our trip that an adult and child would walk through the queue to another adult and/or child. It didn't bother me. I have 3 kids and know that sometimes you do what ya gotta do.

We did have some teenagers push their way through for a ride and a cm escorted them from the ride.

We've experienced an adult and child walking through the line, both out and in, and it's never bothered me. I have 2 young kids, I get it.

What did bother me a little, though not enough to give it a second thought, was in line for Peter Pan, a large group of adults, maybe 6 or so of them, pushed their way through to join their friends that they spotted already in line. I had a brief "***?" moment but didn't let it ruin anything for me

 

[YukonMommy]

I agree, going to the bathroom for an emergency is fine. But going ahead to get in line while others do something not bathroom related and then letting the rest of the party come join bothers me. Not that anyone is thinking this, but we all pay the same amount to get in. No one's time is worth more than anyone else's in the happiest place on earth.

This post says it perfectly!!!

There are tonnes of things to do while waiting in line (having a conversation with my family ranks #1 for me, I spy, we play trivia for tic tacs, etc)
Also learning patience is a great life skill.

Have a magical time!

 

[Geemo]

Forgive me for my silly question, it has been over 20 years since my last Disney trip.

What is the etiquette for standing I line with kids? My 8 year old will be so impatient waiting. I am wondering if it is acceptable when the lines are excessive to leave one person while the other takes the kiddo for a walk, or if he needs a bathroom trip?

As you know, kids can have unpredictable bladders etc. If he has to go, he has to go. I hate to think of waiting for 45 minutes only to have to lose our spot for a potty run.

Thanks guys!

Basic politeness, courtesy, manners, etiquette whatever you like to call it is important for children to learn.
If there isn't a disability, children need to be in line with you for the attractions. Bathroom emergencies while in line, aren't a problem.

However, having one person in line to hold your spot because of an impatient child, is impolite to everyone else.

If you know now your "8 year old will be so impatient waiting" then start now letting him know what will be expected of them during the Disney trip.

As others have said there are many things you can take along to entertain him while in line. We saw this on our trip earlier this month.

Here are a few things we do to try and avoid long lines in the parks.
Start at rope drop each day.
Pick a slower time of the year to go. I avoid the summer peak season because I'm TO IMPATIENT to stand in the lines.
Go Sunday through Thursday to avoid the weekend crowds. Sunday we generally focus on entertainment.

Enjoy your trip.

Geemo

 

[carrierael77]

Thanks all. Sounds like we are all on the same page. I would never send hubs to get in line, then show up later. We would all be in line of course, but if we have to dash out for a potty break I wasn't sure if there was a specific Disney policy.

And it is just the 3 of us.

I totally get what you guys are saying about large groups of teenager. I myself would be quite vocal about that. I was more worried about these lines that are like an hour. That can be overwhelming wait for a kid, and bathroom trips totally happen.



Thanks for your input.

 

[Carolynleanne]

I think it's best to be as prepared as possible in line (snacks, some form of entertainment, etc) I have a 3.5 and 1.5 year old so I TOTALLY get it's tricky. They can usually handle a 20 minute line, but if it's longer then that we just skip it. That being said, bathroom breaks are different. Sometimes we all just gotta go and I would never be annoyed at someone for that!!

 

[DisneyDreamer1229]

Bathrooms breaks are acceptable in my opinion, the lines can get long and everyone has a different "gotta go now" threshold. I would just be polite on your way out, and just as polite on the way back in.

Really I think the bigger issue is helping our kids to understand personal space in line. There is nothing like seeing your kids touch someone else's behind because you forgot to (for the 15th time) review the topic of respecting another person's "personal bubble" before getting in line.

This is a big one for me. If the child is old enough to stand in line and wait, they need to be told how to do it correctly. An accidental bump happens now and then, but if I'm in line for 30 minutes and the same kid bumps into me multiple times, I won't say anything but i'll be mentally yelling at the parent that is allowing it.

 

[Malcon10t]

Honestly, it doesn't bother me AS LONG AS YOU join at a point you can access. Example, don't push up through the line. If you can meet at a switch back, join them there. Example, I will go with my kids to get in line for Pirates. I am on an ECV. I can't go through the line with them, but I don't want to use the exit. So, they get in line, I make sure the people around them see I am there, then I go wait at the top by the Gumbo place. When they get there, I join them. But I would not wait til they were inside and I had to do the "Excuse me, I am catching up to them, excuse me, my family is up there"... If there is no easy point to join, then no.

 

[colormegreen]

Bathroom emergencies re fine, and I'm probably the only one, but if people get snacks it doesn't bother me either. However, you might get those people behind you that do mind even bathroom emergencies, but from my experience they're are for the most part understanding. I just had an experience When my son was six he had to go to the restroom as an emergency, even though we had taken him prior to getting in line. It was Indiana Jones and the line was crazy, yet the person behind me made a passive aggressive comment when my husband and son came back, so just be aware that you might get those people, too. Not everyone is understanding even of bathroom breaks. I never thought it was bad, since the cast member did allow them to get back in line with me.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if I'm repeating what's already been said.

Trips to the bathroom are fine. Having 1 person wait in line for a large family or group is not. That tends to happen a lot more than I think is appropriate. Also, if your kid "doesn't want to" wait in line, I'm of the opinion that they should not have the opportunity to ride (I use this rule with my own kids, not dictating what others have to do with theirs, but it works for us). The exception, of course, is an individual with a disability limiting their ability to wait, but if that's the case, they should have a disability pass.

I would imagine an 8 year old will do better than you think. My 4-year-old has waited in line for 40 minutes before without an issue. Bring games or a Disney trivia book. I'm thinking you'll be surprised by how patient your 8-year-old can be when there's a good reward at the end of the line. Honestly, there are very few rides that will have an hour or more wait if you take advantage of morning hours and fastpasses.