Line jumping (not sure of correct term)

[pjynx]

I remember reading in a couple of the planning books that line hopping/jumping (I'm sure this is the incorrect term) is used widely by families with younger kids. It's where one parent waits in line while the other parent entertains the kids. When the parent in line gets close to the front, the other parent and the kid(s) join them in line. Keeps the kids from getting to ansy and cranky.

Is this actually allowed? Do people behind you give you a hard time or is it widely done this way? I'm so used to going to amusement parks where behaviour like this would get you thrown out of the park.

Thanks!

 

[NotUrsula]

I'd say no. People do have a tolerance for a parent and child leaving the line for a short time, ostensibly for a potty breaks, but I suppose one might do it for antsiness too, if a child was getting out of control. I think that given a choice, most people would prefer to let a parent with one child back into line after a 10 minute time out than have to listen to a screaming fit.

The best way to circumvent line whining is to use FP as much as humanly possible.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

Are you maybe talking about a "baby swap"?

I am not sure of the ins and outs of it - but I heard it was okay.

 

[SueM in MN]

Are you maybe talking about a "baby swap"?

I am not sure of the ins and outs of it - but I heard it was okay.

Baby swap is where you wait in line, but when you get to the boarding point, one parent gets on the ride (maybe with another child) while the other parent waits with the other child (children). It is generally offered for rides where there is a height limit and some families may have both children who are old enough to ride and children who are too small. Baby swap is a program that WDW offers.

What the OP is referring to is advice in some of the unofficial WDW travel books that suggest ways for one parent to wait in line holding a place while the other does something else with the children.
I agree with NotUrsula. Most people understand that sometimes a child needs to leave a line for an unexpected bathroom trip or because the child is getting too antsy. Most people don't appreciate parents and children who plan to jump into line when the other parent gets to the front.

 

[pjynx]

Thanks for the advice. Like I mentioned, I'm so used to NOT doing it because of the amusement parks we've been (it's against the rules), but since a couple of the planning books (unofficial guide, etc) mentioned that people do it, I thought maybe it was common practice. I'm glad I checked first ;o) Thanks!

 

[Schmeck]

At WDW, it's not so easy to 'jump' into the line, remember. The queues are deceptively designed to look much shorter than they actually are. I don't think anyone would want to try to get past 50-100 people to meet up with someone, especially if it's been 15-20 minutes of everyone else waiting.

The only place where I've seen this work at all is at Ariel's Grotto, which has that clever water play area, and the queue around the edge. It's pretty much expected that the kids get in and out of line there, with one parent in tow.

 

[beattyfamily]

Most lines this would be quite difficult. I wouldn't try it.

 

[Marseeya]

A few days ago I read a really heated thread on this subject and it got me to wondering if maybe this was a regional thing. Where I live, if you do anything like that even with small kids, you'd get kicked out of the park and it's really frowned upon. But then I was reading that thread where a lot of people didn't think it was such a big deal. I wonder if where they live, it's more acceptable to cut in front of people.

For me, I'm glad I know about it in advance! I think if I weren't expecting it, I'd get extremely steamed to see people doing it all over the place!

 

[Jenn]

In many cases, the lines twist and turn and often go into buildings - you would never even know where your family was, let alone be able to just hop right in.

 

[HM]

I certainly seen people doing this. I would say it was not acceptable behavior though.

The worst case was... a very rude family (not a young kid in the bunch) wait until just before their other family members were 'boarding' Small World and pushed their way through the lines of the queue to catch up. Should have seen the looks those folks got. Must have been 5-6 extra folks.

I've also seen on occasion where a parent has stood in line for a while and just as s/he enters the building or actual queue, other members show up and "cut" in. Very annoying when you now have 3-5 extra people in front of you that you weren't counting on.

-HM

 

[sleepyone]

HM,

I agree with you, totally. The same thing happened to us waiting for The Great Movie Ride; a group of six pushed through and cut in front of us...there wasn't a young one in the group . My daughter said that they teach "no cutting" at school; didn't they learn that? Maybe if there was a baby in the line with a smelly diaper or crying or something that would be different...especially if you saw the family in line and only one parent & baby left line to return in a few moments.

Sleepyone

 

[Marseeya]

I certainly seen people doing this. I would say it was not acceptable behavior though.

The worst case was... a very rude family (not a young kid in the bunch) wait until just before their other family members were 'boarding' Small World and pushed their way through the lines of the queue to catch up. Should have seen the looks those folks got. Must have been 5-6 extra folks.

-HM

See, that's why I wonder if it's acceptable in other places or if they're just being inconsiderate. I worked in an amusement park years ago and cutting in line was no more acceptable than if someone were to decide to use the bushes as a restroom. It's just "not done" (said in my best proper voice). Why would so many people do it if they hadn't been taught or told that it was okay somewhere? I've only ever been to amusement parks in my general area + Busch Gardens Virginia, so I don't have a whole lot to go by.

 

[Lizzybee]

I worked at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee IL when I was in college and since I live close have had season passes many years and the policy there is if you leave the line for ANY reason you go back to the end of the line and if you "line jump" you can be "ejected" from the park. Signs are everywhere saying so. At Disney, I saw people take a child to the bathroom and get back in their place in line and it was just fine. I think in either case, I'd draw the line at rude grown ups or older kids/teens who are "catching up" with their group. At Great America I have even been known to block them and when they say excuse me I have said "nope, the line is back there!"

 

[disneyjunkie]

I don't have a problem with one parent leaving the line to take a child to bathroom. However, having one parent in line while the other takes a child or children to another ride, eat a snack, or whatever would bug me.

If you allow this to happen, where do you draw the line? What age limit do you set? Is it ok to do if there are two kids in the family? What happens if there are 5,6,or 7 kids?

 

[crl]

I can tell you that just this week, we made our DD stay in lines with us and she is 21 months old. If she wanted to do the ride or attraction then we required her to stay in line. If you don't want to stand in line then avoid those attractions or use fast pass. I was raised to believe that line jumping was rude to those who actually waited.

 

[Laurabearz]

I worked at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee IL when I was in college and since I live close have had season passes many years and the policy there is if you leave the line for ANY reason you go back to the end of the line and if you "line jump" you can be "ejected" from the park. Signs are everywhere saying so. At Disney, I saw people take a child to the bathroom and get back in their place in line and it was just fine. I think in either case, I'd draw the line at rude grown ups or older kids/teens who are "catching up" with their group. At Great America I have even been known to block them and when they say excuse me I have said "nope, the line is back there!"

Lizzy..... I loved the lifegard chairs at 6 flaggs... just to bust the line jumpers. I know the ones for the Demon are still there... did they ever add some to the others???


We also tell our kids... you gotta pay to play. Lines will always be there, and momma does her best to use fast passes, but sometimes, ya gotta wait. If they dont wanna wait, we dont go on the ride.

 

[DsnyGrl]

I would say that this is definitely not allowed. I have been in line at Splash Mountain when a couple of people tried passing us in line. The guy in front of us went crazy. He was yelling and insisting that they go to the back of the line. A cast member had to intervene and the poepl were escorted to the back of the line. So I wouldn't risk it. Hope that helps.

 

[Lizzybee]

Laura, I remember the chairs, but I don't remember seeing anyone in them for years now. They could REALLY use them know.

 

[JUDSON]

i'm mostly a lurker around here, but this thread really does bring up a related subject: to what extent selfish people go thru to avoid waiting in lines. how anyone can cut lines to any degree truly amazes me. here's a few snippets from our last disney trip in August...

*we're in the fastpass line for the winnie-the-pooh ride at MK. there's a group of 12 people in front of us with 4 fastpasses between them. i'm thinking to myself you gotta be kidding. sure enough the cm asks for the fastpass and they only pony up the 4 passes. he's says he can only let 4 people thru. the group go thru this big explanation of how they did not understand how the fastpass really worked, and we're sorry, and can ya let us thru this once? the cm kindly and firmly says no. so the first 4 people go thru and as the cm is guiding them onto the ride, another 2 from the group try sneaking behind his back to get on. i can't believe what i'm seeing now; i mean what is so great about this ride in the first place that you have to dodge cm's to get on it? the cm has the ride stopped and then proceeds to rip all of them new ones; they all get thrown off the ride (not the park though).

*at the airport we are waiting in line to board the plane (swa had no pre-assigned seating), and it's one heck of a long line. the announcer announces that they will begin the pre-boarding for the elderly and handicapped. an extrememly healthy mother of 5 (with kids in tow) attempts to pre-board with them. the attendant stops them and says sorry, elderly and handicapped folks only. the mother says "ok, no problem" and returns to the BEGINNING of the general boarding line (we are). you can imagine the eyebrows that are now being raised. the attendant from swa shakes his head, chuckles out loud and tells her in firm fashion that she must go to the end of the line. i'm loving this, it's so rare you see people like this being humiliated this bad in front of 500 people.

i've endured some other situations like this, but this post is getting too long as it is. i can only speculate as to why they do it, but i believe they think that they are taking advanatage of 'the system' and are therefore somehow getting more for their park-ticket-dollar. and the scary part is they do not think they are doing anything wrong. indeed, they are triumphant about it.

 

[Kanga1]

I read about this also in one of my many guide books. There IS a term for it, but can't remember what it is. I think that the cutting in line that the book was talking about was not refering to the rides necessarily, but some of the show attractions that have "rooms" you wait in...such as the Hall of Presidents or the China movie. The book said it was quite appropriate for one parent to take the child for a break (restroom, whatever) while the other parent waits in line. They can then join up together right before the show starts. Don't know if I would actually do it...but I think that's what they're talking about.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong!