Saving a spot in line ...Taboo?

[TinkerElsasMom]

I honestly don't think it's a huge deal. I'm not going to quiz somebody about it for sure. I believe in karma, if their abusing my generosity then it will come back on them. But if my daughter has to use the restroom or for some unbeknownst reason I have to leave the line for a few, I would want somebody to hold my place for me. I just dontt hink its enough to ruin my day for.

 

[Crl1817]

Here’s a story that I think puts this all in perspective. One day while we were in line at Peter Pan, a few groups ahead of us was a mother and daughter. The father and younger son were outside the queue, as the little one decided that he didn’t want to get on a “scary Pirate Ship”. After about 20 minutes of the mother and daughter zig-zagging through the line, the little boy started to cry because he had a change of heart and now wanted to join his mommy and sister on the ride. At this point, the father sheepishly and apologetically asked the people between he and his wife if he could go under/over the ropes and chains to join the rest of his party. He did not have to cut through the entire length of the line because of the way it wound back and forth. He only needed to go through two sets of chains which meant that only three or four groups would have to make way for he and his son. Now, the crowd could have said:

1. No. You and your son can get in the back of the line and ride separately, and when your wife and daughter finish the ride, they can wait 30 minutes for you at the exit. (This is an accepted solution here on the Dis.) Or,

2. No. Your wife and daughter can let 20 minutes worth of people pass them by while they remain stationary, and that way you can catch up with them. (This is another accepted solution here on the Dis.) Or,

3. Sure. No problem. We “get it”. Slide on by. (This is a "no-no" here).


Guess which one happened. Yup. #3. Pixie dust, magic and smiles abounded. But here on the Dis, this is the exact wrong solution. Now, is there a difference between a young boy who has a change of heart and someone else who was off signing up for Jedi Training? Sure. But in order for me to know and appreciate the difference, I would have to ask questions that, frankly, are none of my business. In practice, I find that people are far more accommodating than they pretend to be here. Who wants a silly confrontation to ruin a day at Disney World?

Very nice.

I will check back in at 10pm EST. I expect everyone to do their part to make this a 25 page extravaganza. Hop to.

Doing our best.

 

[Tonyz]

I personally don't think it's a big deal at all. But judging from some of the reactions here I guess I'm in the minority.

And I don't think OP was trying to start trouble... seems like a reasonable question to me.

 

[JimmyV]

I struggle to see the problem.

The problem comes from the misapplication of the adage: "No one's time is more important than anyone else's." That, of course, is a true statement. But it only applies when "time" is gained or lost. In the example above of 6 teenagers pushing past the line at TSMM, "time" was lost because that family outgrew the single vehicle that they would have ridden in. (Of course, we can debate exactly how much time was lost. 15 seconds? 30? I suppose in a vacuum, it doesn't matter.) But in many other "single family" scenarios, "time" is not lost, so protesting that someone else behaved as if their time was more valuable is rather pointless. If I am destined to board the ride at 2:08, no change in the universe will make me cringe as long as it does not keep me from my appointed time.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

The problem comes from the misapplication of the adage: "No one's time is more important than anyone else's." That, of course, is a true statement. But it only applies when "time" is gained or lost. In the example above of 6 teenagers pushing past the line at TSMM, "time" was lost because that family outgrew the single vehicle that they would have ridden in. (Of course, we can debate exactly how much time was lost. 15 seconds? 30? I suppose in a vacuum, it doesn't matter.) But in many other "single family" scenarios, "time" is not lost, so protesting that someone else behaved as if their time was more valuable is rather pointless. If I am destined to board the ride at 2:08, no change in the universe will make me cringe as long as it does not keep me from my appointed time.

But how do you know they value their time over yours? What if they only have a finite amount of time in the park and are trying to get the most out of their shortened experience. I fully agree the 6 teenager scenario would be infuriating to me and there is zero chance I would be able to resist reacting to it verbally. The group thing is absolutely taboo as a PP mentioned that can cause people to miss an entire viewing of something. But for a family of 3 or 4 I can channel my inner Frozen and "Let it go."

 

[Disneylover99]

Exactly, I don't get is the outrage if it doesn't affect your wait time at all. You're on line for Haunted Mansion a a Dad is in front of you, 5 minutes before you get on the Mom and child joins him. They are all going to be riding in the same car and you will still get the exact same car you were going to anyway.

I struggle to see the problem.

But with the OP's question, one person is waiting in line and three people are moving through the line to join. Not everyone will be in the same car, so wait times get pushed up. That's the problem.

 

[robinb]

But in many other "single family" scenarios, "time" is not lost, so protesting that someone else behaved as if their time was more valuable is rather pointless.

Why do people get into line without all of their family members except to reduce their own wait time?

 

[SpringSprite]

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, and I'm not going to ask anyone why they had to rejoin a line. I would likely only be upset if it happened over and over and OVER again. A few times in a trip I probably wouldn't even notice. I've had to leave/rejoin lines for various reasons and don't think I've ever been on the receiving end of stink eye, so I'd like to pay that forward!

 

[anonymousegirl]

I have no problem with a parent joining the line with a small child. I do have a problem with self-entitled teens (or any age selfish person) trying to jump the queue.

Most egregious- At DCA in a 40 minute queue for TSMM (no FP for this ride in California), two young adults jumped in front of me (not joining someone ahead of me--they just step in front of me by opening a chain barrier). They had beers in their hands, and when I told them they had cut in front of the line, they said no they hadn't that this was the exact spot they were in when they left to get the beer! Poster children for entitled and moronic.

I calmly step around them saying that they weren't going to cut in front of me, and that I hope everyone behind me would do the same (sad to say, no one else had the guts to confront these girls). They proceeded to bad mouth me for ten minutes or so while I was laughing and blogging on social media.

 

[minniemous]

This line cutting thing really does not happen too often to be a big problem. I am sure there are often really good reasons why a person or two need to join another family member and I never give trouble.

My issue is even with one or two like a mother and child or father and child joining a line is this..... I would love to sit down with my daughter and have some water and let my husband wait for us (he might mind) and then be able to join later. But so would most families. Imagine if everyone did that? Of course really not many do it so it does not matter. Or even tell my husband you go ahead and I will take my daughter to the bathroom and then join up. Well, if it is no big deal then just wait until you are all ready.

It is just the rare large group thing that matters to me like I described earlier.

 

[AndreaA]

Why do people get into line without all of their family members except to reduce their own wait time?

But YOUR time is usually not being affected, so who cares?

And do all of the tsk,tskers also tell everyone ahead of them in a QS or bag check line that they should use both sides, or do they just skip by all the "know-nothings" snickering if they get a stink eye from one of them? Would you help someone desperately trying to get an A&E FP at a kiosk, but bumbling along, or would you shoot to the next kiosk and nab it for yourself using tips you've learned here or elsewhere (things like refreshing multiple times, breaking up your group, etc.).

People try to maximize their time in the parks a hundred different ways, and generally speaking none of those ways is going to significantly inconvenience anyone else. I fail to see how being high and mighty about it makes one's day more magical.

Again, if we are talking about a big group or some tour trying to cut the line, that is completely different and maybe a CM should be notified. I'd really love to see a poll of how often people have even been passed in a line. Again, it has never happened to me or my family, or if it did it was such a non-event that we didn't even notice or remember it. Frankly I prefer it that way to being someone who stews about such slights months after the trip is over.

 

[sethschroeder]

Personally I don't care if this happens, but I'd be interested how those who feel it is awful feel given the recent A&E standby times of 3-4 hours? You really want to be behind a 4 year old girl and her parents for 4 hours in the summer heat, or would you prefer to be behind her Dad for 3.5 hours while her and her Mom go on rides?

How about the parents realize the 3-4 hour wait is way to long for a 4 year old and either FP+ it or skip it? Then your wait might be 2 hours and 50 mins JK I can care less as that is the EXCEPTION

Besides I think most people have discussed the whole A+E thing about saving spots and its common practice and not really frowned upon. This is more aligned with normal ride waits of 20 mins to 1 hour for a ride.

In the end I think its a no go, the main reason being that the first thing you learn at lunch in kindergarten is that you DONT CUT IN LINE.

I mean if I can remember that from when I was 5-6 years old I think its pretty simple to apply to Disney. haha

 

[Granny square]

We had cutters a couple of times last trip. I watched a young couple ale their way to the front at soarin. With no people up there.

It depends on car size whether the line time is affected. Dumbo holds 2. Number 3 comes up and it is a longer wait.

 

[SpringSprite]

And do all of the tsk,tskers also tell everyone ahead of them in a QS or bag check line that they should use both sides, or do they just skip by all the "know-nothings" snickering if they get a stink eye from one of them? Would you help someone desperately trying to get an A&E FP at a kiosk, but bumbling along, or would you shoot to the next kiosk and nab it for yourself using tips you've learned here or elsewhere (things like refreshing multiple times, breaking up your group, etc.).

People try to maximize their time in the parks a hundred different ways, and generally speaking none of those ways is going to significantly inconvenience anyone else. I fail to see how being high and mighty about it makes one's day more magical.

Again, if we are talking about a big group or some tour trying to cut the line, that is completely different and maybe a CM should be notified. I'd really love to see a poll of how often people have even been passed in a line. Again, it has never happened to me or my family, or if it did it was such a non-event that we didn't even notice or remember it. Frankly I prefer it that way to being someone who stews about such slights months after the trip is over.

That is one sharp analytical mind you've got there! v

 

[robinb]

But YOUR time is usually not being affected, so who cares?

Sometimes my wait time is affected. It depends on the attraction and the number of families who sent ahead placeholders. I have been in the standby line for TSM early in the morning and I should have just stood to one side and left open a passing lane there were so many people "catching up" with their family after grabbing a FP. There are also some queues where you are stopped in advance of the pre-show and your extra wait can be the length of of the pre-show. That happened to me at Storytime with Belle: multiple people passed me to "catch up" and the pre-show closed right in front of me.

The tsk, tsk, tsk crowd seems to be focusing more on the former rather than the topic at hand.

And do all of the tsk,tskers also tell everyone ahead of them in a QS or bag check line that they should use both sides, or do they just skip by all the "know-nothings" snickering if they get a stink eye from one of them? Would you help someone desperately trying to get an A&E FP at a kiosk, but bumbling along, or would you shoot to the next kiosk and nab it for yourself using tips you've learned here or elsewhere (things like refreshing multiple times, breaking up your group, etc.).

Why do you feel it's OK for you to call people who are politely disagreeing with you names?

 

[nkereina]

So many people sweating the small stuff. Whether it's two people going past me or six people, it will add maybe a maximum of 60 seconds to my wait time (if that). I have enough at home and work to get annoyed about, I try really hard to not get annoyed on vacation.

 

[Disneylover99]

Why do people get into line without all of their family members except to reduce their own wait time?

Yep, that would be the only reason. It seems pretty self-centered to me.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

A year ago at Soarin' my wife and I counted a total of 23 people pushing by to "join our party." None of them were parents with kids. They were all teenaged and above. While my wife didn't want me to say anything a few people ahead of did but nothing came of it. It seems easy enough to put a cast member at the end of the line and tell these people "if you didn't come out of the line, you can't go past anyone." If it is not that big a deal them they shouldn't mind waiting.

 

[JimmyV]

Why do people get into line without all of their family members except to reduce their own wait time?

It's not a zero sum game. The reduction in someone else's wait time does not automatically result to an increase in mine. I think that the gist of this discussion is that most people mind if their wait is increased, and most don't care if their wait is not increased. And, of course, there are always extenuating circumstances that everyone seems to agree are worth overlooking, like the example I posted earlier. What this all boils down to is that none of us knows everything. We are not always in possession of all the facts necessary to determine if a circumstance has arisen that should be overlooked, or if the situation will result in a longer wait time for us, or if the situation will result in no time loss at all. So we can either:

a. Accept that we don't know all the facts and make no exceptions whatsoever letting no one pass;

b. Accept that we don't know all the facts and let people slide, hoping that on balance we aren't being taken advantage of; or

c. Put people on trial and make them explain their situation to our own satisfaction before we let people pass.

In the end, I will do "b" and hope that my kindness is helping others more than my naiveté is hurting myself. Doesn't make me right. But it doesn't make me wrong either.

 

[tjevans]

So many people sweating the small stuff. Whether it's two people going past me or six people, it will add maybe a maximum of 60 seconds to my wait time (if that). I have enough at home and work to get annoyed about, I try really hard to not get annoyed on vacation.

Your right. But what if it's 200 people or 600 people?

You say that won't happen? You're probably right again. So we know it's ok for somewhere between 2 and 6 and 200 and 600 people to go past you. Just what is the cut-off? Why is one below that cut-off ok, but one above it not ok?

That's the thing about rules (and manners are simply society's imposed rules), they're either good for all people or no people, the number doesn't matter.