SOLOISTS: How Do You Pass Time in Lines?

[jelloarms]

For those of you who go solo, I am just curious as to how you pass the time in lines? Are you ever bored?

One person mentioned that they played games on their cell phone. Anyone do anything different?

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Essentially, anything I do in line while solo is done on my phone. I'll go on the internet... music... games... and so on.

Perhaps you can bring a small book or two with you, sudoku or something.

By the way, I have been reading your TR so I know you like sudoku!

 

[Floydian]

Great question! And my answer shocks even me! First, I do my best to avoid any lines longer than 15 minutes. One of the huge benefits of living locally is being able to leave and come back later, even if it's an hour, day, week, or month. Now in real life, I'm generally quiet and shy and very introverted. However most of the time I'm in lines at Disney, I manage to strike up conversations with those in line around me! Can you believe it? A guy who rarely talks to his own roommates, repeatedly talks to complete strangers in lines at Disney!

 

[black562]

Wait, there are lines? I'm afraid I'm mostly unfamiliar with this concept!!!

In all seriousness, the real trick isn't what to do while waiting in line, but rather avoiding the lines altogether.

 

[lovemickeyshouse]

Its simple talk to other people in line or just wait and be quite for awhile

 

[mgoblue21]

I've got a few games on my iPod Touch, i'll play those (or surf the internet if I can get wifi).

Otherwise my lines haven't been super long (last trip to DL last October wasn't bad), and being a "single rider" it helps on a lot.

For me the absolute worst was waiting for Nemo at DL (I did the early morning, but it was closed, and I'd never ridden it). Later in the day (my last day) it finally opened and the wait was 1 hour or so. Not really worth it, but I'm glad I got to check it out at least once. The people around me were families with hyper kids, so there weren't many chatting opportunities. My iPod got boring quick, so just had to suck it up and stand there.

 

[SoloFriendly]

I haven't had to wait in line long enough that I need to do anything to pass the time. I won't get in a line that's longer than 15 minutes. I have no patience for lines. When I have had to pass time before a show starts, I just take pictures around the area or go through my photos on my camera and delete anything that didn't turn out good.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I will normally start up a conversation with either the people in front of me or in back of me. Of course if I mention I work at WDW that opens up a lot of conversations.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Sometimes I'll strike up a conversation and sometimes I'll just enjoy the solitude of my own mind. Solo trips can be a great way to just think and not be distracted by pressing matters such as work.

 

[David Brent]

i'll just talk to someone near me.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

You are all so lucky, I seem to get the grumpies that aren't into talking to me.

Or they are so pre-occupied with their own group I am surprised they even know they're in line.

I have just learned to keep to myself and play on my phone. I hardly wait in line more than 15 minutes solo but sometimes I wait longer like when I want to ride in the front row at EE, which is almost every time- you can't go into single rider AND ask for front row.

I also bring my iPod with me which is HEAVEN to drown out annoying, loud whining kids.

 

[Joanna71985]

Depends on how long the line/wait is. If it's 15 minutes or less, I probably will just do nothing. However, if it's a really long wait, I'll play games on my Ipod/phone or read a book. Or if I'm feeling bold enough, I might stike up a conversation with other guests.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just got back from my first ever solo trip 2 weeks ago. Sometimes I messed with my phone but mostly I talked to other people in line.

I got a pair of grumpies behind me during the wait for BTMRR but mostly everyone was friendly and happy to chat.

 

[wdw1972]

Quite simply, I don't do lines - there's no reason to since I'm not in the parks during the most crowded hours. Any line I'm in is moving steadily onto the attraction.

If there is a short wait, I might play brickbreaker on the blackberry, occasionally chat if there's a friendly person nearby, or I'll watch people. There's a never ending supply of cute kids, shockingly hideous kids, people who look decent and people who make my jaw drop (not in admiration). Whether it's politically correct or not to say so, you see some incredibly bizarre sights at WDW

 

[princessCKL]

I people watch and usually talk to the people nearby me in line. One of my favorite things to do is if I have a child waiting nicely in line behind me to meet a character, when my turns I'll say, "You have used such nice manners, why don't you go ahead of me." The parents never turn this down, even though it is only a one person jump in line. The people behind the child don't lose anything because they would have 2 people to wait on anyway so it doesn't mater if the child and his/her family and I switch places.

If I recognize disney store T-shirts on people, I will mention that I am a Disney store greeter. Sometimes I guess kid's ages and people are amazed that I guess so well, then I tell them I have been an elementary school teacher for 29 years.

I always like just looking at my surroundings as well. I went on my first solo trip 2 years ago and it is amazing how much I never saw when traveling with my kids or spouse. I was always concentrating on them and it was cool to be able to notice the little detail.

 

[Amysita]

People watch...or I suddenly erupt into Chatty Cathy and chat it up with other line-bound peeps...which is odd because I'm usually a quiet person.

 

[tamlav]

If you are taking a digital camera I use the time to look at the pictures I've already taken. But that works best if you take a ton of photos.

 

[ANTSS2001]

to busy uploading pics to blog/FB/Friends!! That eats up all the time in line...

I will normally start up a conversation with either the people in front of me or in back of me. Of course if I mention I work at WDW that opens up a lot of conversations.

hello!!! how are you.. we have met last Sept. on a Saturday along with Vixie during the supposedly scavenger hunt and also the group who sunk the POTC ride!!! we (AngWill and KB) still laugh about it!!!

 

[nurse.darcy]

Great question! And my answer shocks even me! First, I do my best to avoid any lines longer than 15 minutes. One of the huge benefits of living locally is being able to leave and come back later, even if it's an hour, day, week, or month. Now in real life, I'm generally quiet and shy and very introverted. However most of the time I'm in lines at Disney, I manage to strike up conversations with those in line around me! Can you believe it? A guy who rarely talks to his own roommates, repeatedly talks to complete strangers in lines at Disney!

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. . .you used shy and introverted in the same sentence to describe yourself. Somehow that image of you does not quite come across. I MIGHT describe others that way but not you my friend.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, so I have tried to go solo on occasion but most of the time someone whom I have previously chatted up will decide they need to make a trip when I do. As far as what do I do when solo in a line? Oh gawd, if you only knew me you would get it. I will talk to anyone. I don't care if you are grumpy, sad, reminiscing and would rather not talk or if I engage an entire group of people in conversation, I will manage to get you to talk to me or at least participate by grunting. Did I mention I am a complete extrovert and there isn't a shy bone in my body?

For example: Last May I decided to go on a trip with a bunch of other May DISsers. I hadn't been on the boards that long and had NEVER met any of them personally. By the end of the first night, all those there knew me VERY well and I knew them. Its pretty normal for me to step into a crowd and just get everyone going. . .then I can step back and watch my handiwork as the conversation just begins to flow from the rest. I have complimented children to start conversations, let others go before me to start conversations, given up my seat to start conversations, etc. Did I mention I like to talk?

Okay, as you can see I have created a rather large and long post for such a simple question which quite obviously proves my point. . .