Single rider is glorious

[Wiltony]

...if a large group gets in line, and there are ligitimate single riders (like my example of say a few people from a family that want to ride EE or RNRC but the rest don't)

There's your problem, right there. The folks from the large group are legitimate. As much as you, or a few people from a family are.

 

[OppR2nist]

I only complain because I've been stuck behind large families/groups of people that ended up making the solo rider line much longer than the regular line. Just like any other "system" it can get abused. A couple of people in a family who want to ride when no one else in their group wants to, and they don't want to take up a lot of time because of it? Sure, go ahead, no issue at all. People can laugh at my post/me all they want, but it gets super annoying. I usually go on 3-4 solo trips a year (pre-covid anyway), you just start to notice stuff after a while that gets really annoying. It's like people that don't actually need the DAS pass that use it. Are they hurting anyone? No, not really, but it's an abuse of a system that's put there for a reason. I guess people don't realize how many people are actually alone in the parks though, they should try it some time.

Kind of off-topic, but you really shouldn't try to accuse people of using a DAS when they don't need it. There are many disabilities that aren't the most visible. My son, for example has some rather severe disabilities that, if you saw him, you wouldn't know there was anything going on.

 

[Wiltony]

Kind of off-topic, but you really shouldn't try to accuse people of using a DAS when they don't need it. There are many disabilities that aren't the most visible. My son, for example has some rather severe disabilities that, if you saw him, you wouldn't know there was anything going on.

Yep, you know some people are abusing it, but you can't tell who and neither can anyone else, so you just accept that. Presume the best of people and be glad they have DAS for those who really need it.

 

[BrianL]

I would like to know how many people actually go to the parks ALONE without meeting up with a group therefore making them true single riders.

I do it all the time. There are a lot of solo travellers that talk around here. It's even more common at Disneyland, where locals pop in for a little bit all the time. There are plenty, though not nearly enough to be the only ones using Single Rider lines.

 

[OppR2nist]

Yep, you know some people are abusing it, but you can't tell who and neither can anyone else, so you just accept that. Presume the best of people and be glad they have DAS for those who really need it.

And I'll admit, I have seen people take advantage of disability services. In my case, I saw a family trading off use of a wheelchair between family members at a dance party, no less. It happens, yes, but it's hardly the rule.

 

[Wiltony]

And I'll admit, I have seen people take advantage of disability services. In my case, I saw a family trading off use of a wheelchair between family members at a dance party, no less. It happens, yes, but it's hardly the rule.

Okay, so this might have been my family lol. (No, not really.) But I did go to WDW last August, and on day 2 of a 7 day trip, my 10-year-old daughter got multiple painful blisters on her feet that we weren't able to address adequately enough to let her walk the rest of the trip, so we got her a wheelchair. After a few days of not having to walk, her feet were feeling a little better, but we kept the chair to prevent them from coming back. Can someone with some half-healed blisters easily get in and out of the chair for quick dance party? Yeah. We even kicked her out a few times for a few minutes and made her walk short distances just to test out her feet and ensure she wasn't just taking advantage. We even had her stand for a bit and used the chair to let Mom sit down where there were no benches. It seems this would fit your fact-pattern of the appearance of abuse, but I honestly don't think we were abusing anything, but I'm curious what others think!

 

[shawthorne44]

Actually a large group getting in front of you in any line is annoying. Not in a "They shouldn't have done that" way, but in a "Darn, now the line will be longer than normal" way.

We were at Universal when there was a couple of large Quince. tour groups from South America. They did absolutely nothing wrong, and I'd be pleased if my DD behaved that well at the same age. But, if we saw the pile of backpacks that told us they were there, we moved on to another land. Just because they got in line in packs.

 

[Heather07438]

BUT if you actually read what I wrote previously you would understand, if a large group gets in line, and there are ligitimate single riders (like my example of say a few people from a family that want to ride EE or RNRC but the rest don't) but the main line has a ton of even numbered families or is stacked with odd numbered families that match up and a CM directing the line that doesn't pull well from single rider that line won't run well.

The bold is where this case crumbles. If we choose out any guest type over others, there will be harm to the leftover groups. If we don’t choose any select group for higher accommodation, there is no harm to distribute.

The only case I can think that could be made for invoking such a thing as ‘legit single rider’ is if it were shown that giving that group preference added value in some way to overall park operations or experience, or that the inclusion of other groups was harming experience and operations. Neither has been shown.

Instead harm can be shown when invoking legitimacy because it disproportionately makes it easier for that group while burdening the others with exclusion.

Not sure how the underlined changes anything here. Seems unrelated. However that happens isn’t going to be different depending on who is choosing to enjoy SR under TOS. How would that change if only certain people were permitted to use SR.

 

[OppR2nist]

Okay, so this might have been my family lol. (No, not really.) But I did go to WDW last August, and on day 2 of a 7 day trip, my 10-year-old daughter got multiple painful blisters on her feet that we weren't able to address adequately enough to let her walk the rest of the trip, so we got her a wheelchair. After a few days of not having to walk, her feet were feeling a little better, but we kept the chair to prevent them from coming back. Can someone with some half-healed blisters easily get in and out of the chair for quick dance party? Yeah. We even kicked her out a few times for a few minutes and made her walk short distances just to test out her feet and ensure she wasn't just taking advantage. We even had her stand for a bit and used the chair to let Mom sit down where there were no benches. It seems this would fit your fact-pattern of the appearance of abuse, but I honestly don't think we were abusing anything, but I'm curious what others think!

That's a fair example, and maybe even a hypocritical of me. I do know people with issues that they will get accommodations for not because they need them, but because they don't want to get caught without them if they suddenly do. Perhaps a better example of this kind of abuse are those stories we all know about where someone brings their pet to the park, claiming it's a service animal, even though it's not a certified service animal, and they do not have a disability that would require one.

To your example, I'm pretty sure that family wasn't you. This was back in 2017. And in all fairness, even if that group was abusing disability services, that's the only time I've seen it since 2017, so actual occurrence of that kind of abuse is extremely low.

 

[Dug720]

I would like to know how many people actually go to the parks ALONE without meeting up with a group therefore making them true single riders.

Me.

 

[FCDub]

And I'll admit, I have seen people take advantage of disability services. In my case, I saw a family trading off use of a wheelchair between family members at a dance party, no less. It happens, yes, but it's hardly the rule.

So, an honest question: Why worry about that? What are they “taking advantage of?” People using wheelchairs don’t automatically go to the front of the line. Many of the rides are accessible for a wheelchair using the regular line. By doing what you’re describing, they are harming absolutely no one. And unless you saw them trying to do something sneaky throughout the day, making a blanket judgment based off of one isolated situation is unfair.

Again, I think some of y’all care way too much about what other people are doing.

 

[tjmw2727]

I only complain because I've been stuck behind large families/groups of people that ended up making the solo rider line much longer than the regular line. Just like any other "system" it can get abused. A couple of people in a family who want to ride when no one else in their group wants to, and they don't want to take up a lot of time because of it? Sure, go ahead, no issue at all. People can laugh at my post/me all they want, but it gets super annoying. I usually go on 3-4 solo trips a year (pre-covid anyway), you just start to notice stuff after a while that gets really annoying. It's like people that don't actually need the DAS pass that use it. Are they hurting anyone? No, not really, but it's an an abuse of a system that's put there for a reason I guess people don't realize how many people are actually alone in the parks though, they should try it some time.
[/QUOTE

How is it an abuse of a system if the intent is to fill in empty seats with any guest who is willing to ride solo?

If it truly was intended for solo travelers why would there be signage and cm announcements reminding guest that they will be separated from their party?

I don't usually get caught up on these threads but as someone who travels solo and also uses SR line with my family I had to respond. Using a line as intended and allowed is neither selfish or greedy.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I admit I only opened this thread because I couldn’t imagine how there could be 9 pages of discussion about the single rider line but…I should have known.

If it were intended for use only by solo travelers, it would be called the “solo traveler” line. But…it’s not. It’s intended for anyone who intends to ride as a single, thus the name “single rider” line.

 

[DavidNYC]

There is no debate here whatsoever. The fact that Disney warns riders in the single rider line that they will be split from the rest of their party 100% shows that the lines are intended for ANYONE who is willing to ride separate from anyone else.

Anyone claiming it's an abuse is basically saying that their trip enjoyment should be prioritized over everyone else's. You want a less wait for your ride but anyone else who wants a faster line should not get in front of you because it interferes. If the single rider is longer than the regular line - you can simply go to the regular line.

 

[AndreaDM]

LOL I just remembered about 5 years ago being at UO and in a single rider line with DD for one of the Harry Potter rides. There was a couple in front of us who could not keep their hands off each other, kissing and being gross the whole time were in line. DD and I joked about how could they possibly tear themselves apart to ride singly but they did it!

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

...if a large group gets in line, and there are ligitimate single riders...

If that makes the rest of us illegitimate single riders, I think you may have inadvertently insulted our mothers. Wouldn't be the first time someone called me a b****** though.

 

[Heather07438]

I also really really need to start taking this to heart because I really hate humans right now. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.View attachment 584224

Sorry. I really had no intention to pick on anybody, just discuss this topic as it's fascinating in a sociology type of way. It's curious to see how people decide moral conduct. With Single Rider we have the actual rules via Disney but it's always important to consider the spirit of the rules too.

 

[auntlynne]

I hope I write this the way I mean it to come out and I’ll start by saying that I don’t think greed and selfishness are bad.

That being said, I think anyone who uses single rider line is being greedy and selfish. Has anyone ever heard of someone entering a single rider line doing so to help the park with its efficiency? I certainly haven’t. It has always been done to save time waiting in line....

Yep - I see they offer a 5 minute wait in the SR line and I get excited that I get a short line - nothing to do with ride efficiency.

... but fact remains that groups in single rider push back wait times for actual single riders

That is, indeed, a fact. Everyone in front of you pushes it back.

...Maybe they could rename it Individual Rider Line so there’s less confusion.

The “If you are willing to ride without the people who came to the park with you today and want to help us fill in all available seats” line.

I have no issues with families using SR, but I have found more and more families giving the CM a hard time because they want to ride with their child or as a whole family. Personally, our family would much rather ride as a family, just a lot more fun.

Now, that is abusive.

In addition to the warning that groups will be split up (which clearly indicates that there's nothing wrong with groups waiting in the single rider line as long as they're willing to split up and be single riders), I would argue that there aren't enough "true" single riders (as I believe someone put it earlier), for the single rider line to operate at peak efficiency. There would be more seats going empty on vehicles (I'd venture a guess that it would be a LOT more)....

Wait - did we forget that they state that groups will be split up? Sort of makes the idea that only solo travelers are the intended users of the line a moot point.

I would like to know how many people actually go to the parks ALONE without meeting up with a group therefore making them true single riders.

I think you'd be surprised just how many of us there are! Pre-covid I did 3 solo trips a year. ...

I was thinking I was a rarity. Nice to know there are others out there.

I think groups going into single rider line is self regulating. Each group has to decide if they think there is any advantage in time to do so. The larger the group the less attractive the single rider line is. We are a group of 6. If it takes an average say 5 minutes to get a seat. It would take our whole group 30 minutes to get through not counting standing in line. If single riders fill an open seat on each ride then it might not take so long for the whole group to get through. So, I don't see the advantage of doing single rider line for larger groups unless you are a group of say 4 or less. Bottom line, if it works for your group go for it.

That is what I was thinking; if each person in your group is filling in, you could be standing outside the ride afterward for quite a while. You don’t get to come off the ride together, laughing at the fun you shared. And you aren’t in photos together.

Actually a large group getting in front of you in any line is annoying. Not in a "They shouldn't have done that" way, but in a "Darn, now the line will be longer than normal" way...

So true! Get out of my way - I want to ride

I was disappointed when the crowds started growing after the initial low crowds of the summer last year. I selfishly wanted less people. I admit it. But it is inconceivable for Disney to continue to operate without the masses. Now I am hoping to use SR lines when I go by myself this fall - and will try to be non-judgmental if anyone is in the line in front of me.

 

[Heather07438]

The “If you are willing to ride without the people who came to the park with you today and want to help us fill in all available seats” line.

Absolutely. That would be a big sign too! Can't miss it.

eta - oh wait a minute... we missed something

The “If you are willing to ride without the people who came to the park with you today and/or by yourself seated next to unknown persons and want to help us fill in all available seats” line.

Because someone will come along and say single riders were left out. LOL the irony haha

 

[auntlynne]

How could I - a sometimes Solo Traveler - have forgotten to include myself?!