"Tag Teaming?"

[zoo2tycoon]

I think allowing a parent and child or two to wait and rejoin later is fine, especially for potty breaks. But I know problems arise when people have been waiting and suddenly 10 more people join the group. That can be frustrating, but you have to step back and just let it go. It happened to us at Easter w
when 15+ family members (all in the same shirts) joined the two people in front of us, and then they all wanted individual pictures. We could have gotten mad, but the lady behind us was stupid mad and we realized how dumb she looked being all upset and saying nasty things very loud. It was a good lesson, because we decided it just wasn't worth it, and just watched them take their pictures. We actually enjoyed how much fun their family was having with the characters. It's frustrating but the world should be kinder and we shouldn't sweat the small stuff.

So it’s fine for 2 people to wait and then 10 plus more joining them—what if 10 groups did this in one line - that’s 100 more people!

People act entitled especially having kids thinking their snowy doesn’t need to wait in line for a character, parade or ride. How is this showing those whose children wait patiently what is proper etiquette?

There is a post on Transportation board where someone asked if their party could join them in the Magical Express line.

Kids and parents need to all wait in line together. I don’t think it’s cute, fair or fun to watch 10 entitled people hop to front of line and take individual pictures when there is a 5 year old standing patiently.

 

[yorkieteacher]

We are only concerned about the two year old-we will certainly plan to only get in lines that are not that long and all get in line together-but if the two year old gets restless I plan on using some advice given here=kindly ask our line neighbors if they mind if Grandpa takes him out of the line for a few minutes for a breather. The characters are all in outdoor queues so hopefully it won't be a problem, and are not special characters available only during a party-we know better than to attempt those! We also plan on trying to be there at the beginning of the set-but I've been to WDW enough times to know the best laid plans and all! As I have not been one to line up for character meets, I just thought tag teaming must now be the acceptable thing from what I read on the MNSSHP thread-I deeply appreciate everyone weighing in as I feel like I got a good representation of what different people think!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

t doesn't bother me if a family joins up, especially if they have little ones. Sometimes they're hungry, thirsty, have to go to the bathroom, it just doesn't bother me. When we go to Disney World, I must be in some sort of bubble, because I just don't pay that much attention to what others are doing. This is touchy on the Dis, though. I have found most people are happy to be there and are pretty much like me.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We are only concerned about the two year old-we will certainly plan to only get in lines that are not that long and all get in line together-but if the two year old gets restless I plan on using some advice given here=kindly ask our line neighbors if they mind if Grandpa takes him out of the line for a few minutes for a breather. The characters are all in outdoor queues so hopefully it won't be a problem, and are not special characters available only during a party-we know better than to attempt those! We also plan on trying to be there at the beginning of the set-but I've been to WDW enough times to know the best laid plans and all! As I have not been one to line up for character meets, I just thought tag teaming must now be the acceptable thing from what I read on the MNSSHP thread-I deeply appreciate everyone weighing in as I feel like I got a good representation of what different people think!

I had one incident where I allowed negativity to get into me, and I won't do it again. It takes away from my enjoyment. Having raised a difficult child myself (thank goodness my granddaughters are perfect!) I understand the value of letting a small one blow off a little steam and not try to contain him. Believe me, everyone is happier.

 

[ErinsMommy]

On the MNSSHP thread I read it is acceptable to "tag team" while waiting to meet characters. I assume this means one adult can wait in line to meet the character and the other adult along with the kiddos can join them as the line nears the character. Is this acceptable at all character meet and greets outside of parties as well? Our littles want to meet some specific characters in MK like Aladdin and Buzz, but do not do lines well at all, but I don't want to be one of "those guests" everyone hates!

I did this for DD so she can meet Jack and Sally - it helped me more than her because it was just about the end of our stay and I had so many blisters I could barely walk. With that said I saw tins of people online both in front of me as well as behind doing the same thing so no one seemed to really care.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Something I haven’t seen mentioned, we’ve had it happen where a group came in and a character had to leave for break after them without warning, because they wanted individual pictures and such. It caused a tantrum for our 2 year old and was so much stress.

The character handlers are estimating the time by who is in line. They know that a family of 5 is going to take a little longer than a couple of adults. They have a lot of logistics to handle especially some characters with heavier costumes or outside meets.

So while having understanding for the small kid out of line is great, it’s also hard on the two year old who gets up and watches the character leave.

 

[daisy2013]

I’m in the it’s situational bucket. At the last Christmas party we went to (2017) our girls really wanted to meet Santa goofy. So we went back there and while we waited on line they rode the goofy coaster- over and over again. This was before he came out to meet. They would come by after each ride say hi. We ended up making friends with people near us and their kids and soon the group of kids were all going in a pack. But this was a line that was easy to get in and out of and it wasn’t one of the really big character meets. I wouldn’t try it for 7 dwarves or jack and sally. And when it got close to the time that he was coming out we ended it.
We are normally if you want to ride/see you have to wait people (and if you get half way and have to now go pee after asking you four times before we got in the line, we now leave the line, your sister and parent 2 stays and you don’t get to ride,) but in this situation allowing the little freedom made for a happier experience (even for the people around us who joined in on the fun.)

 

[Kingoglow]

I am in the hard no camp.
First, Disney's policy is to have your entire party together before you que into the line.
Second, if I saw a group of teenagers doing this I would be pretty irate. A family with child is no different in my mind.

Hypothetical situation:
I travel solo and am in line for Spaceship Earth. I feel the sudden need to use the bathroom. I rush out of line, finish my business come back. Do I get to have my spot back? No, I do not.

If you are a parent with a child, let's say you come back to from the same bathroom and try to get your spot back. All anyone in that line sees is two people pushing through the line and skipping ahead of everyone currently waiting. No one in that line knows (or cares) that you left someone in your group behind to goto the bathroom, they only see you trying to cut into the line that they are waiting in. Is that okay?

In my first example, there was only one person that would push ahead of everyone, not two people in the case with the parent and child. Which one of those examples is acceptable? The answer is 'neither of them.' It is not acceptable to skip ahead of anyone waiting in line, regardless of the situation.

In the larger sense, being able to explain your situation to the people around you when you make the decision to leave leave the line is a good one and most groups will understand. But you have to recognize that then you decide that it is time to rejoin the line, no one in the back of the que will be understanding or happy that someone is going to suddenly force their way up ahead of them, when they are standing in the back of a 60 minute wait. Those people will be livid with you.

Disney redesigned their entire DAC process to address situations similar to these. It is no long a front of line pass; it is now set up so that users experience a wait close to what everyone else is experiencing.

As a parent, you have to be the adult here and manage your group properly. Frequent restroom breaks are recommended for everyone going to the park, kids are no different. A Disney trip is a great opportunity to teach kids important life lessons. Knowing when to use the bathroom is definitely one of them. Waiting patiently in line is another. Being respectful of everyone else in the world is probably another good one.

 

[joviroxx]

I think allowing a parent and child or two to wait and rejoin later is fine, especially for potty breaks. But I know problems arise when people have been waiting and suddenly 10 more people join the group. That can be frustrating, but you have to step back and just let it go. It happened to us at Easter w
when 15+ family members (all in the same shirts) joined the two people in front of us, and then they all wanted individual pictures. We could have gotten mad, but the lady behind us was stupid mad and we realized how dumb she looked being all upset and saying nasty things very loud. It was a good lesson, because we decided it just wasn't worth it, and just watched them take their pictures. We actually enjoyed how much fun their family was having with the characters. It's frustrating but the world should be kinder and we shouldn't sweat the small stuff.

I get where you are coming from, but it is incredibly disrespectful. WHile they were having a great time, it doesn't consider the people in line that might have little kids which might now might be really inconvenienced (15 people is A LOT). However, there are plenty of ways to be assertive without being aggressive or rude to handle situation such as these.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I'm not one of those "nice" parents that will stand in line while my kid gets to relax on a bench. If you want to ride this ride or meet this character you are waiting with me. If they don't want to wait in that long of a line or I don't think they can handle that long of a line then that ride or character gets skipped and we come back when the line is shorter (RD, end of the day, with a FP+). I've been doing this since we started taking the kids when they were 2 and 3.

If I see a family tag teaming it doesn't bother me because I truly don't sweat the small stuff. I'm at WDW, enjoying my vacation and what the next person does isn't my concern.

I see no issues with a parent having to take a kid out of line for a bathroom break and coming back. They are kids and we've all had those moments where we ask the kid "hey do you need to go to the bathroom first" and the kid is adamant that they don't and then 5 minutes later they are having a potty emergency. I think I had one of those moments at WDW with my kids so I get it.

I've seen kids have full out meltdowns because they are over the line so mom will leave the line with said kid, dad will stay with other kid and then mom comes back when they are almost there with meltdown kid. Like I said previously, I don't care what others do but it's not something I would do with my kid. I just think it's teaching bad lessons. Personally I prefer the meltdown kid to get out of line because who wants to hear someone else's kid cry for an extended period of time so I am thankful for it.

 

[wendy1974]

We are only concerned about the two year old-we will certainly plan to only get in lines that are not that long and all get in line together-but if the two year old gets restless I plan on using some advice given here=kindly ask our line neighbors if they mind if Grandpa takes him out of the line for a few minutes for a breather. The characters are all in outdoor queues so hopefully it won't be a problem, and are not special characters available only during a party-we know better than to attempt those! We also plan on trying to be there at the beginning of the set-but I've been to WDW enough times to know the best laid plans and all! As I have not been one to line up for character meets, I just thought tag teaming must now be the acceptable thing from what I read on the MNSSHP thread-I deeply appreciate everyone weighing in as I feel like I got a good representation of what different people think!

An alternative to getting out of line (aside from them needing the restroom) is to bring a few small activities to play with. You can search on Amazon for travel games and they have a lot of different things you can use with kids on road trips. Most of them are really small and wouldn't take up room if you threw them in a backpack. When you get in a line that might be longer than the kids would like to wait pull them out as a surprise. Just having something new will hold their attention for at least a little while. Hopefully long enough to make it to the front of the line

 

[Easto]

I think it's poor taste to Line Jump.

This may not be popular, but if I were waiting in line I wouldn't let you pass me. If I am waiting in line my whole family is waiting in line. My kids would love to not have to wait, but it's part of doing Disney. If I don't think line jumping is right, I am not going to let someone line jump in front of me.

 

[yorkieteacher]

An alternative to getting out of line (aside from them needing the restroom) is to bring a few small activities to play with. You can search on Amazon for travel games and they have a lot of different things you can use with kids on road trips. Most of them are really small and wouldn't take up room if you threw them in a backpack. When you get in a line that might be longer than the kids would like to wait pull them out as a surprise. Just having something new will hold their attention for at least a little while. Hopefully long enough to make it to the front of the line

We agree! We got this aspect covered! As grandparents we have been faithful customers of the Dollar Tree before many a trip over two generations!- our grandsons even know "the Travel Fairy", as we drive about 9 hours down to Disney from northwest Georgia! They never know when the fairy may show up. We have decided this is such a hot topic that we will only get in character lines that are not long or get in line a few minutes before the meets are scheduled, especially since we have 5 character meals this trip! I will still ask our line neighbor if they mind someone taking a small child to the bathroom or such-I can't imagine anyone who has been around kids not understanding the difference between a kid needing to go (experience shows no matter how many times we "all go" to every restroom we pass, that sometimes they feel the need IMMEDIATELY!) and teens or adults manipulating this to get out of waiting. If there is someone so grouchy that they resent this I don't want to be in line around them anyway and we will just leave!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We agree! We got this aspect covered! As grandparents we have been faithful customers of the Dollar Tree before many a trip over two generations!- our grandsons even know "the Travel Fairy", as we drive about 9 hours down to Disney from northwest Georgia! They never know when the fairy may show up. We have decided this is such a hot topic that we will only get in character lines that are not long or get in line a few minutes before the meets are scheduled, especially since we have 5 character meals this trip! I will still ask our line neighbor if they mind someone taking a small child to the bathroom or such-I can't imagine anyone who has been around kids not understanding the difference between a kid needing to go (experience shows no matter how many times we "all go" to every restroom we pass, that sometimes they feel the need IMMEDIATELY!) and teens or adults manipulating this to get out of waiting. If there is someone so grouchy that they resent this I don't want to be in line around them anyway and we will just leave!

I agree with the bathroom thing. Even if you went to the bathroom 20 minutes before, a kid could have to go again within an hour due to the amount of water we drink while at WDW. I know I go often at WDW since I’m probably drinking a gallon or more a day.

 

[Kingoglow]

If there is someone so grouchy that they resent this I don't want to be in line around them anyway and we will just leave!

Sure, label me as grouchy, as long as you don't mind being labeled as rude and inconsiderate for cutting in front of everyone in the back of the line.

 

[joviroxx]

. If there is someone so grouchy that they resent this I don't want to be in line around them anyway and we will just leave!

No one is getting grouchy if you leave to go to the bathroom or take your kid out of line for a few to calm them done. However, if you bringing in someone who is fresh off spending their time riding rides or a group of kids like the previous poster said who were like 15, is plain rude and a bit entitled.

 

[Kestryl]

As a Cedar Point veteran, line jumpers really get my blood boiling.

My general policy is that you should enter the line to rejoin a party unless you had originally entered the line with that party and exited to use the bathroom or deal with an emergency. Additionally, the waiters and rejoiners need to be balanced in larger groups. None of this 10 people joining up with 2 crap. The other way around is much more acceptable.

 

[yorkieteacher]

No way was this post started to condone or excuse line jumping! It was to get people's opinions on letting one adult who had been in line with the family to remove a two year old if they have to go to the bathroom or start melting down! I have decided that a meltdown will result in that person and a designated adult NOT meeting the character so as not to interfere with the others in the family who still want to meet the character, but I don't think its a good idea to let the two year old have an avoidable accident in line (line neighbors surely wouldn't appreciate THAT!) and not be able to get back in line after going to the restroom when they really want to meet the character! Trust me, if we said you can't get back in line if you leave, it could result in in someone around us getting wet! ! We don't intend on holding places for random ride goers or snack getting-just so a kid can go to the bathroom!

 

[Easto]

It weird that I’ve never seen someone at the front of the line move back to join their group who freshly entered the line queue.

That’s always an option if a group needs to join up.

 

[jbehr12]

In Disney's official policy, they do not allow line cutting, or holding a place in line. Also, holding a place in line often isn't practical, as many lines (even character greets) don't have easy access to meet up. And if you did try to meet up near the front, a cast member would probably see it.
I also think its a lame thing to do.

Now, I have seen people "pass off" for rides, especially before FP+. Parent 1 would line up with the child, and parent 2 would let people go ahead of them, so when the next ride started, parent 1 would "pass" the child to parent 2, allowing the child to ride twice. It's similar to child swap, but only used for mild attractions.

Example-
Dad and Jimmy ride Dumbo, mom lets 24 people in front of her so she is inline for the next cycle.
Dad hands Jimmy to Mom, Mom and Jimmy Ride Dumbo.

However, this isn't as practical anymore, especially with Dumbo. I don't see how it's practical for character greets.
Regardless, I though it was genius, and whoever thought of it probably went to West Point.

That’s called rider switch